quote:

Originally posted by Amber:
Just a warning- certain european countries wont take north american ATM cards...not sure if thats the case for the countries we will be in. also european atms work on a 4 digit pin, so if you have a 6 digit pin it wont take that.

Did anyone get any get their documents from contiki yet?

Yea, I tried using my Canadian ATM bank card in Germany before but it didn't work, even though it had the global symbol... So I'll be using my credit cards to take out cash on the road. I think Visa charges a $5.00 transaction fee for cash withdrawals...

I'm also going to bring a couple of hundred euros to start the tour off, and will leave a bulk set aside for the optional excursions, since the tour manager only accepts cash and they usually collect the entire amount the first few days of the tour.

I still haven't received my Contiki docs; I'm expecting them this week or I'll have to give them a ring since I leave in about 2 weeks time! I'm getting them by post, because I booked directly with Contiki; if you booked through a travel agent, they'll receive them first and then call you up to let you know that they've arrived.

Cheers,
Alex

Oh yea, if you're planning on using your credit card to take out cash, don't forget that four-digit PIN number that was sent from the credit card company through a seperate slip, you'll need it to access your account.

P.S.S. I'm hoping the Sens will pull through tonight now that Alfredsson is back on track! GO SENS GO!!!

hello everyone-
i'll also be arriving at tegel on may 10 around 9:40am. if anyone does decide they'd like to travel together to the hotel, let me know.

i would definitely recommend taking cash, traveler's checks, and a credit card. i took cash and traveler's checks on my last conitki tour and didn't have a problem cashing them at local banks.
i use my credit card for most purchases but as someone mentioned make sure you know your pin number. some stores may ask you to enter a pin for a credit card and you'll need it if you withdraw money of course.

as for luggage, i have taken a rolling suitcase on all of the past tours. some hotels will not have elevators or if they do, they only have one and it can take a while to get to your room when there are 50 people with luggage waiting for the elevator. backpacks would be more convenient in this case.

also, you may want to bring a reusable bag for shopping. many european countries have either eliminated plastic bags altogether or will charge you for them.

Has anyone started thinking about what they want to do in their free time in each city? In Budapest i want to get to the Gellert Baths and the Terror Museum which is about communism. In Berlin I wanna go to KaDeWe,topography of terror, Kaiser-Wilhelm and Berliner Dom. Not so sure about Vienna or Prague yet.


Nicole- where in the US are you from? Im from Nj.
-Amber

I bought all these books about Warsaw, Prague, Budapest...I still don't know what I want to see...

Amber - "Terror Museum" seem to be interesting.

Fascinating trip it will be!

Here's a good source for traveller info on just about anything and everything...

www.wikitravel.org

Just type in the city/country and it'll give you heaps of info, like what to see, eat, do, and shopping and transportation options.

Alex- yeah thats a great site! Lonely planet also has a decent site for finding what you want to do in each city.

Hey Amber, I'm from GA.

quote:

Originally posted by nicole:

as for luggage, i have taken a rolling suitcase on all of the past tours. some hotels will not have elevators or if they do, they only have one and it can take a while to get to your room when there are 50 people with luggage waiting for the elevator. backpacks would be more convenient in this case.

Lol... I'm getting flashbacks now of my last tour when the coach arrived and everyone started to pour into the little hotel lobbies waiting for the rooming list and keys... Each time it felt like a round of bumper cars! Hehe...

I was just reading some reviews about the tour and it looks like we've got great times ahead of us!


Here's a blurb that I found...


"...Seriously people considering this trip.. Please do it. Everyone I know on the trip enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Be prepared to be amazed...
Living up 13 days with just 3 hours of sleep, the copious amounts of alcohol (BIER!) running through your veins, consuming tasty foods, enjoying real nightlife at its best (Budapest!!)...Don't be nervous, don't be scared. You definitely won't regret it and no, I'm not just saying this. The former Eastern bloc countries are probably the most beautiful places I've been to. The culture, the beauty, the history and the people are still alive and wanting to be explored. Don't miss out. If you, like me, live for new experiences and memories.. There was never a dull moment on this trip and everytime you wonder when 'that funny moment' would happen.. it either did already happen yesterday or you're currently laughing at something that just happened. If I could, I would love to do this trip again..."

Contiki said my documents are set to arrive this Tuesday so look out for them

Yeahhhh!!! It's time! I'm anxious about getting the documents.

Okay...Is anyone planning to do all the extra activities!?!

Amber - Cheers for that info... When I didn't get them last week I started to worry there! I'll be on the lookout this week...

Melodie - Yea, I plan on doing all of the optionals since I may never know the next time I'll be there hehe... They all seem pretty good too...

...20 days left to go...................


P.S. Tonight's the night... GO HABS GO!!!

Im not sure if im going to do the dinners. They are tons of fun to be with the group but they are so touristy. They take you to places where its only contiki people and they show you what you would expect to see in that country but has nothing to do with the culture today (like watching men dance in liderhosen in Germany type of thing) I think i might opt to try to get off the beaten path during those times. The saltmines tour looks really good though and i will def do all the walking/city tours.