Contiki tours?

[Deleted]

Thanks to all who recommended trips in my thread last week (solo travel on a budget). 

I have checked out a few and found a great tour of Europe with Contiki. It is out of the budget I originally planned on, but I'm kind of thinking I'm going to spend more money than planned - if it's for the right thing.

The tour I'm looking at is this one:

www.contiki.com/destinations/europe/tours/117-european-highlights

It's reasonably priced and hits a lot of the places I'd like to go.

Has anyone traveled with Contiki or does anyone know anyone who has?

My only concern is that I'll be older than the majority of travelers (I'm 31). I'm not really looking to make friends, though I'm not opposed to it, so if everyone is out getting wasted and I'm sleeping, that's fine (as long as nobody is puking on the bus the next day, I guess). I'd even probably go out with them, but I don't know how I feel about hanging out with a ton of people 13 years younger than me... I am pretty easy going, though, and get along with most people even if they don't become my bffs.

I am nervous to go to Europe on my own - I don't want to miss things or get lost.  The idea of planning my own budget trip sounds a little overwhelming. I like that this tour would do the legwork for me and I'd get to see things without having to figure it all out on my own. And the price is very appealing if I can find decent airfare.

What do you think? 

[neonpink]

A single friend from college took a Contiki Tour. He took one very similar to the one you are going on. He said he had a great time and made some friends along the way. He liked that they didn't leave at the crack of dawn to move on to the next city and were more open to later night adventures.

My parents bought me a trip tour for my college graduation from the other tour company Trafalger the year before he went.It was my first trip to Europe and they found a deal. The trip was fun and it was a great way to see a lot of things and figure out how to travel in different countries if you haven't been. It was nice to not have to do the leg work of how you are getting to a to b, or where you are staying. What I didn't care for was the 5 am wake up call and them pushing some of the excursions on you. That got old fast. Especially because at the time I was traveling I was a pretty broke college student.

Things I would look for in the details of your trip. Where the hotels are? I don't know how Contiki does it but on my trip the hotels were farther out from the center of the main cities. On our free time it took 20-30 minutes sometimes to make it to the areas you would want to see.

Easier said than done but don't be nervous. You may have a language barrier but people are the same all over. The universal sign for bathroom crosses all languages. Also many people in the major landmark cities speak English it is easy to find help and not get lost. Learn some Key phrases in each language to help you out, have a good map and you'll be fine. In my experience European cities have great signage to get you where you are going.

[lightbulbsun]

I went on a Contiki tour in college and had a blast. I did the European Whirl, which I think is similar to the Highlights. I actually liked it so much H and I are taking one this summer! We're doing Mediterranian Trail in September.

I would say on my previous tour the avg age was around 25, but we had a range from 19-37. There were definitely people there who wanted to party the whole time, but it wasn't everyone. Nobody puked on the coach

On the budget tours I do think the hotels can be out further from the city. I didn't really mind it, because there were always options to take cabs or public transportation home. IMO you don't spend much time at the hotel anyway.

A couple of the locations were campsites (cabins, not tents), and didn't have attached bathrooms. I believe they were Venice and Rome.  It wasn't really a big deal, but it was kind of annoying.

I did end up meeting people who I still talk to today (I went in 2007). And obviously I liked it enough that I'm going on another! If you have any other questions, let me know and I'll try to answer them!

[frlcb]

I did a Contiki tour at 24, and I felt old. I wouldn't do one at 31, at all. They stay in out of the way hotels, everyone wants to go out and party. Going on your own really wouldn't be hard, and if you posted on here where you wanted to go there is a good group of us who travel often who could help!

[frlcb]

Jul 11, 2013 12:46:50 GMT -5 lightbulbsun said:

I would say on my previous tour the avg age was around 25, but we had a range from 19-37. There were definitely people there who wanted to party the whole time, but it wasn't everyone. Nobody puked on the coach

They only allow people up to 35.

[lightbulbsun]

Jul 11, 2013 12:48:52 GMT -5 frlcb said:

Jul 11, 2013 12:46:50 GMT -5 lightbulbsun said:

I would say on my previous tour the avg age was around 25, but we had a range from 19-37. There were definitely people there who wanted to party the whole time, but it wasn't everyone. Nobody puked on the coach

They only allow people up to 35.

Unless you're traveling with someone younger.

[dana2006]

I did a 12-day Europe tour with them about 10 years ago. It was great. The ages of my fellow travelers spanned from early 20s to early 40s, with most in their late 20s/early 30s. And ppl came from all over the world, which made for a good mix. I'm usually pretty introverted but found making friends easy on the tour. Now a decade later I'm still in touch with some of them. There were a few couples, including one that's on their honeymoon, but most were single. With a group of that size you'll find a diversity of backgrounds and personalities, and I'm sure you'll find ppl who're compatible with your travel style. It was a really fun way to travel; you'll have a blast!

[frlcb]

Jul 11, 2013 12:50:59 GMT -5 lightbulbsun said:

Jul 11, 2013 12:48:52 GMT -5 frlcb said:

They only allow people up to 35.

Unless you're traveling with someone younger.

They changed that, it used to be strict 18-35. 

I can't imagine if you are older than 24 or 25 that it would be that fun. Everyone on our tour was younger than 30.

[travelingjen]

My cousin has done several Contiki tours and had a blast but he mentioned he was typically one of the oldest people (he was in his late twenties at the time) and that there was crazy partying that occurred. And he did tell me about some vomiting that he witnessed on the buses.  Now he didn't mind this at the time as he was single and looking to party. Obviously I am sure not all Contiki tours are the same but I did want to include his personal experiences.

Have you looked at the tours through G Adventures? I haven't used them but have heard good things although they might be a bit more expensive compared to Contiki: www.gadventures.com/ 

[Deleted]

Jul 11, 2013 12:59:35 GMT -5 travelingjen said:

My cousin has done several Contiki tours and had a blast but he mentioned he was typically one of the oldest people (he was in his late twenties at the time) and that there was crazy partying that occurred. And he did tell me about some vomiting that he witnessed on the buses.  Now he didn't mind this at the time as he was single and looking to party. Obviously I am sure not all Contiki tours are the same but I did want to include his personal experiences.

Have you looked at the tours through G Adventures? I haven't used them but have heard good things although they might be a bit more expensive compared to Contiki: www.gadventures.com/ 

Thanks for the suggestion! I also just looked up Trafalgar and they seem to be a little more expensive, but not too bad. I'm definitely going to shop around.

I think the Contiki tour sounds like a great itinerary and while my goal isn't to make friends, I'd be happy to meet new people too. I just don't want to be annoyed being older than everyone else and I might die if I have to sit on a bus with people who are puking. I love drinking and having fun as much as the next person, but my body can't handle partying all night and I definitely won't be hooking up with any 20 year olds so a party/hookup college culture doesn't sound like it would be a good fit. If there are any single 30 somethings who want to drink nice wine and hook up with me I will be all about it though

I'm glad to hear some people have fun on Contiki though - that's hopeful. The prices are the best I've seen and budget is a concern for sure. 

[RoxMonster]

One of my friends went with her sister and a friend last year. They absolutely LOVED it (they were mid- to early-twenties when they went). I know they still keep in touch with friends they met from Australia and Europe. When my friend msicarred in Feb.,, her Contiki friends from Australia got together and sent her a huge care package. I thought it was really neat what close friendships she formed.

They went to a lot of awesome places and she said it was a nice mixture of planned group stuff and individual time. From looking at her pics, I see some people who look like they are in their thirties in her group, so I don't think it will be all 21 year olds or anything. The price was awesome for all the things they did.

[stever]

Everyone I know of who went on a Contiki tour was in their late teens and early twenties. That said, you don't need to be best friends with your tour mates so you could still have fun.

I was 31 the last time I went backpacking/hostelling and I was cool with it and not treated any differently by fellow travelers.

[Deleted]

Popping over from a different message board. I have done Europe both as an organized tour and backpacking without a tour. If you really value seeing sites, local food and people, don't do an organized tour. Rome in 1-2 days? Not nearly enough time to even see the highlights. If you are more into seeing 2 sites, meeting American friends and drinking, then a tour is good.

If you go by yourself, you can stay in hostels and meet people that way. We stay in hostels a lot when we travel and there were lots or people in their 30s and 40s.

Budget tours are also known to stay way outside the city so if you want to do something without the group it might be a 30 minute ride.

[alleinesein]

That itinerary sounds exhausting but if you want to just hit the highlights it will work.  I did 17 days in Germany last fall and I still didnt get to do half the things I wanted to do.

[littlepam]

I did a tour of Bali with Intrepid Travel in my mid20s and the age range was wide ... from British kids on a school break to retired folks. I liked the company a lot and I know they have tours in Europe.

[jaime183]

If you're not interested in the partying, you might not like contiki. Everyone I know who liked it wanted to party and was younger.

We've traveled a bunch with G Adventures and I'd also look into Intrepid. More expensive but we met great people

[laurelle]

I am planning on taking a Contiki tour this year through Europe for 14 days..I was hoping someone has used this service and could let me know if you were happy with it, and if you would have done something differently if you could. I am 30, going single, and any details on this would be appreciated!

[Deleted]

Jul 29, 2013 7:10:21 GMT -5 laurelle said:

I am planning on taking a Contiki tour this year through Europe for 14 days..I was hoping someone has used this service and could let me know if you were happy with it, and if you would have done something differently if you could. I am 30, going single, and any details on this would be appreciated!

Well, I just booked my trip over the weekend (the one in my OP!). So I can't really comment yet, but I can tell you more after I get back! Which will be late September, so IDK if that will be helpful or not.

Most of what I've seen online has made me think this will be fine for me. I'm 31, so you and I will probably both be some of the oldest there, but it sounds like the average age is mid 20's so hopefully old enough that we'll have things in common anyway. I've seen several reviews referring to the party atmosphere, but I hardly found anything online saying "you will not have a great time". It sounds like even people who aren't into the party atmosphere find plenty of ways to avoid doing anything they don't want to do, and still have a blast. That's what I'm hoping for!