'Bachelor' star Peter Weber blindsided on 'Destination X' (and loved it)

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6 days ago

Peter Weber has spent plenty of time at 30,000 feet, but "Destination X" challenged the former Bachelor star in a new way: Taking away his ability to navigate. On NBC's travel-based reality series, contestants boarded a blacked-out bus and used their intuition, logic, and social savvy to figure out where in Europe they'd landed without ever seeing the journey there. It's part travelogue, part mind game, and for Weber, part full-circle adventure.
As a licensed commercial pilot and reality TV veteran, Weber brought a unique mix of wanderlust and game strategy to the series that got all the way to the final two, but ultimately was beaten by fellow contestant Rick Szabo. Weber opened up to USA TODAY about the challenges of navigating blind, the misdirection he used to stay ahead in the game, and why making strategic choices over emotional ones. And, yes, he has opinions on aisle vs. window.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
Question: What made you join 'Destination X' and how did it compare to your experience with 'The Bachelor' and 'The Traitors'?
Peter Weber: This opportunity, like the last three, they just kind of you know fell into my lap. I couldn't say no even though I wasn't necessarily looking for anything.
Specifically with "Destination X," when I was told the whole kind of premise, it was an immediate yes. My background of flying and love of travel and adventure and then just, you know, being the ultimate competitor, I think this just kind of grouped everything into one. But I would say, that without a doubt, this is the most fun thing I have been able to do.
It's such a unique experience to be able to do in today's day and age; just disconnect from the outside world and no phone, no social media, nothing — just immerse yourself into a game like you're playing like a kid, and having that game be all across Europe just makes it that much better.
How did your background as a pilot help or hurt you when you were guessing locations?
There definitely were a lot of pros to helping me, you know. In this most recent episode it came into play a lot. I recognized the peaks that we were at — in Monaco, up high just from flying in and out of Venice Airport quite a bit. So, some familiarity there with certain departure corridors that I'd flown before helped me.
And just naturally being maybe good at navigation and following the sun as much as possible. That's really the only clue you had on this bus was, you know? It's all fogged out. Unless Jeffrey (Dean Morgan) wanted you to see out. So, you could follow the sun and track a little bit and get an estimate of what direction you were going for and a rough speed of how far you could have traveled to help me in that way.
In regards to hurting me, maybe just coming in, I think it could have put a target on my back a little bit, with people thinking, "Yeah, you're a pilot, you probably have some extensive travel experience." You know, maybe that's a threat kind of thing. So it was really important for me right off the bat to kind of figure out, OK, who am I going to trust in this game? Who am I going to work with now?
How did it feel to be blindfolded and have no control over where you were going, you know?
Definitely eerie. It's kind of cool how they edit it in the show to, "boom." It goes from one scene to the next. But obviously to get to those spots where that Google reveal happens takes a lot of coordination and, you know, us following producers with our hands on their backs. And you can't literally see. You're blindfolded. You can't see anything and it's, you know, done just for the fairness of the game. It has to be done that way, but definitely a very odd feeling to have no control, no say where you're at, no idea where you're at, but also, it's kind of what made it so much fun is really kind of pushing yourself to figure it out.
What do you think was the moment that pushed you most out of your comfort zone during the the entirety of the game?
I've always been an emotional person, and that's just naturally who I am. And I think there was a period where I really had to push myself to get out (someone) I had been beefing about some stuff with, and there was some stuff going on there. And there was a decision I had to make where it was: Do I do the feel-good option of when you're beefing with someone and you have now the power to kind of get rid of them? Or do I do the smart play and completely let go of the emotion of that? So, I would say that probably pushed me the most to be able to make the right call under pressure.
I remember when we were able to get Mack (Fitzgerald) out, cause Mack would have, I think, won the game if we hadn't gotten her out in that point, I think she wins the whole thing. And so, I had to make that call, strategy-wise, even though emotionally I wanted to go somewhere else.
Europe is known for its robust train system. You are of course a pilot. And you were on a bus. What is your preferred method of travel?
Oh, for sure flying. Obviously. You know, we'll always take airplanes over anything.
But I think one of the coolest moments was that that last episode of Monaco that that yacht we were able to go on and go get anchored right outside the Monte Carlo. That was a very surreal experience. You know, "cheersing" with some Champagne with Jeffrey and Rick (Szabo) and Biggy (Bailey) there and realizing, wow, we made it this far and now we're going to the finale. And I just never experienced that kind of a yacht experience. It was pretty surreal.
Speaking of planes, aisle or window seat?
Window, for a couple of reasons. Obviously, for the view, you know? And it's sad. I feel like in today's day and age, so many people close the window shade or dim it, or just not have their face glued outside and being on their phones. I mean, it's the most incredible view in the entire world you're ever going to get.
I'm always a window fan, also, for the aspect of sleeping. I like being able to lean and have some support. You don't quite get that with the middle or aisle seat.
Is there a travel habit that you picked up as a pilot that you still use as a passenger?
I think just efficient packing. It's sometimes easy to overpack, and you're going to have all these outfits you're going to wear, but I think just kind of nailing it down to the base set of clothes, shoes, etc.
Is there something that you like to splurge on while you're on vacation?
Dessert. I'm a huge, huge dessert person. I have a huge sweet tooth, though. Anytime I'm on vacation, I'm always looking forward to that dessert menu. Ideally, a chocolate molten lava cake with some ice cream on top is my go-to.
What's your travel pet peeve?
Pet peeve, I would say, is when people stand up right when the airplane gets to the gate. I think it creates such a sense of anxiety and panic, and everyone is just trying to get ahead of each other and no one's going anywhere cause you know, they gotta open the door first and obviously very skinny aisles for everyone to feed through.
Is there something that you would like to remind future you from the show?
The biggest thing that I want to take away from this show is having an opportunity to fully disconnect and appreciate the moment, and appreciate where you're at. I think it's such a beautiful thing to do in life and it's so easy to not do that.
With all distractions of everyday life in the era that we live in, and with social media and phones, there's always a million things to do. But this show kind of forces you, because obviously you have no choice, into that mindset to really be present and soak it all in. I think that's something that I would love to really take forward.
And if I need a reminder later on in life, being able to look back on an experience like "Destination X" or "The Traitors" and remember vividly what that was like to feel fully present and just enjoy the moment and not be distracted. That's probably the biggest thing I'd love to take forward and apply to my life.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Peter Weber says 'Destination X' was his most fun adventure yet