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10th May 2012
Hi, i’m interested in doing the European Contrasts tour in August this year is anyone else doing the same trip? And are there alot of solo travellers ?
10th May 2012
My luggage is 25″×24″×12″ Will this be a huge problem? Should i get new luggage? I leave in a few days and any advice would be totally appreciated.
Thanks much
10th May 2012
I’m going on the European Highlights tour and will be in Munich for one day. I know the tour is going to take us to Dachau Concentration Camp and I would really like to see that. However, I would also REALLY like to see the Neuschwanstein Castle. Is that even possible on this tour? Is there any chance the bus driver could be convinced to take us there?? I would think a lot of people would be interested, and the tour itself is only 30 minutes long. Only problem is, it’s 2 hours from Munich. Please let me know!!!
10th May 2012
Hi guys…
Anyone who’s been on a concept/budget tour can help me out with this one…
I’ve read that sleeping bags are not included in your weight limit, so I take it this means our sleeping bags don’t go into our suitcases and we just carry them around separately. Is this correct? Do they get thrown into the luggage compartment on the bus or do we store them on the bus under our seats?
Cheers 
10th May 2012
Looks like there is lots of ‘sightseeing’ in the trip descriptions.
For those of you you have done a Contiki, is this ‘sightseeing’ anything special or any good or am i better off just going and doing my own thing? it seems like it might take up alot of the free time in some cities.
10th May 2012
I was just wondering if anyone (or anyone you know) has done a trek america tour and a contiki tour, and if so which one did you prefer? I’ve only recently come across contiki and the tours to the USA look good. The reason I’m asking is earlier this year I did a trek with Trek America and was really unhappy with the trek leader that we got. He kind of made my trek a crap experience. He seemed to have an attitude problem, spoke and treated me like a piece of crap, at least 2 other girls thought he hated them aswell. Then on the last night when we were in Vegas, a english guy who was always being bossy to the leader told him to put what was left of the food kitty on the table and gamble with it and he did!! I wasn’t there but an Australian girl wasn’t very happy about it. Has anyone had bad experience with trek America?
10th May 2012
Hi Guys
Ive heard that there is a place in LA, that sells designer clothes etc but they are either seconds or second hand. Its like a big warehouse type place. Anyone heard of it or been there before?
Thanks heaps
Shan
Euro Highlight 2nd May 07
10th May 2012
when is it happening ?and can anyone tell me anything about it ?
10th May 2012
I would like to know the following:
Who does Contiki Use for Parts of the Vietnam Tours they fly between and also what kind of other transportation are used for the non air sectors.
It is first time in Vietnam having only learnt about it back in High School and seen it on Films as well so would like to know what to expect.It helps I have a Pilot Guides Video on Vietnam but want to know more
10th May 2012
My name is Natalie, i will be 21 and i am from geelong. i am thinking about doing the 20 day European Experience, but still not entirely sold. I am travelling solo for the first time and a lil bit worried. Just wondering if there is anyone who is thinking about the Sept 17th tour or have any reccomendations for any other tours?
10th May 2012
I have a blog of our entire trip if you’re interested!
http://kelocity.com/traveling/egypt-the-nile/
10th May 2012
Just wanted some advice from some recent Contiki travelers about bags for the bus. The info we got says to only bring one bag(suitcase) of a certain size and then one overnight bag. It says in the info that they are very strict about the size and number of bags. Just wanted to know how true this was. We aren’t trying to bring 10 bags or anything but wanted to bring an extra to bring home some items for family members.
Thanks in advance
10th May 2012
Hi,
I am thinking of going on the London/Paris contiki over New Year’s this year. I realise that this will mean I will be travelling during winter, and that this will mean my experience will be different to those who go on the same contiki during the summer.
What will London and Paris be like during the winter? I have been told that it will be really cold – maybe unbearable, and that the days are much shorter and therefore I will miss out on touristy stuff.
Is it worth going during the winter? or do you think it would be better during April or June 2010? this will be my first trip there, and therefore want the best experience possible.
10th May 2012
Just completed this tour (May 27-June 8) and there are a few things I learned that might make your trip more enjoyable:
Select the shuttle option that Contiki provides. Reason? The hotel is located far away from the airport and center of town. If you don’t Contiki’s estimate for the train and cab is low. The train is 11 euros and the cab ride cost me 40 from the train station (51 euros total=about 68 dollars). In addition, I was almost ripped off by “cab drivers” who stand outside the train station and offer rides to unsuspecting tourists. Several people in my group paid 70-100 euros to these scam artists not knowing they weren’t real taxi drivers.
The optional excursion dinners are not worth it. Almost everyone signed up for the first one in Sorrento (including myself) and only 5 were signed up for the second so it was cancelled. The food was not good and the location stuffy (imagine a wedding reception hall). Also, it was held at a place called the “Tourist Club” so the only locals were the waitstaff. Not exactly experiencing Italy in my opinion. Advice: go somewhere local and have better food for less.
Optional excursion: The boat trip on Lake Garda was worth it. Very beautiful lake and the alternative is sitting on the bus since it is while you’re traveling between cities.
Optional excursion: The boat trip around Capri is overpriced. Contiki has it for 19 euros and there were no boat trips on the island for more than 12. The Contiki boat trip was cancelled due to weather and by the afternoon it had cleared up. We got a regular boat trip from one of the outfits there and it was well worth it. A nice way to spend an hour.
Optional excursion: The gondola ride in Venice is very nice but I think also overpriced when you go through Contiki. In my travel guide book it said that the rides typically cost between 60-100 euros depending on the time of day and we each paid 21 (6 people per boat). I had already selected to do it through Contiki so I did not confirm the boat prices.
I would not recommend the “group photo” that Contiki offers due to the fact that only a few people in our group signed up for it and they were forced to sit together on the boats instead of being able to pick their own group. Venice is one of the last cities, so most people already have their friends who they want to sit with picked out.
In Venice our guide had the group meet back at 10pm (the hotel is 1-1.5 hours outside of town and requires taking a ferry and train). If you don’t want to stay that long it’s not a big deal to take the ferry to the train station (6 euros) and the train back (2.20 euros). This is what me and another girl did and I’m glad since we got back at 8:30pm instead of 11:30pm and had time to relax.
When in Rome there are several buses that do a round about the city stopping at the various tourist attractions. This is good if you’re tired of walking and want to take in the sights first. It cost 16 euros for an all day ticket and you can get on and of at your leisure. The entire loop took about an hour and also has a commentary about the history. You can get tickets on the bus at any of the stops.
One person in our group got her wallet stolen out of her backpack while on the bus in Rome so watch your stuff and either lock it or have it in front of you at all times. We had to take the metro into Rome the last day during rush hour and everyone was crammed in so it’s not hard to see how stuff like that can happen (keep a copy of your passport and all credit cards at the hotel).
Bring rain gear just in case. It rained almost the whole trip and most people had only shorts and warm weather gear. There is A LOT of traveling by bus so bring reading material or iPod or both. Overall it was a decent trip. A lot of traveling in between cities though so be prepared.
10th May 2012
We are doing the Grande Mex and the Grand Southern in July/August, we are staying a few extra nights in Ny at the Marrakech. However we have read and heard some sketchy things about the hotel, can anyone fill us in? We read about bed bugs and rats!
10th May 2012
Hi ya’ll!
I was just wondering, I went to America last year and there were certain things we were not allowed to take on board the plane, and other things we COULD NOT TAKE AT ALL.
e.g. liquids, shavers etc.
I was just wondering if the same or similiar laws apply when travelling to and from Europe? 
10th May 2012
so i have an old phone here (aus) and wanna take it to america. is it as simple as just buying a sim card and it working? sorry if this is a blonde question but i have no idea with phones lol. will an american sim card work on any australian phone??
10th May 2012
Hi
I am doing the wild western starting on 19th december. Was just wondering if we have an organised trip to Hoover Dam while we are in las vegas or do we need to book one seperately ourselves? Has anyone been on the wild western and can help me out?
Thanks
Amanda
10th May 2012
Fellow adventurers. I recently published a novel partially based on my own experience on a Contiki travel adventure in Australia. Titled Wind to Water, it’s a humorous, adventurous, romantic read; a perfect companion on, or to prepare you for, your own vacation. Please check out amazon.com or other fine book sellers for reviews, etc. I sincerely appreciate your support and wish you the best in your travels! – David Hamershock
10th May 2012
Hi All,
I am planning on doing a European tour this year. My job in events means that I can’t just go whenever I want, but need to fit in around the key dates of the events for the company.
This means that I can go the end of August – September or end of October – November. I would prefer the August option, but I have a major event in October which means that I will be short on time when returning home.
Will the October – November tour be fine for me? I am from the Gold Coast, Australia, and while I prefer winter to summer, will November be too cold for me?
Would love to hear from some people who have travlled through Europe in November.
Thanks.
