Im thinking about traveling with Contiki tours in the Summer of 99. I am interested in hearning from anyone who has been on one of these tours. I would like to know how the tour was and what it was like. I am planning on taking a European tour and I will be travelling alone. Thanks. <BR>

Contiki have a web site and a forum where travellers from their tours can keep in touch with each other. It certainly makes for some good reading, they seem to have lots of fun and positive experiences. Having just been on a Trafalgar tour, I must say that I was delighted with how professional the tour guides are and speaking with other travellers s it would seem that all of these larger companies are pretty good. They certainly provide great value. Divide the total tour cost by the number of days to work out how much per day you are paying. There is no way we, by ourselves, could have travelled, eaten and been accommodated each day for what they charge. The competition for the tourist dollar is fierce between them, and they have to be pretty good to survive. If there is any negative feedback to the tour companies re the tour, guides or drivers from the customers, heads roll and the guides/drivers get no more work. Keeping that in mind, it is also realistic to expect that amongst a bus load of people, there are bound to be some that are not quite your style. Take along a well-developed sense of humour and you'll have a great time.

Robbie, <BR> <BR>I have taken the 21-day european hotel tour. It was my first ever trip to Europe and I did it alone. The trip was fantastic. They made sure that we saw all of the well known , and less so, sites in every city we went to. THey helped a lot in explaining currency exchanges, local traditions, brought us to restaurants and shops, helped us with where to go on our time off, city maps, etc. We covered a lot of ground ,up early most mornings. I also tried to do most of the optional trips that they had (white water rafting,etc..). The people on my bus were from around the world, and we had a lot of fun (especially with the Aussies!), singing on the bus, and yes, going to a few bars...I did the hotel tour, shared accomodation,prefering a nice bed and shower every night. The only comment I heard about the camping version was the sites sometimes being a distance from the cities, so coming home at night was sometimes a prob. Also heard of one person catching a cold, and then spreading to others....Hotel accomodations were basic, but never grubby. It really turned me on to Europe, and have been back every summer since, to a lot of the same locations visited on the tour. The European tours start in London, and their hotel base is the ROyal National, in BLoomsbury area of London. I went a few days early, met some COntiki travellers, and we explored London together. I also stayed over a few days at end, to explore London even more. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps...

Do it. It is a ton fun. I am signing up for 2 in 99. On tour you dont have to worry about the little stuff that goes wrong when you backpack. Do it.

I'm leaving this weekend for Contiki Great Britain tour and travelling solo. I've heard great things about this company and trip, and I'll be more than willing to tell you all about it after I return home! And definately check out the Contiki for insight on all the other tours!! <BR>