For the most part, group tours are boring. I have no interest in paying a premium to drive by monuments, visit a museum or two, and take a generic walking tour of a world capital. I can do that on my own — or most likely, I’ll skip it and do something that better fits my interests.
The one tour that caught my interest enough to participate is truly one-of-a-kind: Competitours. It’s marketed as “The Amazing Race for regular people” and sure enough, there are a lot of similarities to the TV competition.
You and a partner will head to undisclosed mystery locations in Europe to complete unique challenges, earn points, and maybe earn prizes. And while I don’t care about winning, I do care about sightDOING and this tour has LOTS of it. Among other things, I tried fencing in Maastricht (home to the Three Musketeers), made Belgian chocolate in Brussels, and even turned eating into an “activity” by dining in the dark to simulate blindness.
Every year’s trip is different, so what I did has no bearing on what this year’s participants will do. You may or may not go to some of the same cities and you may or may not do similar activities.
What I do know is that you’ll have a good time — and that the activities are structured to encourage camaraderie across teams. I still keep in touch with several trip participants from my 2014 competition and you just might end up with a new friend!
The manager and tour leader, Steve, runs just one tour per summer and this year’s trip is scheduled for June 25 – July 5. I can’t go because I’ll be in the midst of my own European adventure, but there are still spots for YOU to join! Full details are available online, but you’re welcome to ask me any questions you have or shoot Steve an email and let him know I sent you.
Top 7 Tips for Joining Competitours
- Embrace the Spontaneity and Mystery: When you find out you’re headed to Rome (or wherever it is you’re headed), don’t expect to see the Colosseum because you might not have time. Enjoy the activities that are scheduled — and plan a return trip to see city highlights on your own.
- Pack Lightly: You’ll change hotels every day or two, so with the continuous packing and unpacking, you’ll want to be nimble. I love my eBags backpack, which comes in “junior” and full-size versions and should be just enough space for the basics.
- Arrive Early and Depart Late: If at all possible, plan on arriving a day early and staying an extra day at the end. The tour is great value because there are so many included activities, but you won’t have much free time for rest, relaxation, or city sightseeing. Add time for yourself!
- Pay for Premium Data on Your Phone: Some challenges will require you to have Google Maps on your phone and others require you to upload video of your participation. Wi-Fi isn’t always available, and even T-Mobile’s FREE international data isn’t always fast enough. Buy a local SIM card or pay for upgraded coverage.
- Get to Know Your Fellow Competitouristas Ahead of Time: Before my trip, Steve set up an online message board to communicate with the other participants, which is a GREAT way to feel like you aren’t traveling with strangers.
- Don’t Expect to Win: You’ll have a better time on the trip if you set your expectations that this is a great vacation with lots of unique experiences and activities rather than getting frustrated if you’re not in the lead.
- Look for (Almost Free) Airfare: Competitours isn’t cheap, especially if you’re used to budget travel. Instead, focus on value travel: you’ll literally receive access to activities you could never arrange independently. Save on the bottom line by redeeming frequent flyer miles, like those from my favorite credit card. If you need help, fill out a request at Book Your Award and Steve and I will help!
This article originally appeared on thegirlandglobe.com