How travel can change your perspective on the world: Asking Contiki content creators

Travel is a powerful thing, we all know that. It can unlock so many things, knowledge, experiences, and emotions included. We’re so passionate about travel and all the positive effects it can have that we set up a whole scientific experiment around it! Curious to find out how travel makes people feel, we partnered with MyndPlay and sent a few content creators to various locations around the world with special gadgets allowing us to read their brain waves. Sounds really cool, right?

Why do you travel? How does travel make you feel? Can travel change your point of view? These are the central questions asked of Mollie, Bradley, Maddy, and Coleman who travelled to Thailand, Italy, Greece, and around Europe respectively. We caught up with each of them to find out what they thought of the Contiki magic, and more importantly the magic of travel.

Had you ever been to the country you travelled to before?

Coleman travelled with Contiki on the European Discovery trip, taking him through The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, and the UK. “I had been to Amsterdam and Milan before, but never to any of the other destinations on the European Discovery trip, which is why I picked that one. I’d only been to Europe once before for a week and a half after college, so I was glad to be returning and seeing more.”

“I had never been to Thailand before, but I had done loads of research about it before as I had plans to visit that fell through,” says Mollie who hopped on the Northern Thai Highlights. “Because I researched it so much I had heard so many things about it, I was really excited to go.”

Bradley chose to travel to Italy on the Italian Escape. “Yes, I have! I’ve travelled to Italy before and loved it, so I was so excited to go back.”

“I had been to Santorini in Greece before for about 3 days, but never anywhere else so I was looking forward to the adventure,” says Maddy, who explored Greek Island Hopping. 

How was your experience different this time around?

Maddy, who had only briefly been to Greece, expressed that: “it was way different – I saw so much more, even in Santorini, and travelling with a Trip Manager who could show us where all the best spots and hidden gems were was a game changer.”

What were you expecting from your holiday, and how were these expectations met and/or challenged?

Mollie had been wanting to travel to Thailand for a while. “My expectations were pretty high actually! I’d heard really positive things about Thailand, especially about the people being very welcoming and friendly – and all of that was definitely true. I was expecting gorgeous beaches in Thailand, but I was also pleasantly surprised by the North of the country and all it had to offer. We did plenty of jungle trekking and raft rides down waterfalls – I hadn’t looked into these aspects of Thailand that much beforehand and I was surprised by how beautiful it all was.”

“I really enjoyed the calm areas, the more relaxed areas, like the viewpoints and stuff like that, a lot more. I think that kind of was something that I surprised myself with.”

“Before travelling to Italy, I was expecting the country to be full of history, art and amazing food – and those expectations were definitely met,” says Bradley. “But I was surprised by just how vibrant and lively the local culture was. I didn’t anticipate how much the atmosphere would add to my experience. The level of hospitality and the way the old world mixed with the modern in cities like Rome challenged my initial, more stereotypical expectations.”

Though he had seen Amsterdam before, the rest of Coleman’s itinerary remained undiscovered. “I try not to have any expectations before I travel, I almost purposely try not to learn anything before I go. I just prefer to learn and experience on the spot, I think it’s a really eye-opening experience. With Europe I didn’t realise how pretty the landscapes would be – I’m used to travelling in cities, but I’ve never done any of the driving in between. With Contiki it’s different, we’re actually going through the countries, and I got to see so much.”

What does travel mean to you? Why do you travel?

“I’ve always wanted to travel, I’ve always had that bug in me, but I was quite unwell growing up,” says Mollie. “I had ulcerative colitis and when I was 18 I had surgery and now I have a stoma bag, but before then travelling had always been a real challenge and I thought I’d never get the chance before my surgery. But I’ve travelled quite a bit since, and I’ve loved it and learned quite a bit about myself in the process.”

“For me travel is fun, it’s a way to get to know the world, and I’m at a point in my life where I probably won’t ever be this free again, you know?” explains Coleman – a relatable feeling for Contiki’s 18-35s! “I don’t have many responsibilities and life is cheap at the moment, it’s just me, so I feel like I want to do as much as I can while I can.”

For Bradley “travel is about discovery—both external and internal. I travel to experience different cultures, meet new people, and see the world from new perspectives. It also allows me to take a step back from daily life, reflect, and grow personally.”

And for Maddy “travel is a way for me to experience new cultures, perspectives and landscapes, to escape my everyday routine and help me to appreciate this gorgeous world. It’s something I look forward to before going, and then afterwards I have all these amazing memories to cherish. It’s exciting, rejuvenating and freeing.” 

Have you ever experienced ‘social travel’ before going on a Contiki? What were your thoughts?

“I went on a group travel tour when I was 21 through Cambodia and Vietnam with a friend of mine,” says Maddy. “I remember not loving it at the time and I was nervous to do another one especially on my own. My experience this time was 100x better and I absolutely loved getting to know new people and seeing so many beautiful places together. It absolutely changed my perspective on group travel and I’d love to go again.”

Mollie was familiar with Contiki and the idea of ‘social travel’, but had never actually experienced it. “I had actually looked into it a few years ago when I was planning to travel to Southeast Asia, but I never went through with it. But it has always been on my mind, even though I’d never done it before, and I loved it. It’s this whole other mode of travel: you’ve got the excitement of going to a new place like a new country and kind of exploring that, but also like exploring new friendships and things and you meet new people and I think that adds an extra layer to it.”

Bradley and Coleman however were new to the concept! “No, this was my first time experiencing social travel,” says Bradley. “I was excited but a bit nervous about how it would play out. I wasn’t sure how well I’d connect with a large group of people over such a short period of time.”

Coleman adds: “No, never. The closest thing to ‘social travel’ I had done before was summer camp when I was a kid, which I didn’t like at all. I like my alone time a lot, which is why I usually solo travel. But with Contiki it felt so good because there was a really great balance between having time to myself to explore and time to hang out with people and make great memories.”

How do you think ‘social travel’ changes the experience and/or dynamic of travel?

“I definitely was out of my comfort zone for the first few days and had my “extrovert hat” on!” says Maddy. “But as time went on and I got to know everyone, it was so great. When you travel with a group, travelling becomes a collaborative adventure where you build friendships and create memories with people who are experiencing these new things with you.”

“Social travel changes the dynamic by adding a sense of community and shared experiences. You’re not just a solo traveller or with a small group—you’re engaging with others constantly, which can enrich the experience. The energy of the group brings new perspectives and bonds, making each destination feel more meaningful because you’re sharing it with others.” Bradley explains, and Mollie agrees.

“It changes the experience massively because you’re travelling with so many different people who all want to be on that same trip, which is great. You already have something in common and people are really passionate about travelling. You also get to learn so much from the people you’re travelling with, you get to hear their stories and get to know them and I think that’s really nice. You’re also really putting yourself out there!”

For Coleman, ‘social travel’ is how he normally likes to do things! “You’ve got people from all over the world in this one group, and people do naturally gravitate towards what they know, but everyone makes an effort to talk to everyone and hang out, which is nice. I think it creates an environment that anyone can step into, no matter their background, and hopefully adapt and have a great time.”

What emotions do you associate with travel? Which do you think you feel most often?

For Coleman “travel is all about excitement, happiness, and learning. Having that sense of adventure is what travel is about and that sense of awe. You know, for example, I’ve learned about the Roman Empire my whole life, but getting to actually see Rome in real life was just amazing and it just put everything into perspective. It just made me feel so happy.”

“Probably excitement and sometimes a bit of nervousness,” says Mollie. “I get nervous travelling to new places, but with everyone around me it was easy to just slip into the joy of it all. It made me feel so comfortable, and happiness is also something I feel all the time when I’m travelling.”

Maddy adds that “the emotions I’d associate with travel include excitement, curiosity, freedom, joy, anticipation and relaxation. I loved exploring Greece and all its culture, food and people. It was also really freeing to be alone whilst also on a group trip. I could spend time with new friends and experience new exciting things with them, but also had time to myself to enjoy the moments on my own.”

And Bradley agrees with all of the above! “I associate excitement, curiosity, and sometimes a little anxiety with travel. I think I feel excitement most often, especially at the start of a new adventure or when arriving at a new destination. In Italy I felt excitement, wonder, and connection – excitement for all the new things I was experiencing, wonder at the beauty and history of Italy, and connection with the people I met along the way.”

Do you feel connected while travelling? With the world, other people, yourself, etc.

“Yes, I felt connected on multiple levels,” says Bradley. “With the world, because I was exploring places I had only read about; with the travellers, as we shared experiences and stories; and with myself, through the reflection that travel naturally brings.”

For Mollie, it’s about inner connection. “Definitely. I definitely was connected with myself. When you’re living out of a suitcase I do think you learn a lot about yourself because you don’t have all your usual belongings and routines, you’re just there in the moment, and I felt I appreciated things a lot more. It was really nice to share that with other people. I can’t imagine experiencing something funny or being stood at the most gorgeous viewpoint and not having anyone to share that with.”

“Yeah for sure,” says Coleman. “I mean travelling with Contiki, and even when I travel alone, I’m always looking to meet new people and experience things with them. We become buddies for the entire time that we’re travelling and I love that kind of connection – it makes it easier to go out and do things. When else can you do that in life?”

“When I was on this Contiki, it was like a different version of me emerged who absolutely felt connected to the world, other travellers and myself,” explains Maddy. A very Contiki sentiment. “This was unlike anything I’ve ever done before. When I came home, so many people were shocked to hear I’d been on a group travel holiday because it didn’t seem like something I’d ever do! I like my routine, I like spending time alone and I do not party.”

What makes you feel happy and at peace in your day to day? Were you able to find any of these things while travelling abroad?

For Maddy the things that make her happy are “sunsets, seeing the ocean, a good cup of coffee in the morning, moments of silence, chatting with friends, relaxing with a good book, dancing, nature, learning new things, GOOD food. I was able to experience all of these things on this trip (the Greek coffee is next level).”

For Bradley it’s “being surrounded by nature or having meaningful conversations makes me feel at peace. On this trip, exploring the serene landscapes of Positano and Capri and having heartfelt talks with fellow travellers gave me similar feelings of peace and happiness.”

For Coleman it’s all about “just being in my own little world. I like to make a lot of art, that’s an outlet for my happiness. I try to draw in every country I visit, I like to draw something there. Having studied so much Art History, getting to see, you know, Renaissance paintings in real life was just so insane. It was wildly inspiring.”

And for Mollie, “I’m quite a social person and I love being around my family and friends, but I also love my alone time – and travelling, you get a good mix of those. Another thing that makes me really happy is food. I love food, and obviously I got so much on the trip – the food places in Thailand and the recommendations we all got were amazing.”

Do you feel that your travels have helped you to grow as a person?

“My self-confidence really grew,” says Mollie. “It was so refreshing to be on this trip and be amongst a group of people who all wanted to be there for similar reasons. You can really get in your own head about things when you’re meeting new people, worrying that you’ve done something wrong, but with the people on Contiki I just thought we all got on so well, and that just gave me such a confidence boost, getting out of my comfort zone. I also realised that actually there are so many things that I can do on my own, I don’t always need support, and that was a really empowering feeling.”

Maddy agrees! “Yes absolutely. I think being in a group setting encouraged me to grow through social interaction with new people. Adapting to a group dynamic can be challenging but it definitely helps you stay present and keep an open mind to different perspectives. It was challenging at times for my social battery to be around new people. But I think that helped me grow as a person, to be more open to connect and learn and stay in a state of curiosity. Then of course there’s a new culture and history to learn and explore, which opened my mind to a world so different from my own.”

“Definitely,” says Bradley. “This trip helped me grow by broadening my perspectives on different cultures and by making me more comfortable in social situations. I was able to overcome some of my shyness and hesitation in meeting new people. The social aspect of the trip pushed me to step outside my comfort zone, and I ended up making some great connections because of it. I also became more confident in navigating new places and situations.”

“Yeah definitely. I mean getting to discover new cultures and places around the world does so much for your growth as a person, and I learned so much about myself on the way as well. You get to understand different perspectives around the world and I think that’s probably the best way to grow as a person, by travelling,” says Coleman, perfectly summing it all up.