Contiki London, Paris, Rome
Mar 7th, 2013, 02:39 PM
#21
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Mar 7th, 2013, 04:41 PM
#22
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kybourbon on Mar 7, 13 at 1:15pm
It doesn't take Google for many of us to know about Contiki. In the US, they are known as a drunken party tour for college kids>
My son did a Contiki tour last year. 14 days, staying in hotels.>
So was it a drunken party tour that kybourbon says it is and perhaps you paid for?
I think not but would like to check on this IMO slanderous charge by someone without any first-hand knowlombe that besmirches unfairly a business - I once ran thousands of folks thru Europe on group tours - I am perhaps over sensitive to such totally unfounded criticism - of course your son would not admit to it being a drunken party where folks were drunk every night - especially if you paid it.
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It doesn't take Google for many of us to know about Contiki. In the US, they are known as a drunken party tour for college kids>
My son did a Contiki tour last year. 14 days, staying in hotels.>
So was it a drunken party tour that kybourbon says it is and perhaps you paid for?
I think not but would like to check on this IMO slanderous charge by someone without any first-hand knowlombe that besmirches unfairly a business - I once ran thousands of folks thru Europe on group tours - I am perhaps over sensitive to such totally unfounded criticism - of course your son would not admit to it being a drunken party where folks were drunk every night - especially if you paid it.
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Mar 7th, 2013, 05:44 PM
#23
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Here's a list of things that I enjoyed seeing.
London:
Cabinet War Rooms
Verger's Tour of Westminster Abbey
British Museum
Tate Gallery
Ceremony of the Keys (you must request tickets well in advance)
London Walks
I would stay in London since you only have 2 days.
Paris:
I would take the Versailles tour but I think that's included.
You'd probably enjoy the bike tour.
Rome:
You're on your own so there are no included nor optional tours.
Colosseum
Perhaps a walking tour. Enjoy Rome has reasonably priced tours.
London:
Cabinet War Rooms
Verger's Tour of Westminster Abbey
British Museum
Tate Gallery
Ceremony of the Keys (you must request tickets well in advance)
London Walks
I would stay in London since you only have 2 days.
Paris:
I would take the Versailles tour but I think that's included.
You'd probably enjoy the bike tour.
Rome:
You're on your own so there are no included nor optional tours.
Colosseum
Perhaps a walking tour. Enjoy Rome has reasonably priced tours.
Mar 7th, 2013, 06:12 PM
#24
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In looking at the tour info, I'd be sure to skip the perfumery tour. Sounds like a sales pitch. But I agree with the above poster that Versailles and te bike tour might be fun.
In each of these cities there are loads of fabulous things to see and do. Lots of museums, churches, restaurants, shopping, you name it. What types of things do you most enjoy? You're going to have a great trip. Have fun!
In each of these cities there are loads of fabulous things to see and do. Lots of museums, churches, restaurants, shopping, you name it. What types of things do you most enjoy? You're going to have a great trip. Have fun!
Mar 7th, 2013, 07:34 PM
#25
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>
It's not a sales pitch - there is no pressure to buy anything at the Fragonard boutique but it's a good place to pickup some inexpensive soap souvenirs. And...it's just around the corner from the Opera Garnier.
Although I would not do the perfumery on my first Paris trip and especially if I only had 1.5 days.
One thing I forgot to mention in Paris is to take the Seine boat tour at night to see all the lights - it's great. There are several companies doing this but the Vedettes du Pont Neuf (near Notre Dame) is about the best and you can print discount coupons from their web site. The upper portion is open and you get great views - be sure to dress very warmly as it will be cold.
It's not a sales pitch - there is no pressure to buy anything at the Fragonard boutique but it's a good place to pickup some inexpensive soap souvenirs. And...it's just around the corner from the Opera Garnier.
Although I would not do the perfumery on my first Paris trip and especially if I only had 1.5 days.
One thing I forgot to mention in Paris is to take the Seine boat tour at night to see all the lights - it's great. There are several companies doing this but the Vedettes du Pont Neuf (near Notre Dame) is about the best and you can print discount coupons from their web site. The upper portion is open and you get great views - be sure to dress very warmly as it will be cold.
Mar 7th, 2013, 08:53 PM
#26
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Hi AMD,
Welcome to Fodors. I am glad you found your way over here.
Since we know each other and I have already given you some of my recommendations, I will second one of Adrienne's favorites, the Cabinet War Rooms.
I have mixed feelings about you leaving Paris to see Versailles since you have limited time and I love Paris,but Versailles is beautiful and I am sure you will enjoy it.
This trip will just whet your appetite and I am sure you will be back for more.
Welcome to Fodors. I am glad you found your way over here.
Since we know each other and I have already given you some of my recommendations, I will second one of Adrienne's favorites, the Cabinet War Rooms.
I have mixed feelings about you leaving Paris to see Versailles since you have limited time and I love Paris,but Versailles is beautiful and I am sure you will enjoy it.
This trip will just whet your appetite and I am sure you will be back for more.
Mar 7th, 2013, 10:02 PM
#27
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Hi AMD
my son did the 14 day European highlights tour.
He did it on his own, and it was a great way to meet people. He still keeps in touch with lots of people he met via facebook.
He said that with Contiki, each tour has a wide mix of people. He met lots from South Africa.
And as to how much of a party tour it becomes depends on each person on the tour.
Each of the optional activities listed in your tour are great - although i might skip the moulin rouge night out as it is pretty expensive. But do the Fat Tyre bike ride through Paris. It is a fantastic day.
my son did the 14 day European highlights tour.
He did it on his own, and it was a great way to meet people. He still keeps in touch with lots of people he met via facebook.
He said that with Contiki, each tour has a wide mix of people. He met lots from South Africa.
And as to how much of a party tour it becomes depends on each person on the tour.
Each of the optional activities listed in your tour are great - although i might skip the moulin rouge night out as it is pretty expensive. But do the Fat Tyre bike ride through Paris. It is a fantastic day.
Mar 7th, 2013, 11:25 PM
#28
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First off Russ , no need to be so defensive. So you took two or three tours and now you are an expert on Contiki, or do you work for them?
I related my nephews direct experience, they do not stay in central hotels, and theres no shuttle bus service in and out to hotels, one drop off time, one pick up time, of course you can stay out later, just have to be back for bus in morning, but then you are responsible for getting back to your less then ideally located hotel.
They do nickel and dime you compared to some tours. And they do disguise some shopping stops and tour sites ( seriously , two days in Paris and they offer a "tour" of Fragongard, what a joke)
That said, they can be and are fun for most young folks who aren't as uptight about seeing all the historical sites but just want a taste of Europe and some fun holiday time, nothing wrong with that, but thats all it is.
Two young girls at my work also did a 21 day tour, they also enjoyed it, but they also agreed with my nephews assessment.
OP.
I would not skip Versailles, its really incredible( but I enjoy history, for others perhaps this is not as interesting) , and I second the idea of taking the bike tour, that is a fun thing to do in Paris, I have done alot of them( Fat Tire) and really like them.
TOTALLY skip Moulin Rouge, so overpriced, mediorce banquet food, crowded ,, you and friends would have way more fun for half the money just going out for dinner, then wandering along Seine or through Latin Quarter for a few hours, maybe popping into a cafe/pub for a drink or three.
I personally don't think you need to go up the ET, its nice to see it up close, but unless you prepurchase a timed entry ticket you will waste hours in line possibly.. If you really wish to go up prepurchase ticket online on the Eiffel Tour website, warning, it is a timed entry ticket if you miss your time slot you have lost your chance. So you do have to know your schedule.
As for whether tours are drunken whatevers, well the longer ones sure are according to nephew and girls( 14 and 21 day tours) but perhaps as Russ says the shorter tours are different..still think alot of kids will take advantage of new found freedom from American drinking ages ( 21) once they get to Europe, but seriously I could care less, people have fun in different ways at 20 then they do at 40..
I related my nephews direct experience, they do not stay in central hotels, and theres no shuttle bus service in and out to hotels, one drop off time, one pick up time, of course you can stay out later, just have to be back for bus in morning, but then you are responsible for getting back to your less then ideally located hotel.
They do nickel and dime you compared to some tours. And they do disguise some shopping stops and tour sites ( seriously , two days in Paris and they offer a "tour" of Fragongard, what a joke)
That said, they can be and are fun for most young folks who aren't as uptight about seeing all the historical sites but just want a taste of Europe and some fun holiday time, nothing wrong with that, but thats all it is.
Two young girls at my work also did a 21 day tour, they also enjoyed it, but they also agreed with my nephews assessment.
OP.
I would not skip Versailles, its really incredible( but I enjoy history, for others perhaps this is not as interesting) , and I second the idea of taking the bike tour, that is a fun thing to do in Paris, I have done alot of them( Fat Tire) and really like them.
TOTALLY skip Moulin Rouge, so overpriced, mediorce banquet food, crowded ,, you and friends would have way more fun for half the money just going out for dinner, then wandering along Seine or through Latin Quarter for a few hours, maybe popping into a cafe/pub for a drink or three.
I personally don't think you need to go up the ET, its nice to see it up close, but unless you prepurchase a timed entry ticket you will waste hours in line possibly.. If you really wish to go up prepurchase ticket online on the Eiffel Tour website, warning, it is a timed entry ticket if you miss your time slot you have lost your chance. So you do have to know your schedule.
As for whether tours are drunken whatevers, well the longer ones sure are according to nephew and girls( 14 and 21 day tours) but perhaps as Russ says the shorter tours are different..still think alot of kids will take advantage of new found freedom from American drinking ages ( 21) once they get to Europe, but seriously I could care less, people have fun in different ways at 20 then they do at 40..
Mar 8th, 2013, 11:33 AM
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I'm not defensive. You knew nothing about amd24's tour, I correctly determined which one it was and analyzed it based on both the itinerary and my own adventures. I am dealing in facts from personal experience, you are dealing in generalizations from your nephew's one trip, which I noted was exactly the type of trip that tends to be an exercise in drunken collegiate foolishness.
The shorter tours with longer stops in major cities and/or single-country itineraries tend to have older (late 20s/early 30s) travelers and frequently Aussies and kiwis on long vacations who are stringing various Contiki tours together as part of a longer overseas experience. I would not take a Budget or Camping tour from Contiki; I declined to do so when I was in the age range.
The Fragonard side trip is a typical bit of tour nonsense and the fact is amd24 said s/he is taking the trip so s/he can nod off or play Angry Birds on a smartphone during the whole lot of rubbish.
Not everyone who fails to denigrate Contiki works for them, so your surmising is somewhat puerile.
I'm not defensive. You knew nothing about amd24's tour, I correctly determined which one it was and analyzed it based on both the itinerary and my own adventures. I am dealing in facts from personal experience, you are dealing in generalizations from your nephew's one trip, which I noted was exactly the type of trip that tends to be an exercise in drunken collegiate foolishness.
The shorter tours with longer stops in major cities and/or single-country itineraries tend to have older (late 20s/early 30s) travelers and frequently Aussies and kiwis on long vacations who are stringing various Contiki tours together as part of a longer overseas experience. I would not take a Budget or Camping tour from Contiki; I declined to do so when I was in the age range.
The Fragonard side trip is a typical bit of tour nonsense and the fact is amd24 said s/he is taking the trip so s/he can nod off or play Angry Birds on a smartphone during the whole lot of rubbish.
Not everyone who fails to denigrate Contiki works for them, so your surmising is somewhat puerile.
Mar 8th, 2013, 12:26 PM
#31
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Contiki Tours have been around a long long time and many university travel-study abroad offices have sold them for years - a sign of a successful tour company who must be doing something right.
Some are blaming Contiki for acting well like group tours do - perhaps trying to get the extra bucks with optional tours, etc.
But the Contiki groups I observed - many of them in camps - all seemed reasonably satisfied - they all helped with the chores as expect on those type trips and there seemed to ber a nice comraderie.
Some are blaming Contiki for acting well like group tours do - perhaps trying to get the extra bucks with optional tours, etc.
But the Contiki groups I observed - many of them in camps - all seemed reasonably satisfied - they all helped with the chores as expect on those type trips and there seemed to ber a nice comraderie.
Mar 9th, 2013, 10:59 AM
#32
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Palen,my nephew and the girls at my work both said they had fun on the tour, that was never an issue. Both said that nickel and diming was annoying though, seeing the cheap upfront price quickly rise up if they wanted to participate with the group on many things.. and mostly they did. You do become friends with some tour mates. My nephew just travelled down to Seattle ( from Victoria) to reunite with some tour mates who live in southern California ,, they have kept in touch via facebook etc for last 3 years.
