I do not think that they KNOW where they are going beforehand. WE know where it it at the end of the prevous edition, but I think they are filmed before the prevous episode is aired(with the exception of the all-stars edition.

Sometimes they do not even get to take their own clothes with them.
Also, I bet that that 550 cord trick would get to fined or something(probabally in the contract you have to sign.)

The thing I REALLY HATE about the show, it that(from what I have heard) there are a LOT of RULES they have to follow...There was one where there was wildlife all over the place and they were starving??? From what I heard, some of it was listed as 'endangered' and so they could not touch it <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> (sure was a LOT of it, for it to be 'endangered')
Of course some of this could be for their own safety...I remember playing Microsoft's 'Age of Empires' for the first time and sending my vilagers out to go hunt some hippos with their spears...Ohhhh, there was some killing done...It just was not done by the villagers <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />