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Trip Chaser: A Card Game Born from Global Travel Experiences

September 14, 2024
4:55 pm

By: Trip Chaser

Creating a travel card game and turning it into a full-blown business venture may be a dream job to many, but what people often fail to realize is the hard work and dedication that goes behind building such an exciting venture.

The story of Dalene and Pete Heck, winners of National Geographic Travelers of the Year and founders of the Trip Chaser card game, is a perfect example of how what may seem fun and playful on the surface, requires years of perseverance and overcoming challenges.

In 2009, Dalene and Pete decided to quit their traditional corporate jobs in Canada and pursue a life of travel. What was supposed to be only a year of backpacking, turned into eight years of non-stop travel to over 60 countries.

“What really motivated us to travel is the age-old cliche: life is too short. After being drowned in a barrage of personal tragedies in just a period of months, we made the decision that we needed a change,” shared Dalene.

From Travel Dreamers to Successful Entrepreneurs

The idea of leaving everything behind and traveling the world is still considered unconventional, and yes, it can induce envy even in the most kindhearted people. After all, it’s a dream not many have the courage or resources to pursue.

What most people don’t see are the challenges and uncertainties that come with this lifestyle. A year into traveling, the Hecks realized that they needed to find a way to make their travels more sustainable. So, the couple shifted their careers as digital nomads by founding a blog and then a travel marketing firm that they were able to manage wherever they were in the world.

“At that time, HMI became a perfect solution for us to sustain our travels and at the same time, make effective use of the travel knowledge and skills we’ve acquired,” said Pete. “However, as digital nomads, there were always issues that cropped up that we wouldn’t normally encounter if we were inside an office. We’re fortunate that we were able to overcome all that,”

For several years, Dalene and Pete became an unstoppable duo in the travel marketing industry, winning back-to-back awards and accolades. Getting these recognitions was like a testament that they made the right decision in quitting their jobs and seeing the world. The Hecks were living their dream life, albeit in suitcases. They had no plans of stopping but apparently, life had other plans.

Surviving Cancer and Covid

In 2016, Dalene was diagnosed with a rare case of leukemia, forcing the couple to pack their bags and fly back to Canada so she could get treatment. The unexpected turn of events took them away from their nomadic lifestyle.

Throughout the cancer treatment, the Hecks remained positive, always thinking that after Dalene’s treatment, they could go back to their travels. It was a light at the end of the tunnel that they were holding on to. However, fate had another curveball to throw their way – the Covid-19 pandemic.

The outbreak of Covid-19 in early 2020 not only disrupted the lifestyles of many digital nomads but also dealt a huge blow to the travel industry as a whole. Dalene and Pete’s travel marketing firm, which was a reliable source of their funds, took a major hit. At the same time, their travel blog, another growth stream, also faced challenges as travel restrictions diminished both demand and interest in travel.

“The combined blow of cancer and COVID not only changed us and affected our ability and desire to travel, but it also drained our creative energy, leaving us disconnected from our keyboards and cameras. Every effort to dive back into it with enthusiasm has been met with significant internal resistance. We missed the effortless inspiration that comes with being on the road,” recalled Dalene.

Armchair Travel in a Card Game

The setbacks that the Hecks faced can break anyone’s spirit. After surviving their personal tragedies and finally finding their life’s calling as digital nomads, they suddenly had to go back to zero again and recalibrate what they needed to do moving forward.

Of all the ideas they came up with during the pandemic, Dalene and Pete revisited a concept they had cherished for years: creating a travel-themed card game. Eventually named Trip Chaser, Pete shared that it was a brilliant way to make use of all the travel knowledge they have accumulated over the years and to keep their passion for travel alive.

The Trip Chaser card game is a fun way for competitive players to enjoy armchair travel without the hassle of packing or spending money. In this exciting game, players can show off their travel smarts by buying, bartering, and gambling their way across different destinations. The tougher a place is to reach from North America, the higher the points they score.

“After spending nearly eight years circling the globe as digital nomads, visiting over 60 countries, we wanted to share all our travel knowledge and mishaps with fellow travel nerds in a fun and interactive way,” said Pete. “We wanted a card game that travel lovers like us could enjoy during their downtime, while also appealing to non-travelers curious about the world.”

Dalene and Pete have since started a new life in Nova Scotia, hoping for it to be a forever home, while managing their travel websites and businesses. However, despite being grounded for the foreseeable future, they have found joy in seeing people all over the world playing their game and sharing their travel experiences through Trip Chaser.

If you’re a travel nerd or someone who’s itching to see the world, consider checking out the Trip Chaser card game for inspiration. Experience some adventures and funny mishaps that could happen. Who knows, this could be the springboard to your next trip.