Competitours – One Of The Best Travel Competitions Ever

Competitours – One Of The Best Travel Competitions Ever

When it comes to travel, we, at The Bucket List Project, tend to be more active travelers than passive. That doesn’t mean we don’t love to relax on a beautiful beach somewhere. But overall, most of the Bucket List Project’s Travel and Adventure Activities are focused around unique adventures around the world. Perhaps, that is why we love ideas like the Amazing Race on television. Shows that are based around travel competitions allow us to see people in exotic locations doing exciting things. But is it possible for ordinary people like us to participate in amazing travel competitions like the people on tv? The answer is yes, with Competitours!

Are you wondering what makes Competitours one of the best travel competitions ever? Well, we have come up with 10 reasons why you need to add a Competitours trip to your The Adventure Activities & Experiences Bucket List now!

1) You will discover amazing “mystery” locations

4 different types of Secret tours you might participate in a Competitours Race

The idea “To boldly go where no man has gone before” given to us by Star Trek is perhaps one of the biggest reasons people travel. Of course, with modern technology, GPS, the ease of modern travel & the countless of travel blogs online, it seems virtually impossible to find a location not already explored by others. However, Competitours offers the unique opportunity to go on an adventure without knowing anything, until you need to know.

No matter which of their travel competitions you choose, Competitours will send you zigzagging through 2-3 unique and unexpected regions across Europe. You may start by flying to Brussels, but later you will be trying to catch a train from Dusseldorf to Vaals, and then find yourself riding the bus to Andorra. You just never know and it changes every year!

for us it was Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, and Switzerland. I think the biggest thing you have to understand about Competitours is that it’s an amazing way to see Europe in a way you never would’ve imagined and certainly not one that you’d ever be able to plan yourself.” ~Will Tang of Going Awesome Places, competitor in the 2015 season of Competitours

2) You will participate in thrilling activities that won’t kill you

Competitours participant Will Tang loved learning how to fence
Competitours participant Will Tang loved learning how to fence on the spot and putting his skills to the test.

If you are like us, then there are plenty of thrilling activities on your bucket list. But there are also plenty of wild and dangerous activities that may be on your Anti-Bucket List, things you wouldn’t do for a million dollars! For example, we always cringe when we see bungee jumping or sky diving activities on shows like the Amazing Race.

With Competitours, you will get a chance to attempt interesting and adrenaline pumping activities that you may have never tried before or even considered trying. For example, in one of the travel competitions you might participate in a scavenger hunt in Copenhagen while in another you may be screaming, “En Guard” as you learn how to fence.

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3) You will get outdoors

Jerry Mizer and wife climbed via ferrata in the Italian alps during a Competitours Competition
Jerry Mizer and wife climbed via ferrata in the Italian alps

Another great feature of the Competitours’ Challenges is that they will get you outdoors! There is nothing worse than the feeling of being Museum-weary in yet another European city. But there is a good chance that in the mystery itinerary you will find yourself climbing a Via Ferrata in the Italian Alps like Jerry Mizer and his wife. Or perhaps you may end up in Samsø, Denmark looking at a six-acre labyrinth full of twisty multi-path trails through 40-foot tall trees, scrub brush, while trying to capture proof that you found seven stated objects like Joy Richardson experienced.

4) You will get involved in unique cultural activities

Competitours Team We3Travels learning how to dance Flamenco at Gracia Flamenco in Barcelona, Spain
Team We3Travels at Gracia Flamenco in Barcelona, Spain

Of course one of the biggest reasons to travel is to experience new cultures. Unfortunately, sometimes travelers just observe the different nuances or experiences. But with the travel competitions put on by Competitours, you will find yourself diving feet first into an amazing and unique experience. Plus it will offer a more enriching experience by allowing you to meet locals and try things that you may have never tried if you had planned the trip on your own.

For example, John Moss of team We3Travels, shared how in Barcelona, Spain, he and his teammates had just 30 minutes to learn how to Flamenco and then showcase their “skills” in front of some tough judges! Afterward, the instructors treated them to a show of traditional flamenco dances along with a serenade from a flamenco guitarist.

5) You won’t have to gag down a disgusting food challenge

Competitour racer Becky Pokora making homemade Ravioli on the Amalfi Coast, Italy
Becky Pokora making homemade Ravioli on the Amalfi Coast, Italy

One of our biggest pet peeves about the Amazing Race is that they often create some challenge that involves eating gross food, often just for shock value. Don’t get us wrong, we would eat a 1,000 Year old egg or live squid to potentially win a million dollars in any of the travel competitions out there. But when it comes to food challenges, Competitours either takes a culturally relevant approach or an experience that is unique and fun for all.

With Regards to a culturally relevant approach, for example, Becky Pokora shared that one of her most favorite challenges of the entire time was making lemon gelato in Sorrento, Italy. Becky shared:

We didn’t have a recipe!! At the end, we were judged by a master for the closest to a traditional gelato but points were also half-based on your fellow competitors in a blind test. So you end up getting creative and thinking strategically…if you can’t please the judge, can you make something that will be popular with a crowd? The good news is that it’s hard to mess up gelato.

When it comes to a unique and fun experience, Jo Piz shared how one night she and her mom had a “dinner in the dark” where they ate an entire four course meal in total blackout. For them, it had to be one of the most strange experiences ever. Jo said:

I can’t really explain it. It was just so weird. I literally used my fingers to eat the majority of the meal because I kept misplacing my fork. I always knew where my wine glass was though :-)”

6) You can’t get disqualified and sent home

The Amazing Race final mat for each leg where teams get eliminated
For those who watch travel competitions on tv, one of the most disappointing parts is when your favorite team either gets disqualified, voted out by the other members, or is the last to arrive at the pit stop and gets sent home. Who wants to start a race only to not be able to finish it? I would rather race the entire race and finish last, than not finish at all! With Competitours, whether you are ahead on points or at the bottom of the totem pole, you will spend the entire time participating in their mystery events and seeing amazing new places!

7) You might win some amazing prize money

The Competitours Travel Competition's Winning Trophy and Cash Prize
One of the coolest features about the different travel competitions put on by Competitours is that you will get the opportunity to not only accomplish fun, hands-on challenges, but you will do it all in pursuit of several cash grand prizes. Currently they are offering a $3000 grand prize that is be split between the top 3 placing teams. (50% 1st place, 30% 2nd place and 20% 3rd place)

Of course, winning cash prizes and bragging rights is awesome. But one of the coolest things we found was that most past competitors agreed that it wasn’t all that important to them. For example, Bob Maggio who competed with his wife shared:

We honestly did not care about the prize. I stopped looking at the leader board after day 3; my wife stopped looking after day 5. We both realized we were not in this for the prize or to win. Instead we simply wanted to enjoy each experience and location to the greatest extent possible as this was our vacation.”

8) You don’t have to create some stupid application video

Man creating an entry video for the Amazing Race
Even if you have an amazing on camera presence, there is no guarantee that you will accepted to those tv travel competitions based on your application video. Therefore, most people don’t even try. With Competitours, you never have to create video to see if they will take you. If you want to compete, all you have to do is register your team for any of the travel competitions they have available. Simple as that.

Plus, you never have to worry about some camera man filming you as you scream like a little girl while you whip down the world’s longest alpine coaster enjoying stunning views of the Swiss Alps. That is of course, unless your teammates want to have something to blackmail you with later!

9) You will meet amazing new friends for life

The Competitours 2018 competitors in the country of Andorra
The Competitours 2018 competitors in the country of Andorra (photo by John Moss)

Famous Irish Poet, William Yeats once said, “There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t yet met.” This is definitely a truism you discover when travelling anywhere in the world. Plus, it can definitely be seen in travel competitions like Competitours. If you have ever participated in any sort of competition, then you know there is always a bit of rivalry. But with these adventures and challenges, you actually find yourself coming together in shared experiences that can create lifelong bonds.

Bob Maggio said, “It was amazing to see such a diverse set of strangers come together and be so comfortable with each other so quickly.” While another competitor, Jerry Mizer similarly said, “we now have friends – good friends – in several States and Canada that we’ve met with since Competitours and regularly keep in touch with several more…their weddings, births of their children, etc.”

10) You won’t meet Phil Keoghan but Steve Belkin is a close 2nd…okay maybe 3rd!

Steve Belkin the creator of the Adventure Travel Competition, Competitours
In 2009, after participating in a global scavenger hunt a few years before, Steve Belkin started Competitours. According to an interview with Cleveland.com, Steve shared that he wanted to create less intense travel competitions. Basically, he wanted challenges and adventures that would provide unique twists on familiar destinations.

On top of Competitours, Belkin, also operates a website called bookyouraward.com, which helps frequent flyers book complicated international travel using reward miles. So if you have airline miles and/or credit card points, his team can help you redeem them. Or if you don’t have any, they can help you jumpstart accumulating them so that you can redeem them in lieu of purchasing airfare outright.

On Your Marks…Get Set….GO!!

The Competitours Travel Race Across Europe Registration Page
So you have found an unsuspecting teammate and you are both ready to take on one of the best travel competitions ever. Now What? Well it’s quite simple and easy! Decide on whether what dates you want to tour Europe in the this Summer and register online! With races this summer, you will arrive at a Secret starting location & go on an Epic 9 Day/10Night competition across Europe! This year, Competitours has two upcoming Summer travel competitions available:

Summer 2020 Race #1: July 1 – 12

Summer 2020 Race #2: July 21 – 31

As you can see, Competitours might be one of the best travel competitions ever. Plus it might be one of the craziest and most unique bucket list experience a person can have in Europe! So have you ever wanted to be on the Amazing Race? Is entering travel competitions like a Competitours event on your Bucket List? If so, which So which race do you want to sign up for this summer? Let us know in the comments below!

Don’t forget to Pin this to your Bucket List Board! Pinterest Picture of the Secret Routing for Competitours - One Of The Best Travel Competitions Ever

Top Resources for Your Travel Bucket List

Some of the biggest questions people are always asking us is, how we are able to afford to travel so much? So to help, below, you will see some of our Favorite tools to help you tick off any bucket list travel items:

  • Flights: By now it should be pretty obvious that Travel is a major part of The Bucket List Project and is most likely a big part of yours. That is why one of our first stops when looking for flights anywhere is Kiwi. However, if you have time, we also recommend signing up with Dollar Flight Club! Through the daily emails they send us, we have used them to save on average about $350+ on Round trip internationally.
  • Accommodations: Not going to lie, we love renting unique accommodations from local hosts through Airbnb. However, if you are looking for 5 Star hotels, Pensions on the Camino de Santiago, or a hostel in Portugal, Booking.com can take care of you.
  • Activities & Tours: There are tons of tour groups and organizations out there that can facilitate your bucket list adventure. But for us, we tend to start with Viator since they have a Low Price Guarantee! However, if we are just looking for day adventures or something a little smaller, GetYourGuide is a great resource with over 40,000 activities worldwide.
  • Disclaimer: The Bucket List Project partnered with the travel competitions company Competitours. With that said, all opinions in “Competitours – One of the best Travel Competions Ever” are our own. Also, “Competitours – One of the best Travel Competions Ever” may contain affiliate links. Using the links doesn’t cost you any extra. Plus, it helps keep The Bucket List Project Blog free, fun, and community supported! We will never recommend a product we don’t genuinely believe in and trust.

    53 thoughts on “Competitours – One Of The Best Travel Competitions Ever

    1. Sounds like so much fun! I’d love to sign up for this. Just waiting for the right moment for me.

    2. I really like the idea of having different opportunities on holiday, outside of the obvious ones. Has the race expired for 2020 then? As it looked like it was in July this year. Will there be one for 2021?

    3. Although it sounds really fun overall, the food challenge is quite offputting. I’m really sensitive – only I even had to throw up when I saw a candidate eat something gross on TV…actually thinking back, this makes me really laugh – today.

    4. Never really heard of travelling competitours before but it seems like a great experience, it’s always good to meet new people and do fun things!

    5. I have never heard of this but as a traveler person this is such a lot of fun and excitement adventure. I’ve watched amazing race show before and I really love this show.

    6. I have never heard of this, it sounds amazing! This would be the adventure of a lifetime, it both sounds and looks like it would be very exciting. Thanks for sharing this!

    7. Sounds fun. But I’m too much of a planner to leave things to random happenstance of others ideas of ‘fun’. Plus things like making gelato isn’t something I’d do as a vegan.

      1. Well, I hope you dont let being vegan or an organizer prevent you from having such amazing adventures and learning about different activities around the world! Trust me, I love a good check list as much as the next person but just remember what Allen Saunders said, “Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans!”

    8. Haha this sounds like a good bit of fun to me. I need to check this out asap, thanks for sharing this xx

    9. Competitours sounds really cool! And I wonder why I’ve learned about it only now. Would love to join one some day.

    10. I’ve never heard of the amazing race or competitors, from your summary I can see lots of reasons why competitors would be far better. It sounds like a lot of fun 🙂

    11. I’ve never heard about Competitours before, but I absolutely love The Amazing Race. I always feel bad for the teams that are eliminated, so I love the fact that this allows all the teams to complete the challenge, regardless of where they stand according to the points.

    12. This sounds kind of strange but great fun! I’m not the competitive type usually, but if it is travel related then I’m definitely on board! Food is very important to me, so I’m glad I wouldn’t have to do any gross challenges!

    13. I like the sound of these tours. Glad to see that we don’t have to make one of those videos to compete. And yet you can do all those amazing activities and have a great time. Guess I need to now find a companion.

    14. I have never here of Competitours. I am sure it would be an interesting way to see unique and unexpected regions. We would love the outdoor activities. Especially the ones that are a bit more thrilling. But good to know that we would not have to eat disgusting foods. An interesting option to remember.

    15. What a brilliant competition! I love that you don’t need to create an application video, that always turns me off on this sort of contests. I bet loads of my friends would love that idea, too, I will share this!

    16. I had no idea that something like this existed. It looks like such fun and the activities are interesting as well.

      I totally agree with you about the food aspect of the Amazing Race. I really can’t see the point to some of the things that people have to eat, but I suppose it’s a big prize and some people will do anything to win it.

    17. All good reasons to participate but the most attractive one for me was that I would not have to make some silly application video haha. Because that’s one big reason I end up NOT participating. Thanks for this, I have never heard of competitours so this has been a good find for me!

    18. I’ll have to tell you, competing on the Amazing Race (minus gross food challenges) has been on my bucket list. The application process seemed tedious and I didn’t really care about the the prize money. It was all about the experience. It sounds like Competitors tooks exactly what I was looking for and put it into a package. There are times I like to tediously plan my vacations, but, since it’s mystery routing anyway than all I can do is sit back and enjoy the ride.

    19. If money and visa is not an issue, I’ll definitely sign up here. I wish they have something like this is Southeast Asia too!

    20. So many reasons to do this and I didnt need any! I want to do this right now. Sounds so much better than TV shows! 😛

    21. I didn’t need 10 reasons to like this! I think it is a brilliant idea and I am looking more into it!

    22. Mystery places, cultural activities, meeting new friends sound amazing, are all reasons for me to sign up for the travel competition. I always enjoy reading your post.

    23. Oh my goodness this is awesome! I have always dreamt of an Amazing Race style holiday (but slightly more chill) and this is a dream.
      Ebony

    24. Interesting.. This seems like something i should do for i have been looking forward to something like this but this isnt a perfect time for me as this isnt what i need at that this time.. Nice concept.

    25. This sounds like the perfect family activity!
      Honestly! You get to travel, meet people, make some friends, and have fun along the way.
      What’s there to lose?

    26. Bahahaha, this is basically how my friend and I traveled through Europe in college. No idea what was going to happen next – except no one was planning it for us, so our shenanigans were much less safe. I seriously love this idea, and I don’t even think the company has to sell it as a “competition.” So many people hate planning vacations, this is perfect for them too!

    27. I can think of 10 people who should totally sign up for travel competition. I myself could not afford to miss work, and am not willing to eat random things for money. What a great article.

    28. what do you have to lose… getting to have all the fun of the reality show travel programs without the stress of getting kicked off… sounds just perfect to me.

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