Ask for holiday travel deals, and ye shall receive

— -- Jittery travel marketers from the Caribbean to the Colorado Rockies are playing Santa this year, delivering resort credits, fewer length-of-stay restrictions and a flurry of last-minute discounts for Christmas and New Year's getaways.

But whether they'll succeed in persuading cash-strapped procrastinators to fly over the river to grandfather's house or trade tinsel for trade winds remains to be seen. According to a recent USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, 63% of respondents said they were cutting back on holiday travel, despite tumbling gas prices that are less than half their all-time record in July.

A sampling of deals, subject to availability:

Airfares

Don't expect any bargains on peak travel days, particularly Dec. 19, 20 and 28, and Jan. 3 and 4. But holiday ticket prices have fallen sharply as sluggish demand and frustration over new baggage and other airline fees trump a cutback in seat capacity of about 10%. This week, the average round-trip fare for Christmas travel was $357, down 6% from the same time a year ago, says Farecast.com's Mike Fridgen. In late August, the average was up 30%.

•Southwest.com has extended its winter sale for travel between Dec. 12 and Feb. 28, with fares as low as $90 round-trip for tickets bought by Dec. 4. A 14-day advance purchase is required.

Hotels

The U.S. hotel industry is hurting, with rates and occupancy plummeting in recent months. Last-minute holiday deals are increasingly common. (Witness Vegas' pricey Bellagio, where rates are as low as $149 for Christmas Eve.) Bargain for free breakfasts, resort credits and more. And if you've already made reservations, call to see whether prices have dropped and your rate can be lowered.

•The Bellagio isn't the only part of Las Vegas that's on sale. Individual hotel sites are showing deals, plus Vegas.com offers include Stratosphere from $26.95 and Planet Hollywood from $59.95. For New Year's Eve — a hot time in Sin City — Vegas.com is selling the Palace Station (a local favorite) for $256.27 for two nights, including taxes and fees.