Trek Study: Travel for Free to Mexico or Guatemala
As I’m planning a little jaunt to somewhere in Latin America to be covered extensively here later, I ran across a very interesting and possibly free travel opportunity to Central America, and it is actually legitimate. The travel opportunity is the Trek Research Study Program. The program offers research participants up to $1500, depending on trip duration and completion, to travel to almost anywhere in Mexico or Guatemala.
So Free travel to Mexico or Guatemala. Got your attention yet?
The Trek Research Program is a clinical study on a traveler’s diarrhea medication for travelers to Latin America. Like most clinical studies, participants have a 50% chance to receive either the medication being tested or a placebo, so there’s a good chance you’ll essentially be traveling for free for doing nothing. Sounds good to me.
Where you can go
While essentially you can go almost anywhere in Guatemala or Mexico, technically you must stay within 3 hours of land distance from a research clinic. Fortunately they hvae many clinics spread out that are participating so there are many options of where you can spend your trip. The clinics are located in the following places:
Mexico:
- San Miguel de Allende
- Guadalajara
- Mexico City
- Oaxaca
- Cuernavaca
Guatemala:
- Antigua
- Quetzaltenango
- Guatemala City
- Chichicastanango.
The Process
Getting involved in the study starts with a simple online sign up (I’d greatly appreciate if you sign up with that link so I get credit for referring you to the program). Later when participants are chosen, they’ll go through a [intuitive] screening process and then you’ll be on your way. I’m not sure how likely it is that you’ll be chosen to participate, but it does not hurt to sign up online and get your name in the pool for some free travel.
My name’s in the hat, and hopefully I’ll be taking in DF and Cuernavaca fo Free(!) this upcoming May and June.
That online sign-up link doesn't appear to work (for me, anyway)
It doesn't work for me either!
Do the organisers of the trek to Mexico or Guatemala provide medical travel insurance as part of the cheap deal I wonder?
Hmmm, the link doesn't work. Is it still available?
Ahhh the link is fixed. I made a stupid mistake. sorry about that
I can't sign up online! It won't let me select a "travel city" for some reason, and won't let me sign up without specifying one. I guess I'll try the number tomorrow...
Website is up ! Gather a group of people and head off this summer !
US Sites include
Miami
Dallas
Houston
San Antonio
Raleigh
New York
San Diego
San Francisco
find out more at the site - http://www.trekstudy.com
Is anyone seriously considering this? Because I am... let me know- I'll check back and we can get in contact
Hey guys!! This is soo amazing and interesting so plss consider it seriously.
Getting paid to travel is just awesome. I guess most of you by now must be already on trip. Enjoy!
Hey there, maybe you're on your way right now, or already back?
Could you please help me?
Im wondering what organisation stands behind all this? Sounds like a pretty cool opportunity to travel for free, but its nearly impossible to find any further information about "trekstudy"...
The only possibility of contact is by mail or phone, there's no address. Seems to be a bit unreliable I think!
Would be really happy to get some advice or hear something about your experiences!
Thanks a lot in advance!
So, did you guys travel yet? Did they reimburse the money you spent on the trip?
Cheers!
Hi guys!
Anyone has done it?
Pls, I'd like to know if you got the money spent back or if that's another scam. After having been scammed before, you don't want to feel like a fool again... :o(
Can you please drop me a line?
I won't open attachments, though.
Thanks so much!
Hey Carolina and Hannes,
I talked to the trekstudy-people who organise it in the USA and it sounds good. Now I am trying to find people on facebook who already finished a Trip.
I'll keep you updated!
Nick? Chris? Are you still here? Would be great to hear from you about this!
Bye, Anni
Hi guys!
It is definately safe and legal!
Had a few telephone calls with them and now I got my personal LogIn to their page and any information I need. They offer very good support all the time and don't try to catch you with any false promises but reveal anything that you need to know about the Trip and the medication. If you want some more information, just call them on their free number!
I will start in February 2010!
If you also will get in, I would be very pleased if you would mention my name, so I might get a small extra credit.
Here a few more Links I used for research:
Original Organisation:
Intercell: http://www.intercell.com/main/
http://www.wienerborse.at/berichte/1/8745_gb_2008.pdf
PR-Info:
http://www.presseportal.ch/de/pm/100005032/100582186/intercell_ag
http://www.boerse-express.com/pages/771495
http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/studien/bericht-112205.html
Travel-Sites:
http://twitter.com/trekstudy
http://www.frommers.com/blog/?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3A3ec3ac40-db8a-4d10-a884-acf9ccad0879Post%3A3bd23adb-ad2d-4916-a9d6-b9862f45e9b5
Wow I am already so excited!!
Bye,
Anni
is there anybody who participated at the study?
who can confirm that this project is no fake or something.
please give me more information, Thanx a lot
Hi,
I signed up for the trek study and will have my first clinical visit next monday. The company works thougether with the Tropical Medical Institute (I don´t know the proper English name for it) of the University of Munich which is a reliable instituion. I paricipated in two of their studies before and I always got my money and I am still of excellent health.
They will tell me all the details of the study on Monday, so I can tell you more about it by then.
Bye, Tina
so far we haven't heard back from anyone who has done it... i'm still sceptical. Do they just pay for flight or for the accommodation too? I've seen an indian one too
Hi,
I just got a call back from inclinix, because I have signed up for a trek study research program in India. This opportunity sounds interesting, but a litte too got, isn´t it? I am very sceptical..
Tina, do you have any news?
Cheers,Nicole
Hello,
I did it! I returned from the TREK study on 20th December. It is a legit clinical research study. We went to Guadalajara, in Western Mexico for 2 weeks, taking in Puerto Vallarta and Lake Chapala.
The study people either organise travel for you and you get about £175 at the end or you organise it and they pay you about £1475 at the end. They give a corperate mastercard which they add to every visit (I now have £1089 and get the rest on the 6 month visit).
Of note they do nothing to make you have tummy upsets and give good advice for avoiding it - avoiding street food wasing hands etc. Some have a reaction to the patch and some get pigmented skin where the patch was - I got neither. You have to attend a month and a couple of weeks before travel then during the holiday twice (they pick you up and drop you back at your hotel) and back in the UK after you get back. I went to the london school of tropical medicine for my visits.
If you get unformed stools you do have to agree to collect some and drop it off with them, they give you really unpleasant looking collection packs - Luckily I didn't have any problems.
Jonathan
PS Mexico is great!
Hi,
Sorry, I forgot to tell you about my visit.
The name of the company is Intercell USA (I found some articels about former studies, just use Google).
It really seems reliable and I met some people at the Clinic who are already participating and they all got their money.
Althogheter, they pay 1585 Euro, so you can use it for whatever you want. After the first vaccination (in your home country), you get 210 Euro, after the second again 210 Euro. Then, you fly to Mexiko/ Guatemala where you get 900 Euro during 3 more clinical visits (no more vaccinations). The last visit will be in your home country, about 6 months after your last visit in Mexiko/Guatemala. After that, you'll get 265 Euro.
You also get free transportation from the airport to your accomodation and free medical insurance during your trip.
Just sign up and go to the Information Day! Its non-committal and you can decide to quit anytime without having to have a reason, even if you are already in Mexiko/ Guatemala or back from your trip.
I'll have my first vaccination next Thuesday. You can E-Mail me if you have further questions.
I´m sorry for my bad English, it's late
Bye,
Tina
Please don´t register anymore. These guys confirm trips and than cancel the appointments in the last minute. I´ve already paid for the flight and everything ($$$$) !?! That is not very professional.
Hey Tina
I am signing up for india in April. can you tell me what type of hotel they used and which airlines also, is there a option were you dont pay anything and they arrange everything for you.
Thanks
I have a first appointment planned for next week ...my trip is to india..