I can't decide which European tour to go on! Help!

8 Feb 2013 mzmaithai asked

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• 10 Feb 2013 stephmatthews said

  

  hey i did european vista it was amazing it has everything you need but depends on how long you want to go for

  hey i did european vista it was amazing it has everything you need but depends on how long you want to go for or Cancel
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• 10 Feb 2013 Marky Mark said

  

  Hi Mzmaithai,
  I did have a look at the European Highlights Tour but you are only in some places for one night. I guess it really depends how long u can afford to holiday in Europe for and how much you can spend ? I know 5 people that have been on the 19 day European Inspiration Tour and they said it was awesome.U will find that the time out tours will have more of an older crowd whereas the Concept tous will have more younger people. For the extra money you will only have to share with one other on the Time Out tour as with the concept tours u will be quad sharing. Dont get me wrong Ilike staying at backpackers but I would rather sleep in a bed rather than a bunk bed. Plus after being out partying all night the last thing you are going to want to do is climb onto the top bunk.Lets just say for the extra $ 20 bucks per day i would definitely choose the Time Out tours.

  Hi Mzmaithai, I did have a look at the European Highlights Tour but you are only in some places for one night. I guess it really depends how long u can afford to holiday in Europe for and how much you can spend ? I know 5 people that have been on the 19 day European Inspiration Tour and they said it was awesome.U will find that the time out tours will have more of an older crowd whereas the Concept tous will have more younger people. For the extra money you will only have to share with one other on the Time Out tour as with the concept tours u will be quad sharing. Dont get me wrong Ilike staying at backpackers but I would rather sleep in a bed rather than a bunk bed. Plus after being out partying all night the last thing you are going to want to do is climb onto the top bunk.Lets just say for the extra $ 20 bucks per day i would definitely choose the Time Out tours. or Cancel
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• 10 Feb 2013 mzmaithai said

  

  Hi Markymark! Thanks for the reply! I am brand new to Contiki, as a former travel agent friend recommended it to me. I totally hear you on the bunk bed thing. Last time I stayed in a hostel a few months ago I had a top bunk, and it was a good thing I had ear plugs and an eye mask, because there is NO way I would be able to fall asleep with the person below me moving and making all kinds of noise. Is the European Inspiration Tour part of Contiki? I am not sure if I saw that one yet. So what exactly is a “time out tour” and a “concept tour”? I don’t recall hearing/reading about those here on this site. I am 32 /female and am likely going to be going without friends on this trip so it would be nice to meet others close to my age to be travel buddies with!

  Hi Markymark! Thanks for the reply! I am brand new to Contiki, as a former travel agent friend recommended it to me. I totally hear you on the bunk bed thing. Last time I stayed in a hostel a few months ago I had a top bunk, and it was a good thing I had ear plugs and an eye mask, because there is NO way I would be able to fall asleep with the person below me moving and making all kinds of noise. Is the European Inspiration Tour part of Contiki? I am not sure if I saw that one yet. So what exactly is a "time out tour" and a "concept tour"? I don't recall hearing/reading about those here on this site. I am 32 /female and am likely going to be going without friends on this trip so it would be nice to meet others close to my age to be travel buddies with! or Cancel
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• 10 Feb 2013 mzmaithai said

  

  Hi Steph, is the European Vista still part of Contiki? I would like to be vacationing for no more than 19-21 days at the most. What did you like about it? What did you not like about it? How was the group you were with (age of people, size, etc). ?

  Hi Steph, is the European Vista still part of Contiki? I would like to be vacationing for no more than 19-21 days at the most. What did you like about it? What did you not like about it? How was the group you were with (age of people, size, etc). ? or Cancel
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• 10 Feb 2013 Marky Mark said

  

  Mzmaithai,
  The European Inspiration is definitely a Contiki Tour its 19 days. there is a guaranteed departure on the 24th August and the tour finishes on the 11th September. Ask your travel agent about it or ask a contiki operator. If you dont book a guaranteed departure tour there is a chance it wont go if they dont get the numbers. The European Inspiration Tour Starts in London and travels to Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Munich, Venice, Rome, Florence, Lucerne, Paris and Finishes in London. It also stops at places in between the main destinations. This is a “Time Out” Tour which means you stay in Hotels all the tour. They are in good locations so u spend less time travelling to get everywhere. The rooms have Ensuites, most places have free Wifi. They also have Pools, Gyms and Bars.

  I decided to do this trip as towards the end of August it isnt as busy with crowds so you wont be waiting in line everywhere. This is due to some valuable advice from my Cousins in Ireland and friends in Germany.They said dont come to Europe in July cause that is when all of Europe hits the road and goes on holidays and everything is packed and prices are expensive. The tempertures are still relatively warm especially in Italy. Make sure you bring a light jumper as Switzerland will be fairly cool at night due to the surrounding mountains, it really gets above 25 degrees during the day even in July which is the middle of there summer. Also ask for a nights accommodation in Contikis London Hotel the night before the trip as it starts at 7:30 am and also after the trip finishes as it gets back to London at 6:30 pm. Dont know what more I can say. Its really up to you what trip you decide on. Just thought I would offer you my opinion. I am going solo on this trip as well. The last trip I did on Contiki was the Grand Southern across the USA and I went Solo, had an awesome time and met heaps of people, and am still in contact with some of them and that was 7 years ago. I ended up being the party animal on that tour and did every optional tour they offered, stayed out just about everynight bar 3 and that was as 26 day tour. I figure you are on holidays and you may as well go all out as you dont know when you will be able to go back again. Dont stress there will be plenty of other Solo people on the trips and you will find that on the Time Out Tours it will be a bit more of an older crowd as well. I will be on the European Inspiraton Tour from the 24th Aug till the 11th of Sep, just waiting for my travel agent to get back to me with the quote, as I am doing a tour of the greek islands before this tour and oktoberfest after the tour as well.
  Mzmaithai, The European Inspiration is definitely a Contiki Tour its 19 days. there is a guaranteed departure on the 24th August and the tour finishes on the 11th September. Ask your travel agent about it or ask a contiki operator. If you dont book a guaranteed departure tour there is a chance it wont go if they dont get the numbers. The European Inspiration Tour Starts in London and travels to Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Munich, Venice, Rome, Florence, Lucerne, Paris and Finishes in London. It also stops at places in between the main destinations. This is a "Time Out" Tour which means you stay in Hotels all the tour. They are in good locations so u spend less time travelling to get everywhere. The rooms have Ensuites, most places have free Wifi. They also have Pools, Gyms and Bars. I decided to do this trip as towards the end of August it isnt as busy with crowds so you wont be waiting in line everywhere. This is due to some valuable advice from my Cousins in Ireland and friends in Germany.They said dont come to Europe in July cause that is when all of Europe hits the road and goes on holidays and everything is packed and prices are expensive. The tempertures are still relatively warm especially in Italy. Make sure you bring a light jumper as Switzerland will be fairly cool at night due to the surrounding mountains, it really gets above 25 degrees during the day even in July which is the middle of there summer. Also ask for a nights accommodation in Contikis London Hotel the night before the trip as it starts at 7:30 am and also after the trip finishes as it gets back to London at 6:30 pm. Dont know what more I can say. Its really up to you what trip you decide on. Just thought I would offer you my opinion. I am going solo on this trip as well. The last trip I did on Contiki was the Grand Southern across the USA and I went Solo, had an awesome time and met heaps of people, and am still in contact with some of them and that was 7 years ago. I ended up being the party animal on that tour and did every optional tour they offered, stayed out just about everynight bar 3 and that was as 26 day tour. I figure you are on holidays and you may as well go all out as you dont know when you will be able to go back again. Dont stress there will be plenty of other Solo people on the trips and you will find that on the Time Out Tours it will be a bit more of an older crowd as well. I will be on the European Inspiraton Tour from the 24th Aug till the 11th of Sep, just waiting for my travel agent to get back to me with the quote, as I am doing a tour of the greek islands before this tour and oktoberfest after the tour as well. or Cancel
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• 11 Feb 2013 mzmaithai said

  

  Thanks Marky, for the wealth of info. Unfortunately my budget probably won’t allow me to take the European Inspiration tour! Of course I would much prefer that but with the highlights tour it’s going to cost me $3000 , at the low end, that is just for the tour and airfare, does not include some food/drinks/gifts, etc.

  Thanks Marky, for the wealth of info. Unfortunately my budget probably won't allow me to take the European Inspiration tour! Of course I would much prefer that but with the highlights tour it's going to cost me $3000 , at the low end, that is just for the tour and airfare, does not include some food/drinks/gifts, etc. or Cancel
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• 12 Feb 2013 NYGiantsFan said

  

  Mzmaithai,
  I think probably one of the best tours to go on is Berlin to Budapest it’s $1707 ($345 more for solo) for either 8/30 or 9/6. You actually get to spend 3 nights in Berlin and Prague and 2 nights in Vienna and Budapest. Most tours are too short in stay 1 or 2 nights. For me I think 9/6 would work the best because after the tour I want to go to Munich for Oktoberfest which starts 9/21. So your choice should clearly be Berlin to Budapest. It’s priced well, plenty of time in each city and you get to be on the same tour with a person from the good ol’ US of A lol =0)

  Alex

  Mzmaithai, I think probably one of the best tours to go on is Berlin to Budapest it's $1707 ($345 more for solo) for either 8/30 or 9/6. You actually get to spend 3 nights in Berlin and Prague and 2 nights in Vienna and Budapest. Most tours are too short in stay 1 or 2 nights. For me I think 9/6 would work the best because after the tour I want to go to Munich for Oktoberfest which starts 9/21. So your choice should clearly be Berlin to Budapest. It's priced well, plenty of time in each city and you get to be on the same tour with a person from the good ol' US of A lol =0) Alex or Cancel
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