I am planning on taking this trip with my husband in July. I saw many mixed reviews...any advice? Which meals and excursions are worth the money?

I am in the same boat. My boyfriend and I are planning on taking this trip in May. We would like to book soon, however, I am still hesitant based on mixed reviews. I am worried about not spending enough time in each place and spending more time on the bus than in any of the destinations. We definitely want to take a superior tour, and we can't really take a much longer tour than the Discovery due to work, etc. We want to spend time before in London and then afterwards we will be visiting my uncle in Frankfurt. Any advice would be great. Is this tour worth it? Is there a better option for us?

I've done the European Discovery Tour twice, once alone and once with a friend. The first time was the best 2 weeks of vacation I've ever had, the second time was just alright, nothing special. It seemed that the group I traveled with made the difference. On the first trip, everyone was having a good time and doing activities together. The second trip was full of lots of whining and complaining people and it took away from the experience. You are taking a tour and these are the people you will be with the next two weeks so it makes sense to meet the people and have a good time with everyone. If that doesn't sound like something you want to do, travel on your own.

Anyways, here is some advice on the trip:

• Amsterdam - you will have about 5 hours to explore the city the night you are there (or more if you like to stay out real late) and another 4 or 5 hours the next morning. Definitely do the Canal Cruise Optional, one of the best optionals on the tour. Free drinks and a good chance to meet your new tourmates and see the city through the canals.
  
  
• St. Goar - not too much to see here because it is literally a one street town. Definitely do the Wine Tasting Optional if you like wine. It isn't that expensive and it's fun.
  
  
• Munich - you don't get a whole lot of time in Munich. I would suggest going to the Hofbrauhaus with the group and enjoying one of the best nights on tour. The food is incredible and it is some of the best beer you will find in the world. The atmosphere is great and EVERYONE in the whole place has an awesome time.
  
  
• Austria - you get to see a lot in Austria. I haven't done the White Water Rafting Optional but I'm not a big water sports person. If you choose not to do it, the area where you wait for your tour mates is in a very beautiful area and there are a couple of stores and restaurants. DO NOT DO the Swarovski Crystal World Optional, it is not worth it at all.
  
  
• Venice - you get a good amount of time in Venice also. Definitely do the Gondola Ride. I also liked the Venetian Restaurant Optional although I've seen lots of complaints about it on this site. I'm sure you can find a cheaper meal that's better.
  
  
• Rome - you get an afternoon/evening, and then a full day here so I suggest you go on your own and try to see as much as you can as Rome has lots to offer.
  
  
• Florence - You get some time to explore the main part of the city. Go see the David. The Souvenir Group Photo all depends on if you want a photo or not. The first time I got one, the second time I didn't. The Tuscan Evening Optional is a lot of fun as you get food and entertainment. Again, I've heard complaints about the meal but I enjoyed it and it's the start of a fun evening that ends at Space Electronic Disco which is alright, nothing special. It's a good way to have fun with your tour mates.
  
  
• Lucerne - Just a beautiful place. Definitely do the Mt. Stanserhorn Optional as it gives you spectacular views of the city from all sides. I did not do the Lake Lucerne Cruise (it wasn't even offered on my first tour) instead opting to explore the city. Nobody who did the cruise on my second tour said anything special about it.
  
  
• Paris - the first tour I didn't go to Paris, the second time I did. When I went the optional offered was the Moulin Rouge but it looks like they changed it. The people who did the Moulin Rouge were split. Some loved it, others thought it was a HUGE waste of all the money it costs. Personally, I would take this evening to do your own thing in Paris and then meet the group after the show to say your goodbyes.

You don't get a lot of time in each city and you wont get to see everything you want to. If you really want to get to know each of these places, I recommend you travel on your own and give each place at least 5 days. Just enjoy the experience and remember that you are just getting a taste of each of these places. Get to know your tour mates and make the best of each day on the tour and it will be an awesome trip.

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

thanks travelguy that was definetly helpful!

I went on this trip last year with my wife and had an absolute blast. I will remember it forever. It is what you make of it. yeah there is a lot of time on the bus, where you catch up on sleep and talk to your tour mates. I know we had a lot of young aussies on our trip and they were hung over every morning, but it was so much fun. I recommend you go on the trip and have an open mind and try and do everything. If you don't want to do the sex show in amsterdam and the moulin rouge in paris, that is ok, but do everything else. You are there to have fun so don't be cheap on the optionals. Almost everyone will do the optionals and it really makes the tour much more special.

I hope this helps and just enjoy it to the fullest. You will remember it for years to come and maybe even make lifelong friends like my wife and I did.

Hello Folks,

I went on the European Discovery this past October and had an absolute blast. This is my second time to Europe and half the cities on the tour I had already been to before. However, that time I was with just one friend. This time was the first time I travelled with a group. I went with two friends from home but the whole excitement of travelling with 50 people really grew on me somehow. By the end of the trip I really wish it didn't have to end. It was very memorable and I have so many fond memories of it. Anyway, I could probably write pages about my experience, but thought it would be helpful to build on another member's posting (travelguy). See below:

quote:

Originally posted by travelguy:

Anyways, here is some advice on the trip:

• Amsterdam - you will have about 5 hours to explore the city the night you are there (or more if you like to stay out real late) and another 4 or 5 hours the next morning. Definitely do the Canal Cruise Optional, one of the best optionals on the tour. Free drinks and a good chance to meet your new tourmates and see the city through the canals.
  
  The optional canal cruise is the first "group" activity of the trip and its THE best opportunity to mix and mingle and get to know your fellow tour mates. On my tour, after the cruise, most everyone stuck together and roamed the city together. This first night really opened up everybody and set the tone for the trip and for the group.
  
  
• St. Goar - not too much to see here because it is literally a one street town. Definitely do the Wine Tasting Optional if you like wine. It isn't that expensive and it's fun.
  
  St. Goar is indeed a small town that you can see, literally, in less than half an hour. The wine tasting is definitely worth it. As you can imagine, the purpose of a lot of the group activities is to get everyone to mingle and know one another. The idea of going with a large group of like minded people is to make friends and get to know them.
  
  
• Munich - you don't get a whole lot of time in Munich. I would suggest going to the Hofbrauhaus with the group and enjoying one of the best nights on tour. The food is incredible and it is some of the best beer you will find in the world. The atmosphere is great and EVERYONE in the whole place has an awesome time.
  
  The timing of my tour coincided with Oktoberfest. So we get to Munich around 2 or 3, then spend a couple of hours walking through Munich and afterwards, spend the rest of the evening at Oktoberfest. Again, like all the group activities, you are free to run off on your own if you like, as long as you know how to get back to the hotel. So, if you really want as much personal time as possible, then skip the group activities. Oktoberfest wasn't an organized group activity but we were all dropped off together and meant to make our way back to the hotel on our own via the subway. So, people broke off into smaller groups for Oktoberfest and shared stories the next day.
  
  
• Austria - you get to see a lot in Austria. I haven't done the White Water Rafting Optional but I'm not a big water sports person. If you choose not to do it, the area where you wait for your tour mates is in a very beautiful area and there are a couple of stores and restaurants. DO NOT DO the Swarovski Crystal World Optional, it is not worth it at all.
  
  While in Austria you'll get a chance to go rafting. Those who do not do the rafting have to hang out at the rafting center for a couple of hours. The center is really just a small picnic area, sand volleyball court, fields, a small internet station, giftshop, and snackbar. You can spend your time going for a nature walk along the river, or just hang out with the other non-rafters. The views are truly breathtaking, but I was running out of things to do after a while. After the rafting you hop back on the bus and drive about another hour or so into Innsbruck. The tour guide takes you on a short walking tour to orient you and you're let loose to explore the time. The Swarovski store is a waste of time, just another meaningless shopping frenzy. Skip it and explore a lot of the smaller, more local merchants or just appreciate the scenery.
  
  
• Venice - you get a good amount of time in Venice also. Definitely do the Gondola Ride. I also liked the Venetian Restaurant Optional although I've seen lots of complaints about it on this site. I'm sure you can find a cheaper meal that's better.
  
  To me Venice will always be very magical, the labyrinthine alleys that you can't ever seem to get lost in because they all lead back to a main walkway or plaza. There are three optional activities while in Venice: Glass Blowing demonstration, followed by sales pitch, gondola ride, Venetian restaurant. If you skip ALL these activities, you'll basically have an entire afternoon and all evening on your own. However, because the hotel is actually well outside Venice, you'll need to make it back to the ferry at the exact time so you don't get left behind when the bus heads back to the hotel. A warning about the Gondola Ride. Our ride took us through some really boring and dirty back alley canals, not the main, picturesque alleys that the regular tourists see. After about 15 minutes we were all scratching our heads wondering what was so weird about our ride and then realized that we weren't going down any of the main canals. Maybe we had the cheaper, "tour-group" level ride.
  
  
• Rome - you get an afternoon/evening, and then a full day here so I suggest you go on your own and try to see as much as you can as Rome has lots to offer.
  
  We had the most free time in Rome. We got there in the afternoon. The tour guide blitzkrieged us on a walking tour through the main sights of Rome like the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and Pantheon. At each spot we had a 10-15 minute time for pictures. Then there's an included dinner followed by a night time walking tour down to the coloseum. The next day there was an included guided tour by a local guide of the coloseum and the roman forum. Our guide then took us on the bus over to the Vatican and from there we were let loose as late as we wanted, as long as we knew how to take the train back to the hotel.
  
  
• Florence - You get some time to explore the main part of the city. Go see the David. The Souvenir Group Photo all depends on if you want a photo or not. The first time I got one, the second time I didn't. The Tuscan Evening Optional is a lot of fun as you get food and entertainment. Again, I've heard complaints about the meal but I enjoyed it and it's the start of a fun evening that ends at Space Electronic Disco which is alright, nothing special. It's a good way to have fun with your tour mates.
  
  If you skip the leather factory/shop and guided tour by local guide, you'll get lots of free time. Florence is a lot of fun to explore on your own. The Tuscan dinner is also fun. I skipped out on the Space Disco though because I was so tired.
  
  
  
• Lucerne - Just a beautiful place. Definitely do the Mt. Stanserhorn Optional as it gives you spectacular views of the city from all sides. I did not do the Lake Lucerne Cruise (it wasn't even offered on my first tour) instead opting to explore the city. Nobody who did the cruise on my second tour said anything special about it.
  
  Lucerne is probably the only city where the hotel is actually IN the city, so you don't need to catch the bus ina nd out of town or worry about making it to the bus back in time. But the city is small anyway. The Lake Lucerne Cruise wasn't offered on our trip because the guide said at night it gets so dark on the lake that you can't see anything anyway. I did do the Mt. Stanserhorn option though because the views up there are breathtaking. The Mt. Stanserhorn option happens just as you'r about to enter Lucerne. The bus stops, and all those who are interested in this option take a small tram up the mountain followed by gondola. After everyone's back, the bus continues for another half hour or less into Lucerne and you check in to your hotel and the rest of the night is yours after the included hotel dinner.
  
  
  
• Paris - the first tour I didn't go to Paris, the second time I did. When I went the optional offered was the Moulin Rouge but it looks like they changed it. The people who did the Moulin Rouge were split. Some loved it, others thought it was a HUGE waste of all the money it costs. Personally, I would take this evening to do your own thing in Paris and then meet the group after the show to say your goodbyes.

Ah... Paris. I don't think I could ever, ever get tired of this city. You arrive to the hotel in the afternoon and check in. There's a little time to freshen up or go for a walk. The hotel is not in central paris but is a short subway ride from all the major sights. There's then an included hotel dinner followed by a night time bus tour of the popular sites. The bus tour ends at the eiffel tower. Those who want can take the bus back or, you can continue to roam the city on your own and just take the subway back to the hotel later. The next day is completely free unless you go for the perfume shop option. I skipped out on this because I wasn't interested in this and didn't want it to eat up a chunk of my day. If you signed up for the cabaret show, then you have to head back to the hotel at a certain time and everyone will get on the bus to go to the show. You're taken first to a bar next door to the moulin rouge for drinks and then you walk to cabaret. The name of the club is called Nouvelle Eve and the guide sells it to you as a better bargain than Moulin Rouge. We were told the food is better, the atmosphere is more intimate, though the show is not as great. I felt the venue was a little cheesy and the show, or at least portions of it, was very hokey, especially the music. But the food was pretty good. I thought it was not worth the money, though I'm still glad I went.


You don't get a lot of time in each city and you wont get to see everything you want to. If you really want to get to know each of these places, I recommend you travel on your own and give each place at least 5 days. Just enjoy the experience and remember that you are just getting a taste of each of these places. Get to know your tour mates and make the best of each day on the tour and it will be an awesome trip.

...ditto. this is a very, very fast paced trip. You get up early, spend a lot of time on the bus. Do you home work in advance, find out what things there are to do in each city and paln it out. You don't have a lot of free time so make sure you know where you're going. Even the guide tells you many time throughout the trip, that this is just a taste of europe, and its perfect for first timers because you get an idea of the major cities and can decide which ones, if any, you want to go back to in the future and spend more time. All in all, it was an unforgettable experience

This is one of the most popular contiki tours. I did it back in 2004 and had a fantastic time (feel free to take a look at my travelogue or others who have done the tour). No, you don't get a lot of time in each location so you do have to pick the things most important to you. It was a nice mix of big cities and quiet towns with great scenery. After 3 tours in Europe I've learned that I've enjoyed my time in the smaller towns more then in many of the big cities. So if you haven't experience much or any of europe, keep an open mind about different places - not just big cities. If you decide a tour isn't for you then you'll really need close to a week to fully experience a city. With two free weeks in europe you can see 3 cities on your own and get a good feel for them. Or on tour you can see 6 cities 2 smaller towns and get a feel if it's a place you want to visit again.

Hi I plan on going on April 29th, has anyone went around April? Is the wheather okay? I am trying to figure out what to wear and how much money I should bring? Is it good to bring cash or will they accept a Visa Gift Card in Europe? I'm nervous because this is not only my first trip on Contiki but my first trip outside the united states and I will be going alone.

I'm planning on going in early April...anyone know what the weather is like around this time?

Anyways, here is some advice on the trip:


Amsterdam - you will have about 5 hours to explore the city the night you are there (or more if you like to stay out real late) and another 4 or 5 hours the next morning. Definitely do the Canal Cruise Optional, one of the best optionals on the tour. Free drinks and a good chance to meet your new tourmates and see the city through the canals.

The optional canal cruise is the first "group" activity of the trip and its THE best opportunity to mix and mingle and get to know your fellow tour mates. On my tour, after the cruise, most everyone stuck together and roamed the city together. This first night really opened up everybody and set the tone for the trip and for the group.

THIS IS A MUST DO OPTIONAL... IT'S THE FIRST TIME MEETING EVERYONE... AT FIRST IT'S A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE... BUT JUST REMEMBER THAT EVERYONE IS IN THE SAME SITUATIONS THE BEST PART OF THIS OPTIONAL IS THAT IT'S ALL YOU CAN DRINK... THE WORKERS TOLD US TO DRINK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO CARRY THE ALCOHOL BACK OFF THE BOAT

St. Goar - not too much to see here because it is literally a one street town. Definitely do the Wine Tasting Optional if you like wine. It isn't that expensive and it's fun.

St. Goar is indeed a small town that you can see, literally, in less than half an hour. The wine tasting is definitely worth it. As you can imagine, the purpose of a lot of the group activities is to get everyone to mingle and know one another. The idea of going with a large group of like minded people is to make friends and get to know them.

BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO DO & BECAUSE IT'S A CHEAP OPTIONAL, I'D DO IT... I LOVE LOVE LOVE WINE... BUT WASN'T IMPRESSED BY THEIR WINES

Munich - you don't get a whole lot of time in Munich. I would suggest going to the Hofbrauhaus with the group and enjoying one of the best nights on tour. The food is incredible and it is some of the best beer you will find in the world. The atmosphere is great and EVERYONE in the whole place has an awesome time.

The timing of my tour coincided with Oktoberfest. So we get to Munich around 2 or 3, then spend a couple of hours walking through Munich and afterwards, spend the rest of the evening at Oktoberfest. Again, like all the group activities, you are free to run off on your own if you like, as long as you know how to get back to the hotel. So, if you really want as much personal time as possible, then skip the group activities. Oktoberfest wasn't an organized group activity but we were all dropped off together and meant to make our way back to the hotel on our own via the subway. So, people broke off into smaller groups for Oktoberfest and shared stories the next day.

THE HOFBRAUHAUS WAS BY FAR THE BESTEST THING DURING OUR STAY IN MUNICH!!!

Austria - you get to see a lot in Austria. I haven't done the White Water Rafting Optional but I'm not a big water sports person. If you choose not to do it, the area where you wait for your tour mates is in a very beautiful area and there are a couple of stores and restaurants. DO NOT DO the Swarovski Crystal World Optional, it is not worth it at all.

While in Austria you'll get a chance to go rafting. Those who do not do the rafting have to hang out at the rafting center for a couple of hours. The center is really just a small picnic area, sand volleyball court, fields, a small internet station, giftshop, and snackbar. You can spend your time going for a nature walk along the river, or just hang out with the other non-rafters. The views are truly breathtaking, but I was running out of things to do after a while. After the rafting you hop back on the bus and drive about another hour or so into Innsbruck. The tour guide takes you on a short walking tour to orient you and you're let loose to explore the time. The Swarovski store is a waste of time, just another meaningless shopping frenzy. Skip it and explore a lot of the smaller, more local merchants or just appreciate the scenery.

THERE WERE NO OPTIONALS AVAILABLE TO US THERE, BECAUSE I WENT DURING THE WINTER... AND THE SWAROSKI CYRSTAL STORE WAS FREE... THERE'S 3 LEVELS & IT'S PRETTY QUICK... IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO BUY GIFTS FOR THE MOMS, GFs, WIVES, ETC...

Venice - you get a good amount of time in Venice also. Definitely do the Gondola Ride. I also liked the Venetian Restaurant Optional although I've seen lots of complaints about it on this site. I'm sure you can find a cheaper meal that's better.

To me Venice will always be very magical, the labyrinthine alleys that you can't ever seem to get lost in because they all lead back to a main walkway or plaza. There are three optional activities while in Venice: Glass Blowing demonstration, followed by sales pitch, gondola ride, Venetian restaurant. If you skip ALL these activities, you'll basically have an entire afternoon and all evening on your own. However, because the hotel is actually well outside Venice, you'll need to make it back to the ferry at the exact time so you don't get left behind when the bus heads back to the hotel. A warning about the Gondola Ride. Our ride took us through some really boring and dirty back alley canals, not the main, picturesque alleys that the regular tourists see. After about 15 minutes we were all scratching our heads wondering what was so weird about our ride and then realized that we weren't going down any of the main canals. Maybe we had the cheaper, "tour-group" level ride.

I WENT TO THE GLASS BLOWING DEMONSTRATION... I WOULD SKIP IT... I HAVE TO AGREE WITH THE COMMENT ABOVE REGARDING OUR GONDOLA RIDE... IT WAS A BIT DIRTY & BY THE TIME, I FINISHED MY WINE (BRING YOUR OWN ALCOHOL), THE RIDE WAS OVER... IT WENT BY REAL QUICK... AS FOR THE DINNER, I WOULD PASS IT... I LOOKED THROUGH THE CONTIKI SITE FOR ADVICE & DECIDED TO JUST DO EVERYTHING, THINKING I WOULD MISS OUT (ALSO MISS HANGING OUT WITH THE GROUP) BUT THE PIZZA WE GOT THERE WAS SOSOSO MUCH BETTER THAN THE DINNER... THE APPETIZER WAS BETTER THAN THE REAL MEAL...

Rome - you get an afternoon/evening, and then a full day here so I suggest you go on your own and try to see as much as you can as Rome has lots to offer.

We had the most free time in Rome. We got there in the afternoon. The tour guide blitzkrieged us on a walking tour through the main sights of Rome like the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and Pantheon. At each spot we had a 10-15 minute time for pictures. Then there's an included dinner followed by a night time walking tour down to the coloseum. The next day there was an included guided tour by a local guide of the coloseum and the roman forum. Our guide then took us on the bus over to the Vatican and from there we were let loose as late as we wanted, as long as we knew how to take the train back to the hotel.

THE GUIDED TOUR WAS SOSOSO NOT WORTH IT... I WOULD HAVE RATHER SPENT THE TIME DOING IT ON MY OWN TIME... IT WAS A WASTE OF TIME

Florence - You get some time to explore the main part of the city. Go see the David. The Souvenir Group Photo all depends on if you want a photo or not. The first time I got one, the second time I didn't. The Tuscan Evening Optional is a lot of fun as you get food and entertainment. Again, I've heard complaints about the meal but I enjoyed it and it's the start of a fun evening that ends at Space Electronic Disco which is alright, nothing special. It's a good way to have fun with your tour mates.

If you skip the leather factory/shop and guided tour by local guide, you'll get lots of free time. Florence is a lot of fun to explore on your own. The Tuscan dinner is also fun. I skipped out on the Space Disco though because I was so tired.

I GOT A SOUVENIR GROUP PHOTO & I'M TOTALLY GLAD I DID... AS FOR THE TUSCAN DINNER... IT WAS REALLY REALLY REALLY EXPENSIVE... IF I WERE TO GO ON THIS TRIP AGAIN, I WOULD SKIP IT... ONCE AGAIN THE APPETIZERS WAS BETTER THAN THE MAIN... THERE, OUR GROUP STILL HAD A GOOD TIME...

SPACE ELECTRONIC DISCOTECH - WAS FUN FUN FUN, ALTHOUGH THERE WASN'T A LOT OF PEOPLE

Lucerne - Just a beautiful place. Definitely do the Mt. Stanserhorn Optional as it gives you spectacular views of the city from all sides. I did not do the Lake Lucerne Cruise (it wasn't even offered on my first tour) instead opting to explore the city. Nobody who did the cruise on my second tour said anything special about it.

Lucerne is probably the only city where the hotel is actually IN the city, so you don't need to catch the bus ina nd out of town or worry about making it to the bus back in time. But the city is small anyway. The Lake Lucerne Cruise wasn't offered on our trip because the guide said at night it gets so dark on the lake that you can't see anything anyway. I did do the Mt. Stanserhorn option though because the views up there are breathtaking. The Mt. Stanserhorn option happens just as you'r about to enter Lucerne. The bus stops, and all those who are interested in this option take a small tram up the mountain followed by gondola. After everyone's back, the bus continues for another half hour or less into Lucerne and you check in to your hotel and the rest of the night is yours after the included hotel dinner.

THERE WAS NO OPTIONALS AVAILABLE FOR ME

Paris - the first tour I didn't go to Paris, the second time I did. When I went the optional offered was the Moulin Rouge but it looks like they changed it. The people who did the Moulin Rouge were split. Some loved it, others thought it was a HUGE waste of all the money it costs. Personally, I would take this evening to do your own thing in Paris and then meet the group after the show to say your goodbyes.


Ah... Paris. I don't think I could ever, ever get tired of this city. You arrive to the hotel in the afternoon and check in. There's a little time to freshen up or go for a walk. The hotel is not in central paris but is a short subway ride from all the major sights. There's then an included hotel dinner followed by a night time bus tour of the popular sites. The bus tour ends at the eiffel tower. Those who want can take the bus back or, you can continue to roam the city on your own and just take the subway back to the hotel later. The next day is completely free unless you go for the perfume shop option. I skipped out on this because I wasn't interested in this and didn't want it to eat up a chunk of my day. If you signed up for the cabaret show, then you have to head back to the hotel at a certain time and everyone will get on the bus to go to the show. You're taken first to a bar next door to the moulin rouge for drinks and then you walk to cabaret. The name of the club is called Nouvelle Eve and the guide sells it to you as a better bargain than Moulin Rouge. We were told the food is better, the atmosphere is more intimate, though the show is not as great. I felt the venue was a little cheesy and the show, or at least portions of it, was very hokey, especially the music. But the food was pretty good. I thought it was not worth the money, though I'm still glad I went.

I WENT TO THE PERFUME SHOP OPTIONAL AND ENDED UP BUYING PERFUME FOR THE MOMS & SISTER FOR CHRISTMAS

WE WENT ON THE MOULIN ROUGE OPTIONAL, ACTUALLY LET ME REFRAISE THAT... I WENT & MY HUSBAND DIDN'T... I REALLY REALLY REALLY WANTED TO GO, AND BECAUSE THE HUSBAND DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO GO, HE LET ME GO WITH THE GROUP... I AM SOSOSO HAPPY HE DIDN'T GO CUZ THAT SAVED US ABOUT $200 BUCKS... IT WAS ONE OF THE CHEESEST SHOWS I'VE EVER SEEN... I WATCH A LOT OF SHOWS & THIS ONE JUST REMINDED ME ON A VARIETY SHOW FROM VEGAS... OTHERS SEEMED TO LIKE IT A LOT... I GUESS THEY HAVEN'T SEEN MANY SHOWS...

You don't get a lot of time in each city and you wont get to see everything you want to. If you really want to get to know each of these places, I recommend you travel on your own and give each place at least 5 days. Just enjoy the experience and remember that you are just getting a taste of each of these places. Get to know your tour mates and make the best of each day on the tour and it will be an awesome trip.

...ditto. this is a very, very fast paced trip. You get up early, spend a lot of time on the bus. Do you home work in advance, find out what things there are to do in each city and paln it out. You don't have a lot of free time so make sure you know where you're going. Even the guide tells you many time throughout the trip, that this is just a taste of europe, and its perfect for first timers because you get an idea of the major cities and can decide which ones, if any, you want to go back to in the future and spend more time. All in all, it was an unforgettable experience

I'm going on this tour next week and REALLY appreciate the insight!

Thanx soo much!!

Ok, here's my brief two cents (based on my own personal experience, and feedback from others on my tour (further details are in my travelogue/review:

==========

Paid Excursions

Amsterdam Canal Cruise - Do it.

St Goar Wine Tasting - Do it (what else are you going to do?)

Munich Bike Tour - Do it.

Austrian WhiteWater Rafting - Do it (waters aren't that rough, but SO fun and GORGEOUS views)

Austrian Swarovski Crystal World - Don't do it.

Venice Gondola Ride - Do it

Venice Dinner - Don't do it.

Rome Imperial Guided Tour - Do it

Florence Group Photo - Buy it

Florence Tuscan Dinner - Do it

Florence Space Electronic Disco - Up to you (if you want to party, then go. If you'd rather not party, don't go. No biggie)

Lucerne Mt Stanserhorn - Don't know....due to traffic we couldn't get there in time, but from what I read here on the forums, you should go

Lucerne Lake Cruise - Up to you (if you want to spend another night with the group, then go. It's only about an hour, and only one free drink - though others are cheap...But if you'd rather spend your little time there checking out the city and sightsee, then don't go on the cruise. No biggie)

Paris Nouvelle Eve - Don't do it.

=================

Free Excursions

Venice Glass Blowing - Don't do it.

Florence Leather Demonstration - Don't do it.

Paris Perfumery - Up to you (if you like perfumes, then go....if you don't like strong scents/perfumes, don't go)

Guided tour by TM in any of the cities - GO!!! Wealth of knowledge and great tips!

Wow, can't believe someone resurrected this thread! Brings back wonderful memories.

Most people come back loving it or hating it. Knowing what Contiki is all about and what their style is like is crucial in deciding whether or not to go with them. I loved every waking second and unfortunately, I've only got another year or two before I no longer "qualify",

quote:

Originally posted by redleader:
Wow, can't believe someone resurrected this thread!

May as well keep things up to date and relevant!