We love a good adventure and challenge, so when Competitours asked us to share their unique competitive tours with our readers, we couldn’t resist. I’m used to spending too much money on vacation, so the thought of competing to win money while having fun in a new destination is pretty intriguing.
What is Competitours All About?
Pick a Team
11 pairs of teams compete to accomplish daily surprise challenges while on a 11-day mystery itinerary of Western Europe, with up to a $6600 cash prize to be divvied up by the top three teams. Think ‘The Amazing’ Race‘, but for regular people — no weird food, bug-eating, exhausting tasks or drama queens. The destinations are unknown, but feature a mix of big cities, walkable villages, coastal hamlets and a jaunt through the mountains. Each destination is revealed with just a scant 24-36 hours notice each day.
The Challenges
The challenges are unknown and they are structured to nudge you out of your comfort zone. The challenges will bring out skill sets that may have been unknown to you. But rest assured, Competitours challenges are about being creative, resourceful and impromptu, NOT about speed or fitness, so expect a level playing field with all ages well represented.
Teams will participate in a mix of head to head challenges at the same venue, but not necessarily at the same time; and a menu of challenges can be selected by each team to best reflect their personal interests and preferences. But all challenges have three common themes: to generate some personal growth; to provide you a fun, quirky and most importantly hands-on perspective on local history, culture, food and handicrafts.
Making New Friends
The trip dynamic is quite unique, as teams enjoy rivalry during the day, but revelry at night as many teams bond over swapping war stories of that day. While winning is a goal, team bonding is inevitable as teams realize that they are traveling with kindred spirits who enjoy the thrill of the unknown.
The Scoring
The scoring is typically based on a mix of objective and subjective criteria. In most instances, more than 90% of the teams are in the running for the top three spots until the last day, for maximum suspense.
Will There Be Downtime?
Each day is scheduled to ensure teams have enough downtime to explore sights and shopping on their own, choose their dining preference. Further, most days are structured so that the teams are responsible for their own local transport which ensures teams rub shoulders with local folks. No tour buses, no waiting for stragglers, no rigid schedules that force you to stay longer or leave earlier than you want.
The Location and Accommodation
Company owner Steve Belkin travels to Europe yearly to negotiate the special arrangements or exclusive access or to find the remote location to ensure that no other company can replicate a Competitours experience.
Steve invests his customers’ trip fee carefully- emphasizing memorable and compelling activities that are done while awake. While the hotels aren’t Five Star, the whole point is to experience an adventure. Though participants should expect solid Three-Star hotels that are handpicked by the tour. Plus, don’t expect to spend much time in the room, as the only time you will be there is to sleep and shower.
An Added Bonus
Steve is an expert at playing the airline mileage game, so he offers his skills to help teams redeem miles for free tickets and to help generate miles for teams that need them, to mitigate airfare costs. That’s a nice touch, not typically offered by a tour company.
The Cost
The tours cost $3975 per person and includes all lodging, challenge admissions/fees, inter-city transport and some meals. To learn more, visit Competitours website.
This post is sponsored by Competitours. As always, all opinions are our own.