Hi guys,
Quite a few people asked me “How is Contiki?”.
Quote: “Is Contiki just a big party or do we get to see some sights?”
I’ve done several Contiki tours. I think I am able to tell you more about the differences between tours in several countries
Are there only drinking people on the tour?
During my tours I’ve met 3 types of people on each tour.
First, the people who want party und action, then the people who want discover “country, people and culture” and the third group who want best of both world. You can see that with the booked optionals. While some people do Bungy jumping, Sky diving…, other people do tours to the Rainforest or similar.
Usually you book the same optionals as your new friends. 🙂
How are the people in “Quad-Share” rooms?
On my first Australian Contiki Tour, Justine, the tour manager did assign the rooms. If you had problems with any of your room mates, you could go to her and arrange something. Usually you stick together with the same people, which means if you like your room mates, then the tour manager assigns the same people to a room.
Josh did it a bit different on my Contiki New Zealand tour. He handed out a room list while on the coach, everybody can sign up for himself and
the new friends. So get the list early to make sure you get one of the better rooms (triple share instead of quad share in some hotels)
Contiki Tours are different in Europe?
According to my tour manager Josh: yes. In Europe it’s more like:
Sightseeing during daytime, Dinner at night and then booze and party all night.
Josh is a “Kiwi” tour manager, who did tours in Europe for a long time, then he moved back to New Zealand.
Get up early or long nights?
On my first Australian Contiki tour and my New Zealand tour,there were often the so called “Early Mornings”.
Depending on how far the distance to the next point of the journey, sometimes this may mean:
7:20 am bags to Coach (bags / suitcases to the bus), 7:25 breakfast, 7:55 departure.
Sometimes there are also departures at 8:30 🙂
In Surfers Paradise Contiki stays 2 full nights, that means on the 2nd day you can sleep in, if you didn’t any booked early optionals.
On my first Australian Contiki tour and my New Zealand tour, there were often the so called “Early Mornings”.
Depending on how far the distance to the next point of the journey, sometimes this may mean:
7:20 am bags to Coach (bags / suitcases to the bus), 7:25 breakfast, 7:55 departure.
Sometimes there are also departures at 8:30 🙂
In Surfers Paradise Contiki stays 2 full nights, that means on the 2nd day you can sleep in, if you didn’t book any early optionals.
Thanks for this website.
You answered lots of questions I had.
I am sooo excited, because I just booked my first contiki tour!
The most cost efficient would be to book it yrseuolf (or with the help of an agent for some things), but in that case you would be responsible for deciding your own itinerary and finding out details about the places you are going. Contiki can make it easy and fun with other people around your age range, but it is not going to be the most cost-effective. So it comes down to saving money, or having guided tours with a group of possibly similar-minded people.