Question

What do you wish you'd known?

18 Jul 2007 ashleightara asked

I'm curious to know what ppl wish they'd known before they went on their trips, and only discovered afterwards...

For example,
Did you miss something in a town you wish you'd known about?
Did you pack something, and never used it?
Did you NEED something you didn't pack and had to go in search of it?

In particular, looking for different advice to what is already available on the board...share you experience so others can learn from you 'mistake'.

Thanks

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Answer this question 761 answers so far

16 Dec 2010 Chris said

quote:
Originally posted by JOJO1983:
Hi

Just adding to Miss Janeo about the Tuscan Dinner. The one dinner i wish i didnt do was that one. The food was **** and I felt really sick afterwards (not due to eating too much). The service was terrible and there was no atmosphere in the restaurant.

The French dinner was nice and the Greek Dinner was awesome.

I wish i had brought more dressy clothes and also more summery clothes. More high heels. People told me everyone wears flats… Not true! Although it is hard to walk the cobbled streets in heels.

I wish i hadnt have bought wine in the Beaujolais, just due to the fact I now have to carry it. Or drink it!

And also wish i had brought an Ipod!

Hope this helps

Interesting to read this about the Tuscan dinner.

For mine the Tuscan dinner was probably the best dinner our group attended on tour. The food was amongst the best we had, the atmosphere great.

Must have gone to different restaurants.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by JOJO1983: Hi Just adding to Miss Janeo about the Tuscan Dinner. The one dinner i wish i didnt do was that one. The food was **** and I felt really sick afterwards (not due to eating too much). The service was terrible and there was no atmosphere in the restaurant. The French dinner was nice and the Greek Dinner was awesome. I wish i had brought more dressy clothes and also more summery clothes. More high heels. People told me everyone wears flats... Not true! Although it is hard to walk the cobbled streets in heels. I wish i hadnt have bought wine in the Beaujolais, just due to the fact I now have to carry it. Or drink it! And also wish i had brought an Ipod! Hope this helps </div></BLOCKQUOTE> Interesting to read this about the Tuscan dinner. For mine the Tuscan dinner was probably the best dinner our group attended on tour. The food was amongst the best we had, the atmosphere great. Must have gone to different restaurants. or Cancel
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24 Dec 2010 LUKE said

Yeah the Tuscan dinner was a great time. I don’t recall if the meal was any good, but I remember the atmosphere was amazing. I remember they had lots of dancing as well, I remember it feeling a bit like a wedding reception 

Yeah the Tuscan dinner was a great time. I don't recall if the meal was any good, but I remember the atmosphere was amazing. I remember they had lots of dancing as well, I remember it feeling a bit like a wedding reception <img src="http://connect.contiki.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smiler" width="15" height="15"> or Cancel
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28 Dec 2010 ChicagoJanice said

Most of these replies seem to be for the Europe trips. I am an American taking the Big Indochina Adventure Dec 11, 2011. Can anyone provide any wish I would have/wish I wouldn’t have nuggets specific to this Asian experience?
Thanks!

Most of these replies seem to be for the Europe trips. I am an American taking the Big Indochina Adventure Dec 11, 2011. Can anyone provide any wish I would have/wish I wouldn't have nuggets specific to this Asian experience? Thanks! or Cancel
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1 Jan 2011 beck0892 said

hey Explorer1120250 what tour are you looking at going on? My sister & I are going on the European Encounter on the 5th of Feb 2012. It would be awesome to meet somebody going on the same one so far in advance! 

hey Explorer1120250 what tour are you looking at going on? My sister & I are going on the European Encounter on the 5th of Feb 2012. It would be awesome to meet somebody going on the same one so far in advance! <img src="http://connect.contiki.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"> or Cancel
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3 Jan 2011 lolly_bee said

i love this thread! it’s the only one i’ve read all the way through, though it’s taken me a while and i’ve done it in bursts!
the things i’m taking away from this thread that seem to be important/recurring is extra camera battery/memory, cold and flu stuff, and power board. i need to rewrite my packing list!! can’t wait to go
Winter Wanderer march 1st-24th 2011

i love this thread! it's the only one i've read all the way through, though it's taken me a while and i've done it in bursts! the things i'm taking away from this thread that seem to be important/recurring is extra camera battery/memory, cold and flu stuff, and power board. i need to rewrite my packing list!! can't wait to go Winter Wanderer march 1st-24th 2011 or Cancel
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11 Mar 2011 Lindsey said

So glad to find this thread again! Definitely love the advice about eating hot foods to avoid the cough. Something I’ve found useful in just general travelling is taking and using a sarong instead of a towel – lighter, smaller, and doubles as clothing :) I can’t wait for my contiki!!

So glad to find this thread again! Definitely love the advice about eating hot foods to avoid the cough. Something I've found useful in just general travelling is taking and using a sarong instead of a towel - lighter, smaller, and doubles as clothing :) I can't wait for my contiki!! or Cancel
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12 Mar 2011 KirrynA said

Anyone got any more tips for America? I’m doing the Best of USA next month. This thread has been so helpful though! I wasnt planning on taking too many ‘going out’ kinda clothes, but it seems like you need them!

Anyone got any more tips for America? I'm doing the Best of USA next month. This thread has been so helpful though! I wasnt planning on taking too many 'going out' kinda clothes, but it seems like you need them! or Cancel
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12 Mar 2011 Mwarp said

I did the Grand Southern in September/October 2009. Definitely take some dressy outfits and shoes for Las Vegas, the dress code to get into a lot of their clubs requires you dress up, plus it’s fun! I had a huge night out in Vegas on our first night so Berocca is a must for the hangover. Take a bottle of water to drink walking along the Strip – even though it was late September it was still 40 degrees and I was dehydrated after only walking a third of the way up!
You will need a jacket and long pants for San Francisco, it gets quite cool there. My partner at the time and I did our own thing around SF, not with Contiki. If you have the time and are okay with doing a long walk, walking over the Golden Gate Bridge was one of the highlights of my time in San Francisco. The night time tour of Alcatraz was wonderful as well. If you like seafood try a bowl of clam chowder in a bread bowl, tastes absolutely divine!
I don’t have enough words to express how AMAZING New York City is. I would’ve easily been able to spend another week or two there on top of the week I had there. The Empire State Building is crazy busy at sunset to go to the 86th floor observation deck, but well worth it for the view. Alternatively, the observation deck at the Top Of The Rock was far less crowded and the view was just as impressive.
If you like Sex and The City at all, they don’t take you past Carrie’s front door on the Sex and The City tours anymore. Her front stoop is at 66 Perry St in the Greenwich Village, and the Magnolia Bakery is just around the corner on Bleeker St. The chocolate brownies there are the best I’ve ever tasted!
If you have the time, see a Broadway show. I’m glad I waited so long to see Phantom Of The Opera in a beautiful old theatre right on Broadway.
The subway is the best and fastest way to get around too, as I was there for a week I got a Metrocard which was $27 for 6 or 7 days. My partner and I did New York on our own too, and had a thing called the New York Pass – for AU $144 we skipped heaps of queues and got into so many places.

I did the Grand Southern in September/October 2009. Definitely take some dressy outfits and shoes for Las Vegas, the dress code to get into a lot of their clubs requires you dress up, plus it's fun! I had a huge night out in Vegas on our first night so Berocca is a must for the hangover. Take a bottle of water to drink walking along the Strip - even though it was late September it was still 40 degrees and I was dehydrated after only walking a third of the way up! You will need a jacket and long pants for San Francisco, it gets quite cool there. My partner at the time and I did our own thing around SF, not with Contiki. If you have the time and are okay with doing a long walk, walking over the Golden Gate Bridge was one of the highlights of my time in San Francisco. The night time tour of Alcatraz was wonderful as well. If you like seafood try a bowl of clam chowder in a bread bowl, tastes absolutely divine! I don't have enough words to express how AMAZING New York City is. I would've easily been able to spend another week or two there on top of the week I had there. The Empire State Building is crazy busy at sunset to go to the 86th floor observation deck, but well worth it for the view. Alternatively, the observation deck at the Top Of The Rock was far less crowded and the view was just as impressive. If you like Sex and The City at all, they don't take you past Carrie's front door on the Sex and The City tours anymore. Her front stoop is at 66 Perry St in the Greenwich Village, and the Magnolia Bakery is just around the corner on Bleeker St. The chocolate brownies there are the best I've ever tasted! If you have the time, see a Broadway show. I'm glad I waited so long to see Phantom Of The Opera in a beautiful old theatre right on Broadway. The subway is the best and fastest way to get around too, as I was there for a week I got a Metrocard which was $27 for 6 or 7 days. My partner and I did New York on our own too, and had a thing called the New York Pass - for AU $144 we skipped heaps of queues and got into so many places. or Cancel
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12 Mar 2011 Dimplez said

Does anyone have any london/paris tips? :)

Does anyone have any london/paris tips? :) or Cancel
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12 Mar 2011 Dimplez said

Does anyone have any london/paris tips? :)

Does anyone have any london/paris tips? :) or Cancel
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12 Mar 2011 ChicagoJanice said

Being American, I LOVE rue Cler, a typical Parisian market street. Pedestrian only, there’s the boulangerie for bread, fromagerie for cheese, etc. The big Parks are great to stroll through and the Place des Vosges a great park to sit and watch French life, surrounded by gorgeous architecture

Being American, I LOVE rue Cler, a typical Parisian market street. Pedestrian only, there's the boulangerie for bread, fromagerie for cheese, etc. The big Parks are great to stroll through and the Place des Vosges a great park to sit and watch French life, surrounded by gorgeous architecture or Cancel
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12 Mar 2011 Ren said

Hi all! Does anyone know if I can check my bags at the Contiki Basement in Europe before my tour starts? Thank you!

Hi all! Does anyone know if I can check my bags at the Contiki Basement in Europe before my tour starts? Thank you! or Cancel
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13 Mar 2011 Jennieva30 said

this has to be the most informative and awesome topic ever!! Awesome job :) im booked for the European Inspiration trip departing on October 15th 2011 and i could not be more excited :) this has given me such a better perspective on what I should pack. Honestly I was still a little bit concerned about staying under the 44lb weight limit for my bag because i tend to over pack when i travel but this has really put me at ease and i cant wait to go on my trip!!

this has to be the most informative and awesome topic ever!! Awesome job :) im booked for the European Inspiration trip departing on October 15th 2011 and i could not be more excited :) this has given me such a better perspective on what I should pack. Honestly I was still a little bit concerned about staying under the 44lb weight limit for my bag because i tend to over pack when i travel but this has really put me at ease and i cant wait to go on my trip!! or Cancel
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16 Mar 2011 AussieAmy said

Loads of websites say use a money belt strapped to your body worn under clothes. Is this really a necessity? I find the concept strange.

Loads of websites say use a money belt strapped to your body worn under clothes. Is this really a necessity? I find the concept strange. or Cancel
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16 Mar 2011 JerryLangers said

Hey Guys, Im loving this thread also!!

Hey im thinking of doing Grand Southern and Grand Northern Back to Back in June/July 2012.. Anyone have any suggestions or experience in preparing for these tours? Weather wise, What to pack, Budget etc…

Any information would be awesome!!

Hey Guys, Im loving this thread also!! Hey im thinking of doing Grand Southern and Grand Northern Back to Back in June/July 2012.. Anyone have any suggestions or experience in preparing for these tours? Weather wise, What to pack, Budget etc... Any information would be awesome!! or Cancel
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16 Mar 2011 cdm115 said

Yes you can have a bag stored at the Contiki Basement during your trip. There is a weekly charge for it though.

Money Belts – I have one and have used it. On my first tour I used it all the time, it found a way to wear it comfortably and it wasn’t a bother. Do you need it all the time? No, but it is good to have in big cities where pickpocketing and scams are common – Rome and Paris come to mind. I always kept my passport and my extra money in it. I would just keep about 100 euros in my wallet for daily use. But, don’t access the money pouch in public, then if someone tries to rob you they know you have it and you’ve lost one of the reasons you got it.

For back to back tours I sugget having a few days of a break between the tours to recharge. But in June and July it will be hot pretty much everywhere. I would bring a pair of jeans or 2 and some shorts, stick with t-shirts and a sweatshirt/fleece/jumper for evenings or if you hit a cooler day.

Yes you can have a bag stored at the Contiki Basement during your trip. There is a weekly charge for it though. Money Belts - I have one and have used it. On my first tour I used it all the time, it found a way to wear it comfortably and it wasn't a bother. Do you need it all the time? No, but it is good to have in big cities where pickpocketing and scams are common - Rome and Paris come to mind. I always kept my passport and my extra money in it. I would just keep about 100 euros in my wallet for daily use. But, don't access the money pouch in public, then if someone tries to rob you they know you have it and you've lost one of the reasons you got it. For back to back tours I sugget having a few days of a break between the tours to recharge. But in June and July it will be hot pretty much everywhere. I would bring a pair of jeans or 2 and some shorts, stick with t-shirts and a sweatshirt/fleece/jumper for evenings or if you hit a cooler day. or Cancel
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16 Mar 2011 Ren said

Hello there cdm115, may I also ask I can leave luggage in the Contiki Basement before the tour starts?

Thanks!

Hello there cdm115, may I also ask I can leave luggage in the Contiki Basement before the tour starts? Thanks! or Cancel
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16 Mar 2011 cdm115 said

The contiki basement has daily and weekly rates for luggage storage so you can leave a suitcase for a day or by the week. I think it’s a pound or 2 per day or a couple pounds per week, not sure the exact amount.

The contiki basement has daily and weekly rates for luggage storage so you can leave a suitcase for a day or by the week. I think it's a pound or 2 per day or a couple pounds per week, not sure the exact amount. or Cancel
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17 Mar 2011 JerryLangers said

Hey cdm115,
Thanks for the tip, I see that there is like 3 full days inbetween the two tours so hopefully that is enough break. Yeah i was looking at going when it’s generally hot/best weather. Would that be around June/July or is that too hot? I went to Europe last year in July and the weather was amazing! especially in Rome and Corfu!

Hey Ren, Yeah I think from Memory it was a pound per day but could be 2 pounds per day, but either way its worth it depending on how long you are storing it at the Contiki Basement. I arrived to London early in the morning so it was awesome to just leave my luggage at the basement for the day while I ran around London and then came back, pick up my luggage and check into the Royal National.

Hey cdm115, Thanks for the tip, I see that there is like 3 full days inbetween the two tours so hopefully that is enough break. Yeah i was looking at going when it's generally hot/best weather. Would that be around June/July or is that too hot? I went to Europe last year in July and the weather was amazing! especially in Rome and Corfu! Hey Ren, Yeah I think from Memory it was a pound per day but could be 2 pounds per day, but either way its worth it depending on how long you are storing it at the Contiki Basement. I arrived to London early in the morning so it was awesome to just leave my luggage at the basement for the day while I ran around London and then came back, pick up my luggage and check into the Royal National. or Cancel
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17 Mar 2011 cdm115 said

I guess it depends what you consider good weather. June and July will be hot and humid. A little milder on the grand Northern, but still warm.

I guess it depends what you consider good weather. June and July will be hot and humid. A little milder on the grand Northern, but still warm. or Cancel
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