I've had some preliminary talks with Expedia about the Belize contest (exciting!) and we're still working out the legalities, dates and details. Contest announcements are coming up really soon and the winners' July trip will be here before you know it. I can hardly believe it. I have lots of trip planning to do.
What I can say is that all of the girls (100!) that have received their very first passports over the past 18 months via The Passport Party Project are qualified to enter this awesome contest, and six lucky winners will be getting their first passport stamps from Central America's beloved Belize. Not bad. Not bad at all.
There will be five judges: Me, Expedia and three travel writers that have been involved with The Passport Party Project one way or another from the start. It's going to be tough for us to pick just six winners. (Egads.) But either way, I. Can't. Wait.
I wrote this post just to introduce them to you and to publicly tell them - and every single volunteer to date - Thank you. You can't do stuff like this alone. In any event, here come the judges...
Shelley Seale is a freelance writer and author based in Austin, Texas – but who vagabonds around the world whenever possible. She has written for National Geographic, USA Today, Globe Pequot Press, Andrew Harper Traveler and CNN, among others; though neither the New York Times nor Johnny Depp have answered her letters yet. If she could have any other job she would like to be a superhero. She has performed a catch on the flying trapeze, boarded down an active volcano, and was once robbed by a monkey in Nepal.
Launched in 2010, Traveling Latina's Ana Serafin was inspired to share her travel experiences after answering loads of emails from friends looking for travel advice. Since the launch of her blog, this award winner has been published by outlets such as Latina, New Latina, El Sentinel Orlando and Hispanicize. The holder of both a Venezuelan and U.S. passport, Ana's inspiration is another traveling Latina - her mom.
A passport holder since the age of 1, April is an Absolute Travel Addict who - when she's not globetrotting - splits her time between the peach tree state of Georgia and chasing waterfalls in Jamaica. April and her travel writing has appeared in Essence Magazine, Canada’s Travel and Escape, GoBlackAmerica.com, and USA Today, among others. She’s the author of How to Travel the World Without Quitting Your Job and is actively in search of the world's best cupcake.
Aren't they awesome?
Aren't they awesome?
