Did you notice the Competitours ad on our blog? We don’t normally carry ads on the blog, but in this case we’re making an exception because (yes this is a pop quiz):
(a) we at Viator like what they do
(b) we’ve decided to provide their contestants with trip planning and tour advice
(c) they’re paying us a heap of money
(d) we’re wondering if Tyler MacNiven can hack it
If you answered (a), (b) or (d) you are correct! We at Viator love their idea to take The Amazing Raceâ„¢ idea and apply it to your average Joe & Jane travelers.
Huh? you ask. Let us explain.
Competitours is a reality travel competition. Unlike The Amazing Raceâ„¢, which winnows down thousands of contestants into a small elite group of teams, Competitours takes average travelers – people like you, like us – and transforms then into reality travel contestants. Teams compete with a group of other teams to earn points by accomplishing fun, quirky and interactive challenges while traveling on a secret itinerary in Europe. And yeah, there are prizes. The winning team earns a worldwide travel spree.
The catch? There isn’t one, really. You pay a fee (anywhere from $1,995 to $2,995 depending on how fancy you want to travel) and Competitours pays for your airfare, hotels and Eurail pass. Trips last 8 – 14 days, so you’re getting a decent value when you factor in airfare, accommodation and transport. Plus, you earn a chance to win thyousands of dollars in free travel, free hotel nights, and plain ol’ cash.
There are 17 to 24 teams competing in each of the contests. This summer, for example, three competitions are offered: July 9 – 23, July 28 – August 6, and August 10 – 17. The itineraries are kept secret, but include mainstream and off-beat destinations across Europe.
It sounds pretty cool to us. And if you’re a fan of the Amazing Race, you’ll remember Tyler MacNiven (the season 9 winner). He’s on the July 28 Competitours trip. Wouldn’t it be fun to kick his travel butt and take home the top prize? Why yes, it would. So head on over to the Competitours website, learn more, and sign up!
-Viator Travel Team
June 26, 2009 at 7:21 AM
This sounds like a blast. The mix of must-see sights and off-beat places is exactly what a trip should be made of. When you travel on your own, it’s a good idea to do a lot of research to make sure you see the coolest places that are off the beaten path too.