I’m sure most people prefer to make their own travel plans, selecting their own destinations, accommodations and traveling pace, but I’m not prepared for that yet. This will be my first time traveling abroad by myself, and I would prefer to do it as part of a group. I’m cognizant that I’d be able to meet people while staying in hostels or joining day-long activities, however, my preference is to spend an extended period of time with the same people to build relationships and, hopefully, lasting friendships.
CONTIKI HOLIDAYS
Hence, through my quest to find an inexpensive trip, I stumbled across Contiki Holidays, a company that provides tours for travelers ages 18 – 35. As a 20-year-old, I am part of the younger crew, but I was very pleased with the age range. It looks the tours are geared toward people who are agile and love adventure — which is definitely me! Their tagline is:
TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW YOU WILL BE MORE DISAPPOINTED BY THE THINGS YOU DIDN’T DO THAN BY THE ONES YOU DID DO.
YOU ONLY HAVE ONE LIFE, ONE SHOT, SO MAKE IT COUNT #NOREGRETS
Cheesy, yes, but it’s still the kind of sentiment I’m seeking.
THEIR TOURS
I looked into the tours Contiki provides, and found they have a dynamic and reasonably priced selection. They have tours through North and South America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and, of course, Europe. Most of the tours are multi-city and entail sightseeing during the day and free-time during the night. The tours range from two days to several months, and they come in different accommodation options:
“I have travelled a ton before, but never with a tour, so I must say Contiki is great for new travellers and experienced travellers! The great thing about Contiki is that everyone is young and wanting to experience the same things as you. Everyone has the love for travel and adventure!”
Of course, with every positive review there are the negative ones:
“You will spend a lot of time on the bus—about 40% of the trip…A lot of people spend their time on the bus sleeping off their hangover or socializing.” (thesavvybackpacker.com)
“I have heard from multiple sources that many of the tours quickly turn into drunken parties with lots of sex.”
“…tours on Contiki tend to be filled with parties, young people, and alcohol.” (nomadicmatt.com)
“I was not happy with the accommodation…The tour guide and bus driver were awesome, and they tried their best but the group dynamic was poor and awkward at best.”
Essentially, it sounds like Contiki tours will be drinking-heavy and action-packed, but I am definitely okay with that. Most of the negative reviews were written by people who said they preferred solo travel or were not fans of drinking –but they did have positive comments otherwise. I think Contiki Holidays will be able to suit my needs for my first time travelling to Europe alone, and I am looking forward to the adventures I am going to have.
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