Deadline: 31 October 2012
(Note: The competition is open to travelers worldwide aged 18 and over.)
Write and tell us about The place you didn't want to be. It could have been a long, tortuous journey, an embarrassing moment or a dangerous situation. Perhaps you were presented with food you'd rather not eat or a bed you'd rather not sleep in.
Make us laugh, cry, sympathise or cringe.
Entries should be between 350-750 words in length and your own original work. Please give your article a title. Entries that are shorter or longer, or contain copied work will not be considered. Please paste your text on to the email body, do not send attachments.
Entries should be sent to: competition@puretravel.com, with your name, e-mail and telephone number by Wednesday 31st October 2012. All entries will be posted on the PureTravel web site.
10 articles will then be selected by a panel and these pieces will be open for public voting until Friday 30th November 2012.
The three most popular will then be judged by a professional Travel writer and the winner announced on Friday 14th December.
THE JUDGE: JEREMY LAZELL
Jeremy Lazell worked for eight years as a trekking guide before turning to writing, a decision he's had plenty of time to regret while sleeping in a hammock 200ft up in the Borneo rainforest for the Sunday Times, all but drowning in Scotland while rafting for GQ, and hooking nothing but his own cheek while fishing in Belize for Food & Travel. Based at the foot of the Scottish Highlands, where he lives with his wife and three boys, Jeremy writes about 90% of his material for the Sunday Times Travel Section, specialising in adventure travel, family holidays, and whatever round-ups help pay the bills. He has also worked for Conde Nast Traveller and Esquire magazines.
All the entries to the competition will be loaded onto the PureTravel web site for you to enjoy, as per our Terms and Conditions.
PRIZES
The winner will receive £1,000 or US$1,500.
The 2011 winner Sam Clark wrote: "The money came in a few days ago. You were right, it is a good start to the New Year. The 1,500 dollars is going to my next adventure down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. On my bike trip I was following Lewis and Clark's route across North America, and this trip is tribute to John W. Powell's descent down the Grand. The money came just in time to make the next adventure possible. Thanks so much!"
In 2012, that could be you!
The winning article will also be published in "Geographical" magazine, the official magazine of the Royal Geographical Society. To see the 2010 winning entry in print, please look at our PureTravel blog..
As part of their support, Geographical is offering a subscription discount to those interested in travel writing. The magazine is a useful resource of information on the world and features excellent travel articles.
Entries will all be posted on the PureTravel web site. Your name will be published with your article, please tell us if you wish to have this withheld. Please note that the e-mail/phone number is for our use only and will not be published online.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
1. The competition is open to travelers worldwide aged 18 and over, with the exception of employees of PureTravel and Geographical magazine, their immediate families, agents, or anyone else associated with administration of this promotion.
2. Closing date for receipt of all entries is 31th October 2012.
3. There is one prize consisting of a £1,000 cheque, or US$1,500. The winning article will be published in "Geographical" magazine.
4. To enter, send your article of between 350–750 words, to competition@puretravel.com with your name, email address and telephone number. Please paste your text on to the email body, do not send attachments. Alternatively, you can also enter via post by sending your entry to: PureTravel Travel Encounters Competition, Realworld Travel, The Royal, 25 Bank Plain, Norwich, NR2 4SF.
5. The initial shortlist of 10 will be selected on merit by a panel of judges appointed by PureTravel, including at least one independent judge (i.e. not an employee of either company). The winner will be selected by one independent judge.
6. Online voting will start on the Friday 9th November 2012 and finish on Friday 30th November 2012. To vote you must register for the free PureTravel.com newsletter. Your registration e-mail will be your voting signature. Only one vote per person. Please note that there is an opt-out of this newsletter on every issue.
7. The winner will be informed by Friday 14th December 2012 and the result published on the web site.
8. PureTravel will have the right to publish all entries on its web site. Geographical magazine will have the publishing rights on the winning article. Articles will be removed from the PureTravel web site on request once the competition is over.
9. Entries limited to one per person.
10. E-mail addresses will be only be used by PureTravel for their own newsletter which can be opted out of. They will not be disclosed to any other parties.
11. There is no alternative to the prize offered and the prizes are non–transferable.
12. If for any reason a winner is unable to take the prize as offered, the Promoter reserves the right to award the prize to the next best entry.
13. The judge's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
14. The winners agree to participate in any reasonable publicity required by the Promoter.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For queries/ submissions: competition@puretravel.com
Website: http://www.puretravel.com