Hey Ali

We arrive in London on 30th May at 7am!!!  We're staying the first few nights at Journey's Kings Cross Hostel.  Half the price of Royal National, so decided to only stay at the hotel for the night before the Contiki to make life easier.

Well Chris, I don't know about cheering on the Aussies!!!  New Zealanders have unwritten rules about who to cheer for.  Number 1 - cheer for NZ, number 2 - cheer for anyone playing Aussie!!!  HAHAHA  kidding!!  It will be a great atmosphere in a pub somewhere!  I'm just looking forward to the whole trip!

As far as music goes, I'll probably bring a few mix CDs as I won't be really worried if I loose those (not saying I will).  Depends what kind of music everyone is in to - guess that's why we will alternate CDs.  I like "pop" and rock (not heavy rock) so will bring some music like that.  I say pop as I lack another word for it!

So we found out that we arrive back in London at about 8pm.  Anyone organised a place to stay that night?  We're flying to Denmark and can't get a flight that late so have to leave the next day.

Yay only 20 days til me and Cameron fly out of NZ!!!!!!

I have a quick question, cause I am starting to get ready...I still got 24 days...if any, how much cash do you guys plan on bringing?  Should I take mostly Euros...or should I get some pounds while I'm at it?  I arrive on the 3rd, so I'm not going to be using that many pounds I guess.  Curious of what you guys are planning to do...

Hi Guy's,

Its Steve here, Emmas boyfriend. I have to say i am slightly footy mad and will definately be cheering England on! Although i've got no problems with going to some bars to watch the Aussies!

We are budgeting for around a �1000 for the whole trip each. Get �'s for london and euro's for the rest. Think we are taking travellers cheque's, is anyone else doing that?

Anyone thought about what excursions to go on then, i'm looking forward to the white water rafting!

Only 22 days to go! can't wait now!

steve

Hi all

Regarding money I was thinking of starting off with about 200 pounds
and 200 euros. Im only getting that many pounds cos we will be visiting
some friends in england and having a look around there for 5 days or
so. And will probly take some travellers cheques for back up but im not
sure how they work as yet!...but its on the to do list. All in all im
budgeting for around $4000 AUD

Jacki your rules crack me up! I was going to bring up the rugby league
test match last week, which NZ lost miserably might i add, but ill
leave that alone for now !! hehehe

Steve white water rafting is definatly on top of the excursions list.
It will be awesome but probly freezing cold im guessing. Most of the
excursions sound good so ill probly do most of them!

For all those that are like Ali and I, we plan on meeting in the Contiki basement on the 3rd around 5pm, we will probably get some drinks or grab some dinner or something.  If anyone else wants to meet before the contiki meeting at 7, come find us there!

I can't wait to go paragliding!!  Thats one thing I am definately saving up for!  I would love to try white water rafting as well, but from my understanding I can't do both, they both are options given while we are in Austria. 

Thanks for giving me an idea of how much to budget for and spend.  I am bringing a pre-loaded VISA, which works like my bank's debit card, I have a mastercard as well, and then I will bring a couple travellers cheques too.  I will also have a little bit of cash on me too.

Hey Katie!
I think meeting up at 5pm in the Contiki basement sound great!  I'm keen.  Gotta find out what Cameron wants to do.  We would've done a lot of sightseeing of London by then, so a dinner/drink meet & greet sounds great!

I think I'm going to do what you're doing Katie.  My bank consultant said the best way to take money overseas is to load it on your credit card.  That way you can charge it or get cash out of an ATM.  I will have some cash for those "small" purchases.  I am still wondering about travellers cheques though.  Heard that it's difficult to change them as sometimes we're in the middle of nowhere when you want money.  Think that if I take travellers cheques, it's more emergency money in case something happens to my credit card.

WOO HOO, Cameron and I fly out in 11 days!!  SO exciting!!!!!! 

That sounds like a really good idea, to meet up before the meeting.

Yeah ive heard that it can be as well, but think im going to take travellers cheques, and a card. Then whenever we come across somewhere to change the travellers cheques, will do it then.

A question for the girls (sorry) what kinds of clothes are you taking for the day and going out at night etc? really cant decide what kind of clothes i will need!

Oh and another question. The sleeping bag that we have to take, do we have to put it in our case, or do we attach it somehow?

Emma x

Hey Emma

As far as clothes go, I'm going to just have t-shirts for the day and a few nice tops for the night.  I don't have many nice ones, so taking a couple short sleeve and a couple long sleeve tops.  Going to have 3/4 pants for the day (not a skirt person) and take some long pants for the night.

Shoes are a whole OTHER topic!  Dilemmas here!  So far I've got it down to a pair of walking shoes, pair of going out sandals and maybe some jandals (flip flops) for when around camp, etc.  To take a skirt I'd have to take another pair of low heals, and that's just more crap to lug around!! 

But I'm not a fashion wannabe, so maybe not the best person to even answer this!  As long as I'm comfortable, don't really care how I'm dressed.

** Just remember a sleeved top of some sort for the churches - no singlets **

Emma, I seem to have the same problem as you...cause I love clothes!!  I dont really care, but to be comfortable is really all that matters.  I think that I will be in trouble with the weight restrictions.  I am going to bring a one pair of jeans, black pants and capris.  Probably a couple skirts.  With tops I'll pack mostly tanks and t-shirts, and one long sleeved shirt (for the churches that we go to).  One pair of runners, and a couple sandals.  I dont know what I am going to do about a jacket, maybe bring a light spring jacket or hoodie.  I read in the contiki pamphlet about a rain jacket, 'cept I dont have one, so I am hoping for nice weather!!
As for the sleeping bag, I bought one that is small enough for me to fit in my suitcase, but I think that the contiki bus will allow you to keep it separate.  We dont need a pillow though, right?

Just for the heads up...cause I dont want people to think that I am crazy, I had one friend that bought me a gnome and wants me to take pictures of it in different places, just like the travelocity gnome (hopefully you understand what I am referring to).  I just hope that I dont break it, cause my friend will be crushed.
Anyways, I still got 11 days, but to all the rest fo you, have good flights guys!

Aw thankyou, thats helped me, although i know ill probably take too much!!!

i dont think you need to take a pillow, but might be a good idea for the bus.

see everyone soon xx