TRAVEL Q & A

HOLIDAY FLYING 101 Q I'm taking a rare flight to see my sister and her family for Christmas, and a friend told me not to bring wrapped gifts. Is she right?

A Your friend speaks the truth. The Transportation Security Administration warns that wrapped gifts -- in carry-on and checked bags -- may get unwrapped by a TSA agent. Just be safe and wrap after you arrive.

Here are a few other (unsolicited) tips for infrequent travels this holiday season. The airport will be crowded, so it's best to check-in online and print your boarding pass at home; you can do so beginning 24 hours before a flight. Remember the TSA 3-1-1 rule. In carry-ons, liquids or gels must be in containers of 3 ounces or less, the containers must be placed in one clear quart-size zip-top bag and each passenger is allowed only one bag. That means that the special bottle of local wine or your strawberry preserves will have to go in the luggage you check. But be careful not to pack too much. Keep bags under 50 pounds or you'll face an onerous excess baggage fee. (Delta charges $90, one-way, for bags between 51 and 70 pounds for flights within the United States. Sun Country charges $75.)

Answers to travel questions appear weekly in Travel and at startribune.com/escapeartists; send your question by e-mail to travel@startribune.com.

KERRI WESTENBERG

Wisconsin woods pampering A stay at Canoe Bay could never be considered cheap, but the Relais & Chateaux property in Chetek, Wis., does offer deals -- relative, of course -- and they are worth shelling out for. This winter, the luxurious resort on 280 woodsy acres is offering packages to warm the heart (and heat up the romance). Its New Year's special offers a four-course dinner for two with wine pairings, a dozen roses, champagne, chocolate truffles, a Relais & Chateaux cookbook and a late checkout for $500 (in addition to the room charge). The Cuddle Up package offers a dinner for two, two in-room massages, warm breakfast delivered to your room daily and late checkout for $325. Its Midweek Escape comes with a dinner for two, Wisconsin cheeses with wine upon arrival and in-room breakfast daily for an additional $135. Packages require a two-night stay; room rates start at $350 and cottages start at $440 per night. For details, go to www.canoebay.com and click on "seasonal packages" under the main photo.

KERRI WESTENBERG

Airfare sticker shock If you waited to book your Christmas flight home or New Year's trip to Vail, you've probably discovered airfares are as much as 20 percent higher than in the past two holiday seasons. Airlines also have quietly added a surcharge to holiday fares in the past couple of years, said Jami Counter, senior director for flight searches at TripAdvisor. Some advice: Check secondary airports, or consider driving. And book early for 2011.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Walk, or golf, St. Andrews Most days, lucky golfers from around the world pay up to $200 for the privilege of playing a round on the historic, par-72 St. Andrews Old Course links, the birthplace of golf. But every Sunday, the course is closed "to let it rest," as it's so quaintly put. That's when the public gets free rein to walk the world's most famous golf course for free. If you want to actually play golf on the Old Course, there still are reserved slots available in 2011 -- but only from January to March (wear a parka) and after Oct. 11. However, St. Andrews has six other golf courses -- the New, Jubilee, Eden, Strathtyrum, Castle and Balgove, all of which can easily be booked just a week ahead or so. To hit the links, see the reservations calendar at www.standrews.org.uk.

DETROIT FREE PRESS

Get moving at Ice Festival Everyone is invited to get outdoors and get moving at the Sandstone Ice Festival next weekend in Sandstone, Minn. Try snowshoeing, skiing, skijoring and watch ice climbers from around the Midwest test their skills. Ice climbing and winter camping clinics will be held during the Friday-Sunday festival at the Robinson Quarry (space is limited; register at www.sandstoneicefest.com). Festivalgoers are also encouraged to bring their appetite or favorite chili to share to the Frozen Kettle Chili Cookoff at noon Sunday at the quarry. See the festival website for a full schedule of events or call 612-202-4705.

COLLEEN A. COLES