Current Giveaway Details: November 2021

This month, we have two awesome giveaways for you. We’re giving away an Insta360 Go 2 Action Camera and $150 to use for holiday shopping on Etsy.

Giveaway #1: Insta360 GO 2 Action Camera

Brand/Manufacturer: Insta360 
Prize: 1x Insta360 GO 2 Action Camera
Retail Value: $299.00 USD
Giveaway Open to: Worldwide

Our first giveaway this month is an Insta360 Go 2 Action camera. As a professional photographer who also runs an online photography course, Laurence is often getting questions about camera gear, and especially what kind of camera is best for different types of travel situations.

For those heading to the beach or taking part in more adventurous activities like climbing or kayaking, an action camera like the tiny Insta360 GO 2 Action Camera is an excellent choice.

Action cameras are, for the most part, small compact cameras which are designed for use in environments where you wouldn’t want to take your normal camera. They have the advantage over other types of camera that they are usually waterproof (sometimes this requires a special housing) as well as being very compact.

This means you can attach them to all sorts of places, like your bikes handlebars, surfboard, or even wrist, and capture unique photo or video footage of your adventures. Whilst the quality might not be as high as a DSLR or mirrorless camera, they are usable in a wide range of situations where you probably wouldn’t want to take a larger and more expensive camera.

There are a number of different action cameras on the market, and we’ve reviewed some of the top models in our guide to the best action cameras. One of the most compact action cameras we’ve ever used is the Insta360 GO 2 Action Camera, which we’re delighted to be giving away today.

The camera, which can do both still photography and video, is waterproof (down to 13ft / 4m), and it only weighs 27g / 0.9oz. Yes, less than an ounce! It also features built-in storage of 32GB, which is enough for over 1,000 images.

The other neat thing is the charging case that comes with the camera. As well as providing recharge capability for the camera, it also folds out into a tiny tripod which makes getting selfies and group shots a lot easier. The camera also has a magnetic back and comes with a variety of magnetic accessories, meaning it’s easy to mount and wear this camera in a range of places.

We’re sure you’ll find lots of ways to use this camera on your future travels!

How to Enter the Giveaway

Please read the rules below to enter the giveaway:

1 – You need to be signed up for our newsletter.

If you get our monthly newsletters, you are eligible!

If you are not a subscriber, you can sign up using the form at the top of the page, or on this page.

If you’re already signed up you don’t need to sign up again and you can skip to the newsletter entry form. When you sign up for our newsletter, you’ll be sent an e-mail to asking you to confirm your sign-up. You’ll need to click the link to confirm and activate your subscription.

2. Check the rules of the giveaway

Before signing up, read over the rules (listed in detail below the entry form) to make sure you are eligible to apply. While we strive to have our giveaway open to all subscribers, some of the giveaways have geographical, residency, age, or other restrictions.

3 – Use the form below to enter the giveaway.

You must use the same e-mail address that you used to sign up to the newsletter with, as we’ll be checking e-mails this way to validate your entry. You must be an active subscriber when we make the draw to be eligible to win!

Enter the Giveaway!

Winners will be randomly drawn with the winner receiving the prize as described above.

The retail value of the giveaway is $299.00 USD.

Applicants must be 18 years or older, have a valid email address, and have a valid mailing address.

Winners will be contacted by the email provided (so please use an email to enter that you check regularly). If a winner does not respond to email within 72 hours, another winner will be chosen.

The winner will be contacted via email by us. We will then mail the winner the item. Note that the item box was opened by us to check the product worked prior to dispatch.

Note you can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time, but you must be an active subscriber when the draw takes place to be eligible to win. Draws take place within a week of the contest closing.

The data entered into the giveaway form will solely be used for the purposes of verifying your entry, checking you are an active newsletter subscriber, and contacting you if you are a winner.

Winners (first name and last initial, and country of residence) will be announced on the bottom of this page and in our monthly newsletter.

Full Giveaway Terms and Conditions

These are the full terms and conditions!

1. The promoter is: Finding the Universe & Independent Travel Cats
2. Finding the Universe & Independent Travel Cats contributors, and their family members or anyone else connected in any way with the giveaway including helping to set up the giveaway shall not be permitted to enter the giveaway.
3. The giveaway is only open to active newsletter subscribers of the Finding the Universe & Independent Travel Cats monthly newsletter.
4. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this giveaway.
5. Route to entry for the giveaway and details of how to enter are via this blog post
6. You must be 18 years of age or older to participate in the giveaway.
7. You must fill out all the requested information in the entry form to be eligible. Incomplete entries will not be considered.
8. Closing date for entry is November 28th, 2021 at midnight EST. After this date no further entries to the giveaway will be permitted. Only one entry may be submitted per participant. Multiple entries will not be considered, and will invalidate all entries by the participant. Incomplete, incorrect, or otherwise invalid entries will not be considered. The Promoter reserves the right to verify the eligibility of all participants.
9. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
10. The prize is as follows: 1x Insta360 GO 2 Action Camera
11. Any tax liability, including import taxes and duties due to international shipping, is the responsibility of the prize winner
12. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the giveaway and these terms and conditions without notice and for any reason. Any changes to the giveaway will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.
13. No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and the promoter reserves the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.
14. Winners will be drawn at random from all valid entries. The odds of winning will depend on the number of entries received. Promoters are not responsible for prize fulfillment nor for any technical failures. The winning entry will be verified. A list of winners will be displayed on this page and published in the monthly newsletter.
15. Promoter reserves the right to publish winner’s first name and last initial and country of residence. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent.
16. The winner will be notified by email within 10 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 72 hours of notification, the promoter reserves the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.
17. The winner consents to providing their name, email, mailing address, and mobile contact number to the promoters for the sole purpose of enabling their prize to be delivered.
18. The promoters’ decision in respect of all matters to do with the giveaway will be final.
19. By entering this giveaway, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
20. The giveaway and these terms and conditions will be governed by UK law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the UK.
21. Images included in the giveaway post may not depict the exact prize, and are for illustrative purposes only.
22. Residents of Canada will be required to answer a skill-testing question to claim their prize.
23. Void where Prohibited

 

Giveaway #2: $150 worth of Etsy Holiday Shopping

Brand/Manufacturer: Various small businesses on Etsy
Prize: $150 of items from Etsy
Retail Value: $150 USD
Giveaway Open to: Worldwide

Our second giveaway this month is $150 worth of handmade and vintage goodies on Etsy from local sellers. We know most of you are shopping for gifts this holiday season, and one lucky winner can get $150 towards their holiday shopping.

Winner will get to choose up to $150 of goods from local sellers on Etsy. This not only provides a chance to win some great gift items, but it also helps support small businesses in your own country!

Etsy sellers and stores sell a bit of everything from home decor to coffee mugs to jewelry and clothing. If someone can make it, you can probably find it on Etsy. The thing we love most about Etsy is that many items can be personalized and customized and are perfect for gifting.

As noted, the winner can choose any product(s) from any Etsy seller, up to a value of $150. Since we are focused on local businesses, we’d prefer if people order from stores in their home country but for those who live in countries without a big presence on Etsy, you can also order from international shops as well.

To find shops in your country, go to Etsy here and put in a search term for what kind of item you are looking for. Then once you have you search results, go to Filters and put in your country (or city) as the location of the shop. You can also select shops that ship to your country.

There are thousands of Etsy stores, but here are some that are great for travel-themed gifts (many of which we have bought items from) to give you an idea of the types of items you’ll find on Etsy:

• Mapology (USA) – bedding, bathroom decor, throw pillows & more
• Lifetime Leather Co. (USA) – personalized leather goods such as toiletry bags, travel journals, luggage tags, purses, & wallets
• Northscape Prints (UK) – travel-related prints and illustration art
• Soak Couture (Canada) – infinity scarves, face masks, & key fobs
• Wanderlust Scents (USA) – candles, reed diffusers, room sprays, wax melts inspired by destinations
• Emilinchen (Germany) – travel cases, journal covers, passport covers, cosmetic bags, etc.
• York Scarves (UK) – scarfs, shawls, and travel wraps
• December Moon (USA) – cuff bracelets, belt buckles, & map blocks
• McLaughlin Creations (USA) – sterling silver necklaces, including lots of state & country jewelry
• Enjoy the Wood (Ukraine) – 3D wooden world map, city maps, travel journals, etc.
• By Rois (UK)- jewelry made from Scottish sea glass
• Loftipop (USA) – bathroom decor, mugs, ornaments, art prints, canvases, & home goods
• Cynthia Joy Ceramics (USA) – French inspired ceramic trinket dishes, plaques, clocks, etc.
• Home Decor by Katie (UK) – lamp shades & nursery art
• Bjeweled Vintage (Canada) – personalized map drawer knobs, wine stoppers, etc.
• Conquest Maps (USA) – map pin boards, posters, and travel themed vehicle decals
• Clive Roddy (UK) – wooden rings, bookends, map pin holders, etc.
• Holy Cow Canvas (USA) – canvas wall art and maps
• Tomer M – (Israel) – airplane and pilot themed jewelry
• Left Coast Original (USA) – cutting boards, platters, wine trays, passport covers, etc.
• Badger & Bobbins (UK) – reusable & sustainable make-up remover pads, zero waste kits, kitchen towels, sandwich bags, etc.
• Lost in Nature (USA) – nature-themed pillowcases, tapestries, shower curtains, etc.
• Hagar Sewing Shop (Israel) – baby blankets, baby toys, and nursery bedding
• Lucca Workshop (USA) – lasered wood and paper gifts

This is just a small selection of the types of items you can find on Etsy!

How to Enter the Giveaway

Please read the rules below to enter the giveaway:

1 – You need to be signed up for our newsletter.

If you get our monthly newsletters, you are eligible!

If you are not a subscriber, you can sign up using the form at the top of the page, or on this page.

If you’re already signed up you don’t need to sign up again and you can skip to the newsletter entry form. When you sign up for our newsletter, you’ll be sent an e-mail to asking you to confirm your sign-up. You’ll need to click the link to confirm and activate your subscription.

2. Check the rules of the giveaway

Before signing up, read over the rules (listed in detail below the entry form) to make sure you are eligible to apply. While we strive to have our giveaway open to all subscribers, some of the giveaways have geographical, residency, age, or other restrictions.

3 – Use the form below to enter the giveaway.

You must use the same e-mail address that you used to sign up to the newsletter with, as we’ll be checking e-mails this way to validate your entry. You must be an active subscriber when we make the draw to be eligible to win!

Enter the Giveaway!

Winners will be randomly drawn with the winner receiving the prize as described above.

The retail value of the giveaway is $150.00 USD.

Applicants must be 18 years or older, have a valid email address, and have a valid mailing address.

Winners will be contacted by the email provided (so please use an email to enter that you check regularly). If a winner does not respond to email within 72 hours, another winner will be chosen.

The winner will be contacted via email by us. Prize items will be ordered for you and then shipped directly from the Etsy seller(s).

Note you can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time, but you must be an active subscriber when the draw takes place to be eligible to win. Draws take place within a week of the contest closing.

The data entered into the giveaway form will solely be used for the purposes of verifying your entry, checking you are an active newsletter subscriber, and contacting you if you are a winner.

Winners (first name and last initial, and country of residence) will be announced on the bottom of this page and in our monthly newsletter.

Full Giveaway Terms and Conditions

These are the full terms and conditions!

1. The promoter is: Finding the Universe & Independent Travel Cats
2. Finding the Universe & Independent Travel Cats contributors, and their family members or anyone else connected in any way with the giveaway including helping to set up the giveaway shall not be permitted to enter the giveaway.
3. The giveaway is only open to active newsletter subscribers of the Finding the Universe & Independent Travel Cats monthly newsletter.
4. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this giveaway.
5. Route to entry for the giveaway and details of how to enter are via this blog post
6. You must be 18 years of age or older to participate in the giveaway.
7. You must fill out all the requested information in the entry form to be eligible. Incomplete entries will not be considered.
8. Closing date for entry is November 28th, 2021 at midnight EST. After this date no further entries to the giveaway will be permitted. Only one entry may be submitted per participant. Multiple entries will not be considered, and will invalidate all entries by the participant. Incomplete, incorrect, or otherwise invalid entries will not be considered. The Promoter reserves the right to verify the eligibility of all participants.
9. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
10. The prize is as follows: $150 worth of items from Etsy
11. Any tax liability, including import taxes and duties due to international shipping, is the responsibility of the prize winner
12. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the giveaway and these terms and conditions without notice and for any reason. Any changes to the giveaway will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.
13. No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and the promoter reserves the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.
14. Winners will be drawn at random from all valid entries. The odds of winning will depend on the number of entries received. Promoters are not responsible for prize fulfillment nor for any technical failures. The winning entry will be verified. A list of winners will be displayed on this page and published in the monthly newsletter.
15. Promoter reserves the right to publish winner’s first name and last initial and country of residence. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent.
16. The winner will be notified by email within 10 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 72 hours of notification, the promoter reserves the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.
17. The winner consents to providing their name, email, mailing address, and mobile contact number to the promoters for the sole purpose of enabling their prize to be delivered.
18. The promoters’ decision in respect of all matters to do with the giveaway will be final.
19. By entering this giveaway, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
20. The giveaway and these terms and conditions will be governed by UK law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the UK.
21. Images included in the giveaway post may not depict the exact prize, and are for illustrative purposes only.
22. Residents of Canada will be required to answer a skill-testing question to claim their prize.
23. Void where Prohibited

We wish you the best of luck!

If you have any questions or concerns about the giveaways, please let us know in the Comments section below or email us directly.

Past Winners

Here is a list of our past giveaway winners:

October 2021:

• Phil D. of England, UK won a GlocalMe U3 hotspot, worth $119.99
• Sara B. of Illionis, USA was the winner of the TropicFeel Shell Backpack plus 3 travel accessories, worth $477.00

September 2021:

• Joseph M. of Minnesota, USA was the winner of a pair of GoCity attraction passes of his choice, worth up to $270
• Margaret W. of England UK was the winner of a Fifth Origins cape of her choice, with a retail value of up to $175

August 2021:

• Ilya E. of Russia was the winner of three products from KobraTech, 1 Apex A70 tripod, 1 TriFlex Mini Tripod, & 1 TabMount 360 iPad Mount with a retail value of $149.97

July 2021:

• John R. of England, UK was the winner of the Vanguard VEO 3 GO 235AB tripod and a Vanguard VEO Range T 48 Backpack, a retail value of $399.98.
• Liesl L. of Gibraltar was the winner of the Hydaway collapsible travel bottles giveaway, worth $83.85

June 2021:

• Janet B. of Texas, USA was the winner of the Cornwall Mystery Box, full of prizes from the region of Cornwall, retail value of over $100.

May 2021:

• Linda H. of British Columbia, Canada was the winner of the $100 Localbites cooking class voucher
• Carol C. of Texas, USA was the winner of the $200 Plum Guide voucher
• Lou F. of England, UK was winner of a Taotronics Mesh WiFi system (2 pack), a retail value of GBP £209

April 2021:

• Phil H. of England, UK won a Netgear Nighthawk M1 4G mobile hotspot and router which has a retail price of $349.99 USD.

March 2021:

• Robin M. of England, UK, won a Vanguard VEO 3 GO 204CB carbon fiber tripod worth $199.99, as well as a VEO GO 34M KG shoulder bag worth $69.99.

February 2021:

• Raymond S. of Maryland, USA was the winner of a $120 Context Travel gift card for use for any virtual seminars or courses
• Anisa A. of England, UK & Sumandeep K. of England, UK were the winners of 18 travel-related books

January 2021:

• Kim C. of Ohio, USA was the winner of the Standard Luggage Travel Backpack  giveaway worth $228 USD
• Brooke P. of Spain was the winner of our tech travel bundle giveaway worth approximately $117 USD

December 2020:

• Michelle P. of Minnesota, USA was the winner of the Travel Gifts made in USA giveaway worth $262

November 2020:

• Louise H. of England, UK won a box full of travel-related gifts made in the UK worth $195
• Bianca P. of North Carolina, USA won $100 worth of PortaPocket travel gear
• Wendy S. of England, UK won £100 of ASDA Photos credit for photo printing and photo gifts

October 2020

• Stephan G. of California, USA won a copy of our travel photography course worth $129 USD

September 2020

• Charlotte T. of Alberta, Canada won a $125 USD voucher good towards any products on the Koy Gear online store
• Sarah D. of Belgium won a France mystery box filled with hand-selected French treats and gifts, worth over $150 USD.

August 2020

• Skye T of South Dakota, USA won an AKASO Brave 7 LE Action Camera, worth $142.99 USD
• Samantha W. of England, UK won a $150 Civitatis voucher to use on any ticket, tour, or activity of her choice

July 2020

• Julie D. of England won a 2-night stay in a 4-star hotel in Bali, Indonesia, plus 2 guided tours with ForeverVacation. The prize was worth around $500 USD

June 2020

• Will E. of Rhode Island, USA won a 3-year NordVPN VPN subscription with a total retail value of $125.00

May 2020

• Rae H. of England, UK won a watch, cuff links, leather cord organizer, a travel coffee mug, a travel photography course, & several other travel gifts with a total retail value of $534.85
• Pamela S. of New York, USA won her choice of travel inspired home decor items from Etsy, worth $125

April 2020

• Joyce W. of Wales, UK won a Kameleon Rose Ultimate Travel Dress and 5 Way Cardigan, worth GBP £146
• Nick B. of Italy, Wayne K. of South Africa, and Kandy K-L. of Michigan, USA won a copy of Skylum Luminar 4 photo editing software worth USD $89 each
• Susan C. of Ohio, USA who won a travel coffee maker of her choice, worth up to USD $100

March 2020

• Anthea H. of England, UK who won a cashmere scarf, jewelry, and travel gifts with a value of over $500
• Kate W. of Ontario, Canada who won a USD $200 voucher for any walking tour on the Take Walks website

February 2020

• Scott F. of England, UK won two 2-day Paris Passes, worth 260 euros
• Regina R. of Portugal, won a copy of our travel photography course worth 129 euros

January 2020

• Ricky J. of North Carolina, USA won two framed prints of our photos, worth $125
• Jodie R. of Australia won a Tropicfeel bundle including 1 pair of Canyon shoes, 1 pair of Havasu flip flops, 1 Cruiser backpack, and 1 reusable Shopper bag, with a value of $166

December 2019

• Janni N of Denmark won a pair of Vallerret Photography gloves and Beanie, with a retail value of $136
• Louis D. of Illinois, USA won a GetYourGuide gift card worth $250

November 2019

• Kiara G of England, UK won an Ovcio Featherlight cashmere scarf worth $125
• Barbara C of Idaho, USA won her choice of gifts worth up to $200 from our gift guide for travelers and gift guide for photographers.

October 2019

• Ian F. of England, UK won an AKASO V50 Elite action camera worth $140.
• Stephanie L. of California, USA, Heather S. of Ontario, Canada and Christopher S. of New York, USA won a Wanderchain and set of 10 engraved tokens from The Wander Club. A $67 value each. Jill T. of Pennsylvania also won a Wanderchain.
• Jarna P. of Finland won a Tinggly holiday gift card, a $119 value.

September 2019

• Linda K. of Michigan, USA won a 3-piece Happyluxe travel set. A $88 value.
• Catherine R. of Ontario, Canada won a pair of travel shoes of her choice. She chose a pair of Sorel Joan Explorer winter boots, a $150 value.

August 2019

• Cynthia R. of Arizona, USA won a $150 gift credit to use to book camping and glamping sites on Hipcamp.
• Kelly J. of New Zealand won her choice of a set of Shacke Pack packing cubes, a Vera Bradley travel pill case, and a Zoppen travel wallet.

July 2019

• Julie W. of Michigan, USA won a Vanguard VEO 2 GO 235CB carbon fiber tripod and a VEO GO 34M bag with a total value of USD $339.98. Philip B. of England, UK won a VEO 2 GO 204AB aluminum tripod with a value of USD $149.99. Megan K. of England UK, William B. of North Carolina, USA, and Robin S. of Ontario Canada each won a VESTA Mini Tripod with a value of USD $43.99 each.
• Rachael B. of Ohio, USA, won a RavPower Filehub Plus travel router with a value of USD $42.99.

June 2019

• Ashley S. of Florida, USA won a USD $150 voucher for ScotteVest travel clothing of choice.
• Iain M. of Scotland, UK won a My Webspot Individual Edition WiFi Hotspot and a 20 day usage pass with a retail value of USD $299.

May 2019

• Gerri T. of Wales, UK was the first prize winner for the online travel photography course and Skylum Lumniar photo editing software, worth USD $198. Abbas K. of Turkey and Patsy B. of Canada also each won a free copy of the Skylum Luminar editing software.
• William T. of Georgia, USA who won a Pad & Quill TechFolio Pro Cord Organizer worth USD $140

April 2019

• Rotem A. of Israel, Cassandra C. of Missouri, USA, and Carolina R. of Argentina, each of whom won a day tour of their choice for 2 persons from Iceland Travel worth up to USD $700
• Sheila H. of England, UK who won a Melifluos travel wrap worth USD $32
• Carolyn  E. of England, UK who won a Happyluxe travel wrap worth USD $56
• David S. of Wisconsin, USA who won 3 custom vintage travel posters from Just Go Travel Studios worth USD $135

March 2019

• Delyna B. of Australia, who won a Rabbie’s Tour in the UK or Ireland worth up to USD $500
• Goretti R. of Catalonia, Spain, who won a Sony compact camera valued at USD $200

February 2019

• Becky P. from London, England, UK who won a tour from Travel Talk worth up to USD $1,200.

January 2019

• Anissa E. from Washington D.C., USA, who won a USD $200 voucher for use to buy a backpack on the Arcido store
• Anke K. from South Africa, who won a USD $200 voucher for any walking tour on the Take Walks website

December 2018

• Michelle B. from Germany, who won a Travelccessories Toiletry Bag & Travel Laundry Kit with a retail value of USD $100
• Russell C. from England, UK, who won a 5-piece Manta Sleep travel package with a retail value of USD $90

November 2018

• Toni K. from Kentucky, USA, who won OOO Traveling luggage with a retail value of USD $298
• Gary R. from Ontario, Canada, who won a Tinggly Best in the World travel gift card with a retail value of USD $119

October 2018

• Tracy C. from Australia, who won a free lifetime subscription to our travel photography course with a retail value of USD $129
• Vicki L. from the USA, who won a custom Passport Map with a retail value of USD $129

September 2018

• Toni A. of Evansville, IN, USA won a Vanguard VEO 2 235CB Carbon Fiber tripod with a retail value of USD $199
• Kevin C. of Wales, UK won a Thule Subterra Carry-On 55cm with a retail value of GBP £215