Suzi Davis Travel in Bloomington and AirTran Airways are offering nonstop flights from Bloomington to Las Vegas and Cancun.

Only a handful of tickets remain for the official Illini basketball travel party to Vegas on the team plane and stay at the official Illini headquarters hotel Wednesday through Nov. 29 during the Las Vegas Invitational tournament.

The package includes round-trip flights from Bloomington, one checked piece of luggage per person, four nights hotel accommodations at the Paris Las Vegas, shuttle services to games at the Orleans Arena, all-session game ticket to the tournament, a pre-loaded $80 per person spending card valid at any restaurant, bar or shop at the Paris Hotel and more. Cost is $1,279 per person based on double occupancy.

Also, travel nonstop from Bloomington to Riviera Maya, Mexico, Feb. 9-16 starting at $1,799 per person based on double occupancy.

The all-inclusive Valentin Imperial Maya is located on a half-mile-long stretch of white sand beach of Playa Del Secreto 25 minutes from Cancun's International Airport. Flight, accommodations, meals and beverages are included. Call 217-398-1980 or toll-free 866-592-0455.

Travel tips

AirTran Airways offers these tips for flying during the holidays:

• Check in up to 24 hours prior to departure with Online Flight Check-In at airtran.com.  Select seat assignment and print boarding passes and a receipt from your computer;

• Arrive 90 minutes prior to scheduled departure, or two hours ahead of time if you plan to check baggage.  Anticipate slowdowns from heavy traffic throughout the boarding process;

• Be ready to take your shoes off, remove your jacket, empty your pockets of all metal and remove laptops from your carry-on baggage at security checkpoints.  Make sure you have a government-issued photo ID.

• The Transportation Security Administration's guidelines allow liquids, gels and aerosols in carry-on luggage in storage containers no larger than 3 ounces. Place them in a single quart-sized zip-top, clear plastic bag;

• You are allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item, including a purse, briefcase, diaper bag or laptop bag. Carry medicine and valuables in your carry-on baggage;

• Tag your luggage with name, home address and telephone number on the outside of your bag.   Add a ribbon or something else distinguishable to mark the bags;

For more information, visit the TSA Web site at www.tsa.gov.

Chicago Christmas

Mayor Richard M. Daley and actress/TV talk show host Bonnie Hunt of "The Bonnie Hunt Show" light this year's Christmas tree at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Daley Plaza.   Admission is free.

Take a gamble

It's a sure bet you wouldn't lose money if you bet on Las Vegas to lead the list of the top 10 gambling hotspots recently released by Tripadvisor.com. Atlantic City ranked second followed by: Aruba; San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Maarten/St. Martin; the Dominican Republic; Biloxi, Miss.; Freeport, Grand Bahama Island; Shreveport, La.; and  Reno, Nev.