Contiki tours

[Back Pocket Rocket]

Im sure there has been a thread like this before, so sorry in advance! Im new to this and using my partners account...

Anyway, my partner and i have never been on an overseas trip and we're thinking of going to the US in April. Several travel agents have recommended contiki tours, because there is one that visits all the places we want to see.

Just wondering what your experiences have been with Contiki tours? Has anyone been on one and would you recommend them? We want to do the Wild Western which includes LA, San Diego, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas etc. I'd love to hear your opinions.

 

[mattyh]

Im sure there has been a thread like this before, so sorry in advance! Im new to this and using my partners account...

Anyway, my partner and i have never been on an overseas trip and we're thinking of going to the US in April. Several travel agents have recommended contiki tours, because there is one that visits all the places we want to see.

Just wondering what your experiences have been with Contiki tours? Has anyone been on one and would you recommend them? We want to do the Wild Western which includes LA, San Diego, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas etc. I'd love to hear your opinions.

Depends what you are looking for, they are not nicknamed "Shagtiki" tours for nothing. If you are single and looking to hook up then Contiki tours are the way to go, however, seeing you have a partner there must be other group travel options like Trafalgar travel/ Gullivers or something?

 

[MagpieScouser]

are there lots of hot scandinavian girls on the bus or is the shagging done with american birds

 

[year of the roo]

Did the States in 04. Flew to LA (spend as little time there as possible, awful city) hired a car and visited all the places you mentioned. It was excellent. I wouldn't recommend a Contiki. Hiring a car gives you the flexibility of visiting these places at your leisure, not at the Contiki leader's leisure. Just do your research on what are the places worth visiting at each destination and you'll be fine. Don't worry about driving on the other side of the road either, you get used to it pretty quick.

 

[Kenny_01]

For that trip, no way I would do a Contiki.

Much easier to land in LA and rent a car. Will be so much cheaper, won't have to wake up every morning at 6am and a lot more flexible. Especially if you are going with your partner.

It will be mostly European/asians on the bus and even if it is called "Shagtiki", most the girls on the bus are average at best.

Contiki organise a good party or two, but I am sure you can find them yourselves by getting to know locals.

So I would land in LA, rent a car... spend some time there. Go see Universal or something, go magic mountain, drive up through Bel Air and up to Mullholland Drive.. go to Venice beach, Newport, Santa Monica, etc.... check out the nightlife in Pascadena or wherever and then drive to San Francisco.

Plenty of places to stay in San Francisco and everything is close together. Take a ferry to Alcatraz, rent a bike and cycle the golden gate bridge and surrounding hills and if you are a single guy, getting laid by a hottie in san francisco isn't the hardest task, especially at college parties around the place because there is an even ratio of males/females and half of the guys there are gay so they cancel each other out.

Then I would drive to Yosemite and spend a night or two there. Do a couple of treks. Stay at some motel/inn outside Yosemite valley and drive in, and again if you are a single guy, should be some hillbilly ****s there to bang also.

Then you can drive to Vegas, spend nights there, then drive to the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam or whatever else you want to see. Don't waste money on a Contiki.

Only time I would consider doing a Contiki is if I was by myself, didn't know anyone, never been to the USA before and had no idea where I was going.

 

[Cunias]

Did the Wild Western Tour several years ago...was a fantastic trip for a single traveller. Although to me it was always on the go and not a lot of time to yourself, and too many early morning starts.

And i agree with Kenny, the women on the tour weren't that great.

 

[year of the roo]

Take a ferry to Alcatraz,

Just on this, seeing Alcatraz is the must see of San Fransisco. However you will need to book that tour way in advance, otherwise the best you can do is just sail past it on a boat. The guided tours of Alcatraz are extremely popular and there is a long waiting period.

 

[Il Naso De Gastev]

I went on a Contiki in Europe last year and thought it was $hit. I did have a missus with me at the time and that probably detracted from my fun. It was good from the perspective that I saw heaps of great stuff, but it's not really my idea of a holiday. Up and on the bus every morning at 6.30, rarely a sleep in. Not a very relaxing time, but a good experience, and next time I'll know which places I want to go back to.

Plus the majority of the touring party were Aussies, and in big groups OS, there's not many worse groups to hang about with.... for some reason they seem to accentuate their Australianism to sound like bogans... and if I hear Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi one more time I'll f***ing vomit!!!

 

[Kenny_01]

Just on this, seeing Alcatraz is the must see of San Fransisco. However you will need to book that tour way in advance, otherwise the best you can do is just sail past it on a boat. The guided tours of Alcatraz are extremely popular and there is a long waiting period.

We booked like 2 days before we went. And I am pretty sure you could buy tickets on the day at the bay 39 or wherever it is.

 

[Kenny_01]

Plus the majority of the touring party were Aussies, and in big groups OS, there's not many worse groups to hang about with.... for some reason they seem to accentuate their Australianism to sound like bogans... and if I hear Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi one more time I'll f***ing vomit!!!

Another good point. If you are by yourself and amongst Americans, you will stand out and get attention from the yank chicks.

If you are in a group full of dero aussies, most people you meet will probably get sick of australians after 10 minutes.

 

[Altum Volantes]

I'm doing a contiki of Europe in a couple of months, to be honest it's not usually my kind of thing as I'm not a heavy drinker and am more of a steady relationship kind of guy (although single atm so who knows) but my cousin wanted to go on one so I agreed (then of course she bailed on me, so now I'm going by myself..). My main concern is there being too many Australians. I can drink in bars with a bunch of Australians at home - I really hope there are a few yanks, saffas, even poms and kiwis to break it up a bit and ofcourse I'll hopefully get to know some locals along the way.

It should be alright, I'm not an experienced traveller so it should give me a chance to see Europe with relative ease, that said, I'm doing some backpacking in Asia before heading to Europe so after doing that I might find the thought of being herded onto a bus every morning quite restrictive. I'm heading back to Britain after the tour so won't rule out heading back into Europe afterwards if I feel I want to spend more time in a certain city.

Oh well, got to keep an open mind I guess. I really hope there is no 'OI! OI! OI!' I cringe when I hear that in my own country let alone OS.

I tend to be able to pick a ******** at ten paces so I guess it will become apparant who is not worth bothering with. Probably the guy with the 'Foam Dome' hat and 'BIG DOWN UNDER' t-shirt. 'OI! OI! OI!'

 

[AngelEyes]

I'm doing a contiki of Europe in a couple of months, to be honest it's not usually my kind of thing as I'm not a heavy drinker and am more of a steady relationship kind of guy (although single atm so who knows) but my cousin wanted to go on one so I agreed (then of course she bailed on me, so now I'm going by myself..). My main concern is there being too many Australians. I can drink in bars with a bunch of Australians at home - I really hope there are a few yanks, saffas, even poms and kiwis to break it up a bit and ofcourse I'll hopefully get to know some locals along the way.

It should be alright, I'm not an experienced traveller so it should give me a chance to see Europe with relative ease, that said, I'm doing some backpacking in Asia before heading to Europe so after doing that I might find the thought of being herded onto a bus every morning quite restrictive. I'm heading back to Britain after the tour so won't rule out heading back into Europe afterwards if I feel I want to spend more time in a certain city.

Oh well, got to keep an open mind I guess. I really hope there is no 'OI! OI! OI!' I cringe when I hear that in my own country let alone OS.

I tend to be able to pick a ******** at ten paces so I guess it will become apparant who is not worth bothering with. Probably the guy with the 'Foam Dome' hat and 'BIG DOWN UNDER' t-shirt. 'OI! OI! OI!'

A group of my friends are going in Feb and we are going to meet them in Berlin and Munich. They seem to be looking forward to it, but they won't be the people that scream; 'aussie aussie aussie, oi oi oi'

I think the majority of people that actually scream that are the Australians living in England.

 

[Altum Volantes]

yeah I don't doubt there will be a bunch of great Aussies on the tour, I'm just hoping they aren't outnumbered by tools.

I'd say the 'OI! OI! OI!' people are more likely to simply be Australian's outside of Australia, not so much living there. The 'OI!' call allows them to identify themselves to their own species. The main concern will be if the tour manager gets up the front of the bus and attempts to get the chant going, it'll be like the blind leading the blind drunk.

 

[kirky]

Went on one in the States about 12 years ago which covered the East Coast from New Orleans to New York. If you like having a drink (which I do) then it will suit you however the lack of sleep and over indulgence meant some of the sights I wanted to see I slept thru and as some has already stated, the majority of people of these are Australians (why travel 15,000 kms to be with a busload of Aussies!). A better option is to hire the car yourself (I have found the USA is easy to drive around) but the one proviso is do some homework (know which exit you need to get off - buy some city maps). I earlier this year covered approx 10,000kms over 35 days driving thru Canada and USA and cost inc petrol/car hire and insurance was around $3,200-. What it gives you is independence and getting to things you may not go wth a tour bus.

 

[Bakes]

contiki = full of unapreciative *****head aussies, hell bent on doing what they could at homefor much cheaper. If you want to see the world and experience where you want to go, DO NOT DO CONTIKI!
All the blokes are Bogans, all the chicks are ugly. And you better of going alone or with another tour and trying your luck with other nationals, not over easy aussies.

 

[blackdiamond]

Im going on the LA to the Bay by myself starting the 22nd of November which takes in the Wild Western section.

Once my trip is completed I will let you know what its like.

I have been on a Contiki tour before - Darwin to Alice Springs which was rather good because there were hardly any Aussies but from what I can see of the tour group for this one its just full of Aussie girls.

 

[Bakes]

its just full of Aussie girls.

all the chicks are ugly

and very, very painful.
be warned

 

[Ed_Gein]

I was thinking of doing the Contiki tour which covers a 20 day trip around Scandinavia for 2k. Has plenty to offer as well. But the stories of other passengers on the tours is a little off-putting now you all mention it.

 

[Altum Volantes]

hah says the bloke who goes by 'Ed Gein'

 

[Ed_Gein]

hah says the bloke who goes by 'Ed Gein'

It would be a lot harder to lull unsuspecting victims on a crowded tour bus.

 

[Altum Volantes]

Just concentrate on the corpse mutilation side projects I guess...

 

[Harry Bosch]

As others have said rent a car and drive yourself , can never understand why people would want to go on a tour. How long before you have dates set? If you are interested in doing things like mule trips into the canyon etc you would want to book them as soon as possible as i think they are booked out months in advance.

Oh and if you are in the southwest don't miss out on Zion!

 

[kirky]

Oh and if you are in the southwest don't miss out on Zion!

And Bryce Canyon as well.

 

[Ed_Gein]

Me and the missus booked this tour;

http://www.contiki.com/en-AU/Tours/Europe/Scandinavia/Itinerary.htm

But upon doing that we found out that parts of the tour is 'multi-share' i think. Were the blokes and the gals are split up. Now we are having second thoughts on this is the tour for us.

I am initially thinking that it would be ok, cause we'll still get to see all the stuff we want to see together, but the sleepign arrangements worry the missus. Is it really worth doing?

The travel agent did say that if there are other couples that nominate to share then it is an option to stay with the missus.

But is the trip PURELY singles really? Or do you find there are a few couples on the contiki trips and the people saying "its only for singles" etc are exagerating?

 

[IDGAF]

Im going on the LA to the Bay by myself starting the 22nd of November which takes in the Wild Western section.

Once my trip is completed I will let you know what its like.

Met my wife on that very tour back in 97

If you a serious traveller , forget it ... If you just want to get out of the country and do it on a nice easy format , hang out with a bus load of compatiots and see the sights through the beer goggles , experiencing zero of the true local culture , then go for it .

Me and my wife had a ball , but it is just a piss-junket really .

Back-packing is the true way to get amongst it