Press Coverage

‘Amazing Race’ For Regular People 
‘Picture ‘Amazing Race’ without the frenzy. Challenges are set up for maximum exposure to the culture, not as a test of speed or prowess.’ ‘It takes a pretty nervy guy to start a new business in this economy.’

Star in Your Own ‘Amazing Race 
‘You can bet a good percentage of (Amazing Race) viewers will turn to their couch potato partners and proclaim, “We could do that!” A new company called Competitours agrees….for travelers who crave the excitement that comes along with ‘not knowing where the hell you’ll be in 24 hours’.

Competitours- Let’s Get Real 
‘For those who want to move on from mind games to actual games, (Competitours) wants to turn your vacation into a reality TV-style competition. Think hit CBS reality show ‘Amazing Race’, but starring you. No auditions, no stunts, no drama queens.’

'Amazing Race For Ordinary Travelers' 
Competitours is the ordinary adventure traveler’s version of the Amazing Race. If you want to turn your next vacation into a reality TV-style adventure, consider this amazing race for ordinary travelers.

The nature of the challenges created to help their clients experience the place and, as a result, break out of their tourist shell, appealed to us, as did the fact that winning teams from each Competitour trip earn prizes.

Goodbye To Boring Travel 
‘Exciting and novel ideas in the travel experience are few and far between. That is why we applaud innovator Steve Belkin who felt it was time to shake things up. Competitours creates an amazing and affordable 21st century race for regular travelers in search of the fun and quirky. Steve calls it “sight-DOING”, not sightseeing. We call it brilliant. Finally, someone has put the adventure and serendipity back into travel. This is globetrotting at its best..’

Competitours: A New Kind Of Travel Concept 
‘If you’re one of the 9.3 million people who tune into the ‘Amazing Race’, then chances are that the seasoned traveler in you can’t help thinking “I could do that.” Steve Belkin, president and founder of Competitours, agrees. There are no grueling auditions or mandatory extreme stunts, previous foreign language, travel or videography experience necessary. 

Above all, its about choice. Each team can determine their own mix of mainstream vs. niche challenge itineraries. Some teams might be cynical about the Eiffel Tower, while others consider it must-see.

Compete In An ‘Amazing Race’ Without Having To Audition And Quit Your Job 
‘Competitours sounds like a great way to have all the fun of traveling without all the insanity that seems to come with the actual ‘Amazing Race’ playing conditions. They’ve devised a scoring system that will keep the standings somewhat bunched together through most of the trip, so no team will be in a hopeless position until the end of the game.’

Competitours Targets Globetrotters With Goals 
 Problem-solvers, the extra-energetic and the uninhibited -- those are the travelers most likely drawn to the Cleveland entrepreneur's new travel company, Competitours, which launches this summer.

Mandel, a first-time visitor to Europe, said the competition elevated the typical tourist experience from observer to participant. "It was neat to have a reason to talk to people in the cities we visited."

Schoenfield, 55, agreed. "It sort of pushes two people to use their own skills, whether it's figuring out the subway system or talking to local people," she said. "The idea that you don't know where you're going next, that appealed to me."

'Competitours Just As Rewarding For Also-Rans As Winners' 
Most importantly, I've gained a greater sense of travel as it should be done – with gusto, gumption and without trepidation.

‘Amazing Race’ For Real People' Ever wish you could travel through Europe while competing against other teams of travelers? I’m guessing probably not, but for those of you who wish for things like this (but are too scared or sane to try out reality TV), you’re in luck. Competitours offers normal people (by normal, I mean those not attention-starved enough to make fools of themselves like the contestants on ‘Amazing Race’), an opportunity to compete while traveling around Europe.

An Amazing Race For The Rest of Us 
You can be sarcastic, serious, whatever you want," Belkin said. "It's about whatever you do at each place, not just getting there. But you definitely have to be spontaneous to play." Competitours is not about speed. You can choose what you want to do. It's much more about being creative than being fast."

A Reality TV-Style Race Across Europe

The Luxury Of A Family Travel Competition
 'The luxury of time spent with family members cannot be overstated-or overvalued-these days. Teams made up of parents and teens or adult children (even grandparents and teens) can draw on the skills the different generations bring to the table. In terms of family teams, teens and young adults will likely be the masters of the video blogging, while older generation can use their previous travel experiences to structure each day's itinerary. There is a terrific dynamic at work with Competitours that bridges the generation gap - COLLABORATION.'

Editor’s Pick- Are You An ‘Amazing Race’ Junkie? ‘Do you watch this TV show and wish you could compete? Well, wish no more . Competitours is now offering their own exciting team travel competition for ordinary travelers who want a fun, but not breakneck-paced European trip. Don’t worry. There’s no climbing mountains, eating worms or being sleep deprived. It’s brains, creativity and spontaneity that will get you over the finish line first.’

Travel The ‘Amazing Race’ Way

Amazing Race For The Rest Of Us Every trip will be different," Belkin said. "One trip can start in Amsterdam and end in Budapest, and one can start in Oslo and end in Rome."

'New Travel Option for Adventurers' 
"So many people watch 'The Amazing Race,' " Belkin said. "They sit on their couch and say, 'I could do that.' We're calling their bluff."

'Tour Let's Joe Traveler Join Amazing Race' Belkin was inspired to launch Competitours by the success of "The Amazing Race," a weekly CBS reality TV show that sends contestants across the globe.

'European Tour Competition Resembles Amazing Race' 
If you've always dreamed of riding to the top of the Eiffel Tower and trying to persuade 15 strangers to dance the cancan, then Steve Belkin has the trip for you. Belkin, a 45-year-old Cleveland entrepreneur, is launching Competitours, an adventure vacation service that he has taken to describing as " 'The Amazing Race' for regular people."

'An Amazing Race For The Rest of Us' With a teammate, contestants journey on an 8-, 10- or 14-day tour of western and central Europe, spending their days trying to accomplish—and videotape—challenges supplied by Competitours. The challenges can range from visiting the Torture Museum in Prague and filming a video that shows how a torture instrument could be used as a non-lethal household item to the aforementioned Eiffel Tower shenanigans.

The Pitch: An ‘Amazing Race’ For The Rest Of Us 
“So many people watch ‘The Amazing Race” Belkin said. “They sit on their couch and say ‘I can do that’. We’re calling their bluff.” (A team participant) said he was lured to participate by “by the obstacles that have to be overcome and the ability to switch modes of travel. The problem solving aspect of it sounds interesting.”

Tour Company Brings ‘Amazing Race’ To Everyday Travelers
 ‘With the return of ‘The Amazing Race’, comes the inevitable I-can-do-that armchair travelers.. Now, a team travel competition gives everyday folks a chance to put up or shut up.’

It’s Lights, Camera, ‘Amazing Race’-Style Travel 
‘Unlike The Amazing Race, this competition is not based on physical prowess or dangerous stunts.’.

Competition As Vacation
 ‘Spontaneity is also a key skill, as teams will be provided only a suspenseful half-day’s notice before the next day’s destination and challenges are revealed.’

New Cleveland-Based Tours Are Mini-Versions of ‘Amazing Race’ The routes and daily itineraries remain secret to the two person teams who carry video cameras to record their (challenge) feats. Belkin calls it “travel with improve.” “We want Europe to be a blast, not a blur. We will give people time to explore.”

Santa Fe Dad, Son Hit The Road 
David Goldsmith, a seasoned traveler, thought about trying out for (‘Amazing Race’), but didn’t want to be in front of a camera constantly, and traveling through so many countries in such a short period of time wasn’t his idea of savoring the experience. Instead, the Santa Fean found an even better idea- Competitours. “It’s an opportunity to do something together (with my son) that’s full of surprises.”

'Departures From The Ordinary'
 'Instead of sightseeing, participants are sight-DOING. Anyone can get off a bus a go to the top of the Eiffel Tower and say 'I've been there'. But how many people can say they've gone to the top ...and recruited 15 total strangers to dance the can-can?

Trends in recent years have shown a dramatic increase in travelers' desires for one-of-a-kind, specialized trips such as Competitours.'

'The Amazing Race For The Average Person’ ‘University of Miami students with a sense of adventure and a taste for novelty can now live out their ‘Amazing Race’ fantasies with Competitours. Unlike the do-or-die, high adrenaline stunts and footraces to the finish marked by the TV show, challenges for Competitours are self-selected and based on creativity, giving travelers the ability to control what they see and where they go in each city.’

‘It’s sight-DOING. Its not just going to the top of the Eiffel Tower, because anyone can do that. Its going to the top and convincing 10 people to do the can-can.’

'Competitpurs As A Yes-Brainer' 
If you prefer “sight-doing” over sightseeing or TV-watching, then this is the fantasy trip you’ve been waiting for. Each day there are new surprise challenges to undertake and free time to spare. Quit romanticizing Europe in your day-dreams, get up and go!

The Newest Revamp Of European Backpacking 
‘A fusion of competition, mystery and travel, Competitours adds a new twist to touring Europe. This is basically your vacation as a travel contest.’

The ‘Amazing Race’ For Regular People ‘Some students sit in front of their TVs wishing to one day be on (‘The Amazing Race’)and have the experience of a lifetime. For them, Steve Belkin, president of Competitours has put together ‘The Amazing Race For Regular People’.

Points, Places, Prizes....A Competitours Trip Across Europe What these challenges do is make you look outside the standard tourist trail and discover the strange, more interesting sides of every city. How else would you video a beer commercial in Belgium, a dance in a Dusseldorf street or do a catwalk in a Parisian department store?

'Your mind will be stimulated, challenged, perplexed and ultimately invigorated by the daily plotting, scheming and strategic decision making', proclaims the Competitours website, and indeed the 11 teams I'm following are visibly excited proof of that.

Wannabe Amazing Racers, Listen Up; Competitours Explained 
Maybe one day you'll get on The Amazing race, but until then, there's always Competitours for living out your travel fantasies.
The most rewarding part of the Competitours experience haven't been the points or the chance at the grand prize, but instead the interaction with the locales.

'Competitours Offers Amazing Race Excitement' 
If you love The Amazing race and wish you could be a participant, Competitours is the next best thing.

'Compete Against An Amazing Race Champ In The Next Competitours' So you watch The Amazing Race and you can see yourself winning if you only had the chance. But you're pretty certain that you're TOO normal that you have almost no chance of being selected. Why not go for something you're GUARANTED a chance to compete in. Competitours has managed to replicate the excitement of 'The Amazing Race.'

'Run Your Own Amazing Race' If you're like me and dying to win a spot on CBS's 'The Amazing Race,' here's a great -- and realistic -- alternative.

The next trip will be a bit more interesting as Tyler MacNiven, winner of The Amazing Race season 9 and probably the most memorable contestant of all time, will be competing on Competitours.

'Under The Radr Romantic Destinations' 
If the Amazing Race is your idea of a romantic vacation, Let Competitours take you for a ride - without the 24/7 camera crew and onscreen elimination thing!

Your Own Personal Amazing Race 
Competitours has managed to graft custom trips through Europe with some of the competitive, team-based challenges of The Amazing Race--sans the stress and yelling

Team Travel Gets Competitive 
Banish boredom with Competitours where teams of two compete in a series of challenges that add a new dimension to the travel experience. Quirky and interactive challenges let you get under the skin of cool destinations.

'New Team Travel Competition' Competitours is about sightDOING, not merely sightseeing

Jaunted and Competitours Giving Away A Free Team Travel Trip 
You can tap into your inner travel savvy globetrotter to compete and try and dethrone Amazing race Season 9 champ Tyler MacNiven and his mom.

Competitours- What's That? 
Did you notice the Competitours ad on our blog. We don't normally carry ads on the blog, but in this case, we are making an exception. We at Viator love Competitours idea to take The Amazing Race and apply it to your average Joe and Jane traveler and transform them into reality travel contestants.

hallenge Yourself On Your Next Trip 
For those yearning for a challenge on your next trip, Competitours may be just what are looking for.

'Amazing Race Winner Takes On Competitours' What the people of Competitours are doing might seem like a whole new phenomenon in travel.

Amazing Race For The 21st Century' ‘Forget sightseeing. How about sight-DOING? The Travel Editor is always excited about experiential travel and hates the boring and commonplace, and Competitours presses our hot buttons…trying to re-orient peoples’ whole concept of traveling beyond the tour bus and beyond the tour guide.’

Big (Euro) Brother- Racing Through Europe To Win A Trip 
‘Your reality show fantasies tend to involve helping Heidi try on skirts or dating dozens of rose-crazy women at once. Likewise, your idea of a vacation involves hiding away in some exotic bungalow, boat drink in hand. But sometimes, when you hear about something as outrageous, adventurous and mildly insane as Competitours, you have to make some exceptions.’

The 'Amazing Race’ Minus The Cameras 
‘So admit it. At some point, you’ve been sitting on the couch at night, watching the contestants on ‘The Amazing Race’ tearing around the world and you’ve thought- Man, how cool would that be!.

Inevitable trials and frustrations are part of what makes travel so fulfilling; the challenge is commensurate with the reward, right? But for my part, I could do without the reality TV humiliation. Which is where Competitours comes in. The requirements? Nope you don’t have to be especially good looking; the rule is, You Pay, You Play.’

Amazing Race, Leisurely Pace 
‘The idea of being herded around Europe on one of those organized group tours seems unbearably tedious. Now, there’s a unique alternative that sounds like it would be a heck of a lot more fun…Competitours, a recreational version of the ‘Amazing Race’. Challenges that will have you finding your way through unfamiliar surroundings and interacting with locals in a way most tourists could scarcely imagine.’

The DIY ‘Amazing Race’ For those aching for a little more adventure in your travel, Competitours is right up your alley.

'Amazing Race With a Twist Of Reality' 
I found the concept of traveling with a mission to discover or create the unexpected a brilliant way to enjoy the culture, history and nuances of a new destination. The brilliance is in the self discovery that takes place during such a competition in unknown destinations and cultures.

'Competitours- This Just In' Whereas the TV show The Amazing Race is about speed and physical prowess, Competitours offers a far more level playing field. Challenges that test teams abilities to be creative, resourceful, original, even a bit zany at times...as such, anyone that has a zest for travel and spontaneity can participate.

‘Amazing Race’ For Everyone 
‘For those intrepid travelers who are tired of conventional vacations and who crave the ‘Amazing Race’ experience….attractive to those seeking to take a blind leap into adventure.’

Your Very Own Amazing Travel Adventure Forget Frommer’s and Fodor’s and their boring, traditional travel itineraries. Competitours trips are a low-stress approach to competitive and adventurous travel.

Competitours for Competitive Travelers ‘Racing through beautiful, foreign destinations when you should be savoring the location; cameras focused on you 24/7. If those two things are holding you back from submitting your application to ‘Amazing Race’ (or maybe you did submit one but to no avail), a new travel competition, Competitours may have the adventure of a lifetime that you’ve been waiting for.’

'The Amazing Race For Non-Reality-TV Whores' So if The Amazing Race sounds like a fun vacation for you to try, you may want to check out Competitours for what appears to be an entertaining alternative to the typical European vacation.