Thinking of travelling with Contiki? Here’s the low-down on what to expect. If you’re looking for a comparison between Contiki and other tour companies like G Adventures, see here.
Before the Trip
You can expect a small welcome package, which includes a padded passport holder and luggage tag. The passport holder includes all the required documents for the trip, including a strict luggage size/weight restrictions leaflet (you are only allowed one suitcase). Be sure to adhere to the weight restrictions as Contiki does weigh your luggage before boarding its buses. As for the passport holder, it tends to be a bit bulky (how much padded protection does your passport need?) so it’s probably not needed for the trip, but if you do take it with you be sure to remove the bulky Contiki marketing documents to save on weight.
Another import thing to consider is whether your tour starts on ‘Day 1’ or if the first day is considered a travel day to get to the starting destination. Depending on tour, it might be required for you to arrive a day earlier (and stay an extra night). Same goes for at the end of the tour if you plan on leaving right away. Ensure that you have plenty of time to get to the airport from the final dropoff point.
If you’re interested in meeting other travellers from your group beforehand, be sure to sign-up online for Contiki’s ‘Meetup’ forum. You will need your tour code to get into the group and it will allow you to message others and post pictures. There is also a handy iOS and Android app available.
Arrival and Pre-Depature Meeting
Depending on the tour, there will be a pre-departure meeting. Although not mandatory, it is highly recommended. Plus you get the chance to meet everyone and even grab a drink after.
As mentioned above, before leaving the Contiki staff will weight your non-carry-on luggage. The good thing is, it only has to meet the weight restriction at the beginning so if you’re worried that you might be slightly over, stuff all your heavy items into your carry-on (batteries, chargers, carmera, laptop, etc.) then reallocate later. Be sure to take some water and snacks on with you as the departures are usually early and some locations don’t have convenient breakfast options.
During the Tour
The coaches are clean and well maintained. Alcohol and dairy drinks are not allowed as it can start to smell if it spills or spoils. To be considerate to others, water is probably best (there will be plenty of time later for other ‘beverages’). As nice as the coaches are, germs can spread fast in a confined area so proper sanitation (alcohol wipes) is highly recommended. Be proactive by eating properly, hydrating, and taking ‘immune boosters’ like ColdFx throughout the whole trip (regardless of how you feel).
Expect a good amount of interaction where you will get to meet the other travellers. The tour leader will lead a lot of these, but they are always open to recommendations. If you want to be a hero, bring stick-on name tags for the group.
The departure times at each stop are strictly enforced and the coach will not hesitate to leave without you. Punctuality is very important regardless of how hard you partied the night before. If you miss the coach, it will be up to you to catch-up on your own dime.
As great as the main attractions are, plan and make time for the more local experiences. Goes without saying, the main tourist areas are overpriced for everything so taking the time to do the research to find areas away form the ‘beaten path’ is well worthwhile.
Near the End
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end. Be sure to setup a Facebook group to share pictures and keep in touch with everyone. There’s plenty of time on the coach throughout the trip to share contact info and plan ways to share photos and videos. Also, be sure to ask around to see who’s sticking around after the tour. Depending on how proactive you are, you might be able to split costs like hotel rooms, taxis, local tours, and meals.
Safe Travels Everyone!
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