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10th May 2012
A family friend who traveled to Europe within the last couple years was giving me some advice and said you could be fined or even arrested for buying knock-offs! Just wondering if there is any truth to it.
10th May 2012
ok one for the ladies. i know we need to keep our passports on us at all times but how have girls managed to go out at night and carry their passport. a handbag or something makes sense but i’m so scared i’ll get drunk and lose it. have a tendency to leave stuff behind when i drink 
and if we get dressed up to go out its a little difficult to attach to the body.
what have others done.
10th May 2012
It has officially been a year since I had a cig! Woo Hoo!!
Just wonder what the situation is like in Europe…Cloudy around every bend or only thick smog in pubs? Smoking allowed in restaurants or is excepted everywhere, inside and out?
I don’t really want to A) Reak of smoke 24/7
B) Get crabby and C) Get an urge to start smoking again
10th May 2012
has anyone got any tips/advice or reviews on skiing in scotland? where to stay, where to ski, how to get there??
cheers
10th May 2012
Hi,
have just booked to go on 46 day camping. Just want to know from any previous campers how much money to allow per day. Was thinking around $100 australian a day?? to do optional activities also
Also, with sleeping bags, it is possible to purchase one at contiki prior to the tour as I am travelling around before the tour and do not want to lug it around with me.
And…. I have heard you can store luggage at contiki head quarters for around $2 a day, is this true and can I store it for as long as 46 days???
any more advice from fellow campers would be great!!
10th May 2012
Hi all
I’m travelling to the states again next month(so glad I can say that now yeha!) and I am unsure what the quickest and cheapest way to get from the airport to my hotel(note it is not the contiki hotel but is in manhattan). Someone has told me the taxi’s charge a flat rate of $30-$40 and apparently I can get a private car(sedan)for $40.As I will have been travelling for 26 hours straight by the time I arrive in New York is worth going one of these options or just go the supper shuttle?I just don’t fancy being in a bus for 2+ hours when I have been travelling that long!
cheers
lisa
10th May 2012
I’ve read that alot of people do these hop on hop off tours in London on those double decker buses. Does anyone know how to book these? should I book them in advance or can i just book them when im there? Also does any one know how much they cost? are they worth it or should i just buy a day pass for the underground?
10th May 2012
Hi! I am going to be doing the Reefs and Rainforests in June. I saw a lot of the pics and videos for the optionals and it seem most people did a good job getting pics and footage of their scuba dive, sky diving, etc. So my question is weather you use your own camera and camcorder or they do have some equipment you rent out? I want to capture those moments and am wondering whats the best way of doing it. Any help or info is much appreciated. Thanks. Good day.
10th May 2012
Hi,
I would like to book a Europe trip. However, I saw most of the trips have bicycling trips. I would love to join, however, I can’t cycle at all. I never used a bicycle.
Do they have alternatives for non-cyclers? Or do they have tricycles instead?
Thanks!
10th May 2012
Well, I’ve committed. 34yo single guy finally going on what should be a trip of a lifetime. Turning 35 before the trip starts I’ll probably be the grandpa on the tour but hey they always say better late than never.
Very shy, quiet person that hasn’t been in a great deal of social situations trying to put myself out there and have some fun. I haven’t travelled much and my first trip was to Fiji in November 2008. Other than this I have driven around a few Australian states and travelled the Whitsundays.
Travelling alone I’d like to apologise in advance to the people I may be bunked with as I have heard I’m a pretty good snorer. Not hugely active (attempting to change), bit of a couch potato. Love to watch TV, movies etc. Big fan of American Baseball with the Cleveland Indians the team I follow. I’m currently employed at a cold storage warehouse as the Inventory Manager. Have worked for the company for about 5 years.
Back to the trip. Haven’t confirmed anything yet but hoping to arrive in London a few days before tour. Have absolutely no idea what to expect. Language barrier is a big thing I’m not really looking forward to so if you speak another language you can be my new friend. With over 7 months to fly out day anticipation is going to grow each and every day. Nervous and excited but really looking forward to seeing another part of the world.
Anyone wanting to get in touch I am on yahoo messenger (user name simple19375) or email simple19375@yahoo.com.au.
7 months I’m sure I’ll be updating this more and more as trip gets closer 
L8r all
————————————————————
Flight booked now. Leave Sydney and arrive in London 25th June. Hanging about for a couple of days after too and leave on 12th August. One step closer now
10th May 2012
Hey people,
just a question about where to hide all your money, passport and junk when it’s summer time and most poeple (i.e. me) will be wearing light (and possibly see-through) clothing?? will a money pouch be enough or should i leave it on the bus?
cheers, TIM
European Encounter july 11th!
10th May 2012
I have been collecting reviews from generous past Contiki travellers of optional tours at http://optionals.info/.
Feel free to have a browse if you are researching optional excursions that you are looking to sign up to. If you’re a past guest on a particular optional tour, it would be wonderful if you could submit reviews of the optional tours that you went on.
I hope it is helpful.
—
10th May 2012
So i am planning on booking a hostel in NYC but my flight doesn’t get into Newark until 10pm and its international so i’m guessing i won’t get to the hostel until after midnight. The thing i’m worried about is walking into a shared room at that late hour or should i book a room at an airport hotelin newark?
10th May 2012
I was wondering if anyone had any advice about travelling after a Contiki tour or could share their experiences? I’m hoping to see 3 or 4 more countries. Any advice on travelling, such as take the train or fly between countries? Do’s or Dont’s? Hostels or Hotels? Also, is it wise to book all my accomodations from home before I leave?! Thanks! Any advice would really help!!!
10th May 2012
Hi guys,
I’ve always got great answers on the boards so figure it’s only fair for me to share some of my knowledge too.
I raised this topic in the meeting place for UK/Ireland but just to throw it out there for everyone else too, here’s a summary of that post…
if anyone has any questions about UK and Ireland just ask, I’ll try to help, I live in Ireland and have been all round the UK…
Weather…
April can be iffy… I’d say bring a hoodie, cause there is always a good chance of rain. Though we do get slightly warmer around the end of April and into May, you should bring a good coat too, because it will be pretty cold.
Mid to late June is my favourite time of year here, it seems to be when there is least rain. Temp might get up to 18 C, which is good for us! I’d still say bring 1 top with a hood cause you can never tell over here. Brittney I think if you pack for your London to Athens tour June/July it will be very warm, especially in Greece, just add a jacket with a hood or a coat, plus a pair of trousers for ireland (save the shorts for mainland Europe!) and you’ll be fine…
Money …
Southern Ireland is the Euro, northern ireland like the uk is pound, if you plan to travel outside of the tour. Getting money changed is really easy, as is getting between the 2, as there isn’t really a border these days. Ireland and the UK go for the quite expensive to live in, cheap to visit category. Alcohol, nights out and food are cheap, and healthy which is good if you’re travelling, though shopping etc would be quite expensive.
Dress code –
here is pretty casual when going to the typical Irish bar, but if you want to go to clubs either here or in England, it’s smart casual. Most places are shoes and jeans for guys, basically no trainers or tracksuit bottoms.
It is a very unique island, I think if you are travelling here for the 8 days with contiki, if you spend another week here you would have seen pretty much all of Ireland, it’s that small! It’s a very interesting place, you’ll love it!
…
There’s lots of great places to shop. I don’t know how the Aus $ is at the mo, but you’d be best doing most of your shopping in Northern Ireland / England / Scotland / Wales. The pound is weak and the euro is expensive these days, so shopping in (south) Ireland might be a little expensive. Good places to shop here are Dublin and Belfast, both have typical city styles, lots of big name shops, including loads of new places in Belfast.
Best place I’ve shopped in UK is Manchester, they have a “mall” called the trafford center that’s huge and has at least 1 of everything! London is a bit more expensive but could work out well because of the low pound.
For those travelling through europe, I think the UK and Ireland are cool place to clothes shop, I think we’ve got good trends… but mainland european countries do better souveniers…
10th May 2012
not that I really care but should i expect to comeback emaciated from all the malnourishment/lack of sleep/heavy day touring or somewhat heavier from the drinking/sitting on a bus/lack of formal exercise?
i guess the answer varies, but what are peoples past experiences?
10th May 2012
Hey,
I am looking at doing the London to Athens with Greek Island Hopping next summer and was wondering about how much it costs. Its around $4400 for the ones this summer put i’m hoping that by booking quite a few months in advance for next summer it would be a bit cheaper. Anyone have any ideas?
Ella
10th May 2012
Hi, just booked LA to the Bay on Dec 17, as I understand we’ll be back to SF on Dec 26, I booked 2 extra nights in SF and after this stopped. What to do for the New Year? Is anybody here from this tour as well, what are your plans? Las Vegas New Year with Contiki is sold out, I have only one idea – go to Miami for the New Year, stay where at the hostel and spend several days in Miami and travelling around. I’m travelling alone, so a little bit confused about New Year’s Eve.
10th May 2012
From what I have gathered I am bound to run into rain. Just wondering if anyone has any advice on which is better, or easier to travel with etc. I thougt of bringing a spring jacket but I would kinda prefer something I can just throw in my day bag. Any suggestions?
