Hiya Allen,
have you already booked into the Marakech?
I arrive near then from my other tour. you got any plans for touring NY???

hey we got booted from the marrakech to the milford plaza did that happen to anyone else?

hey Flossie....yea i am booked in from the 28th until we leave ofor our tour...no plans yet...so open invite to maybe whoever is coming around those dates perhaps we can go together??? Statue of liberty, ground zero, empire state, time swuare are definately on my list !!..

Hey Kellie, yea i heard...was it cause they were over booked?? that kinda sucks..


waqt is every1 doing about mobiles? just getting a cheapo 1 there?

Hey Kellie!

Superman- I haven't decided yet but it looks as though its easy enough to buy one of those pre-paid international cards where you can just call the number, punch in the code and then call home. I think it can work from a pay phone, your mobile or a landline. I'm gonna go ask about them at a post office or something. And then I thought I would get a US simcard for contacting people in the US (because I'm gonna be there for about 2 months prior to the tour). I cant get over how many things there are to think about/organise when you go away!

Also, those are some of the things I plan on seeing too, except im gonna try and stay more centrally if I can.

Kellie- what did you use (phone-wise) when you were in Europe?

to be perfectly honest i had HEAPS of trouble with phones in europe.. i took my phone and bought a virgin sim card in france.. only to find out it only worked in france lol.. then the next sim i found was dodgy again cos wasnt compatible with aussie phones ... so ended up using phone cards.. they look complicated with punching in the number then the number on the card then the country code and area code drop the one etc but u get the hang of it pretty easy...as long as they tell u how much credit u have left. ask scott several times it finished mid sentence he he..
but would of been alot easier to turn international roaming on.. if ure on a plan here see if its included in ure cap?

a friend i was with bought a pre paid sim card and kept getting ppl in aus to top it up but i think she was with virgin and they charged u to receive and send a msg and ph call so was topped up alot..

and i did here a few ppl complain about the conitki sim they bought as well..
so sorry i havent been any help at all with that topic ha ha

No your right! Every bit of info helps when you have no idea what you are doing - believe me! Haha.

Hi Guys, I'm doing the Grand Northern 31st July too - also a solo traveller. Just discovered this forum. I will be doing the New York Explorer first - anyone else doing this? 4 months to go - can't wait!!
Diana

Hi Diana, welcome! Where abouts are you from? Im not doing the NY Explorer but I will be in New York for a few days prior to the GN, just gonna have a look around myself i think.

Hi all! I'm doing the first part of the tour, North by North East. I'm a solo traveller from Finland.

Diana - I'll also be doing the New York Explorer first, and will be arriving to New York on July 27th. When will you arrive?

I've never been on a Contiki trip before. I'm excited!!

Riitta

Hi Rhianna, I am from just North of Sydney.
Welcome Ritta, it seems like we will have a few solo travellers. I will arrive in NY on the 27th also.
Diana

hey Riitta and Diana ! ! good to know there are more solo travellers and an International!!....

hey Diana i'm from Sydney as well! !

are u guys on facebook??

counting down the days!!

Hi Superman,

I'm on Facebook - I joined the GN American Contiki! July 31, 2009 group!

Riitta

hey guys, did you notice on the dates/prices webpage for the grand northern/north by north eastern tours, it doesn't say it is a "definate departure" or "preferred departure" date. They have just added little diamond symbols that represent either the "dd" or "pd" but outs doesnt have one.... you dont think that necessarily means anything do you? I hope they add it to ours so we know its 100% going ahead! (although I would think it being already sold out, that it would in any case)

Hope this doesnt alarm anyone- just wanted to share!

PS - Hi Riitta, great to have you on board!

Hey guys, i'll be joining you for the 31st too and thought i should say hi! i'm another solo traveller, a little bit daunting - first time contiking - but can't wait to see the sights!

Hello all!

Looks like i've joined the group/party way late! Im doing the Grand Northern trip but i'm heading to the states for the 26th April. Anyone suggest a good hotel?

Any people planing on staying around after the trip?

It does seem there are a lot of people from Oz going... any one from sunny England?!


Rick- only a few weeks to go!!