Key Takeaways:
• The Guardian is inviting UK residents to share tips on life-changing holidays or adventures.
• Submissions should be around 100 words and may include photos.
• Selected tips can win a £200 Coolstays voucher and appear in the Travel section.
The Guardian Travel section has launched a call for readers to contribute tips on life-changing holidays and transformative travel experiences. UK residents aged 18 and over can submit personal stories in about 100 words for a chance to be featured in the newspaper and online. This initiative aims to capture memorable trips that altered perspectives, priorities, or lifestyles.
The prompt invites a broad range of experiences. Submissions might describe wellbeing retreats that helped reset outlooks, yoga escapes that fostered inner peace, or first-time adventures such as fishing, sailing, long-distance hikes or kayaking journeys. Contributors can highlight how a particular holiday sparked personal growth, courage or a shift in life direction.
Readers are encouraged to focus on what made their travel experience special. The Guardian seeks vivid, meaningful stories that illustrate how a break from everyday routines led to fresh insight or meaningful change. Whether exploring remote landscapes or embracing new activities, the emphasis lies on the emotional and personal impact of travel.
Photographs are optional but can enhance a submission. Entries will be judged primarily on the strength and quality of the writing rather than visuals. This keeps the spotlight on personal expression and narrative clarity as readers reflect on their most significant travel moments.
Competitive incentives accompany the call for tips. The best submission of the week, chosen by Tom Hall of Lonely Planet, will win a £200 voucher from Coolstays. Coolstays operates a network of more than 3,000 unique properties worldwide, giving winners flexibility in future travel plans.
Winning and selected entries may also be featured in the Guardian’s Travel section and on its website. This offers contributors a platform to share their experiences with a broader audience, inspiring others considering meaningful travel.
The competition runs until 10am GMT on Monday, 12 January 2026. Residents must submit their tips by the deadline to be considered. Guardian editors will review all eligible entries, selecting those that best capture the spirit of transformative travel.
This initiative reflects a broader trend in travel culture that views holidays as more than just leisure breaks. Recent research shows that many travellers make significant life decisions while away from daily routines, such as career changes or lifestyle overhauls. Vacations can serve as catalysts for reflection and change, often providing clarity unavailable in normal settings.
Experts in travel psychology suggest that stepping outside familiar environments helps people reevaluate priorities. The mental space created by new landscapes and experiences can unlock fresh thinking, leading to transformative insights or major personal decisions. Travel thus plays a role beyond relaxation, shaping identity and future goals.
The Guardian’s call for stories taps into this powerful travel narrative. By highlighting personal anecdotes of journeys that “changed lives,” the feature underscores how meaningful experiences extend beyond traditional destination reviews. It encourages readers to reflect on how travel has shaped them.
As submissions pour in, the Travel section expects a diverse collection of life-changing tales. Readers can share stories from weekend retreats to epic adventures, each offering a unique perspective on how travel influences personal growth. Selected entries may inspire fellow travellers seeking their own transformative holiday.
