A SPECIAL REPORT: TOURISM

BEACHFRONT BLUES: For those staying closer to home, there’s always Newport Beach--if you hurry. Beachfront rentals are booked solid in August, agents say, but a few bargains remain for July. Normally, all the best digs would be snapped up by now. But low international air fares and a more relaxed world situation have caused some vacationers to cancel here. As a result, “I’m definitely making bargains,” says Colleen Chamberlain, president of Villa Rentals. The weekly price of a typical seaside rental has dropped by $400--to $1,200.