Corey07850 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2519 posts, RR: 5 Posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 1112 times:
A few people I work with have just returned from a European trip with Contiki, and a few others were so impressed that they are currently on a European tour with them... I'd love to travel around Europe so out of curiosity I looked up their website to see what they offer and I too was very impressed... The packages seem well put together with nearly everything included in the price other than airfare (which they can get cheap as well)... When I was being told about the trip I was expecting the price to run in the thousands, but I was shocked to see they had around 10 day tours across Europe starting just over $1000.
I'm not too keen on the idea of them promoting how you'll make "life long friends" and whatnot, as I merely would go for the sights themselves, but I've heard nothing but good things so far and was curious if any of the well traveled gurus of a.net had their own opinions?
BTW I would be looking into something like a 10-14 day "superior" (average to decent hotels w/ meals etc) around Europe
LOT767-300ER From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 1108 times:
Fly to FRA, MXP, ZRH, MAD, AMS for 1/3rd that price, then buy yourself a EUrail pass (or regular train ticket if outside of continental Europe) and do that yourself if you just want to see the sights. Probably learn alot more than when its all laid out for you.
AeroWesty From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 18880 posts, RR: 64 Reply 2, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 1097 times:
I think it really boils down to do you want to spend so much time on a bus driving around Europe? That's what a lot of these tours do, if you read them. And it's 6AM luggage calls every morning, so they can get you fed and down to the bus to pull out of town to the next stop.
You *will* see more in a shorter time than you could possibly do on your own. I did the Grand Tour with a Eurailpass and no prior hotel reservations eons ago. I simply arrived where I was going, used the travel agency in the train station, and they booked a hotel for me. Between train travel and finding my way to the hotel, I lost an entire day everytime I moved to a new city. Then you have to sort out how you're going to get to what you want to see and do. It takes time and attention to detail.
Corey07850 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2519 posts, RR: 5 Reply 3, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 1097 times:
There's no way that would be 1/3 the price.... You're telling me you can get round-trip airfare, 8 nights of hotel accomodations, almost 2 meals a day, transfer to/from all the separate countries, etc etc for $700 (which is 1/3 the price)?
Corey07850 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2519 posts, RR: 5 Reply 4, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 1093 times:
Quoting AeroWesty (Reply 2): I think it really boils down to do you want to spend so much time on a bus driving around Europe? That's what a lot of these tours do, if you read them. And it's 6AM luggage calls every morning, so they can get you fed and down to the bus to pull out of town to the next stop.
I don't think I would mind traveling on the bus. From what I hear the longest ride is about 9 hours, and they stop every couple hours for food and whatnot. Most of the rides are through nice countrysides and small villages which I also think I would enjoy. A lot of this stuff you would miss on a quick flight from place to place.
6AM does seem early, but if that's what it takes to cram in 5 or so countries in 8-10 days I think I can deal with that... There's no point in sleeping till noon everyday and spending your vacation in bed...
Like I said, I'm just getting opinions from others
AeroWesty From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 18880 posts, RR: 64 Reply 5, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 1089 times:
Doing a tour works for a lot of people if you know what you're buying. If you're comfortable with the setup and the price is right, go for it. It might give you a taste of a lot of things, and give you ideas for what you'd want to see more of later. I did it on my own because I was away for a long time, and there was no way I could have done a tour on that basis.
The hotel I stayed in in Nice was the hotel for the First Class level of American Express Tours back then. Every day a new crowd came in, and they had ladies running around delivering breakfast to the rooms. Around 8AM they'd knock on my door, bring in a huge pot of coffee, juice, and a tray of all the croissants and pastries they didn't pass out that morning. I just sat on the balcony looking at the Med noshing on breakfast while I decided what to do that day.
You have to decide which way you want to travel, and taking a coach tour definitely works for some people.
LOT767-300ER From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 1087 times:
Quoting Corey07850 (Reply 3): There's no way that would be 1/3 the price.... You're telling me you can get round-trip airfare, 8 nights of hotel accomodations, almost 2 meals a day, transfer to/from all the separate countries, etc etc for $700 (which is 1/3 the price)?
Read what I wrote son.
Quoting LOT767-300ER (Reply 1): Fly to FRA, MXP, ZRH, MAD, AMS for 1/3rd that price, then buy yourself a EUrail pass
1/3rd of $1000 is around $333USD.
I just flew this spring break to Poland for $340 roundtrip with taxes to Warsaw from Chicago.
I flew to Dublin spring break 2005 r/t ORD-MAD-DUB-ORD for $300 with taxes. Hotel by O'Connell street was around 40EUR per night (I was there only for 2 nights). 8x40EUR=400USD
$320+$400USD is around $700 + $300 for beer, vodka and food. Id rather spend it like that than be bussed aroun Europe and waking up early.
Quoting Corey07850 (Reply 4): Most of the rides are through nice countrysides and small villages which I also think I would enjoy. A lot of this stuff you would miss on a quick flight from place to place.
6AM does seem early, but if that's what it takes to cram in 5 or so countries in 8-10 days I think I can deal with that... There's no point in sleeping till noon everyday and spending your vacation in bed...
As a European (and living in America) I am suggesting to you that you do not visit Europe that way (as most Americans do) I would rather concentrate on 1 or 2 countries and really visit them. There is point in sleeping till noon if you want to drink good brews at bars.
AC777LR From Canada, joined Apr 2006, 487 posts, RR: 46 Reply 7, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 1079 times:
I heard from someone that GAP adventures are much better then Contikki's and I would like to try one of their African Safaris this year. Have you looked into GAP adventures?
Aa757first From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 3338 posts, RR: 9 Reply 8, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 1067 times:
I agree with AeroWesty. Some people like to see as many sights as they can without really getting to know a city/country.
Usually on bus/train tours and cruises, you will be able to see one or two major sights in a city and that's pretty much it. The advantage is that you get to see a lot of different cities in a short amount of time.
If you fly to one or two cities during the same time period, you'll see more sights and get a better fell for the city. It just depends how you want to travel.
The best place for these escorted tours is probably www.tourvacationstogo.com. They are a travel agency just for escorted tours.
N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 79 Reply 9, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 1040 times:
My girlfriend has done several Contiki trips and has loved them. If you are the kind of person who likes to have no worries about your trip, then Contiki is for you. If you are the type who can't stand hanging around the same people and riding busses, do something else.
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
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