I will be arriving on the morning of the 28th (Royal Brunei flight). I'm staying at the County (close to the Royal National) because it is cheap (and probably nasty). If anyone wants to meet up so we can stumble around London looking lost together then let me know.

Are we going to have any translators extraordinaire on this trip? I myself did French in primary school. I think I can remember how to say:

• My name is Simon
• I have a goldfish and
• I am 12 years old

Should be useful

Hi Jen & Simon & everyone else,

Im arriving in London on the afternoon of the 28th August so it would be great to catch up and do touristy things together...

I have facebook if anyone wants to contact me there, you can find me under maryann stellini or email address maryannstellini@yahoo.com.au

Maryann

hi everyone
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh some new ones, hooray!!!!!!!
we have 59 days to go now, cant believe it, the days have gone so fast since my first post on here, lol
we will be staying at the royal national for two nights before the tour starts. i have my fingers crossed in trying to catch a musical in the west end or something at some point in those two nights.
its so great that we have so many people posting for our tour. keep it up everyone
talk soon. i am excited, look out

5 weeks til i quit work, 6 weeks til i fly out of perth, almost 8 til contiki! Its getting so close!

Simon - I know how to say "I dont speak french" and how to speak baby phrases in Croatian (long story) but thats about it haha. Im going to try and learn some though, i heard the locals get pissed off if you dont make an effort. Fair enough!

Im in London for 3 weeks before the tour so im very keen to catch up with people, i've got facebook too, jenni.holmes@gmail.com.

Im glad everyone's talking on here, coz im going by myself none of my friends seem to care when i go on about how amazing greece/france/eveywhere is going to be, so its good we can all get excited together

Well I've finally had my annual leave approved now - talk about putting it off! And now I'm trying to work out if I want to go down to Spain for La Tomatina before the tour starts. I've found some packages with the Fanatics...

http://www.thefanatics.com/latomatina/index.php?id=737

so I just need to work out how to get down to Valencia and then back to London by the 30th.

Seems there is a few of us on Facebook, I'll try to remember to set up a group for our tour when I get home - but you can look me up anyway - Glenn Donaldson

7 weeks today until I fly out, I'll be pulling the suitcase out soon enough!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21770921335&ref=mf

Facebook group started guys and gals

hey ya'll! just booked the trip today and thought i'd say hi. i'm melissa, 24, from atlanta, ga. i picked the island cruising too. still looking at flights and hotels, but i plan on getting into london a few days before and leave a few days afterwards. if anyone wants to meet up, lemme know! i did a study abroad in london (and traveled all over too) for 5 months a few years ago, so i know my way around ok. if anyone needs any suggestions, london is my favorite city.

i'm gonna join the facebook group too. melissa shugart, if anyone wants more "friends".

Hi Everyone

Hello to all the new people on here since my last post!! I'm Richelle, 25 from Perth.
I've got 2 nights in London before the tour staying at the Royal National so I'll also be keen to catch up with others before the tour starts. I'm also staying in London for about a week after the tour.
As far as language goes...I speak a little bit of German, not very well but I've mastered how to ask for a beer, do u speak english and where is the bathroom....all the essentials!!
I'm also on facebook...Richelle Wilkinson, richelle114@hotmail.com if any one wants to add me. I'm not on there that often cos the work computers don't let me! But i'll join the group as soon as I can.
I can't beleive how quickly time has gone...I'm starting to get a little nervous!! But also excited!!

Hi again everyone! I'm curious, how many of you are drinkers and plan to make our tour a big party tour? Since im on my lonesome i want to make sure there will be lots of people willing to have some pretty crazy nights on our travels

Hey Jenni
A big part of the reason I ended up choosing this tour instead of one of the shorter tours was that I'd heard about a lot of people doing Contiki - and rocking up in each city only to start partying, and miss out on seeing the sights. Then they have to get straight back on the bus in the morning and head off to the next city and basically just miss out.

However - with this tour being mostly two night stops, I figured that we'll have plenty of opportunity to get out and party, and still have time to see the sights during our full day in that town. That was the most appealling factor for me - because I know how much I like to party, so you definitely won't be alone!

As for knowing languages - I started to learn some Spanish (as I plan to go there for the tomato festival before our tour) but found it a bit difficult doing it on my own. I've picked up a few words and phrases, but hopefully I'll be able to put some lessons on my ipod for the plane ride/s over

Welcome aboard Melissa - good to see that we're starting to fill up a bit. It would be interesting to know exactly how many have booked?

Hey Jenni

I'm definately up for partying!! As long as my finances allow for it I'll be there!
And I think we spend a night in Munich for Oktoberfest which I am really looking forward to!!
My only concern would be the hangovers the next day....but I think I'll be able to deal with that

Oh yeah.. Oktoberfest in Munich! That's going to be massive! I don't think I'll see much outside of the beerhalls there, not that that is a bad thing

Haha awesome, im even more amped now!

I cant wait for Oktoberfest, i was supposed to go to the opening weekend but then my original tour cancelled so everything was changed around. Doesnt matter though since we go anyways, and i'm planning on doing Europe again next year to see all the places i miss this time round. Not planning on settling down for a few years

wow! i didn't even realize we'd be there for oktoberfest! i was supposed to go a few years ago, but never made it. i'm so excited!

i'm always up for a good party! not looking forward to the hangovers either, but i think i'll live...as long as my wallet can handle it.

as far as languages, i know a little german and very little french. i wouldn't worry about it too much though. i've never had many big problems with language barriers over there, except with the french and i think a lot of them just act like they don't understand out of spite.

just got my plane and hotel plans settled yesterday. i'll be getting in a few days early, but have to fly out on the 3rd. i'll be in london the afternoon of the 27th, but staying out on baker street near my old flat for a few days, but would love to hop on the tube and meet up. might hit some museums, a play, and maybe a little shopping. anyone know what they're planning on doing yet?

jen, sounds like a great plan! these tours are great for a taste of each place and you really get to see a lot. i've been on a few in the past few years and can't stop going back! i don't know if i'd ever settle down if it was up to me.

I've heard that the French are ok, if you at least try to begin the conversation in French - if they realise you are trying but just suck - they'll help you out in English...