Hey Shawna (and others),
Sorry for the delay in responding... I was in San Diego for almost a week for work. I was looking forward to the sunshine but it turned out to be cold and raining
Anyways, I am also looking at the travel guides and trying to budget my time... but I'm also trying to keep my mind and options open so I am free to fly by the seat of my pants and so I won't be disappointed if I don't get to see something. I managed to get my flights changed so I will be arriving around 1:55pm on the 31st. I have been having fun checking out the posts all over the place to get some tips, etc.
So yah... keep the posts coming.
Cheers,
-B-

Wow San Diego for work, too bad there wasn't some beach weather for you. And even though I am trying to figure out what I want to see, I too don't want to have everything planned out. I think if I do this I will probably miss out on something. And well, if I am going that far I really don't wanna miss anything or regret something. I can't wait guys. Can you believe we are now down into the double digits Its only about 95 days ... Yippy!!!!!

Shawna

hey all... i've booked in for Aug 31, is that the tour you all have booked in for?? Or Aug 30?? I've contiki'd before and so looking forward to doing it again.. counting down the days to italy.. i love that country

Welcome Shez82...
Glad to hear someone else is all booked up for this trip. Where are you from? Less then 3 months

Does anyone have any idea how long we get to spend exploring Pompeii? I happened upon a TV special on it and it seems like there is much more to be seen there then I expected. Also, I would like to climb the volcano if I get a chance...

So much to do... so little time!
Cheers,
Breanne

hey Bre... great to meet you I've already done a 36 day tour of europe that included rome and pompeii a few years ago, and although i was so looking forward to pompeii we got a QUICK ("QUICK AS!") tour through it which lasted no more than an hour and i SSOOOO was left wanting more (because there is far, FAR more to be seen than that) but we were really restricted. I think on contiki you really wont see all you want to see of Pompeii if you want to thoroughly see it through as I do.. but I've planned for a few extra days in Italy so I'm "planning" to go to Pompeii and explore it more. It truly is an interesting place to take in but honestly, i think contiki are pretty limited with what they can see of it.
That aside, I'm so glad to be meeting people who I might be travelling with..!!

PS. I'm from Aust!

Shez82,

Well you sure are a wealth of infomation.. this is going to be my 1st Contiki and i'm super looking forward to it!
Thanks for the info on the extremely quick visit to Pompeii... I figure that was going to be the way it is. Glad to hear there are others staying beyond the trip. I don't fly back home (Toronto, Canada) until the 13th so I have a couple extra days in Rome. Sounds like a day trip Pompeii way may be in my cards for those couple of days on my own!

Keep the info coming and keep in touch!!!
-B-
P.S. Us Canadians LOVE the Aussies Looking forward to meeting you!

Hey shez82 welcome to the group. Despite my excitment of seeing Pompeii, I sadly knew it would probably would be a relatively quick visit. I just hope it won't be too rushed
I gotta say though, I am sooo excited. There are 90 days left, and I just realized tonight that that is only 3 months. There is so much to do and it seems like the trip is right around the corner (though it can't come fast enough).
Shawna
P.S. Have you guys found the forum titled Things you wished you knew. It is in the Contiki talk link. It is so informative, for us Contiki virgins. There is a lot to ready but it has really helped me figure out what to take and that to leave behind.

Sorry I guys I was wrong. It is under Travel Talk.

Hey Shawna.. great to meet you!

I just wanna confirm something.. this thread is for Aug 30 departure.. I've got it as Aug 31.. its the 31st, right?

I dont leave Italy til the 13th either.. a day trip to Pompeii is a definite possiblilty!

So have neither of you been on contiki before? are you just doing the one tour?

Hey ladies... its so fun to log onto this thing and have some messages on this thing. Once again, it's cool to chat with you ladies to get to know you before we go and to know that there are people out there that are anywhere close to as excited for the trip as I am.
Shawna- yes, I did find that "thing you wished you knew" thread about 2 days ago and I agree that it was really helpful. I need to remember that I need to leave room for gift and souviners in my bag!!!
Shez- yes this is my 1st contiki tour and I think it's Shawna's too. And yes I am just doing this tour... my sister is due to give birth on Sept. 20 so I wanted to be back for then. You may have to show us the rope. Any helpful tips you can give us? As for the departure date... yes, this is the tour that starts on the 31st... we just have it starting on the 30th cause the 30th is our "travel day"... between the length of the flight and the time difference we have to leave the day early to make it there. How about you? How long is the flight from Australia?
Cheers ladies,
-B-

Bre I totally agree. Logging on to see your ladies posts keeps the excitment there. And so I wasn't checking it like a mad person, obsessing over it (not wanting to fall too far behind), I have turned on the notifications so the link emails me to let me know there are new posts
This is my first trip really anywhere. I have been to Edmonton, Toronto, Disneyland, and San Fransisco. But this is my first really big trip, and I am doin it alone. Little nervous about that but getting to know you ladies before had is helping me through that part of it.
Hope you are all having a great weekend.
Shawna

Thought I got everything, but alas I missed a question. Shez - I am also doing the greek island hopping after our tour. Though I don't leave for Athens until 11:00am on the 12th.

Hey Ladies,

Nice to meet you Shez.

Sorry it's been a while since I posted, lots of crazy stuff going on. I can agree with the girls that Canadians love Aussies.

Thank you so much for the helpful tips and please keep them coming.

I don't have much to add cause I am a contiki virgin too. I did a birthright trip to Israel but that is the only non-vacation travelling I've done. As far as planning days I am still pouring over the travel books trying to narrow things down. There are so many museums that I don't know where to begin. This may sound silly but I really want to see the original David. Bre, I fly in on the 1:55 too I believe. What flight are you on?

Shez, how was the 36 days and what made you want to come back to Rome.

Ladies, this may seem a bit much but I read that the Vatican makes admission free on the last Sunday of every month, that means the day we fly in. If we get together and figure out how far it is from the hotel then maybe we can go.

I have paid for a transfer I believe, just one less thing to worry about when I get there, though I will be nervous regardless.

I'll try to check in more often. It really builds up the excitement.

Ciao Ladies,
(that is all the language practice I'm going to get)

Jenny

Hey ladies...
Only about 87 more days...
I've also been doing lots of research just to start my "wanna see" list. Jenny... I am TOTALLY with you about wanting to see "David"! I heard that you have to sign up beforehand for a time? Does that sound right to anyone else? Maybe we should look into it and organize it if needed.
I am coming in Skyservice... it leaves T.O. around 8:30pm on the 30th.. is that the same one you are on? That would be great... it's a long flight and sleeping only takes up a little of it!
I picked up a little phrase book from chapters so i'm going to try to learn a few things here and there.
Have any of you taken a look at the optional excursions? They all look pretty fun but I have been researching reviews on here from others... it seems like it really depends on how many people sign up, how good they are (especially the dinners... more about the socializing!)
Anyways... keep in touch!
-B-