Skip to main content

This Company Will Pay Your Rent to Explore the New 7 Wonders of the World

Over the last year, Contiki’s proven to be a next-level tour provider, especially for young, active, proudly single travelers. They showed us the best of Ecuador, they celebrated this year’s Singles Awareness Day by sidestepping Valentine’s Day altogether, and they plan some of the most legit, off-the-beaten-path tours on the planet. Now, they’re offering to pay your rent while you explore all seven of the New 7 Wonders of the World — seriously.

Contiki’s offer is simple: Book all seven of the company’s individual 7 Wonders of the World tours and Contiki will pay your rent for two months while you’re away. Collectively, the two-month, round-the-world itinerary covers four continents and includes the Taj Mahal in India, the Great Wall of China, Chichen Itza in Mexico, Machu Picchu in Peru, Brazil’s famous Christ the Redeemer monument, and the Colosseum in Rome. Plus, by including the newly announced Israel and Jordan Uncovered trip, you’ll visit the ancient city of Petra as well. Most travelers admit to wanting to visit at least one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. So, the possibility of seeing them all would be truly life-changing.

New 7 Wonders of the World

  • Great Wall of China (China)
  • Taj Mahal (India)
  • Chichén Itzá (Mexico)
  • Christ the Redeemer (Brazil)
  • Petra (Jordan)
  • Machu Picchu (Peru)
  • Colosseum (Italy)
Recommended Videos

For anyone who loves to explore, it can seem impossible to coordinate a group trip with your friends. However, the idea of jetting off alone to some far-flung, unpronounceable country might seem daunting, even terrifying for some. That’s where Contiki comes in. Their catalog of “group singles” trips covers six continents; all guarantee the thrill of solo travel without the loneliness and headaches of travel planning.

The bad news is that, like any once-in-a-lifetime trip worth doing, this jumbo-sized, bucket-list-worthy expedition doesn’t come cheap. According to the fine print, the price to book all seven trips in the 7 Wonders of the World package starts at $13,610. That doesn’t include international flights or any additional accommodations, transportation, or meals not listed in the trip itineraries.

If you’re looking to take one hell of a gap year, need a serious break from adulthood, or want to relish a two-month celebration after quitting your desk job, it’s difficult to imagine a better way to do it. If it sounds too rich for your blood, they’ll even let you finance the whole trip. But, since you’ll be paying off your student loans until you’re 160 anyway, what’s a little more debt?

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
This California city was just named the friendliest in the U.S.
San Diego came out on top
A scene from San Diego Pride 2016

If you’re looking for good vibes, helpful neighbors, and plenty of friendly smiles, you might want to book a trip to San Diego, California, as it’s just been crowned the friendliest city in the U.S.

The ranking comes from Match Group’s Yuzu app, which surveyed users across the country to find out where locals are the most welcoming. The app asked people to rate their own cities on things like how often locals smile, help strangers, and offer positive interactions. Users gave each city a friendliness score from 1 to 10, combining both quantifiable data and real-life experiences.

Read more
Inside Hawaii’s iconic pink palace: A stay at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel
Royal Hawaiian Hotel

Although there are 22 Marriott Luxury Collection resorts in the United States, only one is located in the beautiful state of Hawaii: The Royal Hawaiian Hotel Waikiki. This stunning "pink palace" holds significant importance both to travelers and residents of the island of O'ahu, symbolizing both Hawaiian elegance and architectural beauty. You can read about the fantastic history of this resort online, but experiencing it in person is an entirely different experience. The resort immerses you in not just the history of the building, but also teaches you essential lessons about Hawaiian history and culture.

As one of the first luxury hotels in Waikiki, the Royal Hawaiian has earned a hefty reputation due to its stunning pink architecture and elegant feel. Here's what you can expect during a stay at this luxury resort and what you don't want to miss.

Read more
Survey reveals the dirty truth about how Americans behave at the beach
Which of these bad beach habits have you seen?
Waikiki Beach

Looking forward to heading down the shore this summer? A new survey revealed that most Americans (93%) claim to practice good beach etiquette, yet almost 92% admitted to practicing at least one bad beach habit. In a survey of over 1,000 American adults, 93% believed they had good beach etiquette, but later contradicted themselves by admitting to some strange beach habits. The most confessed offenses include peeing in the water (70%), sneaking alcohol where it's banned (49%), and pocketing sand or shells (38%). Meanwhile, when asked, Americans reported the most annoying destructive beach behaviors as littering, not picking up after pets, playing music too loudly, and sitting too close to other people.

Per the survey, 70% of respondents said that poor beach behaviors can negatively impact their time at the beach. While 82% said littering is the worst behavior they've seen, nearly one in four respondents also admitted to participating in this bad habit themselves. When examining destructive beach behaviors, there is a generational gap in behaviors. Older Americans reported fewer destructive behaviors throughout their lives, even during their younger years. This response suggests the decline in beach etiquette isn't just associated with youth; each generation is slipping further from the standard.

Read more