First Time Contiki Traveler

30 Jul 2007 DeeZee said

Hi There,

I will be doing my first Contiki trip at the beginning of October and am looking for some travel advice.
I will be going solo and am nervous, but very stoked. Should I get my own room or opt to share with someone else?
I have never been to Italy and am trying to decide between the Simply Italy or Rome, Sorrento, and Athens.....any suggestions?
I am nervous about traveling alone, but I know it will be totally liberating.
I look forward to your advice.

Thanks- DeeZee

• About
• athens
• contiki
• europe
• italy
• rome
• simply italy
• sorrento
• travel advice

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• Add to discussion 6 comments so far

• 30 Jul 2007 Jeremy said

  

  Well I am going on the euro whirl next year and it will be my first time out of north america and I am going alone too. I intend to share with someone else, and try and do a triple share reduction because I want to save as much money as possible. (I know it would be a bit cheaper to backpack it, but I dont think I would like that as much, and im on a time crunch).
  
  If money isn’t a problem you really have to decide if it is important for you to be alone or not. You are only going to be in your room for so little, so if you can sleep soundly with others making noise you can save some cash and do that. It would be most wasteful if you pay extra to get your own room and end up staying up late hanging out in someone elses room.
  
  Can’t help with the tour though. that’s your call. Find the one that hits the most places you want to see and do that one. If money is a factor use that as well in planning. I’m making concessions on mine to see more countries. One day in each city, plus missing pompeii, not enough time to see David in Florence, and miss pisa while in Italy. But the trade off in that is I’ll get to go to 10 countries [counting the drive-thru in Belgium and 4-5 hours in Vatican City]. So you really have to do the one that hits the more important sites for you personally. I am sure each tour is great in its own rights.

  Well I am going on the euro whirl next year and it will be my first time out of north america and I am going alone too. I intend to share with someone else, and try and do a triple share reduction because I want to save as much money as possible. (I know it would be a bit cheaper to backpack it, but I dont think I would like that as much, and im on a time crunch). <BR><BR>If money isn't a problem you really have to decide if it is important for you to be alone or not. You are only going to be in your room for so little, so if you can sleep soundly with others making noise you can save some cash and do that. It would be most wasteful if you pay extra to get your own room and end up staying up late hanging out in someone elses room.<BR><BR>Can't help with the tour though. that's your call. Find the one that hits the most places you want to see and do that one. If money is a factor use that as well in planning. I'm making concessions on mine to see more countries. One day in each city, plus missing pompeii, not enough time to see David in Florence, and miss pisa while in Italy. But the trade off in that is I'll get to go to 10 countries [counting the drive-thru in Belgium and 4-5 hours in Vatican City]. So you really have to do the one that hits the more important sites for you personally. I am sure each tour is great in its own rights. or Cancel
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• 30 Jul 2007 Natka1 said

  

  Rome, Sorrento, Athens only runs though the end of September so you can’t go on it in October. I went on Simply Italy this past May and it was an awesome tour. I would recomend sharing a room. But than again, you know yourself better than others. If you the type of person who wants alone time every day, than go for single Most people share.

  Rome, Sorrento, Athens only runs though the end of September so you can't go on it in October. I went on Simply Italy this past May and it was an awesome tour. I would recomend sharing a room. But than again, you know yourself better than others. If you the type of person who wants alone time every day, than go for single Most people share. or Cancel
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• 31 Jul 2007 Nichorocks said

  

  Hey Dee Zee
  I’m travelling alone on the euro vista in january 2008. I chose to triple share because from what i’ve been reading on travelogues and blog is that rooms becomes some what of a meeting place after going out at night and that they are very socialable places to be. In my experience of travelling the world so far I think that it about going outside of your usual ways and really stepping out to meet new people and explore new areas of the world that you wouldn’t otherwise see. So I recon you should go out on a limb and share with others not only for the financial benefit but also the experience you will have with these people because I’m sure years after the tour you’ll be able to look back happily at the time you spent with your roomies in Italy with great fondness.
  Good luck in your decisions
  Nick

  Hey Dee Zee<BR> I'm travelling alone on the euro vista in january 2008. I chose to triple share because from what i've been reading on travelogues and blog is that rooms becomes some what of a meeting place after going out at night and that they are very socialable places to be. In my experience of travelling the world so far I think that it about going outside of your usual ways and really stepping out to meet new people and explore new areas of the world that you wouldn't otherwise see. So I recon you should go out on a limb and share with others not only for the financial benefit but also the experience you will have with these people because I'm sure years after the tour you'll be able to look back happily at the time you spent with your roomies in Italy with great fondness.<BR>Good luck in your decisions<BR>Nick or Cancel
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• 1 Aug 2007 Gary said

  

  If you want to save money, than I would recommend request a roommate. For the most part, roommates get along and there are never any problems. If you have a problem, just tell your tour manager.
  
  Sometimes, you might get a single room anyway. That happened to me on my Simply Italy tour. I got single accommodations and I didn’t pay extra for it. Of course, there is no guarantee that will happen for you.
  
  As far as deciding between Simply Italy and Rome,Sorrento, Athens tours, the choice depends on what you want to see.
  
  With Simply Italy, you will see cities in Italy, but you will be on the road more.
  
  With the other tour, you will see more of Rome, however, it will be less hectic overall because you packing/unpacking to do.

  If you want to save money, than I would recommend request a roommate. For the most part, roommates get along and there are never any problems. If you have a problem, just tell your tour manager. <BR><BR>Sometimes, you might get a single room anyway. That happened to me on my Simply Italy tour. I got single accommodations and I didn't pay extra for it. Of course, there is no guarantee that will happen for you.<BR><BR>As far as deciding between Simply Italy and Rome,Sorrento, Athens tours, the choice depends on what you want to see.<BR><BR>With Simply Italy, you will see cities in Italy, but you will be on the road more. <BR><BR>With the other tour, you will see more of Rome, however, it will be less hectic overall because you packing/unpacking to do. or Cancel
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• 2 Aug 2007 Megs said

  

  Hi everyone that is nervous bout contiki.
  Me and my sister just got back a from the 45 day concept tour it was the best ever, it was alot of money and there the extras on tour that just bout ever one does so that ended up been alot more yes we spent alot of money, but we have been to every place that you guys are going to so if you want to know any question or you can look at our travel blog on another site, its www.globenotes.com and search silverthorne your find us. if you have heard any bad thimgs bout contiki forget bout then. there was a few solo traveller on tour but your family by the end.

  Hi everyone that is nervous bout contiki.<BR>Me and my sister just got back a from the 45 day concept tour it was the best ever, it was alot of money and there the extras on tour that just bout ever one does so that ended up been alot more yes we spent alot of money, but we have been to every place that you guys are going to so if you want to know any question or you can look at our travel blog on another site, its <A HREF="http://www.globenotes.com" TARGET=_blank>www.globenotes.com</A> and search silverthorne your find us. if you have heard any bad thimgs bout contiki forget bout then. there was a few solo traveller on tour but your family by the end. or Cancel
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• 4 Aug 2007 MiaGator said

  

  I’ve done a couple of tours – my first time solo, last time with a friend. Honestly, I had more fun solo – I met my roommate, and it’s nice to have an instant buddy who’s probably as scared as you are. I think I was more sociable since I was traveling solo. It was no big deal. Everyone’s a bit nervous at the initial meetup, but the ice breaks pretty quickly, and after the 2nd day, you’re all buddies.

  I've done a couple of tours - my first time solo, last time with a friend. Honestly, I had more fun solo - I met my roommate, and it's nice to have an instant buddy who's probably as scared as you are. I think I was more sociable since I was traveling solo. It was no big deal. Everyone's a bit nervous at the initial meetup, but the ice breaks pretty quickly, and after the 2nd day, you're all buddies. or Cancel
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