Hi Everyone!
My name is Lauren and I just booked the Lon. to Ath. July 11-Aug. 2. I am so excited. Anyone else going on the same trip?
Anyone been on this trip and have any advice?
Thanks!

Hi,
My name is Gretchen and I just booked the same trip. The trip is on request now. Which means it is getting full, so no worries about not having enough interest to go.

I'm 24 and from Pennsylvania, where are you from?

Gretchen

I'm 26 and from Michigan.
I was starting to worry about the trip getting cancelled. Glad to hear that it's getting full. I am so excited. This will be my first time in Europe.
Have you decided to do any of the optionals? I am having a hard time deciding.
Lauren

It will be my first time in Europe as well.

I don't know exactly which optionals I will do, but as of now I'm thinking I will do most of them. They are mostly meals and entertainment or sight seeing optionals so I plan to do most of them. Also, I have read that George's boat is a fun optional. I don't know if I'll do the water sports or buy a tee shirt, but I'm sure I can  decide on those at that time.

When does you flight to return home leave? Mine leaves in the morning of August 2nd which concerns me because I thought we were suposed to tour the morning of the 2nd and get flights in the afternoon, but maybe I read the itinerary wrong.

gretchen

I think we sight see early in the morning and we part before lunchtime. What time does your flight leave?
My flight leaved a day later, early morning of the 3rd so I have an extra day in Athens. Did Contiki book your flight or did you do it yourself?

Well, I'm back.
I spent the last few days checking out my situation and calling my travel agent (a few times )I found that I could not push my flight back for a later time on the 2nd (no flights available), so I too will be spending the night of the 2nd in Athens and then leaving on the 3rd.

I'm also heading into London a few days prior to the trip to do some sight seeing there. Are you heading over early or will you be ariving the day before the trip leaves?

I'm so excited. I keep thinking about the optionals and all of the places we will be going. My friend is going to Italy and Greece later this month so I know I'll be getting some information about what to see and what not to see before I head out.

gretchen

Yea!  I was worried about spending the day in Athens all alone and how getting to the airport by myself and everything. When does you flight leave on the 3rd?  Mine leaves at 8 something in the morning.
I arrive in London on the morning of the 12th.
I am extremely excited too. I am still not sure what optionals to go on. I don't think I can afford to go on all of them.

I didn't get a copy my flight plan yet, but my travel agent said it was around 8am. So we may be on the same flight to London. It will be nice knowing that at least one other person will be spending the night in Athens afte the tour.
The optionals that I am definately going on are: 

    Nouvelle Eve -Cabaret show 
    Gondola Ride
    Guided Imperial Tour - (Rome)
    George's Boat
    Athen's Plak Meal (the groups last night together, i figure i 
    will robably want to do this one)

The rest I think I will decide as we go.

gretchen

I think I am definitly going on both the dinner and the Cabaret Show in France, the tour in Rome and in Pompeii and the last dinner in Athens. The rest I am not sure about.
I want to go on  gondola ride but I heard that it is better to go as a seperate group without Contiki because you get a longer ride and they are nicer.
Lauren

Great! That's interesting about the gondola ride. If its easy to get a ride without going through Contiki, maybe I'd do that and save some money too. It's too early to know everything that I'll decide to do. On the otherhand, I do love planning. Right now I'm planning what I'll do in London with my extra days, since those wont be pre-scheduled by a tour .

  I paid off the trip today and learned that my flight out on the 3rd leaves at 8:15, so maybe we will be on the same flight back to London. If not at least we will be able to help each other get to the airport.

I am paying off mine on Monday.
I never thought spending that much money would make me so happy.
I beleive that that is when my flight leaves too.
Where do you fly to after London?  I am going home to Michigan.

I will be flying into Philadelphia from London and then returning home. I have a family reunion that weekend so I know I will not be catching up on much sleep until after everyone heads home.

Sorry I've been away for a while, things are getting really busy for me. Although they will calm down significantly in the next week or so. I will have time then to start buying the things that I will need for the trip. First on my list are adapters so I can charge my camera and MP3 player. Then I will have to look into buying a nice shoulder bag/ purse that I can fit my camera into for sight seeing days. And of course there will plenty of other things I should have, so I'm sure I'll stay busy shopping and planning.

gretchen

One month, one week, and three days!

Holy Cow! 
Less than a month!
I can not believe I am actually going.

Where is everyone?