Hello!

I hope it's ok to post inane introductory posts such as this. For years & years I've talked about going traveling but I've always been too nervous and found the whole prospect of booking a trip so overwhelming I've never gotten further than ordering the brochures. But things are different this time. After months & months of having a miserable time trying to convince my friends to do ANYTHING and failing miserably (half of them can't even be dragged to the local pub quiz anymore!), I've decided to give up on this nonsense and get away once and for all! I am so determined this time! Meeting new people, having adventures, exploring new places... & knowing that I have arranged it myself, well, it's just beyond exciting right now

I still don't know exactly what I'm doing. I found Contiki through a girl on a livejournal community who, after reading my ramblings, suggested the Grand Southern tour. It looks fantastic although it seems the only available dates are in April, which is a little further into the future than I had hoped to get away. But I'm going to do a bit more research and hopefully chat to a couple of people on these boards and hooray, soon I'll be a traveler!

Hitting 'post now' is nerve wracking as I feel I've already come a few steps closer to realising my travel dreams! I have so many questions I want to ask but at the moment I think I'd just like to say hello to anyone & everyone. So, HELLO!

Hey there !
im doing the GS on 30th April, next year and cant wait !
Good on you for finally doing it on your own. I did the LA to the BAy last year and more than half the bus tour were travelling alone and it was unreal. Everybody got along and i think as people were travelling alone they were really keen to make friends, think sometimes its better to travel alone. So congrats for making this final step ! alls i can say is - DO IT you will have the time of your life and never, ever regret it ! !!

Mel's right, just go for it. I love to travel but when I was younger I just kept going to Australia from New Zealand then I found a contiki brochure and decided i'd go to Europe. That was 8 years ago and i'm going to be doing my 4th and 5th tours next year. The Grand Southern will be one of them. There have been plenty of people go by themselves. I'll be going alone but i'm not to worried as i've seen how well people make friends on the bus. I still visit people from all the tours i've done. I also plan on catching up with people while on my next trips.

Hey there.

I did my first Contiki and first major trip overseas in 2001 to Europe.. This time around I am going by myself and I am doing 3 yes 3 Contiki tours in one hit. Grand Southern - Grand Northern and then the California highlights.. Also spending some time in San Diego and Hawaii.. You cant sit back and wait for your friends to say yes or you will never get to where you want to go.. I am kicking of my adventure on the 25th of may and heading to the USA until the 10th August. So i am pretty amped for this trip.. I already have met some good people that is going to make and share my wish of traveling to the USA.

Good luck and have fun.

josh

Hi,

I had the same problems with my friends. We always talked about going to the US and checking out places like New York and Hollywood etc and they were all keen to go on a trip. Then when I started organizing it they all started backing out! I was a bit disappointed that they said they wanted to and would go then backed out. I was still very interested in going and didnt want to miss out because my friends didnt want to go anymore. I did 2 Contiki tours, LA Scene & LA to the Bay earlier this year. It was by far the best thing I've ever done and having done it alone I wouldnt want to do it any other way. You get to do and see and go to where you want and not worry about trying to keep the peace with your friends if they dont want to do the same as you. You end up making about 50 new friends by the end of the trip anyway!

Within a couple of months of coming back from the States I've booked another 2 tours - Grand Southern and Big Apple Explorer for January of next year. Im going alone again and I cant wait. I've also started looking into some Europe trips for 2010!

Congratulations on taking the first few steps to becoming a Contiki traveller!

Aaron

Congrats on taking the leap! I've been in the same boat as you for quite a few years now and I too have finally decided to stop waiting on my friends and just do it already!

After what I've been reading on the Contiki web site and in the forums it seems like many people prefer to travel alone and end up making so many new friends! I haven't decided on my trip yet (they all look so tempting) but I'm sure I am making the right decision by going solo.

Good luck and enjoy your trip!
Denise

I'll be 35 this year, this is my first Contiki and first trip overseas, now I have taken the big leap of faith I can't believe I didn't do it sooner, have booked two this year and am already planning another trip o/s next year

Good for you!! I was in exactly the same position, people saying they wanted to go away, but when it come to it they just couldn't save any money for a trip. I did so much research that i still wanted to go, and have booked up to go on the Wild Western in August. Im so excited. Do you have any idea of where you want to go? Or how soon you'll be able to go?

Hi I am another one of those people that always say they want to go on holidays but something always happens or people change their minds and dont want to go so I just booked the Northern Escape for 26th August 2009. Going by myself and am so excited...

Hi!
I was absolutely in the same boat. I love my friends to death, but they are comfortable with sitting at home having a couple of beers, whereas I'm all about the adventure and just letting go and having fun! I'm doing my first tour in the next month alone and I am so excited. I feel like it's almost liberating to go alone and do whatever you please!
Have lots of fun!

Hey I think your doing the right thing, if its something you've always wanted to do then I say go for it, my bf did the contiki europe camping last year and had a great time, you'll meet new people and have a great time, i've been saving up to do the grand southern tour with my bf next year.