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10th May 2012
Hi,
I was wondering if anyone was flying to Sydney on April 17th from Vancouver, BC.
I’m on the Air Canada flight leaving around midnight, arriving at 7:30 am in Sydney on the 19th.
Thanks.
10th May 2012
I read on trip advisor that another option to get from LHR to Russell Square is on the Heathrow Connect and taking a taxi. Does anyone know if that would be a good option, instead of taking the Underground?
10th May 2012
hi, just joined the site. me and my boyfriend are wanting to travel with a few mates to europe with contiki tour and are absolutely in it for a great time, that means no bedtime before at least 2am.(preferably close) we want to also do a bit of tourist stuff but wanna know is it really the party people say it is or is it a bit drab?
10th May 2012
What’s the better time to go on a GS? From mid-February to mid-March or September?
I’ve heard it’s pretty cold in mid-February to mid-March especially in the Grand Canyon but nice in the Southern States. In September the weather in the Southern States is supposed to be very hot and humid, but nice in L.A. and the Grand Canyon.
What do you guys think? Is it still possible to have pool partys if you take the mid-Feburary tour?
10th May 2012
Hi FolksI’m taking the Simply Italy tour on 17th July, and plan to stay on extra couple of days in Rome afterwards I have been checking out the hotel which we end in Hotel Roma Park Via Della Caffareletta on a couple of websites but unfortunately the feedback suggests it’s not a great location, anyone been? or can anyone suggest an alternative or even which city zone would be best. Appreciate your views.
Cheers Leeanne
10th May 2012
Hey I’m turning 18 this year and I want to do the Eastern discovery sometime next year. I’ve never even been out of western Australia, let alone the other side of the world! So as you can imagine, I have no idea how to go about it. If you could answer some questions I’d really appreciate your help.
What’s the best time to go?
Does contiki include flight costs? Can you book your flights through contiki?
What’s it like if I were to go alone?
And what would the overall cost being, including spending money, meals etc. I only have about $6500 saved up at the moment, and I’m not sure if this is enough.
If you can give any other advice I’d really appreciate it. 
10th May 2012
does the actual european discovery tour in munich spend a portion of the day at the beerfeast? it would be a waste not to go when its all on there
please anyone know.
thanks
jas
10th May 2012
Can someone let me know how many nights on the Contrasts tour are in triple or quad-share rooms?
If it’s less than half I could probably cope but if it’s a pretty regular thing I might have to go for a different tour – frustrating when none of the Superior/Timeout tours go the same route!
10th May 2012
I have a 6 hour layover in Philly before heading to Greece. Is it easy to get into the city from the airport? I’ve never been there and would like to at least see the city, if only to avoid sitting in the airport and grab a Philly cheese steak. Any advice would be appreciated!
10th May 2012
I plan on checking in a day early at whichever hotel is being used (So. Ireland) and wanted to know how that works exactly. Do you pay for an extra day? Do you let the hotel know you’re on a Contiki tour?
10th May 2012
Hi everyone!!
I would love to go on a Contiki tour next year to the States but not sure which one would be best for me. I will probably only have enough money to last me 2 weeks or so and wanted to get some advice on which is the best tour to go on. I went to LA and new york last year and absolutely LOVED new york and want to go back there again! By the way, do you usually spend a lot of money on a Contiki tour?
thanks everyone!
daniella
10th May 2012
I chose this tour because of the huge amount of free time it provided for extra sight seeing. I was prepared for some of the issues like the hotels being close to nothing. The first hotel in Rome was the Torre Rossa Park which in itself is ok if you don’t mind dorm style room and small beds. But the facilities were clean, there was a safe and a fridge and plenty of hot water for the showers. The breakfast was decent, not what most people are used to but its still good. I have an extremely sensetive stomach and didn’t get sick once the entire trip! 
Lets start this day by day will be easier to navigate.
Day 1: leave Phoenix, Az and arrive in Rome on Friday Sept 21st around 12:30pm. I wanted an extra day in rome for some special sights and tours I wanted to take. I arranged my own shuttle which got me to the hotel quickly since the Torre Rossa Park isn’t too far from the airport. Just make sure to get an address most cabbies and drivers have no clue where it is. Word of advice just take a shower and don’t go to sleep stay up until its their night time to avoid jet lag.
The staff speaks good English and is usually nice the women are a little snooty though. If you try to speak some in Italian you will be treated better I noticed. There is a bar where you can purchase food and drinks as well as buss tickets. The hotel also exchanges money with no commission fee great on weekends.
The bus stop is across an extremely dangerous street. Don’t bother trying to wait for an opening the best solution is to just jump out infront of traffic and they usually slow down. I wish contiki would change the hotel just because of this dangerous street.
The first afternoon I had reservations for the Borghese gallery which is awesome and on the other side of town. Its easier to take a taxi then the bus or metro. Then walk down to the spanish steps and onto trevi fountain.
Day 2 Sat Sept 22nd
I had arranged for a special tour called the scavi tour of the ruins located under St peters basillica at the vatican. they only allow 200 people a day into this tour so book ahead. Its quite facinating. not good if you are clausterphobic. Spent most of the day around the vatican area and headed back to the hotel by 3pm to nap and clean up before the group dinner at 6pm. my roomate was already there so we hung out for a while. The tour meeting wasn’t much just getting our city info and buss passes which they provided 2 for Rome. you also had to pay for your optionals at that time. The food was soso. I could cook better. But oh well. After that a bunch of us took a cab into the city and hung around the square for a while.
Day 3 Sunday Sept 23rd Wear good comfortable shoes and sunscreen!
This day was devoted to the colosseum and the Roman forum. I opted not to do the guided tour of the forum so I could go into the colosseum. You don’t have much time to do the colosseum so this is the best time since contiki doesn’t provide a tour of it and I think they should. Also don’t be tricked into a tour to skip the lines these people are unlicenced and usually don’t know anything. Also watch out for the gladiators in costume. you can get a photo with them but some are verry agressive and will take advantage of you. The photos can cost 5 euros on up. Offer 2 or 3 euros before the photo. Most will take it. If you are worried about pick pocketers I suggest Pacsafe products. I have the citysafe 200 and its great.
As you are wandering around the city go on the side streets you will find the same goods for cheaper prices as well as the mom and pop shops for food and snacks. A soda is about 2-5 euros same with water but you can find some for under 1 euro on side streets.
The water at the local fountains are safe to drink! So save those empty bottles. And rinse off your feet as well.
The optional dinner is Rome is ok. Be wary of pork its usually only half cooked. This can be skipped an you won’t miss much.
Day 4 Monday Sept 24th
The group did the Vatican I had already done it so I did a day trip to Assisi which is an awesome place. I am glad I didn’t go to the vatican since our tour manager Simone left more than half of the group stranded. She claimed she waited with onlu 3 people at the bus. She did many things wrong and didn’t provide a lot of information.
We found out that our tm was being switched with another tm named Anna who was really cool. We think Simone got fired because she just kind of dissapeard that am. They told us another tm on a different tour was sick but that story didn’t make sence. But who knows.
Day 5 Tuesday Sept 25. This is where the tour went downhill. And we had a new tm.
Our hotel in Sorrento was changed to this aweful place called the La Ripetta Hotel. Its no where near Sorrento. Its located on a busy noisy street. Our room was not on the ocean side and was so noisy you couldn’t hear yourself think. The traffic and horn honking continued until 2-3 am. The room was also infested with ants which i am highly illergic to. I complained to the tm and to the hotel staff and no one did anything. To say the least I didn’t sleep for 2 days there. Don’t leave any food out the ants will find it.
Day 6 Wed Sept 26th
A word of warning you walk down about 300+, i lost count,stairs to the ferry dock which is very difficult and narrow. And you have to walk up them on the way back. It really sucked!
This was our day trip to Capri. I a glad I didn’t do the boat cruise around the island since the water was too choppy to go inside the Blue Grotto. I spent the day by myself and took the bus up to Ana Capri which is a nice area and took many photos. The locals are very friendly. After a couple of hours there wne down to Capri and then back to the marina to catch the ferry back. Its expensive cost 20 euros for a taxi but its convertable and the views area awesome.
That night we had an included meal which was inedible. First off the breakfast there consisted of stale dry cerial and stale hard rolls nothing else and juice/coffee. So eat along the way. The dinner was a joke. It consisted of overcooked dry bland chicken and cold french fries. I didn’t go to Italy for cold fries and dry chicken it was disgusting. We left without eating and went into town to eat which town is very cheap to eat in and very good. Just watch out for taxis they will rip you off if you don’t set a price before hand they have no meeters.
Day 7 thursday Sept 27. We finally left that horrid hotel and started our drive to Pompei. Pompei is awesome in itself and includes a tour with a guide who was very short and hard to hear. I was kind of dissapointed in the fact that half of Pompei was closed to the public. So you don’t get to see all of it.
After the tour we had some free time to get some trinkets or to get some real food at the cafe there. Most of the vendors only take cash. Then its a long 4+hr ride across Italy to Bari to catch the overnight ferry to Greece.
The ferry was awesome the rooms are small and consist of 4 bunk beds but you keep your assigned roomate. Just don’t drink the water or flush paper down the toilets! its disgusting that you put the paper in the bin. So bring some sanatizer and some bathroom spray.
The ferry has bars, a dining room, a small casino and a disco room. Make sure you are outside on top deck to get an awesome sunset. We had a full moon so it was an awesome view. I tend to get seasick on boats but I slept so well I didn’t hear any of the announcements and I guess we stopped at 2 other ports before we got to Patras. Word of advice bring earplugs or noise canceling head phones. I have the bose noise canceling and they are awesome.
Day 8 Friday Sept 28th
We arrive in Patras, Greece around 1pm. The ferry is never ontime and was suppose to be there around noon. We got on our new coach which was much nicer and roomier than the one in Italy. After a little nap we stopped at the Corinth Canal for a breather. There is an atm there and an autogrill for snacks and real food and exellent pasteries. Prices get much cheaper from here. Greece is cheap compaired to Italy.
We are informed by our new tm Anna that we have been somehow upgraded to a 5 star Holiday inn in Greece. By american standards its about a 3-4 star but still awesome. The beds are huge (full size) and the breakfast was incredible. You can also exchange money at the front desk as well. On your way out of the country before you go to the airport exchange your money back at the hotel.
The dinner was included and was very good compaired to Athens. It had different meats and rice and bread. And live local music.
Day 9. Athens Saturday Sept 29th.
Aweseome breakfast then board the bus for a drive through of Athens and then where our city tour included the first modern Olympic stadium, the Hellenic Parliament and a guided visit of the Acropolis and the Parthenon which was awesome. It is very hot up at the top of the hill so wear a tank top and bring a jacket for later. After that we went to the Plaka district which has some incredible deals on shopping. Save your money for here and bargain with the shop owners. I got the best stuff in the Plaka area for cheap.
I recommend the fairwell optional dinner in Athens. The food was really good and there was lots of it. Plus you were entertained by musicians and traditional dancers. It was a lot of fun. Being the last night after dinner go and do some more shopping. Oh the dinner location is a log way from our hotel and you had to walk a distance to the metro then walk up a huge hill to get to the place. So no heels!
Before the dinner pack your luggage before you have to leave so you can sleap in.
Day 10 Leave Athens 
There are no shuttle services provided by contiki. Its about 10-20 euros depending on what hotel you stay at to get to the airport. Negotiate a price before hand. Try to find others who are leaving around the same time as you to share a taxi. I found a couple of girls who were on the same flight I was so it was easier. There is only one airport so no confusion but the security line can be long.
Oh and on your connecting flight if its in the states you have to pick up your luggage and recheck it in. So give 2 hrs between flights since you have to go through security AGAIN it really sucks and makes no sence!Make sure your bags get on the plane as one of my bags did not and took 5 days to get it back. Make sure you get trip insurance for this very reason.
Day 11 I finally make it into Phx airport at 11pm , an hour late and one bag missing. Have to file a claim and then another 2 hr drive home for me.
**************WORDS OF WISDOME!***************
My advice is to pack light! I bought a small bag at the end to put all the stuff I purchased in it. 30 euros is cheap compaired to shipping stuff home. Which included liquids. Bring and ipod or psp , headphones, chargers and several converter plugs. Bring extra medications as many are hard to find. There are tons of places to get things if you forget something. Bring extra memory cards and batteries as batteries cost about 8 euros. Only pack 3 pair of shoes 1 tennishoe, 1 sandal, and 1 dress shoe. Make coppies of your passport and credit cards. Only carry 1 cc and a days worth of spending money on you at a time. I don’t do money belts and had nothing stolen. If i did I don’t miss it.
If you are worried about cameras I took my big slr and my small digital and was fine. Just make sure to bring the chargers. 
Bring nasal spray the air in the planes are really dry. Bring bathroom spray for the ferries.
Don’t waste money on alcoholic drinks they cost 8-12 euros a piece and you will waste tons of money that way. Buy stuff at the store and take it to the hotel room. Much cheaper.
Don’t worry so much about stuff and have fun.
ps..sorry about any typos wish this had spell check.
10th May 2012
Going on the european magic tour in september. What sort of clothes should i pack? Will there be opportunities to wash clothes or should i not bother. The temperatures seems to be long pants etc sort of weather……how dressed up should i be?
any comments/suggestions are very welcome!
10th May 2012
Can they can cancel a definite tour?? Im doing European Highlights June 7 with became a definite tour but I haven’t found anyone else doing in the forums and facebook.. It appears im the only one this tour, i sure hope they dont cancel the tour
10th May 2012
Hey just wondering, when u have a specific time to meet the bus to leave, if your running late how long does the bus wait for you?
like if u get lost in whatever city ur in, is there a roll call system to make sure ur on the bus safely??
10th May 2012
I’m thinking about booking either European Encounter (winter) or European Discovery in December, but I’m not sure if the majority of the people on the tour will be couples given that we’d be spending Christmas and New Years in Europe. I’m also wondering if I’ll be able to see enough of the cities or if the weather will prevent us from getting the full experience. Any suggestions? Thanks!!!
10th May 2012
im thinking about taking the european discovery 14 day tour, has anyone taken this? do you spend to much time on the bus? how much time do you get to wonder for yourselves? was it the best? help me out please!
10th May 2012
Are the San Diego optionals included if I just buy a one-day Go San Diego card also (http://www.gosandiegocard.com)? I know that Sea World alone is almost the cost of the one-day Go San Diego card and it says you can do the Sea World, Zoo, what sounds like the harbour tour (but I’m not sure) all on that one card. From the descriptions it looks like the same thing, though I’m not sure if the prices will change. Some of the other museums look interesting (if I can fit it all in) so can I still accompany those who choose to buy the San Diego optionals?
10th May 2012
Hey all,
Just a quick question, I know the snow in the Austrian Alps is better than the Snow in the Australian Alps 
But how good is it? Is it as good as New Zealand?
