The Good and Dangerous of Touring Europe With Contiki

We obtain loads of questions from folks asking me about our ideas on becoming a member of tour teams in Europe — most notably Contiki Excursions. For these of you who aren’t conscious, Contiki is a widely known and extremely popular bus tour firm that caters to college students/youth vacationers. Not surprisingly, based mostly on their youthful clientele, they’ve earned a repute as being a booze-filled get together tour.

We need to say upfront that we favor touring independently — in any case The Savvy Backpacker is targeted on impartial journey. That mentioned, we don’t have any downside with these sorts of excursions. So, with that in thoughts, our purpose for this text isn’t to speak you into or out of a Contiki Tour. Our purpose is to provide the details, each good and unhealthy, so you can also make an knowledgeable determination on whether or not a tour like that is best for you.

Fast Overview of Contiki Excursions

Contiki is the preferred bus tour firm for younger vacationers (18-35). They function in Europe, Russia, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Asia — however a lot of the information on this information might be targeted on their European excursions.

They host greater than 150,000 vacationers every year and so they’ve been doing excursions because the early 60s.

A number of Tour Choices

One good factor about Contiki is that they provide all kinds of tour choices — starting from week-long journeys to multiple-month excursions. In addition they have tour choices that go to nearly each a part of Europe in order that’s very nice.

Their hottest excursions are their “funds” excursions (which mainly means the lodging include funds resorts and campsites). You possibly can view all their European excursions right here.

The tour costs vary from round $1000 for a couple of week to properly over $6000 for multi-week journeys. Their hottest excursions might be round $2000. Go to this web page to see all their costs.

Journey Types

Prior to now, we’ve ragged on Contiki as a result of they had been historically seen as a celebration on wheels. Don’t get us incorrect, we are able to completely see why folks could be into that and we don’t have an issue with it… however not everyone seems to be into that type of journey.

However as of late, whereas among the excursions nonetheless have that get together ambiance, Contiki now presents much more choices to suit different journey kinds — which we predict was an amazing transfer.

Listed here are their essential journey kinds:

• Excessive Power
• Discovery Plus
• In-Depth Explorer
• Simple Tempo
• Freestyle Tenting
• Crusing and Cruising
• Winter and Ski

Click on right here to see all their journey kinds

Lodging

All of the lodging is offered by Contiki and is included within the worth —so that you by no means have to fret about discovering a spot to sleep (conversely, you don’t have any say in the place you keep). Every tour often options a number of forms of lodging however there are mainly three forms of lodging:

• Funds Resorts: They declare to solely ebook “2-3 star” resorts however many have reported that among the resorts had been very “funds”.
• Hostels: Much like funds resorts. You’ll be sharing a room — which is regular.
• Contiki Owned Campsites: Suppose summer season camp with shared cabins —not tents. The corporate’s staff workers the location.

On common, the standard of the lodging tends to be on par with that of a funds hostel. The kind of lodging differs in every metropolis and a few are nicer than others. Some locations usually are not that nice, however some are pretty good (for funds requirements).

Very similar to a hostel, count on to share a room with 2-4 different folks. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to often pay further to have your personal room.

Remember that your lodging may not be situated within the metropolis. Relying on the tour, a number of of your hostels/campsites may very well be far exterior town (typically 30-60 minutes by practice/taxi). These places are sometimes not on any public transportation routes, so that you’ll should fork over 40-50 euros for a taxi trip if you wish to spend time within the metropolis.

Contiki’s web site does a fairly good job of telling you what to anticipate on every tour/vacation spot so ensure to do a little analysis.

Meals

Breakfast is offered daily and it often consists of normal meals you’d discover at no cost at nearly any hostel (milk, cereal, toast w/ jam, espresso, and tea). You’ll typically get fortunate and have eggs or sausage.

Lunch is all the time as much as you. Plenty of instances you eat at relaxation stops since you’re often on the bus throughout lunchtime.

Dinner is offered about half the time. More often than not the workers on the campsite cooks it and typically it’s important to assist with among the cooking and cleansing.

In some cities, there are non-compulsory “particular meals” which can be served at eating places however they’re pretty costly. Some have reported that the meal is scrumptious and a few instructed me that it was mediocre at greatest — it relies on the place you go. For a funds traveler, this further payment is quite a bit of cash and I do know you may get a less expensive meal in any European metropolis.

Journey Tempo

The breakneck journey tempo appears to be a criticism that lots of people have. Contiki Excursions goals to hit as many locations as doable so that you usually find yourself barely scratching the floor of every vacation spot. You’ll solely spend a day or two in massive cities (Paris, Rome, and many others) and half days in smaller cities.

Then again, you do find yourself attending to see quite a bit (albeit briefly).

In lots of situations, you might be dropped off within the heart of city, given a map, and instructed to satisfy again at a particular location/time. In case your lodging is exterior town, the bus will take you again to the campsite/lodge at night time, in any other case, you meet on the bus within the morning (6-8 am).

You’ll spend loads of time on the bus — about 40% of the journey. Most individuals say that each second day is spent on the bus and most rides are 6-10 hours lengthy. Lots of people spend their time on the bus sleeping off their hangovers or socializing. The bus stops each few hours at roadside comfort shops and gasoline stations.

Undoubtedly, you’ll see quite a bit in a brief period of time, however issues usually are likely to mix collectively when touring at such a quick tempo. Some folks instructed me that they favored the quick tempo as a result of it gave them a superb overview of the place they need to go to once more once they come again for his or her subsequent European journey.

Word: Contiki does have some excursions that journey at a bit slower of tempo however their bread and butter excursions are usually fast-paced.

Occasion Environment

Contiki Excursions have earned a repute for being a celebration on wheels. I’ve heard from a number of sources that lots of the excursions rapidly flip into drunken events with a lot of intercourse. This actually isn’t too shocking — younger folks + hormones + loads of alcohol + shut quarters with the identical folks for lengthy intervals of time + attention-grabbing accents = hazy reminiscences. It’s mainly a university get together on steroids.

This isn’t essentially a nasty factor as a result of lots of people have tons of enjoyable on Contiki Excursions.

Due to the fixed events and accelerated journey tempo, many individuals have instructed me that they’ve fuzzy reminiscences of Europe. Some folks have an absolute blast and simply love this type of journey. Hell, we actually take pleasure in letting unfastened and possibly having a number of too many drinks, however doing that a number of instances every week will actually put on you down.

After all, you don’t should drink/get drunk however there’s a good likelihood the folks round you’ll.

The Contiki Traveler

All vacationers should be between 18-35, however the common age is about 20-25. Contiki Excursions is an Australian firm so there are loads of Australians, however there are additionally loads of Individuals, Canadians, Kiwis, Brits, and Irish (you’ll in all probability get a number of different nationalities in there too). Plainly there are typically extra females than males and about half of the persons are touring alone.

A big majority of former Contiki vacationers usually discuss fondly of all of the cool folks they met and the way a lot enjoyable that they had with them. Lots of people type actually shut friendships with their fellow vacationers. For good and unhealthy, many individuals’s greatest reminiscences come from the folks they meet—not from the sights. However, to be truthful, a few of our greatest reminiscences of touring got here from the folks we’ve met in hostels, so we are able to’t see how that is any completely different.

Group Journey Frustrations

When there are 50 folks in a gaggle it’s inevitable that somebody might be always late—that is very true within the morning when there are a bunch of hung-over vacationers. Simply be ready to attend quite a bit.

You additionally run the chance of getting a lame group. I’ve heard a number of tales about vacationers anticipating a celebration solely to seek out out that most individuals didn’t need to do something. Or folks might simply not get alongside properly and you then’re caught with them all through the journey.

Though, most individuals have little or no battle or frustrations stemming from group journey.

Vacationer Traps

The tour guides are rumored to get kickbacks for bringing their visitors to sure bars/outlets/eating places, so it’s onerous to all the time consider that the information is displaying you the most effective locations to go.

For instance, on some excursions you might be taken to an Italian leather-based store as one among your locations, however it’s mainly a glorified vacationer present store (there are additionally silver, glass, diamond, and different store “excursions”). The folks within the store reveal their craft however then hit you with an enormous gross sales pitch. We’ve additionally heard tales about how the tour guides give vacationers “metropolis maps” however the maps actually solely spotlight these “present outlets.”

We’ve additionally been warned that lots of the “further” excursions are extraordinarily overpriced. It’s often greatest to ebook these by yourself at a fraction of the associated fee. Sadly, there may be loads of strain to buy these further excursions as a result of you’ll be able to both go or be caught on the campsite (which doesn’t have entry to town).

Tipping is extremely inspired by the workers. Every individual will get their very own envelope w/ their title on it and also you’re supposed to place your tip in it. We don’t have an issue with tipping however some previous visitors thought this technique appeared a bit forceful.

Causes Folks Select Contiki

Once more, we’re not towards these sorts of excursions and we completely perceive the advantages they supply. Beneath are among the causes folks love Contiki Excursions.

No Want To Plan

Some vacationers merely don’t need to plan their journey and they’d moderately simply let another person maintain all that work. We predict that is comprehensible, and we admit that journey planning can take loads of time.

Planning will also be irritating and actually it could get overwhelming. We type of just like the planning a part of the expertise (clearly, we created this web site) however we don’t fault anybody for simply eager to have a superb time with out having the headache of planning.

Consolation

Many vacationers assume touring round Europe is troublesome, however utilizing trains, planes, and different public transportation (particularly in Europe) is often fairly easy when you perceive how the system works. However we completely see how it could appear intimidating — particularly for somebody who has no expertise with public transportation. Nonetheless, a tour could be a sensible choice if you happen to nonetheless don’t really feel comfy touring independently.

I additionally assume loads of vacationers get caught up within the truth they don’t communicate the native language. Hell, we nonetheless get intimidated after we journey to a overseas nation. Being in a tour group takes away loads of this apprehension (though most Europeans communicate English properly, so we wouldn’t fear an excessive amount of about it).

Solo Vacationers

Many solo vacationers select excursions as a result of they really feel that touring alone is unsafe or lonely — we hear this quite a bit from feminine vacationers. These considerations are fully comprehensible and we’ve had the identical emotions ourselves.

That mentioned, we’ve met loads of solo feminine vacationers however not everyone seems to be up for this sort of expertise. So, given a alternative between not touring and occurring a tour, we’d all the time select the tour.

So, if touring alone is stopping you from touring to Europe, then I believe Contiki is a superb possibility.

Instantaneous Buddies

Being surrounded by 50 different folks implies that you’ll by no means go lonely.

In reality, this built-in social community is likely one of the causes we love hostels. And a Contiki tour is sort of a hostel on steroids. Plus, you don’t should always reintroduce your self to new folks time and again as you do in hostels.

And if you happen to learn previous opinions, nearly each individual talked about the friendships they made on their tour.

Enjoyable Guides

Previous vacationers appear to like their tour guides.

All the time One thing To Do

There’ll all the time be one thing occurring each night time. You will have the choice to do your personal factor however there may be all the time an choice to get together with the group.

Conclusion

Some folks love Contiki Excursions and you will discover loads of individuals who rave about them on-line. In reality, many of those folks take a number of excursions with them. Then again, additionally, you will discover many opinions from those that didn’t take pleasure in their journey as a lot as they’d have favored.

From what I’ve discovered, most former vacationers mentioned that their tour was enjoyable and so they weren’t upset they took the tour… however one tour might be sufficient. I don’t assume that is essentially a damaging factor since these excursions assist “ease” folks into their European expertise and it exhibits how straightforward European journey might be.

Take a look at their European excursions choices to see what all they provide.

Should you’re desirous about listening to a tour information’s firsthand account of main one among these excursions I counsel studying Rule No. 5: No Intercourse on the Bus: Confessions of a Tour Chief by Brian Thacker. It isn’t written about Contiki particularly however we think about lots of the themes apply to all youth-oriented tour teams. It’s fairly humorous and attention-grabbing to examine all of the loopy stuff a bunch of drunken youths can rise up to.

Unsure if a Contiki tour is for you? We propose you go to the Contiki Web site to get a greater thought of their particular excursions.

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Thanks For Studying! — James

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