Sunday, July 23, 2006; P01

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The missile war in the Middle East has led the U.S. State Department to stiffen some of its travel warnings for the region. On Wednesday, State upped its advisory on Israel, officially urging "U.S. citizens to weigh carefully the risk of travel to Israel and Jerusalem at this time." In a separate warning, issued July 13, the agency advises Americans "to defer travel to Lebanon."

That brings federal travel advice more in line with private security analysts, who had red-flagged the countries soon after violence flared.

"If you were supposed to go within the next week or 10 days, it's just better not to go," said Ira Russ of IJet, an Annapolis firm that advises business clients on travel risks. On IJet's risk scale of one to five ("Switzerland being one, Iraq being five," said Russ), Israel and Lebanon are both currently fives.

But according to Israeli tourism officials, most travelers to Israel are sticking to their plans. "I think we've had in the range of 15 to 20 percent cancellations," said Arie Sommer, Israel's tourism commissioner for North and South America. July and August are peak months for Americans vacationing in Israel, with some 250,000 U.S. tourists arriving on average each summer. "For most people, we're telling them not to cancel their trip but to change their itinerary."

At press time, according to Sommer, tourist areas such as Jerusalem (in spite of the State Department warning), the Dead Sea, Elat and Tel Aviv remained safe and busy with tourists.

For State Department updates: http://travel.state.gov. Several airlines, including Continental and British Airways, are waiving change fees on flights to Tel Aviv. Check with your carrier.

Bungee jumping too tame? Head to Ocean City, Md., and check out a new boardwalk thrill, the aptly named Sling Shot.

At first, CoGo simply watched as other riders were strapped two at a time into an open-air cage ball and catapulted upward at 100 mph. Not surprisingly, CoGo chickened out. On our last visit, though, we bought a $20 ticket and fastened our seatbelts before any clucking could occur.

While lying staring skyward, you can see a huge array of ominous steel springs being slowly compressed. And then, without warning, tension is released. The ball, attached to the springs by two steel ropes, is shot skyward so fast (225 feet in 1.5 seconds) that intelligent comprehension lags far behind pure sensation. When the cage abruptly comes to the end of its rope(s) and pitches forward, you scream back toward the ground. And again, and again, the cage sproings back and forth, up and down.

Two minutes from the start, it's over. Cogo passed on the $10 "reshot" offered to those willing to go up again without unstrapping. But CoGo would recommend doing it once, especially for anyone who equates abject fear with absolute fun.

Sling Shot, at the Jolly Roger Amusement Park at the Pier (at Worcester Street), is open daily through Labor Day, noon to midnight weekends and 1 p.m. to midnight weekdays. You must be 44 inches tall to ride. Also new at Trimper's Rides & Amusements (the boardwalk at South First Street) are five kiddie rides.

Non-smokers can breathe a little easier in Marriott hotels. In case you missed it, the chain announced Wednesday that all of its nearly 400,000 guest rooms in the United States and Canada will be completely smoke-free starting in September . . . Have reservations to cruise aboard the Crown Princess ? At press time, the ship -- which listed so heavily July 17 off the Florida coast that 240 passengers were injured -- was scheduled to resume operations yesterday. For the latest info: 800-774-6237, http://www.princess.com/ .

Virgin Atlantic has summer sale fares on nonstop flights from Washington Dulles to London. Round-trip fare is $597 (plus $243 taxes and fuel surcharges) for travel through Aug. 31. Purchase seven days in advance no later than Aug. 23. Some dates are sold out. Fare on other airlines for nonstop service starts at $932. Info: 800-821-5438, www.virgin-atlantic.com.

Reporting: Steve Hendrix, Carol Sottili, Anne McDonough.

Help feed CoGo. Send travel news to: cogo@washpost.com. By fax: 202-912-3609. By mail: CoGo, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.

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