Some people might have "visions of sugarplums'' dancing in their heads, but for many The Great Escape is what they're dreaming of this holiday season.

Why? Because then there would be no Christmas cooking, no housework to do, no boozy friends or rustic relatives to entertain. Nothing but fun, pure and simple -- being pampered, entertained and fed in style.

An impossible dream? Not at all! Relief from the festive hassle is as close as your telephone.

As with Santa, local travel agents have been doing their homework and have a variety of magical holiday packages available to those wishing to fly the Christmas coop.

Whether's its snow or sun, the open sea or a bustling city, romance or rejuvenation you're after, it's time to pack and spend, spend, spend! Here's a sampling of trips.

L.P. Gutteridge Ltd. suggests: New Year's Eve in Montreal: 3 days/2 nights at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, departing December 30. Features: Historic Montreal, French Quarter, three meals including gala New Year's Eve dinner party, live orchestra, deluxe accommodation. Cost: $329 to $519 per person excluding air fare.

Christmas Cruise on M/V Westerdam: Seven days, departing Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on December 24. Itinerary: December 25 at sea, December 26 Playa del Carmen, Mexico; Cozumel, Mexico; December 27, Georgetown, Grand Cayman; December 28, Ocho Rios, Jamaica; December 29 at sea; December 30, Key West, Florida; December 31 Ft. Lauderdale. Cost: From $1,890 per person. Return air fare from Bermuda to Ft. Lauderdale is $400.25 including departure tax. Total cost: $4,580.50 per person.

Skiing at Christmas: Breckenridge, Colorado. Airfare: $1,285 for two, including departure tax. Additional $2,059.50 buys: Ski-in-ski-out accommodation, studio with queen-size bed, microwave, hot tub, full kitchen, washer/dryer on site, six-day ski passes, shuttle service from Denver. Total cost: $3,343.50 for two.

Branson/Nashville Country Christmas: Ten days/nine nights. Includes: St.

Louis, Branson, Silver Dollar City, Mel Tillis Christmas Show, Andy Williams Christmas Show, Memphis-Graceland, Nashville, Grand ole Opry. Tour originates/ends New York, New Jersey or Pennsylvania. Cost: $929 single, $699 twin, $639 triple. Air fare extra.

Smoky Mountains Christmas: Seven days/six nights, departing December 5.

Includes: Asheville, Biltmore Estate with luncheon. Smoky Mountains, Dixie Stampede Dinner Show, Dollywood, Aunt Granny's Christmas Buffet, Charlottesville, Monticello. Cost: $669 single, $499 twin, $449 triple, excluding air fare. Tour originates/ends: New York, New Jersey.

Atlantic City: Three days/two nights. Departs December 22. Features: Trump Taj Mahal Castino Resort, deluxe motorcoach transportation, casino bonus package.

Cost: $199 single. $139 twin. $129 triple. Air fare extra. Tour originates/ends New York/New Jersey.

A Dickens Christmas in the Poconos: Three days/two nights, departing December 8, 17. Features: Mountain Laurel Resort; live performance of A Christmas Carol , English tea welcome, hayrides, Dickens Yule Log reception, cooking demonstration, Victorian craft show. Six meals, farewell carolling party.

Cost: $299 single, $239 twin, $229 triple. Originates/ends: New York, New Jersey.

Meyer Agencies Ltd. offers: California Tournament of Roses New Year's Tour: Eight days, escorted tour.

Includes accommodation at Sheraton Universal Hotel, Tournament of Roses parade, New Year's Eve party, Victory Park, Universal Studios, Stars of the Lawrence Welk All Star Orchestra. Ten meals -- 5 breakfasts, 5 dinners.

Itinerary begins/ends Los Angeles and includes Pasadena. Cost: Single: $1269, twin $969, triple $939, child $599. Air fare extra. Five-day tour also available.

Other samplings of New Year's tours: Scottsdale's Fiesta Bowl Parade (five days), San Francisco (five days) $599 twin; Heritage of America (nine days) $999 twin; London theatre (eight days) $849 twin.

Western Caribbean Cruises: On Royal Caribbean Line's Majesty of the Seas , Monarch of the Seas and Sovereign of the Seas , departing December 12, 19, 31, depending on the vessel. Specials available for seniors. Reduced add-on air fares New York to Florida or San Juan $99. Bermuda/New York return air fares extra. Cruise only prices: $899 for inside cabin, $999 for outside cabin.

Western Mexico Cruise: Carnival Cruise Lines' Ecstacy -- four days.

Departs/returns Miami. Visits: Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Key West. Sails Mondays. Inside cabins from: $419, outside cabins from $519. Air fare extra.

Charter Flights to Jamaica and the Azores: Round trip Bermuda-Kingston/Montego Bay $499 per person plus tax, departing December 23, returning January 3.

Round-trip to Ponta Delgada $669 per person plus tax. Departs Dec. 14, returns Jan. 12.

Big Apple Deluxe Weekend: Stay Loews, East 51st and Lexington for $149 per night. Includes: concierge floor accom modations, continental breakfast, cocktails/hors d'oeuvres each evening, complimentary parking, newspaper. Taxes/gratuities extra. Valid arrival days: Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Sunday night available if staying Friday/Saturday or Saturday.

Romance Adventure, Atlanta: Radisson Hotel. Includes suite upgrade where possible, breakfast for two, champagne on arrival, discount coupons to attractions for $109 per night.

Family Adventure, Atlanta: Radisson Hotel. Includes buffet breakfast, discount coupons to area attractions for $89 per night.

Boston: Royal Sonesta Hotel offers special rate of $79 per night for Bermudian visitors. Opposite Galleria Mall on Cambridge side of Boston.

Watlington & Conyers suggests these Affordable American Tours options: New Year's Sugar Bowl game, New Orleans Three nights at Monteleone Hotel (extendable). Via Delta Airlines on December 31, departing Bermuda 1.30 p.m., arriving New Orleans 5.30 p.m. local time. Cost: $778 per person double occupancy. Price includes: round trip mid-week air fare/transfers, all taxes, accommodation, breakfast at Cafe du Monde (including cafe au lait in souvenir mug), Sugar Bowl football game New Year's Day. Not recommended for kids.

Boston: Three nights with accommodation at Royal Sonesta, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Via Delta, leaving Bermuda noon, arriving 6 p.m. local time.

Cost: $499 per person double occupancy, $266 for children. Price includes air fare.

Disney World, Orlando: Five nights at Hyatt Hotel. Via Delta, leaving Bermuda 1.25 p.m., arriving around 6 p.m. (via Atlanta). Cost: $799 per person, double occupancy, children $485. Price includes air fare and four-day bonus pass to Disney World. PHOTO PARTY TIME -- Passengers aboard Carnival Cruise Lines' Ecstasy will escape the fast lane when they stop ashore to enjoy the sun-splashed Caribbean coast of Mexico.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH -- A snow-bound holiday is a relaxing way to get some exercise.

DAZZLING DISNEYWORLD -- Mickey and Minnie Mouse await at Disneyworld in Florida. It's easy to escape reality at this playground for adults and children, which offers myriad fun-filled fantasies.

THE BIG APPLE -- There's plenty to see from the Statue of Liberty and the World Trade Center's twin towers.