What's the Deal?

The week's best travel bargains around the globe, by land, sea and air.

LAND

* Strap on your skis and head to Wisp Resort in Western Maryland today or tomorrow for discounted lift tickets, lessons and rentals. The resort is celebrating its 52nd birthday with a $7 one-day lift ticket,$14 for Sunday and Monday (single-day tickets are usually $32), along with half-price ski and snowboard rentals starting at $17 and half-price group lessons for $15. Also, stay overnight Sunday and get a discounted room rate of $79 (plus $11 taxes), a savings of $30. Info: 301-387-4911, http://www.wispresort.com.

* Buy a BritRail pass for travel by Feb. 29 and receive a 20 percent discount. Railpass.com is offering the deal on four passes: Two offer travel throughout England, Scotland and Wales, and the others within England only. For example, a four-day, second-class BritRail England Flexipass, which can be used for non-consecutive travel within a two-month period, starts at $188. Book at http://www.railpass.com or call 877-724-5277 by Feb. 15.

* Spend Christmas at the Sagamore, a historic resort on Lake George in New York's Adirondack Mountains, and get the fourth night free. The Yuletide Package for Dec. 23-26 costs $339 per person double ($230 per person for a family of four) and includes accommodations, Christmas dinner in the Trillium bis restaurant, daily breakfast and a $10 gift from the resort's shop. Priced separately, the package would cost about $838 for two. Info: 800-358-3585, http://www.thesagamore.com.

* Five Marriott properties in New Orleans-- Renaissance Pere Marquette, New Orleans Marriott at the Convention Center, New Orleans Marriott, Renaissance Arts Hotel and JW Marriott New Orleans -- are offering Web-only deals through Dec. 30, with starting prices at $89 or $99 a night. For example, a night at the Renaissance Pere Marquette, a block from Bourbon Street, is $89, plus $13 taxes; usual rate starts at $135. Book the Papa Noel rate at http://www.neworleans.marriott.com.

SEA

* Carnival is holding its third annual 12 Fun Days of Christmas sale, with different promotions offered every day through Dec. 14. Today's offer, for example, is a two-category cabin upgrade on select six- to eight-day summer sailings. Tomorrow, save up to $100 per stateroom on three- to five-day Caribbean winter sailings. For details, go to http://www.carnival.com or call 800-227-6482.

* Book and pay for a 2008 European river cruise package with Uniworld by Jan. 31 and save up to $500 per couple. The deal applies to more than 25 voyages from nine to 30 days long. For example, a 12-night European Serenade itinerary between Vienna and Amsterdam departing May 1 is $3,079 per person double after the discount, plus $144 port charges. The cruise aboard the 134-passenger River Duchess includes 11 shore excursions. Info: 800-733-7820, http://www.uniworld.com.

* Regent Seven Seas is offering a sale on select Tahiti sailings, but act quickly: Today is the last day to buy. Discounts apply to four seven-night cruises aboard the Paul Gauguin that sail round trip from Papeete, Tahiti, in March and April. For example, fare on the March 29 voyage is $2,650 per person double; typically, the cruise starts at $3,194. Port charges and taxes are an extra $263. Info: 877-505-5370, http://www.rssc.com.

AIR

* Fly Delta from BWI or Reagan National to Madrid this winter for $529 round trip (plus about $51 taxes). Depart Jan. 10-March 7; complete travel by March 13. Other airlines are matching. Purchase by Jan. 7 at http://www.delta.com, or call 800-221-1212 for $20 more.

* Scandinavian Airlines is holding a Kiss a Scandinavian Web sale. Fare from Washington Dulles to several cities, including Stockholm, Oslo and Helsinki, starts at $450 round trip, plus taxes. For example, round-trip fare to Copenhagen is about $530, including taxes. Fares to other cities, including Amsterdam, Paris and Milan, start at $498, plus taxes. Depart Jan. 7-March 13; purchase by Dec. 21. You can stay up to 12 months. Some dates are sold out. Book online at http://www.flysas.com/promotions/usa.

PACKAGES

* Foreign Independent Tours is offering a winter special to Sorrento, Italy. The Jan. 6-13 package starts at $1,349 per person double (plus about $150 taxes) and includes round-trip airfare from Washington Dulles to Naples; five nights at the Hotel Bellevue Syrene; daily breakfast; and round-trip transfers by private car. The hotel, constructed on the foundations of a Roman villa, was built in 1820 and overlooks the Gulf of Naples. Priced separately, air, hotel and transfers would cost about $1,795. Other dates through March 30 are slightly higher. Book by Dec. 31. Info: 800-248-3487, http://www.fittours.com.

* Spend five nights in Beijing this winter starting at $1,344 per person double, including taxes. The Ritz Tours' Beijing in a Week package includes round-trip airfare from New York's JFK, five nights at the New Otani hotel, and several tours and meals. Travel Jan. 1-Feb. 10. Priced separately, air and hotel would cost about $1,891. Info: 800-900-2446, http://www.ritztours.com.

-- Carol Sottili

Prices were verified and available on Thursday afternoon when the Travel section went to press. However, deals sell out quickly and are not guaranteed to be available. Restrictions such as day of travel, blackout dates and advance-purchase requirements sometimes apply.