Recent Articles

These are the most recently updated articles in Contikipedia.

1. Power adapters

   More Tour and Travel Advice for: Europe, USA & Canada, Australia and New Zealand Do I need a power point adapter? If you’re travelling away form your home country or region of the world then chances are that yes, you do. Power outlets have different shapes in different parts of the world and you may need an adapter to convert the shape of your home power plugs to the shape of the outlets in the region of the world you are travelling to. How many do I need? It depends... read more >>

   35 comments | Saved 374 times

2. Suggested packing list - North America

   More Tour and Travel Advice for the USA and Canada What to pack for travel to other parts of the world The following is a suggested packing list for a USA and/or Canada tour. People are individuals though and often have personal preferences and opinions as to what to bring. The following then is not a definitive list, but should give you a good guide as to what you should pack for enjoying your tour in North America. Clothes 1 Ra... read more >>

   11 comments | Saved 182 times

3. Suitcase Vs Backpack

   More Tour and Travel Advice for: Europe, USA & Canada, Australia and New Zealand “I would advise travellers to take a suitcase with an extendable handle and wheels for any overseas trip. Firstly, suitcases can be packed in a very organized manner so that anything is easily accessible once you hit your hotel room. Wheels and a handle allow for easy transport, whether into a hotel, a coach in the morning, or out onto a sidewalk to catch a cab to the airport. Additionally, ... read more >>

   66 comments | Saved 527 times

4. Shoes and Footwear

   More Tour and Travel Advice for: Australia, USA & Canada, Australia and New Zealand Shoes are important, to some people they are the only thing that matters and your choice of footwear when taking a tour is also important. It also matter what time of year you will be traveling as slushing around wearing flip-flops int he snow or ugg boots at a beach party isn’t much fun. Summer Tours Contiki recommends taking three pairs of shoes on any given tour: 1 pair of c... read more >>

   11 comments | Saved 200 times

5. Sun Studios

   by – Angie, Tour Manager, USA Musical legends such as BB King and Elvis Presley recorded here. There is a museum, as well as a place where you can record your own song. Sun Studios is in Memphis, Tennessee.

   0 comments | Saved 1 times

6. Amarillo

   by – Alex McCarty, Tour Manager, North America What is certainly one of the last bastions of frontier life in America, Amarillo is a Texas town that has more cattle living there than humans! With a population of around 250,000, the world’s largest cattle auction takes place in Amarillo every year, where 275,000 head of cattle are auctioned off to the highest bidders. But cows are not the only things you’ll find in this traditional western town. Cadillac Ranch calls Amarillo home, and is a stran... read more >>

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7. Airboat Swamp Tour

   by – davidg, Tour Manager, North America Louisiana is known for its swamps and bayous. These areas are full of Cajun and Creole culture and really showcase the natural beauty of New Orleans! If you’ve never been out on a swamp, this optional is a must! From flying through the swamp on a genuine swamp boat with the giant fan on the back, to chasing alligators – you’ll come home with an experience you’ll never forget! Who knows, you may even get lucky enough to touch an ... read more >>

   1 comment | Saved 6 times

8. Dallas

   by – Alex McCarty, Tour Manager, North America As a state, Texas is bigger than most European countries. It’s no wonder then that Dallas, with a population just over 2 million, is called ‘The Big D’. Although it’s in the middle of a sate known for it’s cowboy hats and longhorns, visiting Dallas and you are more likely to find more people wearing loafers than cowboy boots, and three-piece suits far out number the ten-gallon hats that are more often associated with th... read more >>

   0 comments | Saved 5 times

9. Suggested packing list - Europe - Summer

   More Tour and Travel Advice for Europe What to pack for travel to other parts of the world The following is a suggested packing list for a Europe summer tour. Keep in mind this is not a definitive list – everyone has individual fashion tastes, preferences, opinions, and styles in terms of what they want to wear and bring along! This is meant to be a good guide to help you in packing for your European vacation. Clothes 1 rainpro... read more >>

   258 comments | Saved 1527 times

10. Travelling alone

    Everyone has different attitudes and opinions and philosophies when it comes to travelling alone. Even amongst those who choose to go it alone there is a mix of feelings with some being a little frightened and nervous while others cannot wait to get out on their own. In a poll conducted on the Contiki forums, almost 70% of people polled as travelling on tour alone. So even though you start the tour alone, you’re not the only one travelling alone. The tours are very social so you wi... read more >>

    137 comments | Saved 201 times

11. Lucerne

    Lucerne (German: Luzern) is a beautiful town on the edge of Lake Lucerne in Central Switzerland and like the rest of the country, Lucerne is small but beautiful. As well as the natural surroundings for which the country is so famous, the A-framed chalets on the foothills and painted facades of the buildings in town add to the charm of this quaint and beautiful Swiss town. Mountains Many summer tours staying only one night in Lucerne still have the opportunity to take in the awe of the alps from a... read more >>

    0 comments | Saved 22 times

12. Switzerland

    Capital: Bern Currency: Swiss Franc (official) Euro (unofficial) Language: German, Italian, French, Romansh (dialects of all), English is widely understood Visas: Travel Visa Information Contiki Tours that travel to Switzerland > Switzerland……land of chocolate, St Bernard dogs, Swiss banks, precision engineering, watches, Swiss army knives, cows and cow bells, green rolling hills and yodeling. The main reason people come to Switzerland though is for the Alps – Fresh, clean ... read more >>

    1 comment | Saved 18 times

13. Amsterdam Nightlife

    Although most Amsterdam party animals are more than happy to chill out in the city’s coffee shops, there is some outstanding nightlife to be had in the ‘Dammage’! Bars Amsterdam is well known for the relaxed nature of it’s very small ‘Brown’ cafes and bars. The name comes from the often brown walls of many of the city’s small bars that can be found almost anywhere in the city. Other hot spots for the bar scene are the Rembrandtsplein... read more >>

    0 comments | Saved 11 times

14. Amsterdam Coffee Shops

    by – Matt Vernick, Tour Manager, Europe The liberal nature of the Dutch culture is a lure to many people who travel or tour the Netherlands as this free and open attitude as extends to the use of ‘soft’ drugs like marijuana and ‘magic’ mushrooms. While other ‘hard’ drugs were made illegal by the Dutch government in the 70’s, laws were never introduced banning these drugs and their use is tolerated in certain parts of Amsterd... read more >>

    8 comments | Saved 17 times

15. Red Light District - Amsterdam

    by – Matt Vernick, Tour Manager, Europe Amsterdam is famous the world over for its legendary Red light District. The city’s liberal attitude towards sex and prostitution is very similar to it’s stance on drugs – it’s tolerated, but only in designated places. The Red Light District just off the Damrak is one of those places. Filled with girls in windows, sex shops, sex shows, coffee shops, cafes and bars the area the area is a ... read more >>

    0 comments | Saved 19 times

16. Museums - Amsterdam

    For a city more renowned for it’s red light district and coffee shops, Amsterdam has an amazing array of galleries and museums. The Anne Frank House in the city centre is fantastic for history buffs or anyone who has every read her famous diary. Although he did most of his work in France, the Van Gogh Museum in the city’s south has a great display of the impressionist legends work. For a wider variety of art including, Rembrandt’s ‘The Night Watch’ an... read more >>

    0 comments | Saved 4 times

17. Shopping - Amsterdam

    Amsterdam has some of the best shopping in Europe and with over 10,000 retail outlets in the city center the city is a shoppers paradise. Retail Shoes, clothes, bags, music, books – you name it, Amsterdam has it. The Damrak, Nieuwendijkstraat and the Kalverstraat are great places to start. Souvenirs Clogs are an every popular souvenir along with anything to do with windmills or the national flower, the tulip. Many tours visiting Amsterdam for two or more nights wi... read more >>

    1 comment | Saved 9 times

18. Buildings and Architecture - Amsterdam

    The Dutch are world leaders in modern architecture and you will see some fantastic modern buildings as you drive in or out of the outskirts of the city. Most people however are most impressed by the beautiful gabled houses that adorn the canals of the historic center of Amsterdam. Most of the houses and buildings were built during the 15 and 1600’s and it’s not by accident that many of them are no only leaning to the side, but also... read more >>

    0 comments | Saved 4 times

19. Anne Frank House

    by – Matt Vernick, Tour Manager, Europe The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, is easily one of the most visited, as well as one of the most worthwhile and famous sites in the city. ‘The Diary of A Young Girl’ by Anne Frank, is one of the most widely published and read books in the world and has been transformed into stage shows and a movie. The book is the published diary of the real life Anne Frank who, along with her family, went into hiding during the Nazi occupat... read more >>

    1 comment | Saved 21 times

20. Bikes - Amsterdam

    Anywhere and every where you go in Amsterdam you will see people riding their bikes. The Dutch countryside is as flat as a pancake and is prefect for getting around easily on two wheels and the city is no different. You can hire a bike for yourself in the city or many tours visiting Amsterdam for two nights or more during summer include a bike ride through the Dutch countryside. You can also hire a bike yourself in the city and do as the Dutch do – be careful if you’re wal... read more >>

    0 comments | Saved 3 times