Hi All,
I am going on the Simply Italy Contiki starting on 30 August 2009. Is anyone else going?

I am from South Africa.

I have been on a few contiki's before and they are awesome!

Helloo,

I've put down my deposit to go on the Simply Italy tour (30 Aug - 10 Sept) Looking forward to it.. except I'm holding my breath that they don't cancel this tour! Everytime I've spoken to Contiki or my travel agent they keep warning me that it can get cancelled!! Fingers crossed!

S x

Oh no, I didnt get told that! One thing I did get told is that this trip is a 'preferred date', so I think if they were to cancel a trip they would cancel the ones that are not prefferred trips! So I think it should be ok!
Where you from?

Not sure why my message isn't posting??

Yeah I'm sure it will be fine
The cases where they cancel is if the tour doesn't fill up or if there are natural disasters etc. Contiki advise of cancellation up to 45 days prior to start date..
But anyway, am really looking forward to the trip! It will be my first time in Italy and first contiki tour!
I'm from Australia.. I'm taking 5 weeks off work to travel around as much of Europe as I can
How about you?

Wow, 5 weeks! where else are you going in Europe? I am from South Africa! My husband is coming with, but we are only doing the italy tour so not going to be there for that long!
Do you know if our contiki goes to the Vatican City? or do we have to book our own tickets?

Hello,
I'm starting my trip in London and then going to Barcelona. From there I'm going to Rome for the tour, and then ending in Paris
Looking at the itinerary on the site it seems the tour does take us to Vatican city, but we need to sort out tix to get in and tour etc! Not quite sure?? I think for a few places along the trip we get the freedom and responsibility to sort out tickets for activities?! You've been on contiki before right? What's it like? Do they plan most of the trip or give u freedom to do whatever?

Cheers,
S

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Saara,

P.s. Are u guys going to be in Rome for a few days before and/or after the tour? I've already booked my flight out of there for the afternoon of the day the tour ends. So thinking it might be nice to get to Rome a day or 2 early!

Have u been to Italy before? I've been to a few places in Asia and in the US, and it's about time I go to Europe! Wish I could go for longer but can't coz of work are u guys also taking a short trip coz of work?

Hey!
Wow, your whole trip sounds exciting...ive been to London and Paris but not Barcelona! Yes, I have been to Italy once before - Venice, Rome and Florence, but none of the others...Venice is my favourite place in the world! Really awesome!

Ye, our trip is only the tour because of work! We are not staying longer - think we arrive at about 2pm on the sunday (and the tour starts at 6pm i think), so we have a few hours then! We then leave on the last day at about 2pm (and the tour finishes after breakfast).

I am going to wait till I get my itinary etc from Contiki and then I will see if we need to book tickets for Vatican! If so, then maybe will go on the last day after breakfast? maybe we could all go then?

Have you received your itenary yet? I keep bugging my travel agent but have not received it yet! its still awhile though i guess (hear you only get it 6 weeks before and it is still 10 weeks!)

Yes there is some freedom every day! You can either do the optional excursions or do your own thing! I think we are going to do most of the optional excursions, what about you?

Heya!
How funny but I am also leaving Rome at 2pm on the last day. I fly out of Ciampino airport. How about u guys? I'm not quite sure when i will get to Rome though.. Will see how i go in Spain.. Most likely will get there on the morning of the tour or night before.
I only get my travel docs with itinerary 3 weeks before i leave Sydney. So for me that means i will get them early Aug... Yeah, i will also see if i need to book the additionals when i get the itinerary!
I think i will go on most of the optional excursions...

I think same airport! so we can share a taxi ride to airport on that day! :-) Wow, 3 weeks! I was expecting 6 weeks - i hope I get mine earlier as I hear that during the summer months the Vatican gets booked up quite quickly! If I get mine before yours, I'll let u know what it says about Vatican (and anything else u may need! :-) ) Are you counting down the days yet? Im still on weeks - 9 weeks time! urs must be soon since u going earlier! :-)

Just checked contiki website - its states that the 30 August tour is a definite departure! :-) So its definitely on! :-) Still some available space though for more people to join! :-)

Yay! Definite departure that's awesome!
I am so excited about the trip now! I leave in about 6 weeks, which is sneaking up on me very quickly!!
We should definitely share a cab to the airport on the last day And if u do book the excursions early, it'd be awesome if u let me know how that all goes I will let u know if I get my itinerary first but!
yay, so excited!!!!
Ps r u taking a Big back pack or a suitcase?

No, definitely taking a suitcase! The suitcase just needs to fit to the contiki standards, but other than that it can be any kind...and you can fit way more stuff in a suitcase! I am flying emirates, and they have increased their baggage to 30kg! (previously and other airlines only 20kg!) I will take a small backpack for on the bus during the day!
I will let u know as soon as I get my itinerary...want it now, cos then I will definitely get excited! :-)

Got my documentation yesterday! Woohoo, seems real now! I see that you cannot pay the optional excursions with credit card! That sucks!