Welcome to the Flyer. This week:
Nearly 2,000 of you entered this year's Readers' Travel Writing Competition, describing trips from the Amazon to Sierra Leona, by way of Norfolk. You can read the best of your travel stories below.
Get in the festive spirit with our carol concert guide; tourism on the military border between North and South Korea; send your desert adventure tips to Been there; plus the latest news, comment and more.
THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS
Readers' Travel Writing Competition 2010: Read the winning entries
Life and Seoul: Tourism in the heavily militarised border between North and South Korea
Readers' tips: bookshops around the world
The cricket fan's guide to Brisbane
10 Christmas concerts in Europe
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Sparkling Christmas market weekends
Escape the festive rush and discover the sights, sounds and smells of a traditional Christmas market set in beautiful surroundings. The twinkling scenes of beautifully decorated squares with their enchanting market stalls and glittering Christmas trees will enchant the whole family. The aromas of roasted chestnuts, grilled sausages, mulled wine and ginger bread fill the air and help create that unique yuletide ambience. Dertour offers 50 European Christmas market getaways to exciting destinations like Paris, Munich, Vienna and Prague. We can tailor-make your perfect trip to meet your exact requirements and ensure your Christmas holiday wishes come true!
THIS WEEK'S NEWS AND COMMENT
'Don't touch my junk' passenger sparks revolt against airport searches
Ski insurance: make sure you are covered
Stonehenge visitor centre saved by lottery's £10m
Going Dutch! Marijuana cafes could close to foreigners
Artists hoping to revive Paris nightlife
ON BEEN THERE
Win a camera
All you have to do is tip about your favourite desert adventure, from camel trekking to star gazing. And no, Vegas doesn't count. Although having said that it is in a desert ...
Flickr Friday
A newbie to Been there, New Yorker Struan Oglanby talks us through his dreamy image of the Hudson River valley
TRAVEL BLOG
Dublin's independent arts scene is a silver lining
With the Irish economy in freefall, Dublin has quietly become a city of pop-up art spaces
Ask Tom
Lonely Planet's Tom Hall on Asia's best budget airlines, how to save and see the northern lights in Sweden, where to enjoy a local vibe in San Fran, and Paris at Christmas
LATE OFFERS
Two nights in Rome, from £262pp
This offer departs on 7 December and includes two nights B&B stay at the three-star Hotel Regno in a double/twin room, a "Rome Illuminated" guided tour to see the Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, St Peter's Basilicata, Piazza Venezia and the Coliseum lit up at night, plus return flights from Gatwick with Easy-jet. Based on two sharing. sardatur-holidays.co.uk, +44 (0)208 940 8399.
A week self-catering in Wales, £300 for four
Old Oak Barn near St Clears is a renovated barn surrounded by private woodland in West Carmarthenshire, with many of the wooden features created from trees grown in the surrounding woods. Price valid throughout December (except Christmas and New Year). Sleeps four. carmarthenshire-self-catering-accommodation.co.uk, +44 (0)1994 230716.
Two-nights at the Wordsworth Hotel & Spa, Lake District, from £218pp
From now until 22 December save £71pp on a two-night stay at Wordsworth Hotel & Spa in Grasmere. This price is £109pp per night and includes full English breakfast, four-course dinner on the first night and a complimentary bottle of whiskey in the room or wine with dinner in the hotel's Signature Restaurant on the second night, plus tea and Wordsworth ginger bread on arrival and 10% discount on health and beauty treatments at the hotel's Lime Spa. Saturday nights are subject to a £5 supplement per person. Fihotels.com, +44 (0)15394 35592.
GUARDIAN COTTAGES AND VILLAS
Guardian Cottages and Villas service
Search 10,000 UK cottages and 5,000 villas and gites across Europe
COMING UP
On the way on theguardian.com
Coming up: LIVE Q&A on green travel; Video: city guide to Ravenna in Italy; plus post your questions to Lonely Planet's Tom Hall
GUARDIAN HOLIDAY OFFERS
Guardian holiday offers
Our site brings you the best holidays available from our hand-picked suppliers. We use specialist companies that we trust to look after our readers
The Best of Egypt - 15 nights from £1,399
