Welcome to this month’s giveaways!

Each month we offer at least one giveaway to our loyal readers as a way to say thank you. These may range from anything from luggage to travel clothing to travel vouchers to photography gear.

We strive for these giveaways to be open to as many of our readers and subscribers as possible. However, given rules, legislation, and shipping restrictions, this is not always possible and many of the giveaways do have geographical restrictions (as well as other restrictions) so please be sure to note these before entering a giveaway.

**If you are a brand or company that is interested in featuring a quality travel or photography product, please contact us directly.**

Our Giveaways are Exclusive to our Newsletter Subscribers

We run regular giveaways that are exclusive to our newsletter subscribers. You must be a newsletter subscriber to be eligible for our giveaways. Please enter the giveaways using the name and email you use to receive our emails.

If you sign up to the giveaways and are not a confirmed newsletter subscriber, your entry will be discarded.

If you want to sign up to our newsletter, you can sign up using this form:

If you have any questions about subscribing to our newsletter, please contact us.

Current Giveaway Details – October 2018

This month we are offering two great giveaways!

The first is a personalized Passport Map (open Worldwide *) and the second is a Online Travel Photography course (open Worldwide). Please see the specific entry requirements for each giveaway below:

Giveaway #1 – Custom Passport Map

Brand/Manufacturer: Passport Maps
Product Link: http://www.passportmaps.com/
Retail Value: $129.00 USD (includes shipping)
Giveaway Open to: Worldwide * (physical map mailed to US residents only, digital map available worldwide)

If you love remembering your travels, you might love the idea of being able to design a personalized vacation map based on a trip that you can frame and hang or display in your home. Scott Lussier of Passport Maps custom designs these maps for travelers. The design is personalized for each customer and can include text, map locations, routes, and personal travel photos.

In addition to travels and vacations, the maps can also show other things like marathons, honeymoons, challenges, international family locations, cruises, bicycle routes, etc. Maps can be international or local. They also make a great gift!

We own one of this maps and it has been a great way to remember our European train journey every time we glance at our wall!

So we’re thrilled today to be able to giveaway a personalized Map Passport!

The winner will be able to personalize a map in whatever way they wish, including the title, images, text, and map locations. Or if you plan to give it away as a gift, you can have a friend of loved one customize it or customize it for them.

A Passport Map Image is printed on a 13 x 19 piece high quality, 69#, semi-gloss, acid free paper. The map will arrive unframed and is designed to be displayed in a frame. You can use any frame (with or without a mat), and here are some framing suggestions.

Note that Passport Maps can only be shipped within the United States. If the winner is based outside of the United States, the custom map will be delivered as a digital file and can then be printed in your home country.

We love our map that shows our train journey from Istanbul to Pisa from a couple of years ago, and we hope you love yours too. An awesome prize, massive thanks to Scott at Passport Maps for offering it as a giveaway!

If you would like to make a personalized Map Passport or give one as a gift (gift certificates are available) but don’t win, you can still get a 10% discount. Just enter TRAVELCATS into the Coupon Code box at Checkout to receive 10% off your map order. Discount code is valid until November 30, 2018.

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, 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 1 winner receiving a personalized Passport Map.

The value of the giveaway is USD $129 (includes shipping).

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 and then will receive a online gift certificate to use for $129 to design their own custom map from Passport Maps. Winners from the United States will have their maps printed and mailed to them. Winners from outside the United States will have their map sent to them digitally by email and can then print them in their home country.

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.

The data entered into the competition form will be used solely 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 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 competition including helping to set up the competition shall not be permitted to enter the competition.
3. The competition 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 competition.
5. Route to entry for the competition 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 from to be eligible. Incomplete entries will not be considered.
8. Closing date for entry is October 27, 2018 at midnight EST. After this date no further entries to the competition will be permitted. Only one entry may be submitted per participant. Multiple entries will not be considered, and will invalidate all entries by 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 prizes are as follows: 1 winner will receive a personalized Passport Map.
11. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice and for any reason. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.
12. 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.
13. 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 fulfilment nor for any technical failures. Winning entry will be verified. A list of winners will be displayed on this page and published in the monthly newsletter.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. The winner consents to their name, email, postal address, and mobile contact number to be passed on to promoters and Passport Maps for the sole purpose of enabling their prize to be delivered.
17. The promoters’ decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final.
18. By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
19. The competition and these terms and conditions will be governed by Scottish law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Scotland.
20. Images included in the giveaway post may not depict the exact prize, and are for illustrative purposes only.
21. Residents of Canada will be required to enter a skill-testing question to claim their prize.
22. Promoters will cover shipping costs. Any import fees, duties, or taxes due in winner’s country must be covered by winner.
23. Void where Prohibited

Giveaway #2 – Online Travel Photography Course with Laurence

Brand: Superstar Blogging Travel Photography Course
Product Link: https://superstarblogging.nomadicmatt.com/how-to-become-a-travel-photographer/
Retail Value: $99 USD
Giveaway Open to: Worldwide

We all want to take better photos, especially when we travel. But photography is quite a complicated subject, which can take a while to master. With that in mind, Laurence put together an incredibly comprehensive travel photography course. Taught across eight weeks (although you can take as long as you want to complete the course!), it has everything Laurence knows about photography in one place.

You’ll learn how to master your camera’s settings, and understand how changing them affects the image. You’ll learn how to compose a great photo, and how to edit a photo – both on your computer and on your mobile phone. There are also a number of advanced modules, including long exposure photography, astrophotography and flash photography.

Whatever camera you have, the course will work for you, with content that suits smartphones, point- and-shoot cameras, and more advanced mirrorless or DSLR models.

We think this course is excellent value for money, and we’re thrilled to be able to give a copy to one of our readers as part of this month’s giveaway!

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, if you’re already signed up you don’t need to sign up again and you can skip to the 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 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 1 winner receiving a Superstar Blogging Travel Photography Course – an online travel photography course. Access to the course is valid for life.

The value of the giveaway is $99 total.

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

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 and then the prize will be delivered as a login to the course.

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.

The data entered into the competition form will be used solely 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 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 competition including helping to set up the competition shall not be permitted to enter the competition.
3. The competition 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 competition.
5. Route to entry for the competition 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 from to be eligible. Incomplete entries will not be considered.
8. Closing date for entry is October 27, 2018 at midnight EST. After this date no further entries to the competition will be permitted. Only one entry may be submitted per participant. Multiple entries will not be considered, and will invalidate all entries by 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 prizes are as follows: 1 winner will receive a Superstar Blogging Travel Photography Course by Laurence Norah
11. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice and for any reason. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.
12. 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.
13. Winners will be drawn at random from all valid entries received. The odds of winning will depend on the number of entries received. Promoters are not responsible for prize fulfilment nor for any technical failures. Winning entry will be verified. A list of winners will be displayed on this page and published in the monthly newsletter.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. The promoters’ decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final.
17. By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
18. The competition and these terms and conditions will be governed by Scottish law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Scotland.
19. Residents of Canada will be required to enter a skill-testing question to claim their prize.
20. Images included in the giveaway post may not depict the exact prize, and are for illustrative purposes only.
21. Promoters will cover shipping costs. Any import fees, taxes or duties due in winner’s country must be covered by winner.
22. 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 some of our past giveaway winners:

September 2018

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