Welcome to Contikipedia!
Last Updated: Aug. 02, 2010
Travel/Destination Info & Advice for Contiki Travelers
Featured Articles
- Tips on saving for a trip.
- Check out some new Contiki destinations like Cancun and Lake Tahoe
- What to pack and other questions about what to bring with you on tour.
- FAQ’s
Meet people going on tours!
Meeting place forums for people going on tours in:
Europe
- Travel and Tour Advice
- Optional Excursions
- Spending Money
- Getting from Heathrow Airport to our London Hotels plus other tour starting points in Europe
- Suggestions on what to pack as well as weight and size limits for your luggage
- A little bit of the local lingo goes a long way – get a start with some European language basics
- What are Time Out/Superior Tours and what are the main difference between tour styles?
- Hotels and Accommdation on Time Out/Superior tours
- Tours
- What are Concept/Budget Tours and what are the main difference between tour styles?
- Accommodation on Concept/Budget tours
- Tours
- What are Camping Tours and what are the main difference between tour styles?
- Tents and Accommodation on Camping Tours
- Tours
The USA, Canada and Mexico
- Travel and Tour Advice
- Where you stay in the USA & Canada
- Optional Excursions
- Spending Money
- North American Tours
- Starting points in North America
- Suggestions on what to pack as well as weight and size limits for your luggage
Australia
- Travel and Tour Advice
- Where you stay in Australia
- Optional Excursions
- Spending Money
- Australian Tours
- Sydney Airport to the Holiday Inn Potts Point” other tour starting points”:/contikipedia/articles/getting-places-australia in Australia
- Suggestions on what to pack as well as weight and size limits for your luggage
New Zealand
- Travel and Tour Advice
- Where you stay in New Zealand
- Optional Excursions
- Spending Money
- New Zealand Tours
- Auckland Airport to the Mercure Hotel plus other tour starting points in New Zealand
- Suggestions on what to pack as well as weight and size limits for your luggage
Asia
- Vaccination informaiton
- Suggestions on what to pack
- Visa requirements for travel in Aisa
- Where you stay in Asia
Travel Tools
- Hot? Cold? Dry? Humid or even snow? Find what the Weather may be like on your tour
- Rate your hard earned cash against other international currencies with the latest Exchange rates
- Links and loads of info when it comes to your travel money
Please note: This is an evolving part of contiki.com and we’re working on the site on a daily basis so please forgive us if we haven’t covered everything.
If you have any ideas, comments, suggestions or want to write something yourself, we’d love to hear what you have to say! Talk to us, share your ideas and see what others are saying on our Contikipedia Forum.
Add a Comment Comments (293)
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Hey Everyone,
Im looking for people that have been on the Asian tours!
Im going on the Asian Adventure and the Vietnam Experience in Dec 2010/January 2011 and was wondering what an appropriate amount of (Australian denomination) spending money/ money per day is adequate? I will be away for a month.
Please advise!
Michelle
posted about 1 hour ago
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Hey Everyone,
Just returned from a European concept tour, and sorry to say but Contiki did not meet my expectations or live up to its reputation of being #1 Travel Company for ages 18-35. My group (US) as well as some of the travellers from Canada on this Contiki tour had done a European tour before and incidentally we both used the same company (will not say). We all agreed the prior one was much better. It used the Eurostar, a 45 min train from London to Paris, unlike Contiki which uses a coach and ferry taking 6+ hours. It also used overnight trains which was a much smarter method of moving between countries, versus on Contiki where we spent 100+ hours on a coach and during the day.
My second disappointment was the accommodations which were far below satisfactory. Rooming with no air conditioning in France, Spain, and Italy in a scorching hot summer month such as August was one of the worst experiences of my life.
Thirdly, the itinerary was extremely misleading, saying things like “See the Eiffel Tower, see the Louvre, see the Sistine Chapel.” I assumed they were included, but they were not and I spent at least 200 Euro on museums and galleries. When I went with the other company—the tour was less expensive by the way—and all the museums were included!
Fourth & Finally I was very displeased with Contikis clientele. I was expecting a well rounded, multicultural, and open minded group, not all Australians. I was expecting people to treat everyone kindly seeing that we all spent thousands of dollars on the trip, not alienate groups of people based on the country they came from. I was nothing but kind to my fellow travellers and conversed with almost everyone on the tour. However the trip felt like a combination of Big Brother & The Amazing Race without the cameras, and I did not enjoy the drama and rude treatment people initiated on the trip, similar to on the TV shows. I went to Europe to see Europe, and most of people on Contiki do not care for the culture or treat Europe with respect. It was constant obnoxious and dangerously excessive drinking every night, with people vommiting on others property! I wish people who only desire to drink on a holiday would stay home, or what is the point of paying all the money to travel to foreign lands?
In conclusion doing Contiki was not worth the money, as I’ve done a more pleasant, smarter, and cheaper tour to Europe in the past with another company. Contiki did not live up to its reputation as “The #1 Travel Company for ages 18-35” whatsoever. I strongly do not recommend this company to North Americans and I will not be using Contiki ever again.
Explorer1207186
posted 4 days ago
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hello all my name is regan im doing the european tour leaving 9th of sept any one else going????
Explorer1202967
posted 15 days ago
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hey guys, heading on the winter wanderer 23 Oct 2010, traveling solo, any one else booked on this tour? be good to hear from ya! spickers21@hotmail.com Cheers!
Xav
posted 21 days ago
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Hi there, me and my mates are on the Ski Contiki from 29 December 2010 to 5 Jan 2011 skiing in the New Year. We are on a expedition to find Heidi in the Austrian Alps.Hope to c u there.
Ciao bella!From South Africa
Explorer1204290
posted 21 days ago
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hey just wondering whats a good amount of spending money should i take
for USA tour best of USA??
first time contiki…. :)Explorer1202991
posted 29 days ago
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HI, I AM SPRINBOK FROM SOUTH AFRICA. ME AND MY WIFE ARE DOING THE MEDITERRANEAN HIGHLIGHTS TRIP STARTING 7 AUG 2010, IN MADRID.
WHO IS JOINING US?
HOPE TO SEE U SOON ON THE TRIP.
CHEERS.
SPRINGBOK
posted on Aug. 03, 2010
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anyone on the italian espresso 11 sept 2010.
Janet
posted on Aug. 02, 2010
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Trucker dave u shoulda done the 26th of August one!
Explorer1170446
posted on Aug. 02, 2010
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Trucker dave u shoulda done the 26th of August one!
Explorer1170446
posted on Aug. 02, 2010
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Anyone doing European Discovery on the 6th of August? Im 29 from Canada
truckerdave
posted on Jul. 22, 2010
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Hey anyone doing European Discover tour leaving 26 August?
Explorer1170446
posted on Jul. 16, 2010
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please come to the kasmir,india.it is one of the most beautiful place in the world.
ritubanerjee123
posted on Jul. 15, 2010
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hey is anyone doing LA to the Bay on 4th Aug or 46 day Europe Camping on the 21st Aug?
Explorer1197264
posted on Jul. 13, 2010
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hey every one im going on the europe panorama contiki my best friend
Explorer1195164
posted on Jul. 12, 2010
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Hey, my names Kat, I’m from Perth, Western Australia. Im wanting to do the Berlin to Budapest tour next May/June, & was wondering is anyone else thinking of going around this time? :o)
Kat_25
posted on Jul. 11, 2010
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Hi guys!
Kadie here from South Africa! Any one doing the European Vista on the 16th October 2010?
I’m in London a few days earlier!
Facebook me: Kadie Trollip
It’ll be awesome to meet a few ppl before!Kadie
posted on Jul. 06, 2010
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Hey guys, I’m Jake. I’m an aussie guy doing the European Inspiration tour on the 18th October 2010, anyone going on that?
Churchy2010
posted on Jun. 28, 2010
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hey all, anyone doing london to athens tour starting july 18th???
Explorer1190191
posted on Jun. 21, 2010
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Hi I am going on the Croatian Islands cruise on the 24th of July ending the 31st and also going on the European Escaped on the 4th of August ending the 28th is any one going on these trips???
Explorer1189656
posted on Jun. 15, 2010
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Featured Travel Photos
Photo by Nurse Kara
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Recent Tips
Make sure you try currywurst in Germany. It's basically a hot dog with tomato sauce (ketchup) and curry powder. Tastes brilliant and only costs 1 or 2 Euro.
I bought a high sierra duffel bag - it has a zip down panel on the back and you can pull out the back pack straps…I also have a laptop back pack…
My best advice is to step outside your comfort zone and make an effort to talk to EVERYONE on tour. I made friends from 6 continents on the one tour!!!
