CATCH: Post Your Best Highlights, Win a Trip to Belgium
Our last CATCH contest was so much fun, we’re doing it again. We love seeing all of your great travel Highlights, and we love being able to give away an amazing trip—this time it’s a five-day trip to Belgium.
We start promptly at noon ET on Tuesday. And you’ve got six weeks to grab that prize. Do it by impressing us with your Highlights, based around the themes we’ve laid out below. Some of them are broad geographical areas, and others are broad types of experience (where you stayed, what you ate, where you shopped). And we’ve specified some countries or cities—if your Highlight is about that location, you’ll get a bonus vote.
Every week, we’ll pick a winner for each theme, and that winning Highlight will be featured on the home page. Then, at the end of the contest, one grand-prize winner will be awarded two round-trip tickets from New York to Brussels with Brussels Airlines, three nights in Brussels at the Stanhope Hotel, round-trip from Brussels to Liege by train and two nights at the Crowne Plaza Liege. Plus, in Brussels, you’ll get a guided tour with beer and chocolate included.
We’re kicking this week off with a tour around the Americas. Bonus points for Brazil or Montreal! It’s easy: just start uploading your highlights. You can upload your entries from the site or using our mobile app.
Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, as well as Pinterest, where we’ll be posting the entries. Good luck, and have fun! (And don’t forget to read the official rules for all the fine print!)
Bonus vote given to Highlights about the destinations in parentheses. Previously uploaded Highlights are not eligible for this contest.
WEEK 1 July 17–23
Location: South America (Brazil)
Location: North America (Montreal)
WEEK 2 July 24–30
Location: Eastern Europe (Croatia, Istanbul)
Topic: Eat (any location)
WEEK 3 July 31–August 6
Location: Western Europe (Amsterdam, Belgium, Madrid, Paris, Ireland, London, Portugal, Iceland)
Topic: Drink (any location)
WEEK 4 August 7–13
Location: Asia (Nepal)
Topic: Do (any location)
WEEK 5 August 14–20
Location: Central America (Costa Rica, Guatemala)
Topic: Shop (any location)
WEEK 6 August 21–27
Location: Africa (Morocco)
Topic: Stay (any location)
Thank you to our prize sponsors!
This looks fun! Must you wait until the beginning date of each week to post that highlight? And does your entry need to relate to both the location and the theme (as in Istanbul + food) or just one or the other? Thanks!
Hi Dana! Yes, you do have to post within the given timeline (we track each week). No, it does not need to cover both themes. :) For the 'Eat' category, your Highlights can be from anywhere in the world. If you happen to upload one that took place in Istanbul, it'll be entered into both themes. Does that make sense? We're looking forward to your entries. Good luck!!
Super, thanks!
I'm so excited for this! Great categories this time :D
This sounds like fun, but I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "upload Highlights." Does this mean that readers post their experiences while at AFAR's specified Location and/or on AFAR's specified Topic on your website? If so, where? Many thanks, Katherine Brown
Hi Katherine. You are exactly right. When you're logged into the site, you'll see the "Upload a Highlight" in the toolbar. That will take you through the process, but just so you know, the winning Highlights will be those that have the following: a captivating image, a specific place/address, and a brief detailed description about your experience there that provides other travelers with guidance on how to replicate the experience. Please feel free to message me should you have any other questions. Good luck!
This will bring out some excellent highlights. Good luck to all!
Local Experts have earned their titles based on their great Highlights and neighborhood savvy.
love the photo! i would love to win a 5 day trip to belgium if i wasn't living here 300+ days a year already! whoever wins, i'll buy them a drink in the Cafe Delirium in brussels!!
Oooh, is that where they make Delirium Tremens?! One of my favorite Belgian beers. That's awesome, Michael! You and the winner will have to upload a Highlight about your experience at the cafe. Cheers!
great contest. cant wait to read all the highlights!
Local Experts have earned their titles based on their great Highlights and neighborhood savvy.
Yes Lauren, that's the place. The Cafe Delirium is also in Brussels and is a MUST on any trip to the city. They serve hundreds and hundreds of different beers. Picking up the beer menu is like picking up a copy of War and Peace!
I see in the fine print that to learn the name of the winner, you have to send a SASE to AFAR by Oct 1. Is that step required also for the winner him/herself in order to find out he/she IS the winner? Or will the winner automatically be notified, and the SASE thing is just for non-winners who want to know the name of the winner? Thanks!
Can we reuse posts that we've already posted that fit the subject matter? If so, how do we resubmit them for contest entry?
Michael - Oh man, that sounds overwhelming. If I ever make it out to Brussels, I'll probably need your expertise in navigating through that book! :)
Dijedal - Unfortunately, previously posted content is not eligible. Let me know if you have any other questions. We're looking forward to more of your Highlights!
I echo Lindsay Clark's question above. And is there anything we need to mention specifically in each Highlight in order for that to be considered an entry for the contest?
But you only get points of highlights that relate to this week's theme, right? So for this week there's no topic - only geographic themes of Montreal & Brasil.
Michael, I will definitely hold you to that promise if I win!
Lindsey and Maggie - The SASE is a legal technicality, but do not worry, we will most definitely announce the winner and notify him/her before we do. :)
Maggie - You don't need to mention anything specific. We are tracking all the entries that take place within the specified location themes and fit within the specified categories. You can find all the entries in my Wanderlists. If you don't see yours in there for any reason, please make sure you message me!
Monica - Correct! We only have five categories and seven targeted regions so this is how we split it up. Please post according to specified timeline as we're tracking week by week.
Local Experts have earned their titles based on their great Highlights and neighborhood savvy.
Monica - in that case, I hope you win!!
Can more than one highlight be posted, like one per week based on the topics? Will that increase my chances of winning, or will you just take my first highlight as my entry? Not that I wouldn't post highlights anyway, but it's nice to have a slim chance of reinforcement! :)
Just for clarity--I know it says we can post highlights with the app or the site but, as I think the case was last time, do we have to have the app to be eligible? Unfortunately, my phone doesn't support cool apps like the AFAR app (gotta save money for travel somehow!) but I hope I still have a shot!
Also, it turns out Croatia and Istanbul are my two "must-visits" next year--I can't wait to see all of the highlights next week and be inspired!
John - Post as many Highlights as your heart desires! There are no limits. :)
Gretchen - Although we'd love for everyone to download the mobile app, it is not required for this CATCH contest. Last time around we had just launched the app so that was the primary goal of the contest, whereas this time around, our primary goal is more content, especially for those countries in parentheses. So post away! And be sure to save those Croatia and Istanbul Highlights in your Wanderlists. ;)
Lauren--thanks so much! That's great to hear! You can be sure that, one day, when I do have a phone with apps, the AFAR app will be one of the first downloaded =) Thanks, again!
Are we considering Mexico as North America for this stage of the contest?
Yes! Sorry for the late response, Dijedal. I hope you got all your Highlights in by the deadline last night! Now we're on to Eastern Europe and Eat. :) Good luck!
What are the copyright terms for the photos uploaded? Does Afar then get the rights to use all of the uploaded photos as they wish? Does the photographer get credit? Thx :)
Hi Erika. AFAR does have the right to use content uploaded to the site; however, we always credit our sources. In other words, your photo may appear in an issue of our magazine, on our Facebook page, or by our partners for a contest, but we'll always credit you, link back to the source with your name on it, and do our best to notify you of when this occurs. I hope that clears things up for you. You can also see our terms and conditions for more detail: http://about.afar.com/about/guidelines-and-terms/terms-of-service/
I have some good tips to share for Croatia. But I can't seem to get the map feature under 'Highlights' to acknowledge that there IS a Croatia. It keeps trying to send me to Hungary. Is there a glitch, or have the borders changed yet again?
Hi, are we allowed to post one picture that falls under one category one week and then post it again another week for a different category if it applies to both? Or do we have to choose one category for it (I have a picture that can work for Eat and Western Europe but those are categories in two different weeks) ?
Carolyn - Will you please email me the details of your location? lauren@afar.com Thanks!
Celine - Good question. Please choose one theme for each photo/Highlight. Thank you!
Hi Lauren - does the Western Europe theme include only the cities listed?
Hi Monica - no. The cities in parentheses get bonus votes, but any city in Western Europe counts!
Why isn't this contest avaliable to other countries? In my case Canada.
Where are the winners of each week posted? I never saw who won week 2 and I had to go to the fb page to find week 3 winners. I am not sure I like the new homepage!
Read the rules, want to participate but cannot find out how to enter. Virginia H
Hi Jasmin. We're sorry we weren't able to extend the contest outside of the US, but plan to in the future. Stay tuned!
Lynne, we announce the winners on the site (under the magazine tab) and also have a Pinterest board featuring all the winners/runners-up: http://pinterest.com/afarmedia/catch-top-picks/ We notify the winners every week when they're picked so you won't miss it if you're chosen! Sorry you're not feeling the homepage. Feel free to message me with your feedback.
Hi Virginia! You just have to start uploading Highlights by clicking the "Post a Highlight" button next to your name at the top right. Make sure to categorize them properly and include the correct place/address. This is all you need to be entered. Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck!
Dear lauren,I am new one who joined this website today,I am from India.Kindly let me know what to do?
Hi Prashant. I received your message and replied. Unfortunately for the CATCH contest, only US residents are eligible to enter. Please message me if you have any further questions. Welcome to AFAR!
I can't find anywhere to upload. Where is it?
Hi James. When you're logged in, you'll see the "Post A Highlight" button next to your name in the upper right. Hope that helps! Good luck!