vboyle

Hi everyone,

I'm planning a trip to Europe for the end of September, into October and November. Brief background; I lived in Paris, France for 4 months last year, and am relatively familiar with travelling with and accommodation prices across Europe. I've roughed out an itinerary that I'm interested in with my boyfriend - beginning in Paris--> Brussels-->Amsterdam-->Berlin-->Prague-->Budapest-->Vienna-->Venice-->Rome-->Marseilles-->Barcelona.

I recently found two Contiki tours that follow parts of those routes (one from Berlin -->Vienna and the other from London-->Rome). I've heard great things about Contiki tours, but recently have read some really negative reviews.

Since there's only two of us, and we're young (22), I was thinking that a Contiki tour would be a good option to meet new people and give us the opportunity to explore nightlife in groups.

Looking for any tips, advice, wisdom, or direction anyone may have to offer!!

-Vic

sparkchaser

If you are "familiar" with Europe and feel comfortable booking your own accommodation and transport, there isn't really a compelling reason to go with a tour.

You mention the meeting people aspect and i can appreciate that but I'd still rather do it on my own and make single serving friends in each destination instead of going around with the same group that you may or may not like.

Blueeyedcod

You're looking for advice on a tour catering to youth from a forum that is anything but youth.
Some people on this forum wax lyrical about Europe in the 1960s. Your parents probably were not even born then and I guarantee you they will all strongly object to Contiki.

I say do it. All the drama of getting to and from train stations, bus stations and so on is taken care of. A lot of your food is included as is sightseeing. You will meet people from all over the world and are young enough to handle the pace. Have fun.

sparkchaser

Blueeyedcod, your first two paragraphs are spot-on.

Dukey1

I am wondering about those people that might be met on that tour and what their average age might be.

I think bus tours can be fine but I also think YOU can eliminate a lot of that "drama" involved in getting to and from anywhere if you plan carefully so that it stops being "drama" and suddenly becomes quite ordinary and even interesting.

Blueeyedcod

Not sure why you're minimising the 'drama' of getting from point to point. The OP want to cover a lot of ground. On a bus tour the work is done for them and all they have to do is pack their tent and be on the bus by 7am.
This does indeed save the (insert sarcastic "") drama of unreliable transportation, strikes, pickpockets and cancellations.

OP - I agree about the nightlife in groups thing - a fun and safe way to see an unfamiliar city (although I have to say nightlife in Venice will most likely be beers at the campsite as Venice is not known for its nightclubs- Berlin and Prague on the other hand...you'll have the time of your life).

schnauzer

My 24 year old recently went on a Top Deck tour around the UK. He had a really great time, met with some wonderful people. He then toured Europe pretty much on his own, he took the train mostly and stayed in Hostels, again teaming up with people who he then traveled with, moved on, met others, went different places. He thoroughly enjoyed himself. He hadn't travelled by himself before only with us.

There are pros and cons for both methods of travelling. Have fun which ever way you go!

thursdaysd

I have traveled with Intrepid, despite being old, but not with Contiki so can't compare them. I can compare traveling with a group and solo - except you won't be solo as there will be two of you - and I much prefer traveling solo. You are not on someone else's timetable - if you want to get up later you can, if you want to stay longer somewhere you can, if you're bored and want to move on you can. If you want to meet fellow travelers, stay at hostels. You are more likely to meet locals if you are not moving around in a group.

Also you need to read those itineraries with care. Unless it says "visit" you will not go inside whatever it is, at best you'll get a photo op outside. And you need to check what admission fees are included.

colduphere

I don't have a view on tour vs independent. But I wouldn't take a tour just to meet people. If you stay in hostels you will meet more young people than you can manage. We saw it again last week in Scotland, Krakow and Prague with our three children (23, 20 and 17). Our son has continued on to Vienna and Budapest. Within an hour of arriving he is out with his new friends.

BigRuss

<<I am wondering about those people that might be met on that tour and what their average age might be.>>

She's dead-on in the demographic for multicountry Contiki tours. Plus she'll meet people from all over the Anglosphere (and some Europeans and others who speak English) and be able to reconnect later.

Do it.

Whathello

I did a tour comparable but in the U.S. When I was 21.
I met some people at some times. The rest I was alone and I started talking to my shoes.
I say that for the social part alone to be on a group.
And it would make your parents less stressed
Doing it on your own is nice too but you are more. .. Alone.
Have fun.

thursdaysd

"And it would make your parents less stressed "

For heaven's sake, they're 22 and have lived in Paris for four months. They don't need babysitting.

nytraveler

Cannot possibly imagine how getting from an airport or train station to a hotel can be "drama". Either one must be addicted to drama - or overfaced by incredibly ordinary activities of daily life.

The OP says she lived in Paris for 4 months. Surely in that time she long overcame any fears that might be attached to the minutiae of travel by someone who had never left their small town.

If the OP wants to do a tour - then she should. But perhaps be more realistic about the benefits and detriments (including appallingly bad food and spending many hours sitting on a bus every day).

Whathello

We love to comment the comments.
OP is old enough to read SORG the comments and to decide.
Albeit at 22 they still have milk around the ears. ;-)

suze

I'm usually not in favor of joining organized tour groups (I personally wouldn't enjoy the whole group/bus thing)... but they CAN cover a lot of ground more quickly and efficiently than moving about on your own. So if seeing those 11 cities in a short period of time is your main goal, it should work for that.

Whathello

I joined a tour when I was a baby of about 27 and met people I have stayed friends with ever since.

We did another tour recently on the Nile and have organized post meetings. Quite lovely.

Btw I meant sort not SORG fwiw don't know where this autocorrect picked up that.

sparkchaser

These comments are awesome

Blueeyedcod

nytraveler - why take everything so literally? Okay - I will substitute my word 'drama' in its ironic sense for a term you may understand...'inconvenience'.

Also, just wondering how many Contiki tours or any bus tours you've taken in the last few years? How do you quantify your judgement of the food on the tours unless it is first hand experience?

OP - the food on the Contiki tours are created by cooks who travel on the bus with you and who shop at the local markets so everything is fresh. You also get to go to local restaurants. It's great.

thursdaysd

Interesting overview of the pros and cons of Contiki:

thesavvybackpacker.com/contiki-tours-reviews-the-good-and-bad-oftraveling-europe-contiki/

@Blueeyedcod - Contiki cooks provide the meals in hotels? Or are you talking about hostels and campsites?

Blueeyedcod

The camping tours - which are not 100% camping as there are hotels intermingled, and overnights on ferries. One example is this juggernaut tour.

http://www.contiki.com/destinations/...-the-big-chill