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ISIConnect NEWS - January 2003
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Welcome to the January edition of ISIConnect NEWS.

A whole new year means more adventures to be had. Read about where 
to go and how to get the most out of your travels in January 
ISIConnect NEWS.

In ISIConnect NEWS this month we put the spotlight on ContactMe 
cards, which are a super convenient way of handing out your own 
personal contact details to friends and family. You can also win 
more ISIConnect call time by sending us your opinions, 
recommendation about websites, or entering our competition.  

The Missing Link uncovers the best websites for locating wicked 
hostels and travel destinations. And finally, Best of the Fests is 
getting into the travel expos and celebrating all things French.

Happy trails!

The ISIConnect Team

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THIS MONTH IN ISIConnect NEWS
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1. What's new? - Get 10 FREE text messages!
2. Win US$50 each month - Your favourite place to stay
3. Best of the Fests - Travel show and vive la France!
4. Spotlight on...  - ContactMe Cards
5. ISIC Discounts Around the World
6. The Missing Link - The top hostels & tourism destinations
7. The Vent  - Your place to exhale


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1. WHAT'S NEW? - GET 10 FREE TEXT MESSAGES
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~ Get 10 FREE text messages ~

Send 10 text messages during February and receive another 10 text 
messages FREE!

Terms and conditions
- Members must send 10 text messages from the website between February 
1st and February 28th.
- The 10 text messages sent must be paid messages. Bonus text messages 
from previous promotions will not be counted.
- Free text messages are valid until 31st May, 2003. 
- Free text messages cannot be redeemed for cash.


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2. WIN US$50 - YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO STAY
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Running low on cash but you want to call your friends and family? 
Enter our competition to win one of two US$50 account credits. 
Simply answer the question below and tell us about the most 
excellent place you have ever stayed at and why.

1. In what city was the 2000 Olympics held in? 

2.  Tell us about your favourite accommodation you have stayed at 
and what made it so special.

A US$50 account credit will go to the two correct and best! Give 
us a shout at ISIConnectNews@ekit.com. Don't forget to tell us 
what country you are from.

Congratulations to Paul and José who are this month's winners for 
telling us about their favourite drink. A US$50 account credit is 
on its way!


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3. BEST OF THE FESTS
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~~ A what's on guide to the world ~~

30 January - 2 February
The Daily Telegraph Destinations 2003
Olympia Exhibition Hall
London, England

Not sure where you want to go on your next holiday? Well get 
along to The Daily Telegraph's Destination 2003 and immerse 
yourself in a travel extravaganza. The event gives you a taste 
test for all the holidays you've ever dreamed of, evoking the 
sights, sounds and experiences of cultures and countries all over 
the world. From romantic cruises to adrenaline pumping action 
holidays, experts from the travel industry are on hand to offer 
advice. There are also talks from well-known travel writers and 
journalists. 

For more information, visit:
http://www.destinationsshow.com/page.cfm

17-19 January 2003 (Every year)
Vive la France (French Lifestyle Exhibition)
London, England

If you want to discover the secrets of the French then delve 
beyond the snails and champagne at Vive La France in London 
during January. Francophiles and the curious alike can purchase 
the latest outfits, furnishings as well as get inspiration for 
holidays in France. 

For more information, visit:
http://www.whatsonwhen.com/events/event.asp?/events/~76190.jml


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4. SPOTLIGHT ON...ContactMe Cards
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Each month we give you the inside info about a useful part of 
the ISIConnect service. This month it is ContactMe Cards.

~~ ContactMe Cards ~~~

Before you head off on your journey, print out your ContactMe 
Cards to give to your family and friends. Your ContactMe Cards 
are the same size as a business card and easily fit into a wallet. 
Each card includes your account number and instructions on how 
your family and friends can leave you voice messages for FREE. So 
they'll have no excuse not to stay in touch.

To print your ContactMe Cards: 
1. Log in to the website.
2. In the side menu, click My Contact Details.
3. Select the country your friend(s) will be calling from. 
4. Click continue

* Your ContactMe Cards will open in a new window ready to be 
printed. From the tool bar on your Web Browser click File, then 
select Print. 


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5. ISIC Discounts Around the World
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Not only does your ISIC provide great calling rates with 
ISIConnect, you also save tons on international travel. Once you 
get where you're going, you can also keep on the move with 
fantastic local transport offers around the globe. Now there's no 
excuse to just sit around.  Below is a just a sample of ISIC 
offers.

Canada
Save up to 35% off train travel with your ISIC on Via Rail 
throughout Canada.

Chile
ISIC holders receive a 15% discount off bus trips with Busses Tas 
Choapa throughout Chile.

Costa Rica
Panaline, Nicabus, Tica Bus and Transnica offer from 10-12% 
discount on travel from Costa Rica to neighbouring countries.

Greece
Visits all the wonders of the ancient world with OSE (National 
Rail) and save 25%.

Estonia
20% off for ISIC holders under 26 on the Silja Line Ferry between 
Stockholm and Helsinki.

Peru
Save 10% off bus trips with Bus Parrendero in Lima.

Russia (St. Petersburg)
ISIC holders get 10% discount on Intercars Bus company routes to 
Europe.
	
South Africa (Cape Town)
Receive a 15% discount with ISIC on trips taken in the Western 
Cape with the Intercape Mainliner Coach.

Spain
Travel by coach between Madrid and Seville and receive up to 20% 
discount with Socibus.

Singapore
Take a return trip by ferry to Bintan, Indonesia and enjoy the 
preferential rate offered to ISIC holders of 28 SGD.

For more info on transport discounts worldwide, see www.isic.org. 


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6. THE MISSING LINK
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~~ Great travel related sites ~~

Top 20 hostels in the world
www.wisenomad.com/hostels/top20.html
Visit this site to get the inside info on the top 20 hostels in 
the world. Beaches Hostel, located in Airlies Beach Australia was 
rated number 1 based on the area, hostel activities, amenities, 
cleanliness, friendliness, quiet sleep among other factors. Also 
find out the top 20 hostels in Australia, Europe and USA.    

Top 15 travel destinations
www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0198352.html
Did you know that France is the number 1 travel destination, 
according to the World Tourism Organisation. Visit this website to 
find out the top 15 tourism destinations, and a few reason why you 
should add them to your holiday list. 

For other great travel destination information, visit www.ISIC.org!

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7. THE VENT
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~~ Everybody's got an opinion. What's yours? ~~

G'day!

Just wanted to say thanks to ISIConnect for developing the 
web-based text messaging - it's been fantastic. I'm living in 
Philadelphia and it's been easy and really cheap to just hop 
online and send text messages to friends around the world to say 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Thanks to the ISIConnect team for making life for travellers much 
easier and cheaper!

Cheers.

- Sam T (originally from Australia, now Philadelphia resident)

Thanks Sam for your contributions to ISIConnect NEWS - a US$20 
account credit is on its way! Send your opinion 
to ISIConnectNews@ekit.com.

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This is your newsletter and we want your thoughts. Did ISIConnect 
NEWS rock your world or induce a spontaneous siesta? Were you 
enlightened, or did you switch off? Tell us what you think and 
what you want to see in the next edition. Send your thoughts to 
ISIConnectNews@ekit.com.
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