
This was my farewell tour to Contiki… or so I told myself before boarding the coach. It was my last one before I officially entered the “closer to 40 than 30” club. But this one was extra special — not just because of the epic itinerary through the Balkans, but because I convinced one of my best friends, Rachel, to come along. It was her first time traveling outside of North America, and I was determined to show her what the Contiki magic was all about.
Spoiler alert: it worked. She’s now fully Contiki obsessed.
Out of the hundreds of memories we made, here are the five core moments I’ll be replaying on a loop forever:
1. Dinner with a local: The kind of night that changes you
If there’s ever a “Dine with Locals” option on your Contiki, run, don’t walk to it. I’ve done a few over the years, and they’ve always been the heartstring-pulling highlight of my trips. Sitting down in someone’s home, learning about their life firsthand, and hearing stories that rarely make it into guidebooks — it’s humbling, moving, and wildly unforgettable. These are the moments that stay with you long after you’ve unpacked your suitcase and returned to reality. They’ve honestly shaped how I view the world.
My Sarajevo dinner in particular left a lasting impression. Over a homemade meal, our host shared deeply personal stories from the Sarajevo Siege — moments of resilience, heartbreak, and hope that no history book could fully capture. We listened intently, honored by her openness, and were equally touched that we got to meet her husband, who greeted us with quiet kindness and made us feel instantly at home. Between bites of her incredible cooking, we also got a glimpse into her life today — how much has changed, and how she recently came out on a televised cooking competition. After tasting her food, we weren’t at all surprised to hear she won.
2. Lunch with a local: DIY edition
We had this incredible day guide in Sarajevo, Enes, who took us through the Sarajevo War Tunnels. One minute he was sharing heartbreaking wartime history, and the next he had us laughing so hard we nearly cried. His ability to carry us through heavy moments with grace and humor? Unreal.
After the tour, Rachel and her boyfriend realized they had way too much in common with Enes, so they invited him out for lunch and drinks. Soon enough, we were wandering Sarajevo’s streets, talking about everything from ‘90s bands to relationships and family. We stopped by his go-to lunch spot for some Ćevapi (which, of course, we ordered exactly how he does). It was one of those effortlessly perfect, totally unplanned days that ends up being a core memory.
3. Karaoke in Tirana (yes, Albanians know their mariachi)
Favorite night out? No contest. Karaoke at the “New Irish Pub” in Tirana was the scene: Albanians belting out pop hits and Mexican mariachi songs so well I had to go over and ask where they learned Spanish. Turns out, they were dating someone from Central America and had been picking it up along the way. You love to see it. We laughed, we sang, and I graced the world with my dance moves, which can only be described as interpretive flailing. It was one of those nights where the whole world felt small and connected and weird in the best way.

Image source:Janette Aracely
4. My coach buddy (and the friends you keep collecting)
One of the best things about Contiki is the people. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it until I’m eighty. On this trip, I found myself next to Ayo on the coach — and from that very first ride, we were in sync. We spent the whole trip chatting away and building our own little bus bubble of good vibes and great conversation.
And it’s not just Ayo. These friendships follow you home. I’m based in Los Angeles, but I’m literally writing this from London right now, staying with a friend I met on my USA Contiki (2015). I just reunited with Ayo from this Balkans trip (2025), and I’m meeting up with Aly from my Namibia Contiki (2023) later tonight. Contiki: where your group chat suddenly spans four continents.
5. The night we all became George Ezra fans
We’d been pestering our Trip Manager to play “Budapest” by George Ezra the entire trip. When we finally made it to the city itself, she queued it up — and the coach exploded into karaoke mode. Full volume. Full commitment. Zero shame.
Later that night on our Budapest River Cruise, we found ourselves outside again, singing the same song under the city lights, snapping pictures of our last night together. It was one of those pinch-me moments. Afterward, we made our way to a Ruin Bar—a quirky, graffiti-covered dream of a venue packed with people from all over the world — before ending the night dancing into the early hours at one final club.
In the wee hours of the morning, we said our not-really-goodbyes as people peeled off to catch early flights. Including me. Because here’s the thing about Contiki farewells: they’re never really goodbyes. They’re just “see you laters”. When you bond this closely with people, you always find your way back — whether it’s a few weeks later like with Ayo, or a few years down the road like my friend Jack.
And that’s why I’ve always kept coming back.