Coming and Going

Save the Dates in 2009

THE YEAR OF BIRTHDAYS

Save the Dates in 2009

The 2009 calendar will be packed with anniversaries, which means there will be deals to be had and special events planned to celebrate milestones around the world. Here are some:

· Mark the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's ascension to the throne with events in and around London.

· Also in London, Kew Gardens turns 250 this year.

· In Germany and across Eastern Europe, celebrate 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

· On this side of the pond, Bermuda celebrates 400 years since its founding.

· Alaska and Hawaii mark 50 years of statehood.

· The Missouri Botanical Garden, which lays claim to being the world's oldest public garden in continuous operation, turns 150.

· In Baltimore and Richmond, observe the bicentennial of writer Edgar Allan Poe.

VACATION TEMPTATIONS

We Break for Deals

The What's the Deal? column is on holiday this week, but CoGo couldn't let these fish get away.

Iberia Air has discounted flights to Morocco for winter travel. For example, round-trip fares start at $520 to Casablanca and $524 to Tangiers, taxes included. Travel through March; book by Jan. 7. Typically, flights to Casablanca are more than $600. Info: http://www.iberia.com/us. . . . For something a little colder, United Airlines is kicking off nonstop service from Washington Dulles to Moscow and Geneva and is offering reduced introductory rates. For example, round-trip fare to Moscow starts at $878 and to Geneva, $896; by comparison, a connecting flight to the Russian city costs more than $900 and to the Swiss destination more than a grand. Book by Jan. 31; depart for Moscow April 3-May 14 and for Geneva April 19-May 14. Saturday night stay required; travel Monday-Thursday. Info: http://www.united.com. . . . A deal with Travelzoo and the newly renovated W New York in midtown Manhattan saves guests at least $70, if not more, for stays through February. Rooms, which normally start at $249 a night, have been reduced to $179, based on availability. Taxes of 13 percent and a $3.50 daily tourism fee are extra. Book by Jan. 9 at http://www.starwoodhotels.com or by calling 877-822-0000; use promo code LTOTZ1. . . . It's never too early to think about baseball (yes, football fans, you heard CoGo). The 'Tween Waters Inn on Captiva Island, Fla., has a spring training special that takes 30 percent off three- and five-night packages and throws in a $106 resort gift card. (The significance of the number: It's the 106th season of the Boston Red Sox, whose spring training camp is in Fort Myers, Fla., about an hour away from the inn. Goooo, Sox!) After the discount, daily rate through Feb. 12 is $160 for the three-nighter and $150 for the five-night package. During and after spring training (Feb. 13-April 18), cost is $230 and $220, respectively. Taxes of 11 percent are extra. Credit is valid on all resort amenities and services, including spa treatments, bike rental and restaurants. Info: 800-223-5865, http://www.tween-waters.com; mention code Red Sox Nation.

TRAVEL TICKER

On Jan. 7, stores in Paris begin their biannual sales, which last six weeks. Miss those and you'll have to wait for the summer soldes. . . . Beginning Feb. 9, all lodging in Boston will be smoke-free. The ban covers hotels, inns and B&Bs and affects spaces including rooms and restaurant patios. . . . In honor of Barack Obama's inauguration, Rand McNally is selling microfiber fabric maps of the Mall and parade route from the presidential swearing-in by the Capitol to the White House. President Barack Obama Commemorative Inaugural fabMAPs are $10 and available through Rand McNally at http://store.randmcnally.com or by calling 800-275-7263. Rand McNally swears the map is also a kerchief and can be used to clean your camera lens as well. Who knew?

Reporting: Andrea Sachs, Christina Talcott, Scott Vogel

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