Backpackers.com

Win Tickets To Global Gathering 2008!

update – competition closed 10 July 2008.

We’re giving two lucky backpackers out there the chance to win a pair of weekend tickets to the world’s biggest and most popular dance and live music festival, Global Gathering.

Yes, that’s two pairs of tickets up for grabs!

Kanye West, Mark Ronson, Moby and Roisin Murphy will headline what is one of the world’s biggest electronic festivals, joining a line up that features the greatest DJs on the planet including Armin Van Buuren, Tiesto and David Guetta.

50,000 people are once again expected to congregate at the Long Marston Airfield on the 25th and 26th July to soak up the incredible atmosphere – and party until the wee hours of the morning (before starting all over again).

The festival assembles the greatest DJs from all around the world and the best live bands on the scene.

Winners will be able to explore the sixteen arenas over two days that play host to every genre of music from Disco House to drum and bass, block rocking beats and pumping euphoric trance. For full details see www.globalgathering.co.uk.

To enter, all you need to do is to give us the names of your two favourite DJ’s playing at Global Gathering 2008, and send them and your contact details (including a telephone number) to events@backpackers.com.

First correct entry drawn, wins. Competition ends 10 July 2008. Prize is for general admission tickets only, and does not include transport to or from the event. Winner must be able to use the tickets, or they will be given to someone who can!

Posted in Competitions & Giveaways, Destinations, Festivals | 4 Comments »

Kumuka Travel Photography Competition 2008: Win A Tour To Kenya, Columbia or Egypt

Inveterate traveller? Consider yourself a deft hand at taking good photographs? Fancy winning a tour to Kenya, Columbia or Egypt?

Well, if so it sounds like you might be interested in a sweet little competition being held by the guys over at Kumuka Worldwide.

They’re looking for your favourite travel shots from Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Europe, Latin America, The Middle East or the Trans Siberian – within the following three categories:

1.) Kumuka Travellers and Families
Send us your best shots of you or your friends and family on tour. Whether it’s bungy jumping at Vic Falls or trekking to Everest Base Camp, the more adventurous or crazy the better!

2.) Landscapes, Landmarks and Wildlife
Kumuka’s tours traverse some of the most stunning landscapes on earth. We are looking for that magical photo from the Amazon, The Serengeti, The Himalayas or any place where you have captured its unique beauty.

3.) People and Culture
If you’ve captured friendly locals and their colourful festivals, fascinating rituals or just going about their day to day business.

The prizes:
1st – Discover Colombia Tour
2nd – Rift Valley Wildlife Tour of Kenya and Tanzania
3rd – Oases and Pharaohs Tour of Egypt

Entries can be submitted by email only and there is no limit to how many you can send in. To enter, send a high resolution jpeg file (with a description of the ‘story’ or circumstances behind the photo – 50 words max) to photocomp (at) kumuka.com.

And, check out previous winners for a little inspiration.

Posted in Competitions & Giveaways, Destinations | 2 Comments »

Fantastic Prizes For Backpackers In Rail Europe’s eNewsletter Launch

Rail Europe is about to launch a monthly eNewsletter which will contain all sorts of tips and information about rail travel to Europe as well as promotions and exclusive online offers.

And, to encourage subscription, they’re dangling a nice little carrot to all travellers (or wannabe travellers) – sign up before 30 June 2008 and you could win one of the following five fab prizes:

1. Sonia Bravia 40” LCD HD TV (not much use on the road, but afterwards… awesome!)
2. Paris city break for two
3. Apple iPod Touch
4. Digital camera (Olympus Miju 850SW)
5. £100 Play.com Voucher (for DVD’s, music, games etc)

Worth a try, isn’t it? Oh, check the fine print, though – winners have to have been residents of the UK for the last 6 months, so if you haven’t, find a friend who has!

Posted in Competitions & Giveaways, Destinations, Transport | No Comments »

3 Days Left To Win Tickets To Roskilde Festival!

Denmark’s Roskilde Festival is one of the biggest and best music festivals on the European summer festival circuit, drawing thousands of fans from all over the world.

The hugely popular festival this year boasts an unbelievable lineup of the world’s biggest and greatest bands and artists, including Radiohead, The Chemical Brothers, Jay-Z or Nick Cave (amongst many many others).

And, if you want to try your hand at making music, you can even wander into the festival’s Explosion Village, where you can create your own rhythms on touch-sensitive luminous stones!

Okay, so here’s the good news: you could win two tickets (weekend tickets, including warmup) to Roskilde 2008 – right here, right now. These babies normally go for DKK 1650 (about 220 Euro), and we’re giving two away!

But, there are only 3 days left to enter, so head over to our Roskilde Festival giveaway, and get your entries in before 29 May 2008!

Posted in Competitions & Giveaways, Destinations, Festivals | No Comments »

Win Tickets To Roskilde Festival!

Roskilde Festival is only 40 days away (and counting). Not only is it Northern Europe’s biggest music festival, with an unbelievable lineup of the world’s biggest and greatest bands and artists, but it also offers exciting events and activities, cinema, skate and art.

So, in between partying it up to the sounds of Radiohead, The Chemical Brothers, Jay-Z or Nick Cave (amongst many many others), you can wander into the Explosion Village and create your own rhythms on luminous stones which react to your touch!

Now, weekend tickets (including the warm-up) normally go for DKK 1650 (about 220 Euro), but we’re giving two tickets away, right here!

That’s right – one lucky backpacker out there will win two weekend tickets to one of the best festivals on the planet! All you have to do to enter is to answer the following questions:

1. Who is the official sponsor of Roskilde Festival 2008?
2. True or False: “Each year, Roskilde Festival donates any profits from the festival to humanitarian and cultural purposes.” (hint)
3. In what year was the first Roskilde Festival held?

Use our contact form to send us your answers and contact details by 29 May 2008. Please include a contact number and a postal address, as we’ll need to get those tickets to you!

Good luck!

Fine print:  the prize is for standard weekend festival tickets only – it does not include transport to or from the festival.

Posted in Competitions & Giveaways, Festivals | 3 Comments »

One Week Left To Enter The April Travel Quiz (& Win A Trip On The Eurostar Plus Your Very Own ISE Student Card)

There’s just one week left to enter our April Travel Quiz.

Answer a few easy travel-related questions and you could win 2 tickets on the Eurostar (London-Paris return, or vice versa) as well as 2 money-saving student discount cards from ISE Cards!

Having an ISE Card to hand not only gives you access to worldwide discounts that can realistically save you hundreds of dollars on your trip, they also provide for medical benefits whilst you’re travelling (up to $2,000 in medical expenses, and up to $5,000 in evacuation fees, if necessary).

And, if you didn’t know so already, hopping on the Eurostar is one of the quickest and most painless ways to get from London to the continent of Europe.

It’s also more eco-friendly than travelling by gas-guzzling planes (good for the conscience) – hop on at St Pancras in London and just over 2 quiet hours later you’re stepping off into Paris’s Gare du Nord, ready to explore the City of Lights.

So, if you’d like a chance of winning this awesome travel prize, head over to our Travel Quiz right now, and we’ll put you into the draw. Good luck and happy travels!

Posted in Competitions & Giveaways, Destinations | 1 Comment »

April Travel Quiz: Win A Trip On The Eurostar And Your Very Own ISE Student Card

One of the quickest and easiest ways to get from London to Paris is on the Eurostar.

Not only is it more eco-friendly than travelling by gas-guzzling planes (good for the conscience), it’s far less stressful (good for the nerves).

You hop on at St Pancras in London and just over 2 quiet hours later you’re stepping off into Paris’s Gare du Nord, ready to explore the City of Lights.

Well, we love giving away stuff, and this month’s quiz is no different. Answer a few easy travel-related questions below and you could win 2 of these very same Eurostar tickets (London-Paris return, or vice versa) as well as 2 money-saving student discount cards from ISE Cards!

Having an ISE Card to hand not only gives you access to worldwide discounts that can realistically save you hundreds of dollars on your trip, they also provide for medical benefits whilst you’re travelling (up to $2,000 in medical expenses, and up to $5,000 in evacuation fees, if necessary).

To enter the April Travel Quiz, simply answer the questions below and use our contact form to send us your answers and contact details before 10 May 2008. First correct entry drawn, wins!

1. True or False: ‘flying between London, Paris and Brussels generates ten times more emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO₂) than travelling by Eurostar’? (hint)
2. What does an ISE Card cost to buy?

Good luck and happy travels!

Posted in Competitions & Giveaways | 3 Comments »

How Playing Spice Invaders Could Win You A Trip To Tomatina 2008

Tomatina is coming. Come August, thousands of tomato-pulp-loving backpackers will be making their way to the small town of Bunyol, in Spain, intent on throwing as many mushy tomatoes at one another as is humanly possible.

And then perhaps wallowing contentedly in the resulting river of goop.

It’s hot, it’s wet and it’s seriously mucky (ahem).

Well, if all of that sounds like your cup of sangria, then why not enter Big Tom’s ‘Spice Invaders’ competition. The prize up for grabs is a very lovely trip for two to the Tomatina Festival, complete with flights (not specified if this is limited to certain destinations), hotel and spending money.

And, to win, all you have to do is “Splatter your way through an onerous onslaught of evil drinks, hell bent on world domination, in a final attempt to restore a healthy balanced diet to the universe…”

So, if you fancy your keyboard skills, have a good strong internet connection, and happen to have a bit of spare time, it’s time to play ‘Spice Invaders: Attack of the Insipid Liquids!’.

Good luck, and may the Force be with you.

Travel resources backpackers might find useful:
Cheap hostels in Spain – find and book your hostel online at special discounted rates
Airtreks Travel Planner – plan your round the world trip with Airtreks
Backpackers Travel Gear – backpacks and other travel gear
Travel Insurance – instant, cheap travel insurance for backpackers
Travel newsletter – sign up for our free monthly travel newsletter ‘From The Road’

Posted in Competitions & Giveaways, Destinations, Festivals | 1 Comment »

A Travel Jetpack Could Be Yours…

Yep, that’s right, we’re giving away two of these nifty travel packs from Jetpacks.com. All you have to do to stand a chance of winning one is to enter our March Travel Quiz before 25 March 2008. Answer a couple of easy questions and you’ll go into the draw.

Winners will receive their prizes by post. Good luck!

Posted in Competitions & Giveaways | No Comments »

Win A Jetpack In Our March Travel Quiz

Hopping off a plane in a new country and navigating the ins and outs of a city’s (sometimes chaotic) public transport system becomes easier the more you do it. A seasoned traveller will pick it up in no time, deciphering even the most obscure of symbols ever faster each time.

But we all have to start somewhere, and if you’re heading overseas for the first time, it helps to have a little assistance for those blurry moments following touch-down, baggage pick-up and playing find-the-hostel.

Enter the Jetpack. This nifty travel pack, posted to you before you hit the road, contains country-specific maps, information and accessories for your trip – including travel cards preloaded with enough credit to get you on your way.

Plus, with a local SIM card in every jetPack, you can give your friends and family your phone number before you go, and call them as soon as you arrive (if you’re not planning to go off the radar, that is).

The Jetpack range currently includes the following destinations: Australia, Austria, Germany, New Zealand, Poland, Spain: Barcelona, Spain: Madrid, UK, UK:London and the USA.

Well, here’s your chance to win one of these cool packs for yourself. The guys at Student Jetpacks have teamed up with us to give away two of their Jetpack PLUS packages (worth up to £34.99 each), – for the destination of your choice (chosen from currently available destinations).

All you have to do to enter is to head over to our March Travel Quiz before 25 March 2008, and answer a few easy questions. Simple!

Posted in Competitions & Giveaways, Destinations, Travel Guides | No Comments »