Hi all, booking soon for the Grand Southern LA - NY from 05/04/08 - 28/04/08. Totally excited about it, but a little nervous because i'm going solo. Anyone else going at this time of the year?

Hi Fran, I'll be booking in the next few days for this tour as well. Also going to do the Big Apple Explorer when we get to NY and then the Grand Northern after that.

Im also going solo, so should be lots of fun!

Cheers,
Carlie

Hi Fran,

Yeah my boyfriend and I are booked to do the Grand Southern in April 2008. We've never been overseas before but we are really looking forward to it.

Should be heaps of fun!!

Lisa

Thanks for replying guys! I posted that over a month ago now and was beginning to give up hope that anyone would reply. Are either of you planning on heading to L.A before hand? I'm arriving about 3 days before the tour starts and spending another few days in NY after the tour finishes then heading home to Brissie. Would love some company!

Hello,

Yep, i will be arriving in la about the first or the second of april (am booking flights this week). am keen to check out a few touristy things before we start the tour, but haven't booked any accom/tours yet. prob stay in anaheim the night before it starts but am keen to stay in la for a few nights as well.

Cheers,
Carlie

I'm booking flights this week as well, looking at arriving on the 2nd. I was thinking more of staying at the Best Western in Anaheim (the hotel that contiki offers) because it's so cheap! I can't find any flights that are in my price range that don't arrive before 7am! Have you had much luck?

I think ill be getting there on the third. Im flying from sydney and the direct flights look like they arrive at 6.40am! it will prob take a while to get out of the airport anyway. how were you going to get down to anaheim from LAX?

I haven't really considered that yet! But I visited the website for the best western and it says it's 40 miles from the LAX international airport, so nearly an hour trip which can be very expensive by cab!!! I'm looking into that at the moment, let me know if you have any suggestions. Also, my email is mariababy346athotmail.com . It'd be great to be in contact with someone else to share ideas with.

Hey!! I just booked this trip yesterday! So excited! Can't wait! Forgive all the exclamation marks! Anything's more exciting compared to work at the moment!

Can't wait to get to know you all better. I'm from Melb, Australia, going on this trip by myself as my 21st present (I'm 21 in December). I plan on arriving in LA (well, staying at the Contiki hotel in Anaheim) on about 2 April, and exploring for a couple of days before the tour. Haven't confirmed my flights yet though.

I'm pretty sure there's a bus from the airport to the hotel, and also from the hotel to LA. My brother did one of the smaller trips last year, and he seemed to have no problem. I'll have to ask him.

Can't wait! We're gonna have a blast! You all just have to stop me from spending all my money! I'm a shoppaholic.

Look forward to talking with you all more as we count down the days!

Cheers,
Laura

Gday all,
Yep, you'll be seeing me on that trip aswell! I booked it a few weeks ago and I'll be meeting up with a mate and his girlfriend the day b4 it starts.
Like yourself Fran, excited and a bit nervous coz I've never really been out of Aus b4. I'll be goin Adel-Syd-LA arriving at 0640 on the 31st Mar. A friend told me to stay in Santa Monica coz its really nice but, I have no idea ... all I know is I’m camping at the Anaheim Best Western Stovalls Inn the night before the tour starts. Also like most of you guys I'll be stayin in NY a few days after the tour, b4 heading back to Oz.
Anyway it was good havin a read through this forum, it's helped alot already!
Seeya!
Wade

Hey laura,

I'm 21 in December as well!!! I'm from Brisbane, australia, and it's so exciting to finally start meeting peole who are going on this tour.
There is a bus that goes from LA to Anaheim, it's called supershuttle. It's in Contikipedia under getting places I think.
I'm arriving on the 1st and heading straight to Anaheim to explore a bit too, we shoud explore together!
Wade, nice to know someone else is feeling the same as me. I'm actually doing the big apple explorer tour straight after the grand southern. If you're thinking about staying in NY afterwards, it's pretty worth it, because the accommodation is pretty expensive!
Looking forward to meeting you all

Fran

hi my name is leanne, looking at taking this tour! then doing the grand northern one.
im travelling by my self n trust me there is nothing to be scared about! i did a contiki around europe by my self and had the time of my life! cant wait to travel again!

hi everyone, looks like there is quite a few of us booked to go now! great stuff!!

im getting there on the 3rd (flying direct from syd) so let us know if anyone else is arriving the same day.

i had a friend that did this tour a few months ago and he had an absolutely awesome time, but he needed another week of holidays when he got home to catch up on all the missed sleep, so enjoy your sleep-ins guys, cos i doubt there will be many on tour, ha ha!

leanne, im also doing the grand northern which leaves NY a few days after we finish on this one, thought i would do it all while i had the chance, cos ill prob head to europe for my next trip.

Cheers
Carlie
xoxo

Hey guys,

I love these forums! So good to know we're not alone!

I'm in the process of booking everything. I've booked the tour, but still confirming flights. I was planning on flying in on 2 April, but looks like now I'll be flying in on 31 March. Not sure if you know this, but there's a bit of a season change at the end of March, and all the flights from 1 April are about $200 more expensive. At least, that's what I've found leaving from Melb, and my travel agent confirmed.

So I'm flying 31 March and spending an extra couple of days in LA. I mean, by the time you pay for accommodation for the extra couple of days, I know you're not really saving. But if it means extending the trip by 2 days for the same price... Why not?

Anyway, might be something for you all to think about.

Cheers,
Laura

when i went on my europe contiki, none knew about this forum site, i thought none was going on my tour but it was full! didnt get any sleep, very early mornings and late nights.
i havent booked yet, plan on booking in the next month!
yeah i want to see all of USA while im there! would love to go up to alaska after the GN tour but dont know if i can sfford it yet! everything is just so expensive