Hello anyone!

I have only found one fellow camper going on the 3rd august....Theres got to be more of you!!!!!  Speak up!! I wont bite!!! I dont think she will either!!!

Im a 22 y/o aussie girl travelling alone..Just curious as to the company i will be keeping......

Anyway catch ya,
Kate

Hi there!



Another fellow camper to add to the list. And another Aussie for that
matter (21 y/o). Travelling alone. I've got a 21 day russia-scandi trip
in July and then a week in London before I head off with the camping
crew. Can't wait!!



-Simon

Hey Simon,

You have a list? Where is this list? :P
My list only 2 others on it....But its still early days yet...

You're a lucky individual, aren't you? Going on 2 trips...I can barely push together the funds for this one!!! But then again I am quite impulsive and only planned this in May!!!  Anyway, I hope you have a great time on your first trip so you are pumped for your second!!!!

So you're from perth, huh? One of the only places in australia I haven't been to yet!! Im from melbourne and its freezing down here!!! I really think it gives London's weather a run for their money!!!

Im so excited about this trip, I really cant wait!!!!!

Talk soon,
Kate

hey there

just a few questions for u....

1) what are you taking in the way of sleeping bags?? Im thinking about getting one of those microfiber ones but i dunno - i heard that the weight od the sleeping bag doesn't count for the overall luggage weight??? any ideas

2) are you taking an atm/travelex/credit card and how much do you reckon we'll need for the full trip. I have heard so many ppls opinions what with all the bank charges and fees I really dunno what to take!!!

3) are you staying at the royal national before the trip starts??

Anyway hopefully I will figure something out and won't go insane stressing about it!!!! Any advice would be muchly appreciated!!!!

Cya!!
Katie

1) I'm taking a goose-down sleeping bag and a compression bag to put it
in. I got mine on special for about $180 down from $450 I think. They
are lighter than the synthetic ones for the same warmth but harder to
clean and you have to keep them dry.  I also got a silk sleep
liner to sleep in so i could just wash that rather than the whole bag.
(although the liner tends to end up in a ball at the bottom of my
sleeping bag anyway). Since I haven't been on a trip before I'm not
sure if this advice is any good.



2) I am taking a Commonwealth bank keycard. They charge 5 bucks for
every transaction at an ATM overseas and i think 1.50 for Eftpos.No
idea how much I'll be spending though! I got another card attached to a
diff account and some travellers checques, both just for backup. Vic,
who seems to be quite the Contiki expert, has a good pre-tour guide
here: http://www.eastboca.net/EuroPan/BeforeYouGo.html



3) I have a friend with a live-in job at a hotel in Chelsea, so I'll
probably stay there the night before we head off. I'll be around London
for a week before we go though.



Hope this helps a bit!

-Simon

Hey all!
My name is Ella and I am going on the 3rd of August tour as well! Can't wait! I am 21 y/o and from NZ, seems like I'm the only kiwi here. Represent! Lol! Anyway I am in the UK at the moment doing an internship in Sheffield (better known as the Steel City featured in the Full Monty!), then I will be heading to Iceland for a field school in July before coming back to London to start the tour. I will probably be desperate for summer and sun by that stage! Anyway look forward to meetin you all, and the other campers keeping quiet so far in August. See ya in London people! Cheers,
Ella

Hi Katie,

Just to answer your questions,

1) I haven't bought a sleeping bag yet, but you can get some really good small ones for about $160 at most camping stores (my friend took one of those on the camping tour last year and said he was quite comfortable).  Im not sure about whether it does contribute to overall luggage weight though, hence why i will get a small one. 

2) I rang my bank and they told me all the stuff i need to know (im with a victorian bank so the info wouldn't really help you). But bascially im taking my atm card and credit cards, im hopefully taking around $6000 for spending money and such.  Contiki suggested $100 a day (which is roughly $3500, but I am a compulsive shopper so i need more!!!)

3)I am staying at the Royal National Hotel on the nights of the 1st of sept and the 2nd.  I have heard that on the night before the trip starts most of the people on that tour go down to the contiki lounge for a couple of drinks and attempt to get to know as many people as possible, so you won't be alone for long anyay...

Hope this has helped,

Kate

Hi Ella,

Welcome aboard!!  It is so far a very short list of campers but its growing!!!

I cant believe how fast this trip is rolling around and you have such a busy time ahead of you its seems!!! I just cant wait to get off work!!!

Anyway cant wait to meet you. See you soon!

Kate

hi guys

Well its not long now....and I'm starting to freak out. I am getting so scared! I know thousands and thousands of people travel the world on their own, but it still doesn't make it any less daunting! I know once the tour has started and everyones together it'll be okay but Im just freaking out about finding my way from the airport to the hotel and then getting to the hotel and thinking.....okay.....so what now!!!! ohhhhh crap what have I got myself in for!!! I'm going insane! I just have to keep telling myself.....try to convince myself it'll be okay!!!!! Anyway i can't wait to meet you guys though......i think we might have the worlds smallest contiki group yet!!!!

Anyway I will see you all very soon!!!!!
Katie

Hey Katie,

Dont worry you aren't the only one freaking out!!! It is quite daunting but remember that you are going to have the time of your life!!!!!!!

Also, if I remember correctly, the royal national hotel is near picadilly circus... All you need to do is catch the tube from the airport to picadilly station...I have been to london before, the tube is very easy to navigate around. I did it when i was 16. You can get a map from where you buy the tickets or the maps are up on the platforms.  You will be fine....

So take a few, big deep breaths and remember that you are going to have an awesome time and all the things that you are worried about are going to work themselves out.

See you soon,

Kate

Hey Katie,

Just FYI, i rechecked the location of the hotel and i got it mixed up..

You need to get on the PICADILLY line from heathrow airport and catch the tube to RUSSEL SQUARE station and the hotel is not far from there.

Im sorry about that,  i can be a bit of a blonde sometimes.

But, yeah, still not difficult to find.

Hope you aren't stressing too much,

Kate

Hey ppl!!

I had no idea this thing existed how exciting!

My name is Jess - another aussie to add to the team! I'm 18...so apparently I'm the baby as well!
I can't believe how fast this trip is coming up - I've been working in Staines (bout 40mins from london) for the past 3 months and all of a sudden I'm leaving in 5 days!!! omg! I am so excited but heaps nervous too...keep thinking of all the little things i've forgotten. You guys all sound so organised, good work ppl.

Just adding into your convo, I rang the contiki ppl the other day and apparently they sell sleeping bags for �20 so I think thats what I will do. dunno if that helps you out!
Big sigh of relief though cos I am also taking my good old commonwealth bank card so I'm happy to hear that I'm not the only one! at least then if it doesn't work we can all be stuck together! yay...

And for those of you stressing about finding your way to the hotel and around london by yourself and stuff - DO NOT STRESS. Believe me...I am the worlds biggest worrier and if I can do it anyone can! You will be suprised at how easy it is to get around. For a Canberra girl who's only ever travelled around by bus the tube rocks!

Anyways, looking forward to meeting everyone! sooo exicited.
Is anyone looking for a tent buddy too?? pick me!!
See you @ the hotel!!

Jess xo

Hello all!

Welcome to Jess and Ella, looking forward to meeting you and the others in just a few days!  I just got back from a 21 day Russia/Scandinavia trip, and I assure you, you will have the time of your life on Contiki.
I'm in London now for the week staying with friends. I may be at the Royal National the night before we leave, otherwise I'll see you all at the Pre-departure meeting.
Don't stress to much, everything sorts itself out on tour... we had one guy who hadn't even obtained a russian visa before our trip and he managed to survive the 21 days.  Getting around London is no hassle, just ask questions and you'll be fine.
Can't wait for the good times to begin!!
-Simon

hi guys

welcome Jess .....reat to have yet another aussie! My nerves have sort of calmed down (emphasis on the word sort of!) well its not long now only 2 more sleeps before I depart brissie on monday afternoon!! I am so excited to be doing this!!!! OMG.....europe some ppl dream of seeing these places and never get to .....but we are!!!! Can't wait to see you all.

everybody have a safe trip to london and will see you there!
cya Katie

Thought I'd say a big GOOD LUCK to everyone flying over - travel safe!
Just think about leaving winter behind you...its so hot over here right now - and its England!?!
More to the point I can't believe that in less than a week we will be standing on the eiffel tower or shopping in Paris!!!! whoo yeh! Don't think it'll really hit me til we are on the bus!
Looking forward to meeting you all...does anyone know how many people are actually on our tour??

Jess xox