Buy now, travel later this holiday season

By Jennifer Merin

(Creators Syndicate, Inc.) -- Perhaps you think this is a good year to enjoy the holidays at home. Do you see yourself sitting in a comfortable armchair, surrounded by family or right in the middle of a good book?

Then, that's what you should do.

But don't expect to get away from the world of travel this holiday season. You can't. The bargains, enticements and rewards are just too good to pass up. It's a buy now, travel later world of opportunity.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), for example, is offering a unique Two-For-One limited-time-only special sale. When you buy one cruise on one of five NCL ships, you get another, different cruise on the same ship for free.

And, in case travel jitters are keeping you at home this holiday season, with this sale you don't have to set sail until March or April of next year, and the cruises are to a variety of wonderful places you've always dreamed of visiting.

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Pay for a 12-day summer Europe sailing aboard Norwegian Dream (from $1,979 per person, double occupancy), get a 14-day South American voyage (cost would be from $2,549 per person, double) for free. Buy a summer Bermuda sailing aboard Norwegian Majesty (from $1,579 per person, double), get a free Southern Caribbean cruise (cost would be from $1,299 per person, double).

Or, buying a summer Alaska sailing aboard Norwegian Sky (from $1,449 per person, double), gets you an Eastern or Western Caribbean voyage (cost would be from $1,339 per person, double) for free. And, a spring or fall Hawaii sailing aboard Norwegian Wind (from $1,869 per person, double), comes with a free Alaska voyage (cost would be from $1,229 per person, double).

Even better, this NCL deal specifies that the free cruise may be taken by your immediate family members. So, you can take one cruise yourself, and gift wrap the other for your parents, children or siblings. You must book by December 31, and both cruises must be booked at the same time. Call NCL at 800-327-7030.

Free frequent flier miles

United Airlines also has a buy now, travel later holiday gift-giving offer -- and you don't even have to buy travel to qualify. In fact, you don't even have to travel to the store.

Quite simply, United will reward you with free frequent flier miles -- which can be used for free travel at a later date -- for doing your seasonal gift shopping via its Web site. To take advantage of the offer, all you do is visit www.united.com and link to the shopping sites for Gap (for Gap, GapKids, babyGap, GapBody, and GapMaternity merchandise), Banana Republic and Old Navy. For every dollar you spend at these sites, you'll get three United Airlines frequent flier miles.

Additionally, if you send flowers or chocolates via FTD (FTD.com or 800-SEND FTD), you'll receive 10 United frequent flier miles per dollar, plus 100 bonus miles per order (no minimum purchase is necessary). If you sign up for MSN Internet Access (or give the connection to a friend as a gift), United gives you 1,000 frequent flier miles for the first month of membership, 500 frequent flier miles for each additional month.

If your travel jitters apply to loved ones who have opted to travel this holiday season, you might want to reassure yourself by buying them gifts to make them more secure on the road.

Magellan's (www.magellans.com or 800-962-4943) safety-bolstering travel gifts range from stocking stuffers to substantial supports. For example: For hotel room security, there is a door stop alarm ($10) or a portable motion detector ($24); for beach blanket security, the wearable splash caddy ($20) keeps your money, passport and valuables safe (and dry) while you're in the water.

For healthy air, the Ultra Mini Air Supply ($145) device, which hangs around your neck, zaps into oblivion any germs that waft your way; for healthy water, Exstream's EPA-approved "Orinoco" water purifier bottle ($40) kills germs and filters impurities from tap water.

For when a little light must be shed or someone must be signaled from afar, the 2-inch Saffire Flashlight ($20) packs a beam bright enough to be seen a mile away. And, for safeguarding computers and other electronics, Brenthaven's ballistic nylon Mobile Brief Computer Case ($399) has cushioned insides and rolls on shock-absorbing wheels.

If the armchair remains your preferred vehicle this season, give the gift of travel by book. Lonely Planet's series of literary titles inspire and Traveller's Tales' anthologies of essays, grouped by destination or theme, give your imagination wings while your feet stay on the ground.