Q: What sort
of trip is a general Contiki tour ?
A: A contiki tour
is a bus tour. You are driven from city to city, and in the city
there is an orientation tour. Depending on the type of tour you could
stay at hotels, hostels, cabins or tents. There is time to explore a
city during the day if you have two nights there. There is also time
to party or to relax. You have a tour manager and a driver and up to
50 random people who first become friends then family. But the most
important thing is that your tour is what you make of it.
Q:What is the
difference between contiki topdeck and busabout?
A: Contiki and
top deck are essentially the same, they stay in the same kinds of
places see the same things, have similar coaches, but topdeck
sometimes provides lunches on the road and contiki is able to drive
around more of the old towns in cities, so you see more.
Busabout is
similar to these tours, but you have the choice if you want to stay
longer in different places. It is more of a hop on hop off tour, accommodation is not included.
Other tours also
do the same sort of thing to Contiki and Top deck, but they are also
for families and older people.
Q: Should i do
a tour like this or do my own thing?
A: It depends on
what you like to do. You could fly from place to place or catch a
train, or you could do a tour. I believe that you will see more for
less on a tour, but you can explore more of a city or place by
yourself, but it might cost more and you will never do or see the
same things if you were on a tour. It is up to you in the end.
Q:Pre tour and
post tour accomodation should i book and where to book.
A:If your tour
starts early in the morning, you should book at the hotel where
contiki is starting from, it makes it easier on you. As for post tour
– if the tour finishes in a different city, then depending on how
long you want to stay, book at least 1 night and move on to a
different place later, or if the tour arrives back in the original
city, book if you are leaving the next day. For the main European
tours leaving from London – the royal national is the usual contiki
start hotel. For tours that start in a different city, there is no
need as the tour might start in the afternoon.
A: Time out: Usually hotels. Sometimes a bit far from the main center, but still nice. Most provide breakfast, have some sort of wifi, maybe free. However who really cares as you will spend more time away from the hotel then in it.
Concept:Sometimes hotels – like the hostel tours, sometimes a hostel – with the standard hostel things and then Cabins – usually at a campsite, the cabins are 2 – 4 people, maybe have a bathroom in the middle, usually not bad, except they are hot. But at the campsite has activities around it. The final accommodation is a contiki special. For example a chateau or guest house. The French Chateau was pretty unclean and constantly dirty around the bathroom areas, but was cool on the outside.
Camping:The accommodation on the camping tours is relatively the same as a standard campsite. At the beginning of the tours, you are given a tent number and that’s your tent for the rest of the tour. There’s two people to a tent and it’s all up to you who you end up sharing with, a piece of paper gets passed around the bus and you write your name next to the person who you want to share with. Some of the campsites are on grass, others are on a rocky ground.
Q: Are the 46
or 37 day trips too long? Or did the shorter ones go too quickly?
A: It depends on
the people in your tour and how long you need as well. If you don't
get along with people, then it will be a long time, or if you get on
really well, you will be sad when the tour ends.
Q: I am going
to join a tour that already exists. Will i have trouble fitting in?
A:
These tours are called modulars, sometimes you loose people at a
certain point and gain others. If your one of the ones that are
joining, be open about getting to know the people that were on the
longer portion of the tour. If you expect to be treated like a new
person, you will never fit in.
Q: I can see
from the website that the tour is booked out, but no one has checked
in, what does this mean ?
A:
A tour may be booked and when you check in online, not many people
are there, it just means that many people have not discovered the
online check in yet, no problem, they may in the future or they may
not.
Q: Do people
make facebook groups for their tours.
A:
Many people now make a facebook group for the tour they are going on.
Sometimes this happens before the tour starts and you can meet online
before the trip, other times it happens on the tour and people join
the group as they get wifi. It is a good idea for sharing pictures
and stories.
Q:What is the
contiki past traveller discount?
A:
This is for people who have travelled with contiki before. It is a 5%
discount off the next trip. You can also get a discount if you book
one trip, then decided to book another a few weeks later for the same
time period. Topdeck also has the same thing.
Q: What other
sort of discounts can i get with contiki?
A:
Along with past traveller, there is also a discount if you buy an
extra tour of 8 days or more to add onto another tour, there is a
discount if you get 4 friends, 7 friends or 10 friends to come with
you. You can also get a discount if you pay early or book very last
minute. They also have random deals at various times of the year.
Q: How often
do contiki tours meet other Coniki tours in Europe?
A:
Depending on the tour and where you are at the moment, you will be
with at least 1 other tour. In major centers like Paris, Rome, Berlin
and Amsterdam there may be up to 5 different tours, maybe more. On
concept style tours, you would hang out with the other tour group at
night and maybe party with them at a theme party. At most your tour
group would spend a few days with another group before they or you
moved to a different city.
Q: Are contiki
pre tour meetings all the same in every start point?
A:
Contiki meetings are all basically meet up with the tour manager,
they go through the basics, you fill out the various forms on offer
and you learn when to meet up the next day or in some cases later
that day. If you are joining on an already existing tour, you may
have to choose your optionals at this stage. If you start your tour
in London, Athens, Christchurch, Auckland, Los Angeles, Dublin, Rome,
Berlin or New york or any starting point, there will be a meeting,
you will have to fill out some information, you will get some
information and it will be boring. That is it.
Q: What is the size of a contiki
group?
A:
Depends on location and type of tour. If the tour is in Europe and is
full, then there will be 50. If it is a modular tour, then there may
be 30 – 50 people. A Greek island hopping tour may have as high as
70 people, with two tour managers. There are also tours that have 20
people on them.
Q: Is it possible to start a tour
from Paris or amsterdam, even if the tour starts in London?
A:
This is possible. Inform contiki of your plans and then meet up at
the accommodation in paris or amsterdam. When your tour gets there,
introduce yourself to the tour manager and they will let you know any
details on what you may have missed on the drive from London.
Q: Does contiki do any other booze
cruises?
A:
There are some cruises where you get a few drinks included, such as
the canal cruise in Amsterdam, but there are not that many offered.
Q: On a contiki tour in Canada, how
are the tours arranged?
A:
If you are on a full Canada tour, you will start in New york with the
Grand northern people and then leave those people in Toronto. Here
you will have to get up at 4am and catch a flight to Vancouver to
join the rest of the Canadian tour. They will meet in Vancouver and
contiki includes the flights in the price of this tour.
Q: Is it best to start a tour in
Paris or Amsterdam?
A:
Typically if you do a circle around Europe you have to go through
Paris or Amsterdam at some point, if starting and ending in London,
then the end of the tour will be massive either way. Both cities are
party cities and good for a get to know you or a goodbye farewell. It
is up to you what sort of tour you want to do, hence where you will
start.
Q: Is the
Contiki LA explorer an add on or a single trip?
A:
The Contiki LA explorer is only available as an add on to another
trip. Possibly another trip that starts or ends in Los Angeles.
Similar to the New york uncovered trip in structure.
Q: Is the
contiki shout app worth using?
A:
The shout app is just like logging in at the website and chatting on
the forums. The app is more personal and for your group, but it is
the same. If you use it, you might be able to meet up with some
people before the tour.
Q: What is the
contiki end of tour survey?
A:
This is just a contiki survey that the company uses to judge what was
good, bad and needs improving. It also tells them about what you
thought of the tour manager, driver, accommodations, me time and
optionals. It is usually done in the last few days of the tour or when
you are heading back to the start city.
Q: On a
Contiki tour, what is the earliest time that you would leave the
hotel on a travel day?
A:
It depends on where you are and where you need to be. In Athens
travelling to mykonos, you leave the hotel around 6 – 6.30am,
leaving London on a starting tour can be around the same and heading
to Barcelona can be around 6.30am. In the USA, most of the time it
is after 7am.
Q: What
happens if i lose my passport?
A:
If you loose your passport you are in big trouble. You may need to
get a police report, otherwise you need to make your way to the
nearest embassy or consulate to get a replacement one. It may cost
lots and you may lose time, but you do need a replacement.
Q: Which is
better – a short or long tour?
A:
A short tour covers lots of places in a short time, you see a lot of
places but not much of each place, it is very fast paced, but very
fun. A longer tour will see the same about of places but there is
more time to spend in each place. There is also more chance of
getting to know your travel friends better. Pick what is suitable for
you and your budget.
Q: What are
contiki regional dinners like?
A: These are
included dinners. They usually specialize in food and culture from
the city or country that you are in. For example in Prague – the
local food as wells as some Czech music and dancing. Sometimes a
selection of alcohol is included. It is an interesting way to have
dinner as well as a great experience. Is the food good – it can be.
Q: What are
contiki optional dinners like?
A:
Optional dinners are usually better then general included dinners or
regional dinners, by way of food. There is also more alcohol included
and the food is much nicer. You have the choice to eat the optional
dinner or find your own – go with the optional one.
Q: On a Contiki tour in Europe, are
there many opportunities for room parties.
A:
This depends on your group, what sort of tour you are on and where
you are. Some cities and locations it is easier to go out and hit the
town, other times (Swiss alps) room parties do occur. They are just
as fun as going out and usually cheaper.
Q: Does
contiki offer tours in Jordan?
A: No contiki
does not, but there are plenty of other tour companies that do.
Q: Does
contiki offer tours in Africa?
A:
At the moment the only African tours are in Egypt and morocco. For
the rest there are other tour companies that do, including topdeck.
Q: What time
do tours start?
A: Tours start
usually at 7am of the tour day, however some tours start at 12noon,
4pm, others at 6pm. It depends on the tour and the location.
Q: On contiki
tours, what time do the pre tour meetings start?
A:
Depending on the tour and the country, it could be 6pm the previous
day, 8am in the morning, 1hr before the tour actually starts or the
meeting could be the point at which the tour officially starts. Read
all your documents carefully.
Q: Is it safe
for single women to do a Contiki tour?
A:
If you are a woman traveling by herself on a contiki tour you will
be meeting with the rest of the group. They will also look out for
you and help you out, just like they would do anyone else. You also
have your tour manager and driver to help you.
Q:
Do contiki tours change from year to year?
A:
Yes they do change, due to filling out surveys at the end of each
trip, they use those responses to change the tour. A tour will only
be slightly different from year to year but those changes add up over
time. Also optionals may change as well.
Q: Does your
tour manager give out maps of the relevant cities when you arrive?
A:
Yes, your tour manager passes around a map for each person of the
city that you will be visiting. On it is usually the main touristy
areas and a few things of note. It is worth keeping this at least
while you are in the city.
Q: Are winter
contiki tours different to the summer ones?
A:
In winter there are fewer tours, but the ones that do run are usually
similar to the summer counterparts. There may be a change of a city
here or a longer stay there.
Q: If a
contiki tour is full and i want to join that particular tour, is
there a waiting list?
A:
Depends on the tour. Usually no. Just wait and see if someone drops
out or find another tour.
Q: Does contiki offer tours in
Japan?
A: Yes, there is a tour that covers
most of what you would want to see as a first time visitor.
Q: Does contiki offer tours in
China?
A:
Yes, there is a tour that covers most of what you would want to see
as a first time visitor, including hong kong and some of the great
wall.
Q: With a tour group, what does bags
to coach mean?
A: It means that anything that needs to
be put under the coach is put under the coach by this time and
everyone is checked out or about to be checked out of the room. It is
essentially the time to leave in the morning of a driving day.
Q: With a tour group, what is a day
sheet?
A: A day sheet is your schedule of
things to do for the next few days. It might have arrival and
departure times, things to remember, notes and the hotel name. Take a
picture of it.
Q: With contiki or a general tour
company, what is a sign up sheet?
A: A sign up sheet is a piece of paper
that you sign up for dinners or optionals. You may just have to put
your name on it or maybe a dinner choice as well.
Q: With contiki or a general tour
company, how do you choose what food to have with an optional meal?
A:
There are a number of ways this could be done. You tour manager could
ask everyone what they want given a few choices, a sign up sheet
could go around, both these are done in the days before. Or you may
be given a choice at the restaurant or it may be buffet style.
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