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 753 answers so far

26 Jul 2012 Kelsey said

i just got back from my 21 day camping tour, and it wasnt made a definite departure until maybe 2 or 3 months before hand so I wouldnt worry about that. Also with tipping your TM and driver, its not necessary at all, and is not embarrassing if you dont have the money. My TM, driver and cook were fantastic and I loved them, but for my 21 day tour, thats 40euro each, so 120 all together, which is between $250-$270 australian, which I did not have, so I didnt tip them, not many people on my tour did. Contrary to what the tm’s might say, they do get paid a decent amount, so dont feel bad or embarrassed at all if you dont want to/cant afford to tip them :)

i just got back from my 21 day camping tour, and it wasnt made a definite departure until maybe 2 or 3 months before hand so I wouldnt worry about that. Also with tipping your TM and driver, its not necessary at all, and is not embarrassing if you dont have the money. My TM, driver and cook were fantastic and I loved them, but for my 21 day tour, thats 40euro each, so 120 all together, which is between $250-$270 australian, which I did not have, so I didnt tip them, not many people on my tour did. Contrary to what the tm's might say, they do get paid a decent amount, so dont feel bad or embarrassed at all if you dont want to/cant afford to tip them :) or Cancel
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26 Jul 2012 Kelsey said

duplicate

duplicate or Cancel
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28 Jul 2012 Brii said

-I wish I would’ve packed a little lighter… I only went for a week and packed for at LEAST two outfits a day
-I only should’ve brought one “lounging” outfit, since I dressed up for almost everything
-I definitely should’ve brought hand sanitizer, if I had I might not have gotten sick
-I should only have brought comfortable shoes, as I ended up with multiple blisters
-I should have brought more blister band-aids! I had 6 but that was nowhere near enough
-I wish I had just dealt with my sleepiness instead of going to bed while my group was partying on the cruise ship or taking naps when we were sailing to our next destination. I missed out on some good fun.
-I regret not doing watersports in Rhodes! I’d never tried any of them, and even though they’re all available where I’m from, they would’ve been great experiences.
-I wish I hadn’t lost my travel pillow at the airport before I even left the States!
-I should’ve started socializing with tourmates from the beginning instead of depending on my sister to help me meet people (she ended up missing the boat so I couldn’t depend on her for long!)
-I wish I hadn’t forgotten my phone at home!
-I probably shouldn’t have brought my computer. No wi-fi on the ship and very little time to go to internet cafes. Maybe next time I’ll just bring a tablet

I’m glad I
-Did an optional at every destination
-Brought mostly dresses and comfortable clothes
-Brought a ton of sunscreen, as I was out by the end
-Brought a few fancy outfits
-DIDN’T bring any high heels

-I wish I would've packed a little lighter... I only went for a week and packed for at LEAST two outfits a day -I only should've brought one "lounging" outfit, since I dressed up for almost everything -I definitely should've brought hand sanitizer, if I had I might not have gotten sick -I should only have brought comfortable shoes, as I ended up with multiple blisters -I should have brought more blister band-aids! I had 6 but that was nowhere near enough -I wish I had just dealt with my sleepiness instead of going to bed while my group was partying on the cruise ship or taking naps when we were sailing to our next destination. I missed out on some good fun. -I regret not doing watersports in Rhodes! I'd never tried any of them, and even though they're all available where I'm from, they would've been great experiences. -I wish I hadn't lost my travel pillow at the airport before I even left the States! -I should've started socializing with tourmates from the beginning instead of depending on my sister to help me meet people (she ended up missing the boat so I couldn't depend on her for long!) -I wish I hadn't forgotten my phone at home! -I probably shouldn't have brought my computer. No wi-fi on the ship and very little time to go to internet cafes. Maybe next time I'll just bring a tablet I'm glad I -Did an optional at every destination -Brought mostly dresses and comfortable clothes -Brought a ton of sunscreen, as I was out by the end -Brought a few fancy outfits -DIDN'T bring any high heels or Cancel
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28 Jul 2012 Brii said

-I wish I would’ve packed a little lighter… I only went for a week and packed for at LEAST two outfits a day
-I only should’ve brought one “lounging” outfit, since I dressed up for almost everything
-I definitely should’ve brought hand sanitizer, if I had I might not have gotten sick
-I should only have brought comfortable shoes, as I ended up with multiple blisters
-I should have brought more blister band-aids! I had 6 but that was nowhere near enough
-I wish I had just dealt with my sleepiness instead of going to bed while my group was partying on the cruise ship or taking naps when we were sailing to our next destination. I missed out on some good fun.
-I regret not doing watersports in Rhodes! I’d never tried any of them, and even though they’re all available where I’m from, they would’ve been great experiences.
-I wish I hadn’t lost my travel pillow at the airport before I even left the States!
-I should’ve started socializing with tourmates from the beginning instead of depending on my sister to help me meet people (she ended up missing the boat so I couldn’t depend on her for long!)
-I wish I hadn’t forgotten my phone at home!
-I probably shouldn’t have brought my computer. No wi-fi on the ship and very little time to go to internet cafes. Maybe next time I’ll just bring a tablet

I’m glad I
-Did an optional at every destination
-Brought mostly dresses and comfortable clothes
-Brought a ton of sunscreen, as I was out by the end
-Brought a few fancy outfits
-DIDN’T bring any high heels

-I wish I would've packed a little lighter... I only went for a week and packed for at LEAST two outfits a day -I only should've brought one "lounging" outfit, since I dressed up for almost everything -I definitely should've brought hand sanitizer, if I had I might not have gotten sick -I should only have brought comfortable shoes, as I ended up with multiple blisters -I should have brought more blister band-aids! I had 6 but that was nowhere near enough -I wish I had just dealt with my sleepiness instead of going to bed while my group was partying on the cruise ship or taking naps when we were sailing to our next destination. I missed out on some good fun. -I regret not doing watersports in Rhodes! I'd never tried any of them, and even though they're all available where I'm from, they would've been great experiences. -I wish I hadn't lost my travel pillow at the airport before I even left the States! -I should've started socializing with tourmates from the beginning instead of depending on my sister to help me meet people (she ended up missing the boat so I couldn't depend on her for long!) -I wish I hadn't forgotten my phone at home! -I probably shouldn't have brought my computer. No wi-fi on the ship and very little time to go to internet cafes. Maybe next time I'll just bring a tablet I'm glad I -Did an optional at every destination -Brought mostly dresses and comfortable clothes -Brought a ton of sunscreen, as I was out by the end -Brought a few fancy outfits -DIDN'T bring any high heels or Cancel
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31 Jul 2012 eeemily678 said

Does anyone have any advice for USA tours?

I’m going on the Southern Adventure (start New Orleans) Contiki tour on the 20th of December.

any general advice for USA tours?
my tour is only for 13 days (but in winter) but is the contiki cough still a possibility? or does this mostly happen in europe?
how much should I budget per day?
what will the weather be like in the south in winter? recommended things to pack?

I’ll be in Vancouver for about 4 months before my contiki on university exchange so I will have my laptop with me. What’s the best thing to do with a laptop on tour? keeping it wrapped up tightly to protect it in the middle of my hard-shell suitcase? keeping it in a backpack with me on the bus? but then will it be safe to leave it on the bus and just take my handbag with me when we go sightseeing? I know a lot of people recommend not taking a laptop, but I don’t have a choice, so any advice on that will be much appreciated!

Also, I’m only 19, so I won’t be 21 for my tour, and we’ll be spending new years eve in vegas. Anyone who has been on a USA contiki and been under 21 have some tips? I don’t drink anyway, and I’m not huge on partying, but I’d still like to hang out with the tour group some nights. Do you ever go to clubs or bars that let in under 21’s?

Does anyone have any advice for USA tours? I'm going on the Southern Adventure (start New Orleans) Contiki tour on the 20th of December. any general advice for USA tours? my tour is only for 13 days (but in winter) but is the contiki cough still a possibility? or does this mostly happen in europe? how much should I budget per day? what will the weather be like in the south in winter? recommended things to pack? I'll be in Vancouver for about 4 months before my contiki on university exchange so I will have my laptop with me. What's the best thing to do with a laptop on tour? keeping it wrapped up tightly to protect it in the middle of my hard-shell suitcase? keeping it in a backpack with me on the bus? but then will it be safe to leave it on the bus and just take my handbag with me when we go sightseeing? I know a lot of people recommend not taking a laptop, but I don't have a choice, so any advice on that will be much appreciated! Also, I'm only 19, so I won't be 21 for my tour, and we'll be spending new years eve in vegas. Anyone who has been on a USA contiki and been under 21 have some tips? I don't drink anyway, and I'm not huge on partying, but I'd still like to hang out with the tour group some nights. Do you ever go to clubs or bars that let in under 21's? or Cancel
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31 Jul 2012 cdm115 said

The South will probably be warm, not hot. BUT, it could be cold too. Usually you’re looking at 50-70’s F in the South for high temps.

Contiki cough is caused by being stuck on a bus with other sick people having long days and short nights, so yes it will spread.

Budget about $100 US a day, depending on optionals, drinking habits and shopping habits.

On my US and Europe tours most people left laptops on their main suitcase unless they needed it on the bus. On my US tour we had a couple people under 21. Occasionally they were able to get into a bar or club even when having their ID’s checked. I was surprised how much, especially in Vegas. But if you’re doing that then be prepared to be turned away too because that happened plenty too.

The South will probably be warm, not hot. BUT, it could be cold too. Usually you're looking at 50-70's F in the South for high temps. Contiki cough is caused by being stuck on a bus with other sick people having long days and short nights, so yes it will spread. Budget about $100 US a day, depending on optionals, drinking habits and shopping habits. On my US and Europe tours most people left laptops on their main suitcase unless they needed it on the bus. On my US tour we had a couple people under 21. Occasionally they were able to get into a bar or club even when having their ID's checked. I was surprised how much, especially in Vegas. But if you're doing that then be prepared to be turned away too because that happened plenty too. or Cancel
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3 Aug 2012 kia88 said

What is the weather is Rome and Spain in mid-late October? I was planning on bringing mostly dresses as they are the easiest carry and wear. Is this a good idea or will it be cold?

What is the weather is Rome and Spain in mid-late October? I was planning on bringing mostly dresses as they are the easiest carry and wear. Is this a good idea or will it be cold? or Cancel
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26 Aug 2012 Mach said

Hi all

I did a European tour this summer and I visited this forum, and this specific post quite frequently so I thought I’d give back.

I wish …
- I had brought a power bar or more electrical converters … I was powering a tablet, cell phone and DSLR and it was a pain to rotate the charger between them
- I brought a nice shoulder bag or a day back pack. I was using my DSLR shoulder bag as my day bag and it was “okay” but it was pretty big so there were a lot of times I wish I had something smaller or comfortable to wear especially when I’m in crowds
- I hadn’t packed so many ‘fancy’ clothes. I went out a few times to the bar to drink and no one really dresses up. I bought 3 fancy outfits… and 2 would have been more than enough
- A small electric portable fan … I did the higher end tour and some of the hotels barely deserved a 3 star. Almost half of them didn’t have air conditioning which is brutal for Europe in the summer. You can open the windows but then bugs eat you up at night
- Allergy meds. I packed prescription meds but some of the basic stuff I forgot. This one is probably very subjective depending on the individual lol.

I’m glad …
- I brought my DSLR. This was a close one … but in the end, lugging around my DSLR with multiple lens made a big difference in some of the photos I took, esp in Rome and France. I just wish I had a more comfortable bag lol.
- I did not bring my laptop. I have a Macbook Air and I bought a tablet instead. Almost all the hotels have wifi. But most of them you had to pay for it.
- I didn’t go out drinking every night. A lot of people got pissed drunk and would puke on the bus which wasn’t so nice for all the sober people. Plus it ruins the experience if you’re dealing with a hang over.
- I bought electrolyte powder … basically it’s like gatorade powder and on really hot long days I would mix a batch and put it in a water bottle
- Bring a water bottle … water / drinks are expensive in Europe
- I did all the optional excursions. Yah the food isn’t always the greatest but it’s kind of a pain to meet up with everyone if you don’t do one. Also, at night, there’s really nothing to do since most of the hotels you are in are not near main attractions.

That’s all I can think of for now so if I have any I’ll add some later

Hi all I did a European tour this summer and I visited this forum, and this specific post quite frequently so I thought I'd give back. I wish ... - I had brought a power bar or more electrical converters ... I was powering a tablet, cell phone and DSLR and it was a pain to rotate the charger between them - I brought a nice shoulder bag or a day back pack. I was using my DSLR shoulder bag as my day bag and it was "okay" but it was pretty big so there were a lot of times I wish I had something smaller or comfortable to wear especially when I'm in crowds - I hadn't packed so many 'fancy' clothes. I went out a few times to the bar to drink and no one really dresses up. I bought 3 fancy outfits... and 2 would have been more than enough - A small electric portable fan ... I did the higher end tour and some of the hotels barely deserved a 3 star. Almost half of them didn't have air conditioning which is brutal for Europe in the summer. You can open the windows but then bugs eat you up at night - Allergy meds. I packed prescription meds but some of the basic stuff I forgot. This one is probably very subjective depending on the individual lol. I'm glad ... - I brought my DSLR. This was a close one ... but in the end, lugging around my DSLR with multiple lens made a big difference in some of the photos I took, esp in Rome and France. I just wish I had a more comfortable bag lol. - I did not bring my laptop. I have a Macbook Air and I bought a tablet instead. Almost all the hotels have wifi. But most of them you had to pay for it. - I didn't go out drinking every night. A lot of people got pissed drunk and would puke on the bus which wasn't so nice for all the sober people. Plus it ruins the experience if you're dealing with a hang over. - I bought electrolyte powder ... basically it's like gatorade powder and on really hot long days I would mix a batch and put it in a water bottle - Bring a water bottle ... water / drinks are expensive in Europe - I did all the optional excursions. Yah the food isn't always the greatest but it's kind of a pain to meet up with everyone if you don't do one. Also, at night, there's really nothing to do since most of the hotels you are in are not near main attractions. That's all I can think of for now so if I have any I'll add some later or Cancel
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26 Aug 2012 Mach said

Oh yeah, buy a travel pillow. The micro-bead ones. And a sleep mask and ear plugs. Those are life-savers on some of the long bus rides.

Oh yeah, buy a travel pillow. The micro-bead ones. And a sleep mask and ear plugs. Those are life-savers on some of the long bus rides. or Cancel
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3 Sep 2012 kia88 said

Just out of curiousity.. how often does Rome lose luggage? Did anyone on your tour have their luggage lost and how long did it take to get it back??

Just out of curiousity.. how often does Rome lose luggage? Did anyone on your tour have their luggage lost and how long did it take to get it back?? or Cancel
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3 Sep 2012 kia88 said

Just out of curiousity.. how often does Rome lose luggage? Did anyone on your tour have their luggage lost and how long did it take to get it back??

Just out of curiousity.. how often does Rome lose luggage? Did anyone on your tour have their luggage lost and how long did it take to get it back?? or Cancel
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3 Sep 2012 Megan said

No one on my tour had any of their luggage lost in Rome, nor did we have any issues with Fiumicino as a whole – it’s a nice enough airport, no complaints. But honestly I think it depends just as much on the individual airline as it does on the airport. I ended my tour in Rome and had to get a cab to the airport from my hotel, which was quite far – it ended up costing 50 Euro. Later, I found out that in Italy, cab drivers aren’t supposed to charge more than 40 Euro if they’re taking you to the airport. Something to keep in mind so you don’t get ripped off like I did!

No one on my tour had any of their luggage lost in Rome, nor did we have any issues with Fiumicino as a whole - it's a nice enough airport, no complaints. But honestly I think it depends just as much on the individual airline as it does on the airport. I ended my tour in Rome and had to get a cab to the airport from my hotel, which was quite far - it ended up costing 50 Euro. Later, I found out that in Italy, cab drivers aren't supposed to charge more than 40 Euro if they're taking you to the airport. Something to keep in mind so you don't get ripped off like I did! or Cancel
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11 Sep 2012 Margot Rudy said

Pack things that don’t need to be ironed as many hotels in Europe do not provide an iron.

Bring at least one pair of dress shoes. As well as a great pair of walking shoes.

Pack a poncho or an umbrella.

Whatever you estimate your spending will be, double it. Many surprise costs come up, not a bad thing, just something to be aware of.

Bring a first aid kit.

Bring an adaptor for electronics.

Don’t rely on wifi, connection is weak and expensive and you can easily be fooled into paying for service when you’re not paying attention.

Before you fly out of Europe, if you get the tax break, GET YOUR FORMS STAMPED! We forgot and a US stamp is not sufficient. We lost over $300 in money back due to us not paying attention well enough to the rules.

Pack things that don't need to be ironed as many hotels in Europe do not provide an iron. Bring at least one pair of dress shoes. As well as a great pair of walking shoes. Pack a poncho or an umbrella. Whatever you estimate your spending will be, double it. Many surprise costs come up, not a bad thing, just something to be aware of. Bring a first aid kit. Bring an adaptor for electronics. Don't rely on wifi, connection is weak and expensive and you can easily be fooled into paying for service when you're not paying attention. Before you fly out of Europe, if you get the tax break, GET YOUR FORMS STAMPED! We forgot and a US stamp is not sufficient. We lost over $300 in money back due to us not paying attention well enough to the rules. or Cancel
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11 Sep 2012 Margot Rudy said

Pack things that don’t need to be ironed as many hotels in Europe do not provide an iron.

Bring at least one pair of dress shoes. As well as a great pair of walking shoes.

Pack a poncho or an umbrella.

Whatever you estimate your spending will be, double it. Many surprise costs come up, not a bad thing, just something to be aware of.

Bring a first aid kit.

Bring an adaptor for electronics.

Don’t rely on wifi, connection is weak and expensive and you can easily be fooled into paying for service when you’re not paying attention.

Before you fly out of Europe, if you get the tax break, GET YOUR FORMS STAMPED! We forgot and a US stamp is not sufficient. We lost over $300 in money back due to us not paying attention well enough to the rules.

Pack things that don't need to be ironed as many hotels in Europe do not provide an iron. Bring at least one pair of dress shoes. As well as a great pair of walking shoes. Pack a poncho or an umbrella. Whatever you estimate your spending will be, double it. Many surprise costs come up, not a bad thing, just something to be aware of. Bring a first aid kit. Bring an adaptor for electronics. Don't rely on wifi, connection is weak and expensive and you can easily be fooled into paying for service when you're not paying attention. Before you fly out of Europe, if you get the tax break, GET YOUR FORMS STAMPED! We forgot and a US stamp is not sufficient. We lost over $300 in money back due to us not paying attention well enough to the rules. or Cancel
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23 Sep 2012 Jay said

Explorernicole91, mine was confirmed within about 6 weeks of making my booking I think. I booked at Jan 13 departure in April 2012, so I was way early haha. Don’t be too concerned about it, but email Contiki if it’s still not confirmed now.
Have fun!

Explorernicole91, mine was confirmed within about 6 weeks of making my booking I think. I booked at Jan 13 departure in April 2012, so I was way early haha. Don't be too concerned about it, but email Contiki if it's still not confirmed now. Have fun! or Cancel
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23 Sep 2012 Jay said

Duplicate, sorry!

Duplicate, sorry! or Cancel
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29 Sep 2012 Jessica said
Hi all, just found this discussion 1 year after my tours around the UK and Europe. In saying that, I’m planning on another tour next year so I’m taking all this advice to heart.

Things I’m glad I brought:
- my laptop
- book
- ipod (couldn’t live without it)
- tissues
- panadol
- deck of cards (spent 8 hours stuck on the bus during the snow storm that hit London in Dec 2010)
- water – you will get very dehydratyed very quickly. Alcohol makes dehydration worse not better

Things that I wish I had known:
- The louve is not open everyday – missed out of seeing it for the second time due to what day it was in Paris
- buy snack food/drinks for the bus at a supermarket when you stop in a bigger town. Buying stuff at the service stops becomes expensive real quick
- If you want to drink and still save money, have some alcohol in your luggage and get together with your new friends before you go out for the night. Particularly in Europe/UK alcohol is very expensive.
- Always carry coins around Europe for when you need the toilet and have to pay
- bring cold and flu medication – decongestent spray for the clogged nose you WILL get. always carry tissues in your handbag
- Dont sit near people who have spent the night drunk – vomit on a bus is a very diffucult thing to deal with
- Break the ice sooner – dont sit with the same people on the bus
- bring a neck pillow for the bus
- Everyone has said it, but pack lighter

Tips for everyone:

Almost everyone loves an Aussie, it can get you free drinks cheaper rides and break the Ice with comp-lete strangers. Be a proud Aussie. *

- Go the an Australian bar/resturant/themed place – guarentee it’s nothing like Australia or our pubs etc but it’s still good for a laugh
- Try the language of the country you are in. The locals appreciate that more than if you dont.
- Hand gestures can be a life saver
- Be prepared to tell your ice breaker story (hi I’m … from … and I’m a …) 100 times
- If you are planning on a big night out in Amsterdam and will be flying out the next morning (or going through customs) be prepared to wash or throw out the clothes you were wearing that night. I could not get the smell of weed out of my jacket – ended up leaving it in the hotel rather than risk airport security.*
and finally to Quote Stella; my tour manager for the Winter Wanderer for when you see something different/unusual
“It’s not wrong, it’s just different”

Everything is an adventure, keep an open mind, enjoy the experience

Have fun :)
Hi all, just found this discussion 1 year after my tours around the UK and Europe. In saying that, I'm planning on another tour next year so I'm taking all this advice to heart. Things I'm glad I brought: - my laptop - book - ipod (couldn't live without it) - tissues - panadol - deck of cards (spent 8 hours stuck on the bus during the snow storm that hit London in Dec 2010) - water - you will get very dehydratyed very quickly. Alcohol makes dehydration worse not better Things that I wish I had known: - The louve is not open everyday - missed out of seeing it for the second time due to what day it was in Paris - buy snack food/drinks for the bus at a supermarket when you stop in a bigger town. Buying stuff at the service stops becomes expensive real quick - If you want to drink and still save money, have some alcohol in your luggage and get together with your new friends before you go out for the night. Particularly in Europe/UK alcohol is very expensive. - Always carry coins around Europe for when you need the toilet and have to pay - bring cold and flu medication - decongestent spray for the clogged nose you WILL get. always carry tissues in your handbag - Dont sit near people who have spent the night drunk - vomit on a bus is a very diffucult thing to deal with - Break the ice sooner - dont sit with the same people on the bus - bring a neck pillow for the bus - Everyone has said it, but pack lighter Tips for everyone: ***Almost everyone loves an Aussie, it can get you free drinks cheaper rides and break the Ice with comp-lete strangers. Be a proud Aussie. *** - Go the an Australian bar/resturant/themed place - guarentee it's nothing like Australia or our pubs etc but it's still good for a laugh - Try the language of the country you are in. The locals appreciate that more than if you dont. - Hand gestures can be a life saver - Be prepared to tell your ice breaker story (hi I'm ... from ... and I'm a ...) 100 times * If you are planning on a big night out in Amsterdam and will be flying out the next morning (or going through customs) be prepared to wash or throw out the clothes you were wearing that night. I could not get the smell of weed out of my jacket - ended up leaving it in the hotel rather than risk airport security.* and finally to Quote Stella; my tour manager for the Winter Wanderer for when you see something different/unusual "It's not wrong, it's just different" Everything is an adventure, keep an open mind, enjoy the experience Have fun :) or Cancel
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30 Sep 2012 Georgie said

To what Jessica just said:
About the clothes smelling for when you go through customs, is this an issue when traveling back to London from Amsterdam on the transfer, or only if flying home from Amsterdam ?
Has anyone had any problems involving this?

To what Jessica just said: About the clothes smelling for when you go through customs, is this an issue when traveling back to London from Amsterdam on the transfer, or only if flying home from Amsterdam ? Has anyone had any problems involving this? or Cancel
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30 Sep 2012 Georgie said

Duplicate

Duplicate or Cancel
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30 Sep 2012 Georgie said

Duplicate.

Duplicate. or Cancel
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