Welcome to the Flyer. This week:
The holidays are over, but we want to know what you did this summer. Put your experiences to paper and you could be heading off on the holiday of a lifetime - and see your work in print into the bargain. Read on for how to enter our fantastic 2010 Travel Writing Competition. Elsewhere this week, our My City video guide hits Barcelona in the company of Spanish designer Javier Mariscal; Been there goes retro with a guide to the world's best vintage shops; plus all the latest news and comment, late deals and more.
READERS' TRAVEL WRITING COMPETITION
Ever fancied yourself as a travel writer?
Enter our competition and you could see your story in print and win an incredible holiday - including whale watching in Canada, a trip to Norway's fjordland, and an adventure holiday in Tasmania.
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Great deals with Round The World Experts
Round The world Experts – the UK's biggest multi-stop flight specialist – always has great experiences on offer. Right now, they've got a flight which takes you to St Petersburg in Russia where you can hop on board the Trans Mongolian or Trans Siberian trains, then pick up your flight again in Shanghai to explore more of Asia, Australasia and beyond. Flight and train combined start at £3,429.
The world is truly your oyster with Round The World Experts and their free Travel Butler service means you can change flights or any land booking as you travel or just ask for advice as you travel. Check out the website roundtheworldexperts.co.uk or call and talk to an expert on 0844 499 9315.
THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS
In search of Errol Flynn's Jamaica
Military style: Jon Ronson in Sardinia on a naval base turned modernist hotel
Smorgas-bard: top 10 budget eats in Shakespeare country
Video: My City - designer Javier Mariscal's guide to his adopted hometown of Barcelona
Frankfurt: your next high-speed rail city-break destination. Plus beyond Frankfurt in the Rhine Valley
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Mediterranean holidays from just £139
Specialists to Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Croatia and more. Villas, traditional apartments and a range of hotels from simple to luxury. Flights from 20 UK airports
THIS WEEK'S NEWS AND COMMENT
TripAdvisor could face legal action over reviews
Gap year insurance claims up 61%
Machu Picchu train halted over water protests
After dark tours at Rome's ancient baths
'Toxic' Olympics effect may hit UK visitor numbers, warns tourist body
ON BEEN THERE
Vintage flare
Win a camera: Send us your tips on vintage shops and the best will be included in next Saturday's Travel guide
Your Alaska
New Been there reader's guide to Alaska, plus add your own tips
TRAVEL BLOG
Ask Tom
Tom Hall, from Lonely Planet, offers expert advice on finding a way to the Ashes in Australia, hitting the Scottish Highlands and getting from Marrakech to Cairo
WINTER SUN WATCH
Where's hot now? our weekly update on the best sunny autumn getaways
LATE OFFERS
Winter sun in Sardinia, from £498pp (save £399)
Depart 9 Oct for this holiday at four-star Hotel Petra Bianca in Costa Smerelda. Cost includes return flights from London Gatwick to Olbia (North Sardinia), all transfers and seven nights' accommodation on a B&B basis. sardatur-holidays.co.uk, +44 (0)208 940 8399.
Two-night activity stay at Whitepod, Switzerland from £570pp
This offer is for a Discovery stay at award-winning eco hotel Whitepod, situated 1,400m, above Les Cerniers. Price includes two nights' accommodation with breakfast and gourmet dinner, two massages, guided snowshoeing and ski touring. Price applies Sunday to Friday (£630pp Friday to Sunday). whitepod.com
Horsey half-term in Cornwall, £810 for six
This price is for a week in Scrumpy Cottage in Mullion Cove, West Cornwall (sleeping six, £135pp at capacity) from 23 Oct. You can arrange hacks and beach rides with qualified instructors at the on-site riding stables or help out with grooming or mucking out. There's an activity barn with indoor tennis, badminton and football plus a games room, sandpit, trampolines, and play park. Babysitting can be arranged from £5 per hour. holidaycottages.co.uk
Half-term stay in an artist's studio in Cornwall, £600
This price is for a week's stay at Orchard Flower Farm, near Penzance. A converted studio where master printer, Hugh Stoneman worked with artists such as Sir Terry Frost, Sandra Blow and Grayson Perry, it's hung with original prints from the artists and has a six-acre garden to explore. Sleeps two. Available from 22 Oct. boutique-retreats.co.uk
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
Video: this week's My City guide takes you on a tour of Lisbon in the company of local film-maker Joao Pedro Rodrigues; Lonely Planet's Tom Hall answers your travel questions live online; plus we reveal the winning images from this month's Been there photo competition
DID YOU MISS ...
In Saturday's Travel Guardian
Remotest Russia: into the wilderness of Kamchatka and the Altai mountains; Karl Pilkington reviews the world, Jon Ronson on a military base turned design hotel in Sardinia, plus Sally Shalam's hotel guide finds a bit of Americana in Kent
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
Canada's Rocky Mountaineer - 8 nights from £1,699
