Contiki FAQ - Miami

Q: On arrival in Miami with contiki, what happens?

A: You arrive in the city, first up is lunch at the bayside market place. From here you do the speed boat optional if you have booked this. After the optional you get back on the coach and head to the hotel. Here you have a few hours free and then head out for dinner. This is included. After dinner you are on free time and can head back to the hotel or head out on the town.

Q: On your free day in Miami with contiki, what is the plan?

A: You get up, have breakfast and then you meet up with the rest of the group at the hotel. You are transported into town. Here you can do an included bike ride, see the sights, take some pictures. After this you have a number of hours free. Later you meet up, head back to the hotel, relax, eat dinner on your own time and then catch the coach to the booze cruise and later head to a club.

Q: In Miami, where doe the included bike ride take you?

A: The bike ride takes you along some of the beach areas, through a park, along some of the local streets and past several landmarks. It doesn't take long to do but it is fun.

Q: In Miami, are alcoholic drinks expensive?

A: It depends on where you go, but touristy areas and the main clubs have expensive drinks. As expensive as Australia, but at least they do free pour. There are cheap places to drink but they are hard to find.

Contiki FAQ - Salt lake city.

Q: On a grand northern tour usa with contiki going to Salt lake city, how much of the city and the temple do you see?

A: Contiki drives through the city of Salt lake city to get to the hotel. Once here your tour manager may walk you to the Temple location and into the visitors centre, but it is optional if you want to do this. From here you time is your own. You don't get to see much of the city and only the outside of the temple anyway.

Q: Where is the contiki hotel in Salt lake city?

A: This question does not matter any more as contiki does not stop here, but it was in the centre, within walking distance of the temple and some nightlife.

Q: In Salt lake city, what is the Mormon temple like?

A: The temple is very large, but unless you are a Mormon you will not be able to get in. Everyone else can go inside the visitors center, see the model of the temple and see exhibitions on how it was made.

Contiki FAQ - General contiki Thailand

Q: On a contiki tour in Thailand, when do you do the contiki final survey?

A: The final survey is done on the last night of tour. Everyone meets in one of the hotels conference rooms, a final chat is done and then you do your survey and go out for one last meal if you are up for it.

Q: In Thailand, how is your contiki roommate assigned?

A: Much in the same way as usa or a hotel tour in Europe, it is done by the tour manager or the contiki office. You can change roommates by asking your tour manager.

Q: In Thailand, what are breakfasts like on tour?

A: At the hotels that contiki stays at, a buffet breakfast is provided. That is cereal, toast, standard hot breakfast foods such as eggs. Plus a variety of general Asian food. It is a big range, and all very tasty.

Q: Do i need to tip my tour manager in Thailand, how much?

A: Yes you should, they work hard for you. Allow about 3 – 4 AUD or so per day, up to 100 bht at most.

Q: Can you use the mini bar in your Thailand hotel room on contiki?

A: Yes you can, but be sure to square up the bill before you leave.

Contiki FAQ - Krabi

Q: How does contiki get from Phi phi to the hotel in Krabi?

A: First is a walk to the ferry, a 2hr or so ferry ride, then a 1hr – 90 min min van ride, and you arrive at the hotel in Krabi.

Q: On krabi beach, where do i find the monkeys?

A: There are monkeys on krabi beach. Just head to the beach, turn left on the sand and keep walking to the end of the beach. Here there are lots of monkeys, but they like to steal.

Q: What are the bars like in Krabi?

A: The bars are small, but usually have some sort of singing going on. They try to get you into the bar by offering a free shot. The alcohol is also cheap.

Q:When i am in Krabi, can i ride elephants?

A: Contiki no longer offers this as an optional. However you can gook at tour that does this from the hotel. The tour will pick you up and drop you back again, there is a chance to ride the elephants and maybe feed them. There is time to take pictures as well.

Q: How does contiki go from Krabi back to Phuket?

A: Contiki gets a number of mini vans and drives the group back to the start hotel in phuket. The drive takes a number of hours and stops are made for rests.

Q: In Krabi, thailand, what is the buffet like at the contiki hotel?

A: The buffet is in front of the hotel, they have various foods such as salads, curries, rice, meats, sushi, desserts and breads. The food is fresh and gets replaced all the time. If you need drinks, the bar is just inside the door of the hotel.

Contiki FAQ - Phi phi island

Q: In Phi phi, how do you get to the hotel and how does your bags arrive?

A: On phi phi island, once you get your bags off the ferry, you give them to the hotel staff and they take them by boat to the hotel, then transfer them to your room. You on the other had, have to walk through town, past the shops, past the other hotels to the hotel you will be staying at, which is a bit of a walk across the beach.

Q: On phi phi island, where are there fire dancing shows?

A: These shows are cool, they last about 30 – 45 minutes. They can be found at the hotel that contiki stays at, or if you want to see more – at various bars along the water or at the beach.

Q: What are the bars like on phi phi island?

A: There are lots of small bars around. They also have cheap beers and cheap buckets. The bars are good for a bar crawl as they are cheap and not that crowded. Most have tvs that show sports, mainly Australian sports.

Q: What is the included dinner like at Phi phi island?

A: The included dinner is at the hotel. It is a buffet of Thai food. The food is really good and very fresh. You can also order drinks from the bar – pay for separately. After dinner is the fire show.

Q: On Phi phi island, is going to the view point worth it?

A: The view point is up a lot of steep stairs, you need to pay to get there, but when you get there, the views are amazing. Do it early in the morning or in the late afternoon, in the cool part of the day. The start of the stairs are easy to find – just follow the yellow brick road.

Q: What is the phi phi town actually like?

A: It is a small place, there are lots of places to stay, restaurants, bars and lots of shops selling the usual touristic stuff. There are also lots of places for massages. There is also a number of day trip places, currency converters and tour agencies. It is also a small area and lots of people.

Q: When going from Phi phi island to the ferry to Krabi, what happens to my luggage?

A: The morning of departure, you leave your luggage outside your room. The hotel staff pick it up and transport it to a boat in front of the hotel, meanwhile you meet you group in front of the hotel, walk to the ferry terminal/wharf and wait for your luggage to arrive from the hotel. You then transfer it to the ferry yourself.

Q: On Phi phi island, what is the best way to get around?

A: This island is small enough that you can walk around quite easliy. You can also take a boat around other parts of the island as well.

Q: In Phi phi, how easy is it to get to the beach?

A: From the contiki hotel, there is a beach in front of the hotel, but it is not that nice, there is one a short walk to the left of the hotel around the corner and another if you go into the town and head to the main beach. The beaches have sand a water and some have food options and chairs.

Contiki FAQ - general Thailand.

Q: What are Thailand ferries like?

A:These ferries are old, crowded and very rarely run on time. There may be a snack bar, but there may not be one. They are also slow, but they do get to the destination in the end.

Q: What is Thai boxing like?

A: Thai boxing seams to be like ordinary boxing. However in places around Thailand – phuket and phi phi included, tourists can go in the ring and box each other. If you want to do this, you will get equipment and a medal at the end. You will also get a free bucket. It is also good just to watch and cheer on someone.

Q: Can you drink the tap water in Thailand.

A: You shouldn't. Bottled water is cheap. Tap water can give you health issues. Most of the ice in the country is made from bottled water or it should be. Just be safe and drink bottled.

Q: What are the toilets like in Thailand?

A: The public toilets are hard to find, go into a maccas or starbucks and you may be able to get one. Other ones cost a few bht to get in. They are usually clean and tydy inside. You can't throw toilet paper in the toilet, it needs to go into the bin – just like Greece.

Q: Before going to Thailand, should i learn some Thai?

A: It is always good to know the basics, but nearly everyone speaks some sort of English, so you will have no problem.

Q: In Thailand am i able to hire cars and scooters?

A: Just because you can, does not mean you should. There is lots of traffic on the roads and not many road rules, it is safer to get taxis, but if you want more independence, then go for it.

Q: Do i need to tip in Thailand?

A: In general it is not really expected, except for massages and really good service. Also your tour manager will need to be tipped.

Q: What are the Thailand buffet breakfast like?

A: These breakfasts have a mixture of Asian and western breakfast foods. There is cereal and toast, eggs, bacon, pancakes as well as fruits, muffins, rice, pork and chicken dishes and omelet stations.

Q: In Thailand is prebooking things to do worth it?

A: If you have limited time in an area it is worth it, however there are all these short tours everywhere for cheap that you can book the night before or even a few hours before, especially on the islands, so you can prebook things or you can wing it and see what happens, it is up to you.

Q: Are there atms in Thailand?

A: Yes there are plenty around, however they have a massive fee to take out money - $6 – 8 per transaction. So be sure to take out a lot.

Q: In Thailand, is the voltage any different to what is used in Australia in terms of power adapters?

A: Thailand the voltage is similar to Australia. The plugs are different. They have two straight plus, they may be round, so one like a European one, the other a slightly different one. So you do need an adapter.

Contiki FAQ phuket

Q: In Phuket, what is the airport like?

A: The airport is small, there is lots of security and not many shops. It is also easy to get around. The airport is also far away from the main tourist places.

Q: In Phuket, where does contiki Meet.

A: Contiki meets in the Patong beach region of the island. This is about 45 – 60 mins from the airport. The contiki hotel is in the general area of the tourist region.

Q: In Phuket, how do you get to Patong from the airport?

A: You can prebook a transfer to your hotel or there are plenty of taxis and mini buses that you can book once you are at the airport. The journey will take up to an hour depending on traffic and may cost 800bht plus.

Q: In Phuket what is the contiki start meeting like?

A: The contiki start meeting is like all other contiki pretour meetings, everyone is in a big room, you meet the tour manager, fill out or check paperwork, the tour manager goes over information about the tour and the country and then you pick your optionals. There is a chance to meet most people and a chance to ask questions.

Q: In Phuket, what happens after the contiki meeting?

A: After the meeting is over, it is a free night, but there is a self pay group dinner at a restaurant with a good view. The tour manager provides transport there and the food is great. Afterwards you head to a few cheap bars on Bangala road and have fun there.

Q: In Phuket, what is Bangala road like?

A: This is the party area, it is where everyone ends up. There are bars clubs, restaurants and all sorts. There is lots of lights and touts wandering around. It is a fun area, full of tourists and some locals. You can get good drink deals here.

Q: In Phuket, how expensive is it to drink at the bars?

A: It is cheap to drink in Phuket, however it is more expensive then other places in Thailand. You can get a bucket for about 150 – 200 bht, beer for cheaper. Other cocktails for a similar price. The bars are usually busy, but there are always people there to serve you.

Q: In Phuket are the mini vans and tuk tuks easy to hire.

A: They are easy to hire and good for short journeys. They are also cheap and everyone uses them.

Q: How does contiki get from Phuket to Phi phi?

A: Contiki hires mini vans to transport the group and your luggage from the hotel in Phuket to the ferry terminal. This is about 45 – 60 min drive. Once there you get on the ferry and it is about a 2 – 3 hr ride to phi phi island.

Q: On a return to Phuket after travelling the islands with contiki, what happens?

A: After getting out of the mini vans and collecting your luggage, it is time to say goodbye. Here at the hotel you can leave your luggage and go explore, head to the airport or check into the hotel.

Q: How do you go from the Phuket hotel to the airport?

A: This depends on how many people there are. You can get a taxi or a mini van. The mini vans are good if there are more then 4 people. You can order both from the phuket hotel reception. A taxi is 800 bht.

Q: Is it possible to get street food in Phuket easily?

A: In Phuket, there is street food but not as much as in Bangkok. You just need to find it. It is fresh and tasty as in Bangkok.

Q: In Phuket, how far is the contiki hotel from bangala road?

A: It is about a 15 minute walk along the main roads to get to one end of bangala road.

General FAQ - Bangkok

Q: In Bangkok, how do i get from the Airport to the city?

A: At the airport is a rail line catch this for about 20 minutes and you will reach the metro connection. From here you can get the metro out to a number of locations. There is also bus and taxi services available

Q: What is the temperature like in Bangkok?

A: It is hot and muggy in Bangkok. Sometimes there will be rain and storms, the rest of the time just hot. Upward of about 30 degrees, plus lots of humidity.

Q: What are some things that i can do in Bangkok?

A: There is lots to do in this city. Visiting temples, museums, boat ride on the canals, markets, walking tours, tuk tuk rides and just walking around and soaking up the culture. There is also the huge grand palace that has lots to see.

Q: What is there to do in Bangkok at night?

A: There is lots to do in this city at night. Night markets, pub crawls, street foods, shows or hitting the red light districts.

Q: In Bangkok what are the red light districts like?

A: The area is red, including the light, there are lots of bars and places to eat. There are also ping pong shows, massage places and lots of girls and lady boys trying to get your attention. It is also safe. Walk through, observe.

Q: Is Bangkok the best place to get a massage?

A: Bangkok has many massage places, selling many types of massage. There are various prices. Look up what sort of massage you want and the rough price and you will be able to go in a have a relaxing time. They are also easy to find.

Q: In Bangkok are tuk tuks worth while hiring?

A: The best way to get a tuk tuk is to wait until they come to you. This way you might be able to get a better price. Organize the price before hand, try to have change when needed and you will be in for a wild ride around the city. They can get into small spaces and move faster then taxis. They are good for getting from A to B.

Q: Can you get street food in Bangkok easily?

There are plenty of places to get street food. You just need to find a place, walk up, order and within a few minutes you will have great food. However things are changing recently, there are less places but the ones that exist are still very good.

Contiki FAQ - Madison usa

Q: What is the Miller brewery tour like with Contiki?

A: This is part of the included tour in the USA. Coming from Chicago, you stop here on the way to Madison. You do a tour of a number of the buildings and then head to the tasting area for a tasting session. It is a good tour and you learn about the history of the company and about the beer itself. There is a change to buy souvenirs.

Q: What is there to do in Madison at night?

A: On a contiki tour, you are only in Madison for 1 night. On that 1 night you can hit the bars in town or explore the area around the hotel. You can also have room parties at the hotel.

Q: In Madison, how long does it take to get from the contiki hotel to the place where the buffet dinner is?

A: It is about a 10 minute drive down the road.

Contiki FAQ - contiki V topdeck

Q: Are the Contiki and top deck coaches the same?

A: Apart from outside decorations, they are the same. They use identical coaches anyway.

Q: What is the Topdeck paris picnic like?

A: The pairs picnic as provided by top deck is near the Eiffel tower. It is just off to the side of the gardens at the base of the tower. There is lots of salads and meats. It is set out like a buffet dinner and you grab what you want and eat there. You can also try frog legs there as well. At the end of the meal, everything is packed up and put onto the coach.

Q: What is the Top deck road stop picnic like?

A: The food is very good and fresh, there is lots of salads and some bread. There is no meat. There is also cheese and biscuits. There is fruit but this goes fast. Overall it beats road side stop food.

Q: In Switzerland is there any difference between the contiki and topdeck campsites.

A: There is not much of a difference here except for the layout. Also topdeck has a dining tent, contiki has it in a room. Contiki also has a lodge where you can stay, topdeck does not. Topdeck also has a better stocked shop. Both are essentially the same.

Q: With topdeck, do you have to tip your tour manager?

A: Unlike most companies, it is not required, but if you have a very good tour manager, why not give them a tip.

Q: What is the difference between contiki and top deck in Monaco?

A: Both companies get you to Monaco and walk you up to the casino, but some contikis have a dinner there, top deck takes you on a walking tour of part of the city, but you have to find your own food for dinner. Overall there is not much difference.

Q: In Rome, how long does the topdeck walking tour of the city go for?

A: The top deck tour is much longer then a contiki tour of the city. The tour goes for up to 5 hrs. This is because they also walk past the forum area, which contiki does as part of an optional. The tour also allows time for dinner and a gelato stop. It also shows more of the city of Rome then the contiki tour does.

Q: With Topdeck in Nice, france, how far is the beach from the hostel?

A: It is about a 15 minute walk down the main street.

Q: In Florence, where is the Topdeck hostel?

A: It is located in the city, it is a short walk from the cathedral. Florence is a small city, so it is easy to walk around.

Q: In Florence, is there an difference between contiki and topdeck walking tours?

A: They both generally go to the same places, see the same things and end up at the same leather works. But the way the tour walks around the city might be different. They are both about the same length.