Hi All,
Im doing the Ultimate European departing London on the 26th of August 07. Ive been searching through the message boards and I cant find anyone else doing it! Its a tour that coincides with beerfest so surely there are others out there! Im madly excited yet slightly apprehensive about being away from home for so long. Also not sure how much money to bring but im sure ill work it out.

Hey Jessticles!!
Never Fear!! A friend (Nelle) and are both going on the same tour!! We're both v excited as well. It'll be my first time overseas and away from home that long so I'm freaking out a little.
I think I'm going to try take about the $5k AUD mark... if possible.
Cheers
Dot

oh yay! A tour buddy already! Its all so real as im off to pay my trip on Thursday and my air fare so its all go go go. However spending 10 grand in a couple of hours is just plain terrifying! Although im sure it will be well worth it. I think im flying into London on the 23rd and i get back to nz on the 22nd of Oct i think. Rugby world cup took up so many seats on the plane!!!

Lol. We're hoping to pay for ours by the end of December, i'm the one holding up the works... $10k is a lot to hand over in one go!! i belive we'll be flying into London on the 16 of August then leaving on the 11th of October. of course the world cup how could i forget!!!
Cheers

Dot

Hey Jess. I signed up! didnt take too long to find you in here. there is just no escaping me lol. do i sound like a deranged stalker coz thats the persona im aiming for

I know! Its an insane amount of money and just for the occasion im taking the day off work to do it...thought I might sneak in some xmas shopping while i was at it.
Ahhh so you'll get there earlier and wont be hanging around long after. Ive heard that after your tour if you go back to contiki quite often there are really cheap deals to Mykanos which appeals to me since ill be doing the Eqypt option. After the tour i wanted to go and see Ireland and Sctoland with any money i happen to have left!

Ahhhhh Leonie (whisky) my little travel buddy. Leonie is going on the tour with me. I convinced her it was a good idea, well dragged her into it i guess.
And yes you sound like a deranged stalker ya weirdo!!

My work here is done then carry on, nothing to see here. hey, are you getting me a Xmas pressie, or is spending a few days in Orewa enough of a present for you lol.

I know what you mean, i think Nelle's handling the booking stuff i'm just handing over my cash. The plan is to land in the UK early go visit a friend of mine, duck up north and check out Ireland, then jump on the tour. I've got to be back in OZ asap as i've got a wedding to go to (they met on a contiki tour) We're not doing the Egypt option.
Hey Wisky welcome.

decided this is the date im going to do the Tour, was looking at either the 17th or the 26th and i just think the 26th works better overall.

Going to fly to the UK two weeks before and spend sometime with my family in Bournemouth, hopefully catch a game or two of EPL whilst im there before heading off on what should be a great adventure.

havent booked yet as i still have get approval to take 10 weeks off, but at least i have worked out specifically what i want. Need to work out final costs though for various "options"

Seeing the pyramids will be something special.

Cant wait, trying to talk a few friends to come along as well. Im excited as i think about it, havent done a single minute of work today trying to work out what is the best time for me to go.

hey Scott welcome

Nelle and I have finally booked the tour and we're handing over the life savings on saturday... *gulp* no turning back now.

its a big chunk of change that is for sure.

i had money set aside for funiture, new tv, pool table and stuff like that for when my house is built (should be finished around april/may 07) but ive had this feeling for the last few months, that if i dont go now, i never will.

So here i am, money is good to go, i just need to get work sorted out and i will book and pay hopefully within the next few weeks.

been reading a few various reports about the trip (check out www.ultimate-european.com ) and have read nothing but good things.

Its exciting, ive been to the UK as a kid a couple of times, and have done the standard Bali trip, but Europe & Egypt (Pyramids) especially is something that ive always wanted to see.

Should be good.

Hey Scott - welcome. And hey Dottie - thanks for your welcome I just spent the most money ive ever had in my bank a/c at any time since i can remember, and it was very painful to hand over the contents to someone else! but well worth it - ive been checking out the optional activities they have in store for us, and i cant wait to get in a hot air balloon to take a trip over the pyramides in Thebes. Sa-weet

Lol it hurts doesn't it.

ohh you'll have to take lots of foto's for those of us who aren't going on that leg! sounds like a great place for a balloon ride.

Hello all, sorry ive been a non event but i forgot my password! Isnt it ridiculous how many passwords one can actually accumulate!
Hiya Scott! I think its a great idea to go now before you get all home owner serious like!
Well as Leonie (Whisky) said we've paid both our tour and our flights so theres no going back. I took the day off work to do it as i figured A) i deserved it and B) how often do you pay out that much money in one hit.
Ive been reading up on lots of peoples take on this tour and all in all just as scott said it sounds great, i know Whisky and i talk daily and still just cant get our head around it, its just too exciting!

Hey Guys, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
Jess that's great news! And why shouldn't you take a day off?? We deserve them right?
All my plans came crashing to a halt the week before Christmas... all I can say is that I HATE banks... now I'm back to square one and saving my behind off. My parents are being nice enough to let me move back home to help the saving situation!!! I will be on that plane and on that tour if it's the last thing I do!!