Transforming the Amazing Race From Reality TV to Reality.
Posted December 27th, 2008 by Liz LewisEvery time I sit down to watch The Amazing Race I think to myself ‘I could do that.’
Of course, it’s easy to say you could do something when you know it’s never going to happen.
But what if you did have the opportunity – would you jump on in with both feet or run away and hide?
Well, some innovative and adventurous souls have been transforming The Amazing Race concept into reality, which means, if you are up for it, you can give it a try.
For those with a competitive spirit, there is the annual Global Scavenger Hunt, three-week international travel adventure competition that will visit at least 10 nations on 4 continents between April 17th & May 9th, 2009. In it’s fifth year, this is the real deal, aiming to “test each Team’s ability to combat not only the inevitable jetlag, but language difficulties, cultural differences, their appetite for strange foods, logistical snafus, and Team dynamics in the atmosphere of a well organized competition.” An Amazing Race without the cameras.
The Global Scavenger Hunt is limited to 25 two-person Teams (singles may apply). The entry fee of $9,900 per person covers all international airfare, 23-nights in First Class hotels and about 40% of meals. Teams are interviewed for suitability. You can sign up here.
If that sounds a little too strenous for you, then maybe Competitours might be a better match for you. According to Intelligent Travel, this new tour company has been set up by Steve Belkin, a former TV producer and life-long traveler, to offer Amazing Race fans a chance to experience the Amazing Race concept without the frenzy or stress. Success depends more on creativity, resourcefulness, originality and the ability to be spontaneous than on speed and strength. You and a partner (spouse, sibling, friend) team up and fly to Europe to participate in a 14 day, 5 country travel game, competing with 16 other teams to earn points by doing fun, quirky and interactive challenges (no mandatory or extremely physical stunts required). But just like the Amazing Race, your itinerary will be a secret – you’ll only get a half-days advanced notice of your next destination.
It will be interesting to see if this form of travel takes off. Back in 2006, an Australian company The Real Race, offered ‘once-in-a-lifetime fully inclusive luxury adventure tours for anyone…[with]…no losers and no eliminations, contestants participate from start to finish and accumulate points. Everyone wins just by taking part and the team with the most points at the end wins back the entire cost of their holiday!‘ But they don’t appear to have any tours listed for the future which makes me wonder if they are still being offered.
So, what do you think?
Are you an Amazing Race Traveler or an Amazing Race Couch Potato?
Me, I think I’m a bit of both.
Related posts:
- Favorite Places for ‘Amazing Race’ Host.
- Seattle’s Space Needle kicks off a new Space Race
- The Greatest Ocean Race
- Space travel: waiting for the human race to grow up
December 27th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Hi Liz-
Thanks for the roundup of team travel competition options.
I can vouch for the Global Scavenger Hunt because I participated in 04 and had a blast. The principals of the company are very travel-savvy and extremely customer friendly. For those who have the time, money and energy, its a fantastic travel opportunity.
I believe the Real Race was priced around the same as GH, around $10K USD.
Competitours is priced between $1995 and $2850 depending on the trip length, number of teams and grand prize scope. So, if affordability is an issue, Competitours offers a compelling alternative.
February 12th, 2009 at 9:20 am
5 countries in 14 days is pretty fast-paced, but to win you’ll need to be pretty up to speed on the places before you go. I reckon Competitours will be like a master-class – deep-dive learning on specific countries and cultures you’re interested in.
Sounds like a blast. We’re going to send some writers (not me unfortunately
) to document the practice run in March.
Check out The Travel Editor.com’s write up here:
http://www.thetraveleditor.com/article/1908/Feature_Article_Experience_Competitours_The_Amazing_Race_for_the_21st_Century.html
May 27th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
I’m Tyler MacNiven, I won season 9 of the Amazing Race. If you want to race around the world without being a secret agent or Amazing Race contestant, then Competitours is the best bet. I’ve been itching for race-mode again so I signed up for a Competitours race this summer. I’ll be racing with the fastest lady I know: my Mother. It is a magical experience to charge through foreign landscapes with intense, fun, and creative missions. Competitours focuses more on creativity and fun than high level stress. Winning formula if you ask me. Come race with us!
July 27th, 2009 at 11:13 am
It’s race day! (only if you are in China, because it’s still the 27th here in San Francisco). Tomorrow my Mother and I hitch a metal bird to Geneva Switzerland to begin challenging ten other innocent teams on a race of wit and mental prowess. My Mother, of whom they based the character Nancy Drew on, and I have wild expectations of expecting the unexpected. Adventure, excitement, delicious European food! Here we come!!