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London and Paris

2 Oct 2010 Blommie said

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I just completed the London and Paris tour. I was so excited because I have never been there and really wanted to enjoy the benefits of a guided group tour. But I am so disappointed! The brochure is totally misleading with regards to the places visited - it literally means just spotting a sight whilst driving by. I had to travel and do most activities on my own. The tour manager was extremely rude and insensitive and he even left me behind during an included activity in Paris! Not knowing the metro trains, or the French language, I was 5 minutes late due to travelling in the wrong direction. I don't know the places like he does and therefore relied on his support, but he was very condescending and offended me in every way. He even got angry because my friend and I didn't want to go to the pubs and bars the group so often visited and he asked what was wrong with us and if we were sick! But to me, drinking isn't fun, and having to spend your days with drunk or hung-over people isn't either. During the whole tour the tour manager was overly excited for Amsterdam, although only a few people did that tour after Paris. He even explained exactly how to use drugs and prostitutes. That is totally inappropriate! If he doesn't like people and visiting the same places over and over again, guiding others for whom it is a first time, he shouldn't be doing this job. A tour manager must treat you with respect, regardless of your sex, age, nationality, values and preferences. I wanted to visit Europe to see and do the things that are unique to that cities/countries, not drink byself into a coma, do sex and drugs. In the end I saw and visited everything I wanted to - by myself. I could have just skipped the whole Contiki thing and saved myself all the pain and trouble. I will seriously have to reconsider joining a Contiki tour again if that's the way you're being treated. So good luck to those travelling with Contiki - I suppose it isn't all that bad, depends on your expectations and the things you want to do. Both London and Paris was worth it - but it could have been so much better!!

  • 24 Oct 2010 Sandra2580 said

    Sandra2580

    I just returned from my trip to London and Paris and had the best time of my life. I read your review before I left and was very nervous about the trip but I enjoyed every single minute of the trip. I made new friends, my tour manager was amazing she was so helpful. Don’t know why your tour manager was not kind, sorry to hear that. I didn’t go into the trip with a lot of high expectations, I didn’t mind taking the coach to see the sites, it would take me days to see the sites by walking to them. If you do decide to go to Europe do a lot of research and use a map to guide yourself, hopefully you have a better experience next time.

  • 10 Jan 2011 Traveling~Girl said

    Traveling~Girl

    I have to agree with Bloomie, although I ended up having a good time because of the people I met and because we made the best of it, I has highly dissapointed with contiki on this trip. I have travelled with contiki to egypt and loved it, the tour manager we had for this trip should not be a tour manager! He was completely insensitive and made everything seem so unimportant… about 50% of our group was dissapointed in HIM.

  • 21 Aug 2012 likeaflower said

    likeaflower

    I did this trip in 2010 as well. Didn’t completely live up to my expectations either. I was gutted with Versailles, which I was most looking forward to – we got there at 3pm, and after the guided tour we only had 30mins to walk around. Didn’t get a chance to see the gardens, hamlet, ie. the main attractions! The TM should of taken us there in the morning and allowed us the option to catch a train back into town.

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