Got a valid ISIC (International Student Identity Card)? Or willing to get one? Do it, and get a plethora of penny pinching deals, including the latest Eurail special: buy a Eurail Global 21 day pass by December 31, 2009, and get two additional days free. Yep: that 21 day pass becomes a 23 day pass. Find out more:

• About the ISIC / Eurail Pass Special Details
• Go Directly to Rail Europe (click "Book Your Eurail Pass Now" under "A textbook example of appreciation")
• What's a Global Pass?
• How Travel Days on a Eurail Pass Work

Don't have an ISIC card? They're a snap to get:

• Get an ISIC Card

Related reading: What is Eurail | How Eurail Passes Work | Buying Eurail Passes and Tickets | Point to Point European Train Tickets | Backpacking Europe Tips

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Want to write some words of encouragement to potential student travelers and wrangle $500 while you're at it? Win the annual Transitions Abroad writing contest, open to students at several enrollment levels, by entering an essay of 1000-3000 words about your experience with study abroad, internships, volunteering, or short-term work abroad, and the money plus some well-deserved acclaim will be yours. Second place winners net $150, third place $100, runners-up $50 and all winners will be published in the April TAzine, Transitions Abroad's study abroad and educational travel webzine, or featured on the very excellent Transitions Abroad website.

See last year's winning writings for inspiration, enter by March 1, 2010 with a work centering around "Transitions," and good luck!

• Transitions Abroad Student Writing Contest

Related reading: Other Student Travel Contests | Paying for Student Travel

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Christmas markets are a wonderful holiday tradition dating from the 14th century and originating in Germany, which is still home to the world's best (and, of course, oldest) European Christmas markets; the festive fun, shopping, caroling and consumption can be found in communities across Europe and even the USA today, and kicks off around the end of November. About.com's European, UK and US Guides have assembled an awesome list of where to sample seasonal sweets and cider, buy nutcrackers and crafts, and generally enjoy good cheer on a December winter's eve:

• Blog Carnival: Christmas Markets Light Winter Nights

• Blog Carnival: Christmas Markets Light Winter Nights

See All 17 Recent About.com Travel Blog Carnivals

Related reading: Christmas Around the World for Travelers | Blog Carnival: Fall Foliage Journeys | Blog Carnival: Oktoberfest Around the World | National Park Adventures: An Adventure Travel Blog Carnival | Blog Carnival: Train Travel Worldwide | Blog Carnival: New Seven Wonders of Nature | Weird and Wacky Festivals Worldwide | Ancient Sites Around the World Blog Carnival | Adrenalin-Charged Blog Carnival

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I've got a ticket to fly on Friday, and I'm getting sick -- in fact, I'm fearing the flu. What to do? Don't want to lose my tickets; don't want to invite uncool health karma by carelessly handing fellow flyers a contagious bug. I've found facts on flying with the flu (Fear One: can I change my ticket if I'm sick?); if this sucky scenario becomes yours, too, see some of the flying with flu answers:

• Can I Fly With the Flu?

Related Reading: Where to Find Health Travel Warnings | What's Up With Swine Flu? | Do You Need Immunizations for Travel? | How to Avoid Infectious Disease Abroad | About Malaria and Travel | Bedbugs and Disease | Latin American Dengue Fever Cases Predicted to Rise

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