How travel can Switch your POV: Catching up with real Contiki travellers

Here at Contiki we’re big believers in travel’s ability to change your point of view. Whether you’re discovering authentic Italian cuisine in Amalfi for the first time on your Italian Escape, or getting to learn about Māori culture on a marae on our Real New Zealand, you’re bound to come back from your adventures a changed person. 

Well, to prove just how life-changing travel really can be, we put it to the test and we sent 5 real travellers to Italy and Greece, hoping they would have the time of their lives. They’ve all returned home since, but we caught up with each of our intrepid travellers to chat about their experience and whether it was as life changing as we expected (and hoped) it to be.

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

“Travel means exploring and discovering something new, encountering things I’ve never encountered before. I travel so I can broaden my horizons and experiences, and to seek out something new and hopefully grow as a person and learn about different cultures,” says Dougie.

“I think travel might be one of the most important things in my life,” says Becky (and same!). “There’s so much more outside of the small world we create in everyday life that we all get so caught up in, and I’ve always wanted to see the world, meet new people. Outside of seeing amazing scenery, wonders of the world and trying ALL of the food, one thing about travel that I love especially is the ability to find similarities in the environment and culture of every place you visit whilst experiencing things you never imagined and the way these can change the outlook of your life and the separate journeys we’re all on.”

Sachi seconds this sentiment of wonder and curiosity: “I travel to seek more from life, I have grown to have so much curiosity about the world and new experiences in new locations. I think the best way for me to grow and learn about myself is to learn about the world. I travel to conquer my fears and apprehension of what is unfamiliar face to face and learn through experience.”

“Travel can mean a vast array of things to different people. It all depends on your perspective. I believe that travel means that I can break away from routine and dive head first into new cultural experiences or explore the world’s natural beauty whilst also being able to connect with other people and share our stories. Travel for me can bring about personal growth,” explains Campbell.

For our globetrotters it seems that travel is all about exploration, learning, and growing – which is a wonderful thing. Let’s see if these ideas hold up during their Greek and Italian adventures.

Had you ever been to Greece and/or Italy before? Did you have a certain image of these places before going?

“I definitely had stereotypes in mind,” says Dougie. “For Greece it was the white and blue buildings, Mamma Mia, ancient ruins and plenty of Greek salads. And for Italy I thought of pizza, pasta, sun and wine. Mostly food-led thoughts!”

Sachi expresses a similar vision of Mediterranean Europe: “The image I always had of Greece and Italy were that of postcards. I would think of drinking Aperols on the Amalfi coast with a big bowl of pasta, or enjoying a Greek salad while overlooking the white houses of Santorini.”

“Before actually spending time in Greece and Italy and only seeing these places from photos and movies, what I envisioned, and I am sure many others envisioned, was the white sand, the crystal clear blue water, and the delicious food or the famous monuments,” Campbell adds.

Becky had travelled to Greece and Italy beforehand, though never in depth. “I’d been to a couple places in Greece and Italy before, but only very briefly. Because Greece and Italy are so close to where I’m from, I never prioritised spending a significant amount of time in those countries really getting to know them.”

It’s safe to say that despite wanting to keep an open mind while travelling, it’s easy for anyone to form a specific image in your mind before arriving and create expectations based on that. But, actually travelling to those destinations should hopefully crack those stereotypes…

What is your image of Greece and Italy now?

“Now that I’ve actually gotten to spend time in Greece and Italy, my views have definitely shifted. I still think of the famous monuments, the crystal clear waters and the delicious foods, but now I also see the faces that populate these countries and the locals and their lives. I also picture the travellers that I was able to share my journey with,” says Campbell.

“I was proven right in the sense that Greece and Italy are absolutely beautiful, but I didn’t realise I’d find connection in the beauty and the people,” says Sachi. “There were alleyways with handmade gelato shops, hidden cooking classes in gracious couples’ homes, beaches where we swam when the moon was out. There was so much more to Italy and Greece than the postcard image you can’t fully understand or appreciate until you’re actually there.”

Becky, who had travelled to Greece and Italy before, was glad for the second-chance: “I love both places more than I ever thought I would and am already planning going back again! I know there’s so much to see and discover and although we did so much with Contiki, I can’t wait to go again, especially to the places I’d have never prioritised if I didn’t go on this trip.” Safe to say Becky may be in love…

Dougie may feel the same: “I still hold a lot of the same images of beautiful landscapes and amazing food, but having travelled to Greece and Italy now I feel such a deeper appreciation for the people, the history, the culture, the language, etc.”

Although preconceived notions about certain destinations’ beauty and typical activities may not always be wrong, actually setting foot on that soil will offer so much more than surface-level expectations.

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

“As a traveller, when I look back on past trips or even during trips the emotions that I feel are ones of pure happiness, freedom, curiosity and most importantly gratitude,” Campbell gives a beautiful sentiment, which is seconded by Dougie.

“I associate travel with a slight fear of the unknown, but an excitement at facing it at the same time. I don’t know what I’ll see next, what I’ll encounter, where and what my next meal will be, and what unexpected situation or place I might end up in. Travel is totally up to chance, which is extremely refreshing compared to my normal routine.” 

For Becky, travel spells the following emotions: “Fun, freedom, excitement, being truly content/ happy and at home (ironically).”

“Fear and fulfilment, I have fears about location, food and cultures that are unfamiliar and how I would go about navigating those and allowing myself to embrace and tackle these new challenges in different ways,” explains Sachi. “But there is so much fulfillment and contentment when you experience the beauty of all these travel destinations and you snorkel off the boat and you let Greek dancers teach you how to twirl on top of  a glass. There’s so much joy and pride in yourself for putting yourself into these situations and thriving and knowing that you’ve actually gone and done it!”

Safe to say travel produces a real roller coaster of emotion, but we’re all safely strapped in and excited for the ride.

What did you think ‘social travel’ meant before going on a Contiki? What were your thoughts on the concept?

Some were in the know…

“Before going on a Contiki or experiencing social travel firsthand, I thought it meant something along the lines of connecting with others while exploring new places, but in a more structured way,” explains Campbell. Which is what we deliver, right?

Sachi adds: “I always thought that ‘social travel’ was about being provided with the group parts of travel without the hassle of creating those connections from scratch in hostel lobbies and half empty bar crawls. I thought Contiki was the ‘camp counsellor’ with icebreakers to bring social to solo travel. It seemed like an easy way to take a part of the mounds of stress that comes along with solo travel, I was all for it!”

Some sort of got the gist of it…

“Social travel to me meant going on holiday with family and friends I’ve known for years, for me just means not travelling solo,” says Dougie, which is fair enough.

And some were completely blind…

“I literally had no idea. Honestly I kind of booked Contiki without knowing exactly what I was getting myself in for and just knowing that I wanted to go to a certain place. I would typically do more research before jumping into something, but I didn’t, and now ‘social travel’ continues to be one of the most important things I now prioritise in my life,” says Becky, and we’re glad to hear it!

Having experienced ‘social travel’, how do you think it changes the experience and/or dynamic of travelling?

Sachi says: “I think social travel provides the connection with people that completely understand the drive for adventure that you yourself have. It’s not compromising on a travel location and travel activities with old friends with different travel goals. It’s about finding these individuals and fostering new friendships through new and consistent adventure.” 

And to that Becky would add: “I think ‘social travel’ actually gives you a lot more freedom than people think. As a young girl travelling was always something I wanted to do but was also quite anxious about doing it completely alone so the security of having like minded people around me and help with planning has been really important in building my confidence and just feeling like I can do anything and go anywhere.” 

“I love that with ‘social travel’ you make friends for the first time in adult life where you’re not being introduced by someone else or meet through school, uni or work. You really just get to create memories and have adventures with people you truly align with at that time.”

Dougie has created his own connotations for ‘social travel’: “I’ve now come to associate social travel with meeting like minded strangers who you think have nothing in common with, but realising the common ground is actually the love of travel and the appreciation of the country you have both chosen to explore. It brings us all together, from different backgrounds and cultures, whilst maintaining the interest of travel to somewhere new.”

And Campbell would have to agree with all of the above: “Social travel changes your experience and dynamic because of the friendship and connections you build. The people you meet can educate you and expand your horizons on experiences, foods or adventures you never thought of embarking on.”

Confirmed! Social travel is all about the connections you build en route.

You’ve travelled with Contiki before – how have your Contiki experiences compared? Have they all been the same?

For Campbell, all his Contiki trips have been quite similar “in the fact that I have always built amazing relationships and experienced different food and cultures but just at different times, in different places and with different people.”

For Sachi, the comparison is impossible: “I think that’s down to the complete differences in culture across the countries, but also the group of travellers on each trip. With bigger groups in coaches we all got to know each other through hot seat bus games, and tasting and partying our way from city to city in Spain. But Greek Island Hopping, we bonded with beach volleyball and boat rides, before collecting shirts in Ios. I think that’s also why I keep coming back to Contiki, because the group of people and the adventures will ever be the same.” It’s all about that unique experience every time!

Dougie is a big fan of ours: “They have all been fantastic! I’ve done a mini sail trip in Croatia, travelled by bus in India and wandered around Europe. Different sights, cultures, languages, tastes and smells, but one thing remains the same – the unity and friendliness of inquisitive travellers, keen to learn about something new.” And Becky is also a fan.

“The sentiment and aspects I enjoy as a whole have been similar, but that’s why I continue to do them again and again as I don’t get those experiences anywhere else. Also the hotels are always good which is important to me so I’m glad they’ve l been comparable. What isn’t comparable, and another reason I continue to take these trips are the people I meet, new activities I do and experiencing places I’ve never been before.”

How does ‘social travel’ compare to travel with friends and family? Has it opened any new doors for you?

“With social travel you are able to be really and truly yourself. You get to discover parts of yourself and act freely without any influence from family,” says Sachi. “You are all ready to throw yourself in and make friends and learn about each other as you face a new part of the world. It’s a completely different way to travel when you seek out people who share the same ‘social travel’ drive to create these connections whilst exploring a new country.”

Campbell would definitely recommend ‘social travel’ to a friend: “With social travel you’re likely to meet new people and make friends with similar interests, which can enhance the travel experience. It can also add a sense of camaraderie and shared adventure, which can be fun and energising.”

And Dougie finds that ‘social travel’ is the perfect way to open yourself up to the world: “By social travelling, you can be your authentic self. You don’t have to act a certain way around your family, colleagues or even your partner. You’re a completely free soul and (of course within reason) act as you please. And by doing it non-solo, you can share the experience by being your authentic self.” 

“‘Social travel’ is so different to travelling with friendship groups with friends or family as you’re able to truly be yourself and choose to do exactly what you want to do. It’s also different to solo travel because although you get the same freedom as with ‘social travel’, the pressure and responsibility of having to sort all logistics and admin is removed which I find really helpful with normal work life and helps make it feel like a holiday at the same time as more typical ‘travelling’.” 

“I like the balance and think it’s easier to make friends if you’re more introverted as a person. It’s really nice to share what you want to do with other like minded people.” For Becky, ‘social travel’ is an all-round great experience.