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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• 17 Apr 2012 JaninoD said

  

  Hey all… I’ve just recently booked my first contiki trip..
  European Experience leaving Aug 24th. Cannot wait! so excited… I’m a little nervous as i’m doing it alone, but from reading this thread I feel i’m going to have the ultimate experience! YAY :)

  Hey all... I've just recently booked my first contiki trip.. European Experience leaving Aug 24th. Cannot wait! so excited... I'm a little nervous as i'm doing it alone, but from reading this thread I feel i'm going to have the ultimate experience! YAY :) or Cancel
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• 26 Apr 2012 ashleyv said

  

  Anyone been on the Great Britain & Ireland tour? Would love any tips or suggestions!!! OR has anyone been in that area in May?? Just wondering how the weather is going to be and if I should bring more warm clothes or summer clothes????

  Anyone been on the Great Britain & Ireland tour? Would love any tips or suggestions!!! OR has anyone been in that area in May?? Just wondering how the weather is going to be and if I should bring more warm clothes or summer clothes???? or Cancel
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• 26 Apr 2012 ashleyv said

  

  Repeat! Sorry!

  Repeat! Sorry! or Cancel
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• 26 Apr 2012 ashleyv said

  

  Repeat! Sorry!

  Repeat! Sorry! or Cancel
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• 30 Apr 2012 Explorer1399471 said

  

  Hello! Although my Contiki trip was ahem 6 years ago…. I may be able to part some wisdom for some :)

  Having read all 29 pages of posts, it appears the major concern for the girls is hairdryers/straighteners/heels. Here’s my two cents!

  1. If you have thick/long hair and are travelling in Winter, TAKE A HAIRDRYER. Doesn’t have to be a huge one, just a travel one will be fine. I don’t regret taking mine, and I very rarely blow dry my hair. But I was not willing to wander the streets in freezing cold temperatures with wet hair all day. If you are going with a friend, you only need one between two!
  2. If you have short/thin hair, you can probably get away with not drying it or just risk using the hairdryers in the hotels.
  2. Straighteners – if you’re the type of person who straightens every day, then take it. If you’re not, I’m sure you can live without it for a few weeks. I just borrowed my friend’s – twice – and that was fine for me!
  3. Heels – I took two pairs of shoes. My walking boots and a pair of black heeled boots. This did me fine. I’m not really a heels person anyway, but if you travel in Winter, it’s best to go boots all the way. Summer – it’s probably worth taking a pair of dressy sandals/wedges/heels – just make sure that you will be able to walk in them for long periods of time, as you may have to walk for a while to get cabs!

  Things I wish I’d known:
  1. To take more notice of what the TM was saying as we drove past different places, names of places, history etc. And I wish I’d wrote it down!!
  2. Take a notepad (and pen) everywhere!
  3. To take lighter undies so they’re easily washable at night and will be dried by the morning
  4. To take light clothes in general so you can layer, and then if you wash things at night they’re dry in the morning!
  5. That you have to pay to use public toilets! I’m assuming you still have to do that in some places. And the little ladies that are in there get REALLY annoyed at you if you don’t pay. So keep change with you at all times.
  6. Took more time before the trip to research where to go. Spent a fair bit of time just wandering and feel as though I missed out on experiencing more.
  7. That I didn’t have to take as many clothes… and that I had taken a couple more fashionable things so I didn’t stand out like a tourist quite so obviously.
  8. That everywhere is heated in winter. If you get hot easily (like me), it’s best to wear 1-2 layers and take a windproof/waterproof jacket that can easily be taken off, so you don’t have to keep stripping layers off all the time. Gets a bit tiresome.
  9. They smoke everywhere in Europe. Which can get a little tiresome at times.

  Things I’m glad I did:
  1. Take my camera everywhere, and then get my friends’ photos after the trip. Lots and lots of photos!!
  2. Did all the optionals
  3. Made friends!
  4. Had a couple of alcohol free nights :)
  5. Not worry so much about the money. You’re there to have fun!
  6. Had a couple of “early” nights. I love sleep… and wasn’t prepared to sleep on the bus all the time!
  7. Took a travel pillow.
  8. Kept the map, info, TM phone number and passport with me at ALL times. One girl forgot to take the map with her in Rome, didn’t have the TM number and got lost on her way back to the hotel. She ended up having to call home (Aus) and track down contact details that way – quite stressful and time consuming!
  9. Left most of my practical self in Australia and let the riskier side shine through :) Suspend ALL expectations and you’ll enjoy yourself a lot more.

  As for the Contiki Cough… It stands to reason that having 30-50 people together on an air-conditioned bus most days, not sleeping as much, drinking more alcohol and eating differently, there are going to be illnesses. How much it affects you is partly up to your immune system, and partly how you look after yourself whilst on tour. My friend got sick about halfway through, but I managed to not have any issues until the very end of our whole trip (a few days after the Contiki part had ended), and at that stage it was mainly sinus anyway (that flight home was a bit horrible). I didn’t take any vitamins, or try and fortify myself before I left… I do have a pretty strong immune system though. My advice is to have a few alcohol free days, try and eat as close to what you normally do at home, drink PLENTY of water and try and get as much sleep as possible at night. Day time sleep on a bus is just not as beneficial as night time sleep in a bed :)

  Sorry for the long post! Hope it helps some people :)

  Hello! Although my Contiki trip was *ahem* 6 years ago.... I may be able to part some wisdom for some :) Having read all 29 pages of posts, it appears the major concern for the girls is hairdryers/straighteners/heels. Here's my two cents! 1. If you have thick/long hair and are travelling in Winter, TAKE A HAIRDRYER. Doesn't have to be a huge one, just a travel one will be fine. I don't regret taking mine, and I very rarely blow dry my hair. But I was not willing to wander the streets in freezing cold temperatures with wet hair all day. If you are going with a friend, you only need one between two! 2. If you have short/thin hair, you can probably get away with not drying it or just risk using the hairdryers in the hotels. 2. Straighteners - if you're the type of person who straightens every day, then take it. If you're not, I'm sure you can live without it for a few weeks. I just borrowed my friend's - twice - and that was fine for me! 3. Heels - I took two pairs of shoes. My walking boots and a pair of black heeled boots. This did me fine. I'm not really a heels person anyway, but if you travel in Winter, it's best to go boots all the way. Summer - it's probably worth taking a pair of dressy sandals/wedges/heels - just make sure that you will be able to walk in them for long periods of time, as you may have to walk for a while to get cabs! Things I wish I'd known: 1. To take more notice of what the TM was saying as we drove past different places, names of places, history etc. And I wish I'd wrote it down!! 2. Take a notepad (and pen) everywhere! 3. To take lighter undies so they're easily washable at night and will be dried by the morning 4. To take light clothes in general so you can layer, and then if you wash things at night they're dry in the morning! 5. That you have to pay to use public toilets! I'm assuming you still have to do that in some places. And the little ladies that are in there get REALLY annoyed at you if you don't pay. So keep change with you at all times. 6. Took more time before the trip to research where to go. Spent a fair bit of time just wandering and feel as though I missed out on experiencing more. 7. That I didn't have to take as many clothes... and that I had taken a couple more fashionable things so I didn't stand out like a tourist quite so obviously. 8. That everywhere is heated in winter. If you get hot easily (like me), it's best to wear 1-2 layers and take a windproof/waterproof jacket that can easily be taken off, so you don't have to keep stripping layers off all the time. Gets a bit tiresome. 9. They smoke everywhere in Europe. Which can get a little tiresome at times. Things I'm glad I did: 1. Take my camera everywhere, and then get my friends' photos after the trip. Lots and lots of photos!! 2. Did all the optionals 3. Made friends! 4. Had a couple of alcohol free nights :) 5. Not worry so much about the money. You're there to have fun! 6. Had a couple of "early" nights. I love sleep... and wasn't prepared to sleep on the bus all the time! 7. Took a travel pillow. 8. Kept the map, info, TM phone number and passport with me at ALL times. One girl forgot to take the map with her in Rome, didn't have the TM number and got lost on her way back to the hotel. She ended up having to call home (Aus) and track down contact details that way - quite stressful and time consuming! 9. Left most of my practical self in Australia and let the riskier side shine through :) Suspend ALL expectations and you'll enjoy yourself a lot more. As for the Contiki Cough... It stands to reason that having 30-50 people together on an air-conditioned bus most days, not sleeping as much, drinking more alcohol and eating differently, there are going to be illnesses. How much it affects you is partly up to your immune system, and partly how you look after yourself whilst on tour. My friend got sick about halfway through, but I managed to not have any issues until the very end of our whole trip (a few days after the Contiki part had ended), and at that stage it was mainly sinus anyway (that flight home was a bit horrible). I didn't take any vitamins, or try and fortify myself before I left... I do have a pretty strong immune system though. My advice is to have a few alcohol free days, try and eat as close to what you normally do at home, drink PLENTY of water and try and get as much sleep as possible at night. Day time sleep on a bus is just not as beneficial as night time sleep in a bed :) Sorry for the long post! Hope it helps some people :) or Cancel
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• 30 Apr 2012 AlexG said

  

  @Explorer1399471 – thank you so much for that advice :)
  @Jase84 – theyre pretty strict on the first day as ur bag has to be UNDER 20kgs but r genereally fine after that .. thats wat ive been told .. also u gotta take into consideration how much ur weight limit is for your airline… If ur suitcase weighs that much empty id suggest u go and buy a lightweight suitcase that u can get for around 3kgs or less … mine is i think around 3.2kgs empty … but watever you want to do :):) u could also look into a backpack as well … they r generally lightweight to start off with :):) hope that helps

  @Explorer1399471 - thank you so much for that advice :) @Jase84 - theyre pretty strict on the first day as ur bag has to be UNDER 20kgs but r genereally fine after that .. thats wat ive been told .. also u gotta take into consideration how much ur weight limit is for your airline... If ur suitcase weighs that much empty id suggest u go and buy a lightweight suitcase that u can get for around 3kgs or less ... mine is i think around 3.2kgs empty ... but watever you want to do :):) u could also look into a backpack as well ... they r generally lightweight to start off with :):) hope that helps or Cancel
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• 2 May 2012 Chad said

  

  Has anyone on here used a legit backpacking backpack? I have a North Face pack that I use for my backpacking excursions in the the backcountry. Can I get away with this? Or is it better to just use one of the suitcases with wheels? Thanks!

  Has anyone on here used a legit backpacking backpack? I have a North Face pack that I use for my backpacking excursions in the the backcountry. Can I get away with this? Or is it better to just use one of the suitcases with wheels? Thanks! or Cancel
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• 3 May 2012 TalissaB said

  

  you can use a backpacking backpack. it comes down to personal preference really. Im taking a wheeled duffle bag as im too short and weak for a backpack but didnt want a suitcase (and couldnt find a cheap one). But if your camping a backpack would probably be easier, concept and timeout either one really.

  but if your use to using a backpack then take it. Its better to know how your bag works, how it feels, how to quickly unpack and pack etc

  you can use a backpacking backpack. it comes down to personal preference really. Im taking a wheeled duffle bag as im too short and weak for a backpack but didnt want a suitcase (and couldnt find a cheap one). But if your camping a backpack would probably be easier, concept and timeout either one really. but if your use to using a backpack then take it. Its better to know how your bag works, how it feels, how to quickly unpack and pack etc or Cancel
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• 4 May 2012 ello1620 said

  

  Wow, some incredible advice here!
  I’m doing two Contikis in June/July: ‘European Magic’, then ‘England and Scotland’. I know everyone says to pack light when it comes to clothing, but I imagine there will be a big difference in temperatures between Venice and the Scottish highlands! Any tips for packing when you need to take summery AND slightly wintery clothes? (I feel the cold very easily; even 18 C is ‘cold’ to me. Typical Aussie.)
  Also how secure are things left on the bus or in hotel rooms? I’ll be taking things like a laptop, would it be safe to leave that in my day pack on the bus when I’m out walking around (since it would be heavy to take with me)?

  Wow, some incredible advice here! I'm doing two Contikis in June/July: 'European Magic', then 'England and Scotland'. I know everyone says to pack light when it comes to clothing, but I imagine there will be a big difference in temperatures between Venice and the Scottish highlands! Any tips for packing when you need to take summery AND slightly wintery clothes? (I feel the cold very easily; even 18 C is 'cold' to me. Typical Aussie.) Also how secure are things left on the bus or in hotel rooms? I'll be taking things like a laptop, would it be safe to leave that in my day pack on the bus when I'm out walking around (since it would be heavy to take with me)? or Cancel
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• 4 May 2012 Jezzcar said

  

  In regards to clothes I would suggest maybe packing a lot of lighter clothing and layering them on, however some people have said that inside buildings in Europe in colder places it is boiling and taking layers off can be draining, so it’s really up to what you would prefer. Lighter clothes and layering them versus heavier clothes that you probably won’t use for half your trip. Thermals are a good idea, in winter here (Aussie like you) I wore them underneath my uniform to school and they definitely helped a bit.

  As for the security, I’m yet to do my first Contiki so I can’t give you much advice on that, but I have heard that buses and hotel rooms have been broken into before so it might be worth seeking advice from Contiki themselves on that matter.

  I hope I was helpful. :)

  In regards to clothes I would suggest maybe packing a lot of lighter clothing and layering them on, however some people have said that inside buildings in Europe in colder places it is boiling and taking layers off can be draining, so it's really up to what you would prefer. Lighter clothes and layering them versus heavier clothes that you probably won't use for half your trip. Thermals are a good idea, in winter here (Aussie like you) I wore them underneath my uniform to school and they definitely helped a bit. As for the security, I'm yet to do my first Contiki so I can't give you much advice on that, but I have heard that buses and hotel rooms have been broken into before so it might be worth seeking advice from Contiki themselves on that matter. I hope I was helpful. :) or Cancel
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• 4 May 2012 cdm115 said

  

  Hotels and busses have been broken into, but they are rare occurences. For my suitcase I usually just locked it with any valuables inside. For the bus, the bus driver will usually tell you if you should or shouldn’t leave stuff on the bus. However, if he says yes and the bus happens to get broken into contiki’s not going to pay for your laptop, they’re t&c doesn’t cover that stuff. But if the bus driver says it’s safe it usually means he’ll be with the bus or another driver he knows will be watching the bus.

  Hotels and busses have been broken into, but they are rare occurences. For my suitcase I usually just locked it with any valuables inside. For the bus, the bus driver will usually tell you if you should or shouldn't leave stuff on the bus. However, if he says yes and the bus happens to get broken into contiki's not going to pay for your laptop, they're t&c doesn't cover that stuff. But if the bus driver says it's safe it usually means he'll be with the bus or another driver he knows will be watching the bus. or Cancel
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• 6 May 2012 ello1620 said

  

  Thanks for the replies Jezzcar and cdm115 – very helpful :)

  Jase84, I’ll have seven hours in Bangkok between flights on my way home, so I asked my travel agent about what I should do while I’m there. She said that I’m better off just staying in the airport, since it would take so much time to get through airport security (to get out, and then back in)! So I’d also be interested to hear what others have to say about layovers. Otherwise it looks like 7 hours of quality reading. In the airport.

  For those who have already been on a Europe tour in summer, I had one more question: at first I wasn’t even planning to take my swimmers and towel etc. But is the possibility of going swimming very likely? (I’ll only be touring for nine days though).

  Thanks for the replies Jezzcar and cdm115 - very helpful :) Jase84, I'll have seven hours in Bangkok between flights on my way home, so I asked my travel agent about what I should do while I'm there. She said that I'm better off just staying in the airport, since it would take so much time to get through airport security (to get out, and then back in)! So I'd also be interested to hear what others have to say about layovers. Otherwise it looks like 7 hours of quality reading. In the airport. For those who have already been on a Europe tour in summer, I had one more question: at first I wasn't even planning to take my swimmers and towel etc. But is the possibility of going swimming very likely? (I'll only be touring for nine days though). or Cancel
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• 6 May 2012 Jezzcar said

  

  In regards to long layover times, the airports usually have a few things to keep you occupied, such as restaurants, awesome duty-free shopping and some other weird and wacky stuff related to the country you’ll be in. In Kuala Lumpur they have a miniature jungle area inside the airport that’s just like you were outside in the Malaysian jungle, it was really humid and a really neat experience. Here’s hoping your layovers will have something the same to keep you occupied. Most airports have free WiFi, so if you have a device that you can use to browse the net, fire away! :)

  You should always take your swimmers! If you aren’t stopping at a beach, there’ll more than likely be a pool at wherever you are staying, and if the rest of your group decides to spend some time there, you’ll be left feeling awfully left out, which nobody wants!

  Jase, I can’t answer all of your questions because I have never been on a Contiki, just answering from my own experiences. The bags, I’m unsure of, I’ve read they’re strict on the weight at the beginning of the trip, I don’t know how strict they are on the dimensions though.

  Europeans usually learn a bit of English in school, but I suppose it depends on the people you encounter as to how much they know. A translator would probably be handy for need-to-know phrases. Some people get a little bit annoyed if you start speaking to them in English rather than their native language. As for taxis, write down where you’re staying or where you want to go on a piece of paper and hand it to the taxi driver, they should be able to get you where you need to be from that.

  I don’t think you can use Euros everywhere, otherwise Contiki would not have specified the different currencies for the different countries. It may be a wise idea to get a Travelex card or something similar so that you can pay in different countries without worrying about having to carry a lot of different currencies on you.

  The rest of your questions are kinda Contiki-related or I don’t really know anything about them so unfortunately I can’t answer those myself. It would be advisable to see a doctor before you go on your trip to get any vaccines you may need and discuss the “Contiki cough” with them to see what they suggest. I went through customs with prescription medication to go to Europe and they didn’t even check my bags, so you should be fine, as long as it’s in its original packaging with a prescription sticker on it or something like that.

  I hope I was helpful! :)

  In regards to long layover times, the airports usually have a few things to keep you occupied, such as restaurants, awesome duty-free shopping and some other weird and wacky stuff related to the country you'll be in. In Kuala Lumpur they have a miniature jungle area inside the airport that's just like you were outside in the Malaysian jungle, it was really humid and a really neat experience. Here's hoping your layovers will have something the same to keep you occupied. Most airports have free WiFi, so if you have a device that you can use to browse the net, fire away! :) You should always take your swimmers! If you aren't stopping at a beach, there'll more than likely be a pool at wherever you are staying, and if the rest of your group decides to spend some time there, you'll be left feeling awfully left out, which nobody wants! Jase, I can't answer all of your questions because I have never been on a Contiki, just answering from my own experiences. The bags, I'm unsure of, I've read they're strict on the weight at the beginning of the trip, I don't know how strict they are on the dimensions though. Europeans usually learn a bit of English in school, but I suppose it depends on the people you encounter as to how much they know. A translator would probably be handy for need-to-know phrases. Some people get a little bit annoyed if you start speaking to them in English rather than their native language. As for taxis, write down where you're staying or where you want to go on a piece of paper and hand it to the taxi driver, they should be able to get you where you need to be from that. I don't think you can use Euros everywhere, otherwise Contiki would not have specified the different currencies for the different countries. It may be a wise idea to get a Travelex card or something similar so that you can pay in different countries without worrying about having to carry a lot of different currencies on you. The rest of your questions are kinda Contiki-related or I don't really know anything about them so unfortunately I can't answer those myself. It would be advisable to see a doctor before you go on your trip to get any vaccines you may need and discuss the "Contiki cough" with them to see what they suggest. I went through customs with prescription medication to go to Europe and they didn't even check my bags, so you should be fine, as long as it's in its original packaging with a prescription sticker on it or something like that. I hope I was helpful! :) or Cancel
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• 9 May 2012 Megan said

  

  Hey everyone! I went on European Inspiration from March 10th-31st this year. Any questions anyone has I will be happy to try and answer them.

  OK, so #1 thing I wish I’d known – do not obsess over this thread before you go! Seriously, I read through the whole thing a week before I left and completely stressed out. Why? A) Everyone is going on about the Contiki Cough/Contiki Cold. Where I come from (Toronto,Canada), I don’t think you could get your doctor to issue you prescription meds “just in case”. I made sure I took multivitamins every day before and during the trip, I tried to eat well on the trip, I brought along Cold FX (it’s an immune system booster that you can take every day as prevention and also take it when you have a cold to speed along your recovery), and just regular painkillers/lozenges/etc just in case.
  Yes, a lot of people on the trip got sick, because spending that much time together, sickness will spread. I didn’t get a cough, just a little cold and part of that was partly allergies. I was better in a couple days and it didn’t affect my trip at all.
  But also, I’m Canadian and used to colder temperatures – so was able to dress for the weather, when some people on the trip just didn’t dress warm enough on the cooler days we had. Which would contribute to a lowered immune system. Also, I didn’t go out and party at night – nothing wrong with that, just that’s not me. And I got enough sleep and therefore, didn’t get too sick.

  So my point is don’t worry!

  B) I freaked out that everyone would want to go out drinking, clubbing, partying every night and I’d be left out. My opinion is that I came to Europe to see Europe, not to be hungover on my 1 day in Rome. Not only did I find others on my tour who shared my opinion, but even those who didn’t completely respected my decisions, didn’t judge me for it, and I didn’t feel left out at all. I just didn’t want to spend the money on cabs, club covers, drinks, etc, because I couldn’t afford it, and that was fine by me.

  I kinda wish I’d brought a money belt – I ended up using this light jacket I have that has hidden inside pockets, so I could carry my passport, credit card, etc in there without worrying. It wouldn’t have worked out if it was summer though so definitely bring a money belt in summer just for peace of mind.

  Re: weather – I’m Canadian and therefore do not find temperatures cold that most of the Aussies on my trip did :P But really, we had amazing, sunny, & warm weather a lot of the trip, even in March.

  Also, I spent 2 weeks in England following the tour – in London for a few days, then visiting family in Brighton. I wish I’d done this 2 weeks before my 3 week tour. Why? I got used to travelling with a group of people (I’d gone solo), and it was hard going back to being alone afterwards, and I really missed Contiki and all my tour mates, and I just felt like going home and having home comforts and just reminiscing over photos and such. I got over it in a few days, but yeah, would’ve been better the other way around.

  That being said, I’m glad I spent a few days in London following the tour, because it was cool to hang out with tour-mates who were also back in London.

  I’m also glad I arrived in London a couple days before the tour- I flew from Canada on a Friday night and the tour started the Monday morning. Having that extra day to adjust to the time difference/rest was awesome.

  oh, and bring lots of memory cards! I brought 2 8 GB ones (I have a DSLR camera as well), which was fine, but I was just worried i’d lose a card, so I wish I brought like 6 cards to switch around, for peace of mind.

  I’m also glad I didn’t bring a laptop! I had my ipod touch for when there was free wifi. It was annoying using that to write emails, and it would have been nice to have an actual computer to use, and to upload photos, but on the whole it was better not having another piece of electronics to lug around/worry about.

  If I think of more I’ll post it later! but yeah, my number one piece of advice is just, don’t stress out over this thread, or planning things to do in each place (my tour manager gave us lists of things to do, maps, etc so if you didn’t have something specific in mind for your free time, it wasn’t like you’d be wandering around lost!). Just look forward to your trip and the amazing memories you’ll have.

  Hey everyone! I went on European Inspiration from March 10th-31st this year. Any questions anyone has I will be happy to try and answer them. OK, so #1 thing I wish I'd known - do not obsess over this thread before you go! Seriously, I read through the whole thing a week before I left and completely stressed out. Why? A) Everyone is going on about the Contiki Cough/Contiki Cold. Where I come from (Toronto,Canada), I don't think you could get your doctor to issue you prescription meds "just in case". I made sure I took multivitamins every day before and during the trip, I tried to eat well on the trip, I brought along Cold FX (it's an immune system booster that you can take every day as prevention and also take it when you have a cold to speed along your recovery), and just regular painkillers/lozenges/etc just in case. Yes, a lot of people on the trip got sick, because spending that much time together, sickness will spread. I didn't get a cough, just a little cold and part of that was partly allergies. I was better in a couple days and it didn't affect my trip at all. But also, I'm Canadian and used to colder temperatures - so was able to dress for the weather, when some people on the trip just didn't dress warm enough on the cooler days we had. Which would contribute to a lowered immune system. Also, I didn't go out and party at night - nothing wrong with that, just that's not me. And I got enough sleep and therefore, didn't get too sick. So my point is don't worry! B) I freaked out that everyone would want to go out drinking, clubbing, partying every night and I'd be left out. My opinion is that I came to Europe to see Europe, not to be hungover on my 1 day in Rome. Not only did I find others on my tour who shared my opinion, but even those who didn't completely respected my decisions, didn't judge me for it, and I didn't feel left out at all. I just didn't want to spend the money on cabs, club covers, drinks, etc, because I couldn't afford it, and that was fine by me. I kinda wish I'd brought a money belt - I ended up using this light jacket I have that has hidden inside pockets, so I could carry my passport, credit card, etc in there without worrying. It wouldn't have worked out if it was summer though so definitely bring a money belt in summer just for peace of mind. Re: weather - I'm Canadian and therefore do not find temperatures cold that most of the Aussies on my trip did :P But really, we had amazing, sunny, & warm weather a lot of the trip, even in March. Also, I spent 2 weeks in England following the tour - in London for a few days, then visiting family in Brighton. I wish I'd done this 2 weeks before my 3 week tour. Why? I got used to travelling with a group of people (I'd gone solo), and it was hard going back to being alone afterwards, and I really missed Contiki and all my tour mates, and I just felt like going home and having home comforts and just reminiscing over photos and such. I got over it in a few days, but yeah, would've been better the other way around. That being said, I'm glad I spent a few days in London following the tour, because it was cool to hang out with tour-mates who were also back in London. I'm also glad I arrived in London a couple days before the tour- I flew from Canada on a Friday night and the tour started the Monday morning. Having that extra day to adjust to the time difference/rest was awesome. oh, and bring lots of memory cards! I brought 2 8 GB ones (I have a DSLR camera as well), which was fine, but I was just worried i'd lose a card, so I wish I brought like 6 cards to switch around, for peace of mind. I'm also glad I didn't bring a laptop! I had my ipod touch for when there was free wifi. It was annoying using that to write emails, and it would have been nice to have an actual computer to use, and to upload photos, but on the whole it was better not having another piece of electronics to lug around/worry about. If I think of more I'll post it later! but yeah, my number one piece of advice is just, don't stress out over this thread, or planning things to do in each place (my tour manager gave us lists of things to do, maps, etc so if you didn't have something specific in mind for your free time, it wasn't like you'd be wandering around lost!). Just look forward to your trip and the amazing memories you'll have. or Cancel
  • 2 people like this

• 10 May 2012 Aleisha91 said

  

  awesome advice megan, i dont think i want to be hungover on my free days either.

  How did you go with your budget? how much did u take over initially and did u use it all? etc. lol

  Did u do all the optionals? any u think that aren’t worth it?

  Thanks in advance :D

  awesome advice megan, i dont think i want to be hungover on my free days either. How did you go with your budget? how much did u take over initially and did u use it all? etc. lol Did u do all the optionals? any u think that aren't worth it? Thanks in advance :D or Cancel
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• 11 May 2012 Megan said

  

  My trip was 5 weeks total and I had prepaid for extra hotels and a train pass and stuff beforehand. Plus I was staying with family in England for free for a bit :P. I didn’t really have an exact “budget”, persay, just used my regular credit card and bank account (though a lot of people had prepaid travel cards). I had money that I didn’t use, but that’s because I owed my parents money so didn’t want/need to spend everything I had. I’d say maybe I used $500 Canadian for admission/tickets, food, souvenirs, and to pay for optionals I added that I hadn’t planned on at first.

  Some people brought more money, I guess it depends on you personally. For your own budget though I’d consider things like… how many souvenirs do you want to buy/what do you want to get? I collect postcards so that’s mostly what I got, other than a few other small things, and they don’t cost too much. Also, I didn’t bring too many gifts back for people. And I don’t tend to spend a ton on food. And I didn’t do too many things that were an extra or high admission cost. I did the Coliseum in Rome because, you have to :P I mostly stuck with free museums/attractions, or things that were cheaper, rather than stuff that cost 20/30 Euros to go into. And since I didn’t go out I saved money there – because that would’ve been 10-30 Euro cab rides back to the hotels, money for cover, drinks, etc. And in London, where I spent several days, I only bought transit passes, since I’ve been to London before with my family and have already done all the touristy stuff then.

  Hope my explanation here makes sense? If you have any more questions let me know :)

  Optionals – I did most but not all of them. Originally I wasn’t going to do all the optional meals, because I figured I could just find my own food for cheaper. But getting there, and seeing how the schedule for each day works out, and where the hotels are located, sometimes it was just easier to do the optional dinners. I didn’t do one dinner in Amsterdam, and ended up going out for dinner with a small group from the tour who also weren’t doing it – we went to a cheaper restaurant and had a great time.

  I also didn’t do Moulin Rouge in Paris – 140 Euros is just way too much for me! A small group of us went out for dinner somewhere else instead, for 20 Euros. And we were still able to meet up with the group at a bar afterwards and still able to enjoy the last night of tour with everyone.

  I’m glad I did all the optionals I did, and I don’t regret the few I didn’t do (Space Disco in Florence and Eye Spy in Berlin, which turned out to be just a pub crawl). Even if it wasn’t quite a spectacular meal or tour, it was still an experience. I’m so so glad I did going up Mount Pilatus in Switzerland- that was definitely my favourite optional.

  My trip was 5 weeks total and I had prepaid for extra hotels and a train pass and stuff beforehand. Plus I was staying with family in England for free for a bit :P. I didn't really have an exact "budget", persay, just used my regular credit card and bank account (though a lot of people had prepaid travel cards). I had money that I didn't use, but that's because I owed my parents money so didn't want/need to spend everything I had. I'd say maybe I used $500 Canadian for admission/tickets, food, souvenirs, and to pay for optionals I added that I hadn't planned on at first. Some people brought more money, I guess it depends on you personally. For your own budget though I'd consider things like... how many souvenirs do you want to buy/what do you want to get? I collect postcards so that's mostly what I got, other than a few other small things, and they don't cost too much. Also, I didn't bring too many gifts back for people. And I don't tend to spend a ton on food. And I didn't do too many things that were an extra or high admission cost. I did the Coliseum in Rome because, you have to :P I mostly stuck with free museums/attractions, or things that were cheaper, rather than stuff that cost 20/30 Euros to go into. And since I didn't go out I saved money there - because that would've been 10-30 Euro cab rides back to the hotels, money for cover, drinks, etc. And in London, where I spent several days, I only bought transit passes, since I've been to London before with my family and have already done all the touristy stuff then. Hope my explanation here makes sense? If you have any more questions let me know :) Optionals - I did most but not all of them. Originally I wasn't going to do all the optional meals, because I figured I could just find my own food for cheaper. But getting there, and seeing how the schedule for each day works out, and where the hotels are located, sometimes it was just easier to do the optional dinners. I didn't do one dinner in Amsterdam, and ended up going out for dinner with a small group from the tour who also weren't doing it - we went to a cheaper restaurant and had a great time. I also didn't do Moulin Rouge in Paris - 140 Euros is just way too much for me! A small group of us went out for dinner somewhere else instead, for 20 Euros. And we were still able to meet up with the group at a bar afterwards and still able to enjoy the last night of tour with everyone. I'm glad I did all the optionals I did, and I don't regret the few I didn't do (Space Disco in Florence and Eye Spy in Berlin, which turned out to be just a pub crawl). Even if it wasn't quite a spectacular meal or tour, it was still an experience. I'm so so glad I did going up Mount Pilatus in Switzerland- that was definitely my favourite optional. or Cancel
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• 11 May 2012 Megan said

  

  also, which trip are you going on, Aleisha?? :)

  also, which trip are you going on, Aleisha?? :) or Cancel
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• 12 May 2012 Aleisha91 said

  

  Awesome, thanks for that :)
  I feel better with the amount of money i have now
  Im doing Euro contrasts, 4th June

  Awesome, thanks for that :) I feel better with the amount of money i have now Im doing Euro contrasts, 4th June or Cancel
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• 12 May 2012 Caraaa said

  

  Im about to go on the European Adventurer and was wondering what anyone who’s already done a tour did with all their photos? im planning on uploading them at internet cafes and at the internet access at hotels or wherever i can get on one onto “Flikr” or uploading them to fb so it cleans out the memory on my camera so i can start snapping again! I also plan to upload them to a usb as well as back up incase i loose the photos somehow. Im not bringin a laptop so im relying on internet cafes or access where ever i can get it!

  ?

  Im about to go on the European Adventurer and was wondering what anyone who's already done a tour did with all their photos? im planning on uploading them at internet cafes and at the internet access at hotels or wherever i can get on one onto "Flikr" or uploading them to fb so it cleans out the memory on my camera so i can start snapping again! I also plan to upload them to a usb as well as back up incase i loose the photos somehow. Im not bringin a laptop so im relying on internet cafes or access where ever i can get it! ????? or Cancel
  • 0 people like this

• 12 May 2012 Caraaa said

  

  Im about to go on the European Adventurer and was wondering what anyone who’s already done a tour did with all their photos? im planning on uploading them at internet cafes and at the internet access at hotels or wherever i can get on one onto “Flikr” or uploading them to fb so it cleans out the memory on my camera so i can start snapping again! I also plan to upload them to a usb as well as back up incase i loose the photos somehow. Im not bringin a laptop so im relying on internet cafes or access where ever i can get it!

  ?

  Im about to go on the European Adventurer and was wondering what anyone who's already done a tour did with all their photos? im planning on uploading them at internet cafes and at the internet access at hotels or wherever i can get on one onto "Flikr" or uploading them to fb so it cleans out the memory on my camera so i can start snapping again! I also plan to upload them to a usb as well as back up incase i loose the photos somehow. Im not bringin a laptop so im relying on internet cafes or access where ever i can get it! ????? or Cancel
  • 0 people like this