Oct
07

Grantourismo Travel Blogging Competition: October

For our eight contest in our yearlong series of monthly Grantourismo HomeAway Holiday-Rentals travel blogging competitions we want you to create a blog post on Local Travel.

Your post should consist of one (1) photograph* and 250 words* about the joys of ‘local travel’ based on a personal experience – whether you travelled overseas and had a local experience yourself, eg. you ate at a local family’s home, you discovered a locals-only off-the-beaten-track neighbourhood, you hung out in a local park for a day and took in the action OR you shared your local neighbourhood with a traveller, we want to hear about what made that local travel experience all the more special than, say, a trip up the Eiffel Tower/Big Ben/Sydney Harbour Bridge etc.

It’s important that your story and photograph(s) are your own, they must be original, and they should not have been published in print or on other websites. *Make sure you do not submit more than one (1) photo and no more than 250 words.

FIRST PRIZE A stay at a HomeAway Holiday-Rentals property of your choice anywhere in the world valued at UK£500/US$750, a Viator tour voucher worth £100/US$150, an Olympus FE-4040 compact camera worth £125/US$190, and a Trourist Moleskine travel notebook.

SECOND PRIZE A Context tour voucher worth US$100, a private half-day tour with a local guide in a destination of your choice anywhere in the world from Our Explorer, and a Trourist Moleskine travel notebook.

THIRD PRIZE an annual subscription to AFAR magazine and a Trourist Moleskine travel notebook.

If you’re a regular reader, you may have noticed the additional prizes from the generous guys at Trourist who are celebrating the launch of their stylish new special-edition Moleskine notebook. (They’re also running a competition to win the new notebook, which you can learn about here.)

The winning entry of our October competition will be featured on Grantourismo, HomeAway UK’s Facebook page, and we will tweet your success on Twitter.

The winning entry will be featured on Grantourismo, HomeAway UK’s Facebook page, and we, HomeAwayUK, Viator, Context, Our Explorer, and Trourist will tweet your success on Twitter.

To be eligible to enter
Entry submission is by posting and linking and communication is through the Comments below and by Twitter, which means:
1. You must have your own blog/site, contribute to a group site, or post your blog to sites like www.matadortravel.com, www.bootsnall.com,
www.travellerspoint.com, www.travelpod.com
2. You need to subscribe to Grantourismo via email/RSS, join our community on Google Friend Connect and join HomeAway Holiday Rental’s Facebook page to enter.
3. Follow @Gran_tourismo and @HomeAwayUK on Twitter, then alert us on Twitter that you’re following us for the #GrantourismoComp and we will follow you back.

How to enter
1. Upload your original entry to your blog before end of 31 October. We’ll visit your site to read your post, tweet about your entry, and other entrants will visit your blog for inspiration.
2. Identify at the end of your post that “This post has been entered into the Grantourismo HomeAway Holiday-Rentals travel blogging competition” and link to this post (so your entry appears in the Trackbacks below) and www.homeaway.co.uk. Tag the post with ‘Grantourismo’ and ‘HomeAway Holiday-Rentals’ so the judges can easily find it.
3. Leave your name and link to your post in the Comments – this serves as your submission.
4. Use Twitter to tweet us @Gran_tourismo and @HomeAwayUK to tell us your post is up, using#GrantourismoComp in your tweet. This also makes it easy for others to find your entry.

Winning Entries
1.We will notify winners by Twitter or email during the first days of November.
2.The first prize winner will be required to email us a high-res photo and text for publishing.
3.The winning entry will be posted here early November.

For more details, read the fine print below. If you have any questions, pop them in the Comments below.

The Fine Print – Terms and Conditions
1. Grantourismo monthly competitions are open to anyone aged 18 years or over, except anyone professionally associated with this competition or the sponsors.
2. All information detailing how to enter the competition forms part of these terms and conditions. It is a condition of entry that all rules are accepted as final and that the competitor agrees to abide by these rules. Submission of an entry will be taken to mean acceptance of these terms and conditions.
3. Submissions must be original, should not have been published before, should not appear on other blogs or websites, and should not infringe any copyrights.
4. Winners will be chosen by a judging panel consisting of HomeAway Holiday-Rentals staff; Scott McNeeley, Editor of the Viator blog; Context Travel staff; and Lara Dunston and Terence Carter. Judges decisions are final. The criteria used will include creativity, originality, quality of writing and photography, ability to engage an audience, and ability to inspire.
5. HomeAway Holiday-Rentals is offering a prize of £500/US$750 towards a stay in one of their properties listed on the HomeAway Holiday-Rentals website. The stay must be a minimum of 2 nights, although it can be longer. The winner must use http://www.homeaway.co.uk/ to book the property. HomeAway Holiday-Rentals will release the funds to the property owner and transfer the remainder to the winner to be used toward the trip.
6. Winners will be required to blog about their prizes, link back to Grantourismo, HomeAway Holiday-Rentals, and the sponsor of the prize they’ve won, and tweet about the post, using #GrantourismoComp.
7.Property stays and tours must be used within 12 months of notification.
8. While copyright of all submissions to the Competition remains with the entrants, winning entrants give permission to Grantourismo, HomeAway Holiday-Rentals, and the sponsors to feature the winning entries on their websites, blogs, or in any publications or promotional materials connected to this Competition.

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED POSTS:

Categories: Grantourismo Competition

44 comments

5 pings

Steve Skabrat says:

October 10, 2010 at 1:54 pm (UTC 10 )

My entry for your October travel blog contest (local) has just been posted on my travel blog “Escape from Cube Land” at http://www.skabrat.com

The title of the post is “Spicy Noodles in Nanchang.”

Sticking to 250 words is tough!
1. Terence Carter says:
  
  October 10, 2010 at 8:56 pm (UTC 10 )
  
  Thanks for the entry!
Sophie says:

October 14, 2010 at 5:01 am (UTC 10 )

Here’s my contribution

http://www.sophiesworld.net/kindness-of-strangers-bahrain/

Sophie
1. Sophie says:
  
  October 19, 2010 at 11:53 pm (UTC 10 )
  
  Oddly, my entry doesn’t appear in the trackbacks below (again .
  Anything I can do at my end?
2. Lara Dunston says:
  
  October 28, 2010 at 8:53 am (UTC 10 )
  
  Yeah, it’s strange, some don’t appear in the Trackbacks… we thought the Trackbacks would be a good idea to make the judges’ lives easier, but when they don’t appear… not to worry, we have link above.
  
  Thanks! Good luck!
Keith says:

October 17, 2010 at 12:00 am (UTC 10 )

My entry for the October competition at http://travelrat.wordpress.com/2010/10/17/roaming-around-roa/
1. Lara Dunston says:
  
  October 28, 2010 at 9:00 am (UTC 10 )
  
  Hi Keith – got this! Lovely entry. Thanks for entering! I tell you, we’re going to have to give you a special prize at the end of all this!
Keith says:

October 17, 2010 at 12:12 am (UTC 10 )

Sorry; I forgot to change my email address … the old one doesn’t work any more!
Mary says:

October 17, 2010 at 10:22 pm (UTC 10 )

Dear Lara and Terence,
Here is my submission about a lovely time spent with rowdy locals on Zamami Island. Thanks!

http://worldcurioustraveler.wordpress.com/2010/10/18/why-locals-make-travel-special/
1. Lara Dunston says:
  
  October 28, 2010 at 9:22 am (UTC 10 )
  
  Hi Mary – loved your story! Sounds like it was a fun night! Thanks for entering! Best of luck!
Lisa Bergren says:

October 22, 2010 at 1:57 pm (UTC 10 )

Here’s my entry for this month’s contest. Thanks for pushing me to explore my own backyard–the amazing Garden of the Gods.

http://theworldiscalling.com/2010/10/whats-in-your-backyard/

The 250 word limit? Tortuous.
1. Lara Dunston says:
  
  October 28, 2010 at 9:33 am (UTC 10 )
  
  Tortuous?! I think you did very well!
  
  Thanks for entering again, Lisa!
  
  Best of luck!
Meghan says:

October 23, 2010 at 6:17 am (UTC 10 )

Why-oh-why have I only discovered your website while you’re on the waning end of your year’s worth of slow travel? I just want to say that I LOVE the idea behind your travels and the blog it has produced. Alas, I will have much rainy-day reading material in the content of this site. Thanks for it.

I’ve entered into this competition, and you can find my entry here: http://www.meghanmhicks.com/2010/10/23/working-with-lesikar/.

Enjoy Africa next!
1. Terence Carter says:
  
  October 24, 2010 at 3:06 am (UTC 10 )
  
  Hi Meghan, Thanks for your comment – we’re not *really* at the waning end! Thanks for your entry, we’ll check it out when we get some decent Internet – yes, we’re in Africa!
2. Lara Dunston says:
  
  October 28, 2010 at 10:32 am (UTC 10 )
  
  Hi Meghan – read your post (at last!) – great tale! We’re actually travelling to the Masai Mara tomorrow! We’ll be sure to watch what the warriors eat!
  Thanks for entering! Best of luck!
Lisa Corcoran says:

October 25, 2010 at 4:07 am (UTC 10 )

My entry for October!
http://www.travel-notebook.net/tn-features/2010/10/24/sing-for-life.html
1. Terence Carter says:
  
  October 25, 2010 at 4:28 am (UTC 10 )
  
  Thanks Lisa, a lovely post. Good luck.
Madeline Jhawar says:

October 25, 2010 at 9:05 am (UTC 10 )

My entry for October!
http://www.italybeyondtheobvious.com/2010/10/meet-the-locals-italy.html
1. Lara Dunston says:
  
  October 28, 2010 at 11:30 am (UTC 10 )
  
  Thanks, Madeline! Love the post! Best of luck!
Tiffany Weber-Stahlbaum says:

October 26, 2010 at 1:17 pm (UTC 10 )

Seems the last link didn’t work. Here are two entries. Is that allowed? If not, use the second one.

1. http://www.tiffanyweber.com/2010/10/callosas-150th-moors-and-christians.html
2. http://www.tiffanyweber.com/2010/10/callosas-battle.html
1. Terence Carter says:
  
  October 26, 2010 at 11:22 pm (UTC 10 )
  
  Links work, thanks. Good luck with the contest – I’ll check out the posts later when I have internet that isn’t running at the speed of snail…
wandering educators says:

October 27, 2010 at 6:33 am (UTC 10 )

here’s my entry for October – Highland hospitality in Scotland:

http://www.wanderingeducators.com/best/traveling/local-travel-afternoon-tea-artist-and-singing-postie.html

thank you!
1. Lara Dunston says:
  
  October 28, 2010 at 11:33 am (UTC 10 )
  
  Thanks Jessie! Love the post! Best of luck!
mvmaithai says:

October 28, 2010 at 7:24 am (UTC 10 )

Here’s my entry for the October contest
1. Terence Carter says:
  
  October 28, 2010 at 7:32 am (UTC 10 )
  
  No link?
mvmaithai says:

October 28, 2010 at 9:14 am (UTC 10 )

This is weird. I thought I’d sent it. Anyway, here’s my entry for the contest, again.
Fall Foliage in Chattanooga, Tennessee
1. Lara Dunston says:
  
  October 28, 2010 at 10:51 am (UTC 10 )
  
  We’ve got the link now though don’t know why it’s not appearing in Trackbacks. Sometimes it doesn’t appear if you don’t link to the competition URL but link to the general Grantourismo URL instead. No worries. Thanks for your entry! Now we’re keen to visit Chatanooga!
Jools Stone says:

October 28, 2010 at 1:25 pm (UTC 10 )

Hi, my entry’s up, the latest post on the above link. (I tried to insert the post link but I get some copyright protection message which prevents me)
Corinne @ Gourmantic says:

October 28, 2010 at 10:09 pm (UTC 10 )

Hi Lara and Terry!

Here is my entry for October – Through His Eyes: Sydney’s Eastern Beaches

http://www.gourmantic.com/2010/10/29/through-his-eyes-sydneys-eastern-beaches/

Thank you.
Sarah says:

October 30, 2010 at 2:36 am (UTC 10 )

http://sarahwarwick.com/2010/10/30/carving-out-a-place/

Hey – learning to carve like the Sumatran Batak is the subject of my blog for this month…awesome fun!
John says:

October 30, 2010 at 4:23 pm (UTC 10 )

My entry has been published at:
http://ghosts.eurapart.co.uk/drinking-with-the-locals
Christy says:

October 30, 2010 at 7:33 pm (UTC 10 )

Hi Lara,
Here’s my entry: http://diggingpotatoes.wordpress.com/2010/10/25/fiesta-in-valladolid-mexico/
Thanks,
Christy
forest says:

October 31, 2010 at 12:10 am (UTC 10 )

hi guys…my post for the competition up at: http://ow.ly/325sv

Thanks!
jiffer says:

October 31, 2010 at 2:36 am (UTC 10 )

Hi all,

just under the wire here, a smash and sniff entry for October! Breaking fast during Ramadan at a local hole in the wall soup joint in Fez.

http://smashandsniff.blogspot.com/2010/10/breaking-fast.html.

Happy Halloween!

Best,

jiff
Johanna Bradley says:

October 31, 2010 at 4:20 am (UTC 10 )

Hi folks!

Have struggled mightily with the technology but think I might have JUST got this on the site within the deadline. If not, it’s good practise and I’ve enjoyed reading the other blogs.
No, sorry, I’m getting a copyright message I can’t get past! The blog is on
http://www.matadortravel.com/traveler/jo-bradley/blog/three-cheers-pools hash comment 27919. Don’t know if this will count as an entry- cheers anyway
Nikki Hodgson says:

October 31, 2010 at 4:59 am (UTC 10 )

Here’s my entry for the contest:

http://neveradullmoment-nikki.blogspot.com/2010/10/snapshot-from-palestinian-wedding.html

Thanks
ashley says:

October 31, 2010 at 11:22 am (UTC 10 )

Hi Lara and Tere,

My entry is up- Dia de los Muertos. The holiday is this Tuesday, so it is timely!

http://smashandsniff.blogspot.com/2010/10/dia-de-los-muertos.html

Cheers,
Ashley
Jeanette says:

October 31, 2010 at 12:29 pm (UTC 10 )

My entry is at http://www.ciee.org/teach/chile/blog/index.html, the post is titled “the epicenter”
Cheryl says:

October 31, 2010 at 1:34 pm (UTC 10 )

Thanks for the opportunity to enter! It was fun…http://dearfamily.typepad.com/dear-family/bali/
1. Cheryl says:
  
  November 1, 2010 at 6:39 pm (UTC 10 )
  
  This link doesn’t appear to be working, I think you’ll need this route instead: http://www.dearfamily.typepad.com/. Hope this helps!
Raquel Centeno says:

October 31, 2010 at 2:26 pm (UTC 10 )

Hi Lara and Terence,

Here’s my enter for the contest.

http://bocadosyviajes.wordpress.com/2010/11/01/an-evening-in-a-kyoto-restaurant/

Raquel
Mike says:

October 31, 2010 at 4:06 pm (UTC 10 )

http://www.quarteryear.com/love-has-a-recipe/

Love the competition!! Thanks for inspiring me to write
Sarah says:

November 9, 2010 at 3:33 pm (UTC 10 )

When do we get the next one?! Chomping at the bit to enter – love these comps!
1. Terence Carter says:
  
  November 9, 2010 at 11:15 pm (UTC 10 )
  
  Today! Sorry, unreliable internet in Kenya now has us waaaaayyyyy behind schedule.

Why Locals Make Travel Special « World Curious Traveler says:

October 17, 2010 at 10:24 pm (UTC 10 )

[...] post has been entered in the Grantourismo HomeAway Holiday travel blogging [...]
Roaming Around Roa « Travelrat's Travels says:

October 18, 2010 at 1:37 am (UTC 10 )

[...] http://grantourismotravels.com/2010/10/07/grantourismo-travel-blogging-competition-october/ [...]
Through His Eyes: Sydney’s Eastern Beaches | Gourmantic says:

October 29, 2010 at 12:55 am (UTC 10 )

[...] post has been entered into the Grantourismo Homeaway Holiday-Rentals travel blogging competition for October on the theme of Local Travel. [...]
Quarter Year » Love has a recipe says:

November 1, 2010 at 9:03 pm (UTC 10 )

[...] post has been entered into the Grantourismo HomeAway Holiday-Rentals travel blogging competition. Share or Save this [...]
Sumatran Memento « Sarah Warwick says:

November 3, 2010 at 2:27 am (UTC 10 )

[...] This blog has been entered into the Grantourismo HomeAway Holiday-Rentals travel blogging competition (www.home-away.com, http://grantourismotravels.com/2010/10/07/grantourismo-travel-blogging-competition-october/) [...]