Guest Author - Kimberly Button

It seems that a universal dream of young people around the globe is to travel the world as a celebration of finishing schooling or as one last big hurrah before entering the real world. Though it can be tough to finance such a trip when you haven’t started cashing substantial paychecks yet, there is one travel company that makes world travel more affordable for the younger generation.

Contiki specializes in vacations for 18-35 year olds around the world. Tours are operated in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the United States, Canada, Egypt and Fiji, but the European tours are by far the most popular and most varied.

There are two types of Europe tours – Budget and Superior. Budget tours utilize Contiki cabins in campsites and other less posh lodgings in order to cut down on the expense. You also might be sharing a room with up to three people and you’ll be sharing bathroom facilities. You’ll be asked to help in preparing dinner meals that are included in the price of your tour.

If you’re a budget traveler but still want to enjoy some luxuries on this once-in-a-lifetime trip, the Superior tours are for you. You’ll stay in tourist class hotels with private bathrooms, there will be a maximum of three people per room and you’ll enjoy more upscale dinners that are included in your tour price.

For example, the Budget 12 day European Horizon tour which begins in London and ends in Paris is about $1,079, without airfare. Sights include London, Amsterdam, the Rhine Valley, Munich, Austrian Tyrol, Venice, the Swiss Alps and Paris.

The Superior 8 day tour of Berlin and Prague starts at about $739, without airfare. You can spend three days in each location with included sightseeing tours of Berlin and Prague as well as plenty of free time to explore.

All tours have the services of a knowledgeable tour guide and bus driver that are your age and know all the ins and outs of having fun in your destination. All tours are conducted in an air-conditioned motor coach and there’s plenty of free time scheduled at destinations so that you can do your own thing after enjoying a scheduled city tour or other included attraction.


Pros

• You can explore the world on your own without needing friends or family to come along for safety and companionship.

• You’ll be able to cover a lot of ground in varied destinations in one trip.

• You’ll meet a lot of intriguing people from around the world that are all close in age.

• You can save money on the base price of the tour by sharing a room with more people.

• If you are booking a tour with a group of friends, the price will be discounted.

• You can book a flight or additional nights in an area hotel through Contiki, which means you only need to make one call to book your entire vacation.

• You don’t need to worry about scheduling details such as a hotel room, transportation or city tours. Your tour guide will be highly qualified to help you with needs such as currency conversion, finding an internet station and planning an itinerary in your destination.



Cons

• Your luggage is severely restricted – one suitcase with a maximum size of 29” X 20” X 10” and one carry on.

• An 8 day tour could really only be 6 days of travel in your destination, with 2 days devoted to your transportation to and from your destination. Look carefully at the itinerary to get the most for your money.

• Airfare is not included in the base price, so the tour package can increase dramatically depending on whether you book airfare through Contiki or find a deal on your own.

• Many meals are not included, so be sure to set aside money for dining. Also, some meals included might not suit your taste or might not be substantial enough.

• You’ll have the option of purchasing optional packages to enjoy during your free time at each destination. A lot of times these are great deals, but they will put a dent in your travel budget.

• Contiki tours, because of the age range, are well known as being rambunctious with lots of partying after the sun goes down. Though many people enjoy their tours without succumbing to the nightlife every night, it will be an integral part of the socializing among a large group of travelers.

• On budget tours, you must bring your own towels, which must fit in your suitcase.

For more information on Contiki tours, visit www.contiki.com.


Kimberly Button is the author of The Disney Queue Line Survival Guidebook, the only Walt Disney World® Resort theme park guidebook that features scavenger hunts, trivia questions, word puzzles and hidden Mickey searches tailored to each attraction to alleviate boredom while standing in lines. For more information and to read an excerpt, visit www.disneysurvivalguide.com