That is really cool that you and your friends get to do this together. I wish one of my friends could come but they are all married with kids and can't just pick up and go to Europe, especially with only 3 months planning like I'm doing. I think it will be fun anyway. I am going to start researching the countries to see what other stuff would be cool to see that's not included or optional with contiki... have to try to see everything since who knows if/when I'll get the chance to come back. Since you are planning this for you and your friends, better make it good! lol

ye most of our other friends are married with kids or getting married around the time we're leaving, so we thought to do it then before we end up in the same boat lol... but ye I think the trip is awesome... since ur going solo are u going for the single room or the double room share with a stranger, cause and this sounds to weird, but Tiff came on after bec, tee and I booked, and she was going to share with another friend suzy who just pulled out and so Tiff is in a share with a stranger room, how weird would that be if u 2 ended up together lol... ye im stressed that they might not like something, especially cause we're spending a week in Hong Kong afterwards as well :S

but I've briefly looked at some of the stuff, and im definately up for the Schnapps Museum, :P lol...and I'm really excited to go to Anne Franks house aswell...

btw did you end up booking your accommodation Heather??

I'm the same way, I want to do this before I have too much responsibility. Wow, Hong Kong sounds awesome!! I wish I had friends like yours to do that with lol

I chose to get a twin room. I lived in the dorms for 2 years in college so I figure this is just like that, but only for a few weeks. So it's not that wierd for me (I just hope I don't get a mean girl!) That would be crazy if me and her ended up together. I am booked at the Imperial for my extra nights only because they had a single room but now that I'm thinking about it, maybe I should switch to a twin so I can meet someone to explore with since I will be alone before the tour??

hmmmm I hear that the Imperial is only down the road.... and liek i said your totally more than welcome to sight-see with us on the 9th of Jan, we get into Londong at like 6:30 am so allowing for anything we will probably be down at RN by about 8 or so....

Ya I think it's close by. It's weird that we leave for the tour from the RN in the morning but according to the Contiki girl I booked my hotel with today, the Imperial is where we stay the night before we head out. But you said you are staying at the RN...I'm so confused now! lol Since you won't be able to check in to your rooms that early, you are welcome to freshen up in my room if you need to. I'll already be there (I'll be in london starting Jan 7th) so we can grab some breakfast when you get in if you want. Just booked my flight so I'm getting even more excited!!!

awwww thanks for that, thats really nice of you to offer, after the long haul flight from Sydney I'm sure we'll all feel gross hahahahaha yeh contiki alternates between RN and Imperial depending on availability....

lo... but by the look of this forum, the trip is going to consist of you, me, and the other 3 girls hahahaha....

So which part of US r you from?

Sounds like your flight will be way longer than mine. I was lucky enough to get a nonstop flight so my airtime will only be about 11 hours and I'm sure I will be feeling icky so I can imagine how you guys will feel! I found out I will be at the Imperial the night before the tour leaves because I'm coming from n. America.

Lol, I know what you mean about us being the only ones on the tour! I hear the tour is sold out so there should be lots more people.

I live on the west coast in California. What part of Australia are you from?

ye we're flighing from Sydney to hong Kong doing a 3 hour stop over there then back on the plane for the second leg to Heathrow...I'm gonna have cabin fever by the time we land lol....

ye my travel agent told me like 2-3 weeks ago that there were only like 2 more spots available on this tour lol....

ohhhh california...pretty lol... we're all from Sydney....

Hey Heather and Lilly,
I'm Kae and I'm also on the 10th of jan winter wanderer trip. I can't wait. I'm going on my own which should be interesting but after reading your notes I think I'll get along with you all well. I will just have finished my final exams for uni so I hope to have a really good time.
I'm 24 and from Adelaide so hopefully I'm sort of used to the cold but I still think it'll be 10 times colder there.
Look forward to meeting you in about 3 months.
Kate

Hiya Kae,

Welcome ye its going to be sooooo cold,

as above I'm 23 and from sydney and my three friends that are coming along ( Tee, Bec, Tiff) are all 21.

When do you arrive in London and which airline are you taking??

Hi Kate! Sounds like everyone can celebrate the end of school. Glad more people from the tour are popping up on here. I am also happy to hear that I'm not the only one going solo. I'm sure we will have a blast despite the frigid temps. I heard Austria was super cold, more so than Spain or Italy. Can't wait!!

Hey,
I'm actually spending a month in Edinburgh before hand for a uni placement so I'll come into london the day before and stay the night at the place they suggest (I can't remember what they said but I'll def organise it before).
Apparently spain is pretty mild and we may even be able to wear shorts. I can't wait to meet you all.
Kate

Hiya,

Kate Im assuming you mean the Royal National... My friends and I are staying there also, and heather is only like 2 mins away up the road at imperial Hotel, so I'm sure we'll all be running into each other.

Although I dont know about shorts in spain, my friend was there last jan and said it was still pretty cold.

Wow a month in Edinburgh that sounds like fun

Wow Kate, you are going to be away from home for a really long time! Between the 2 tours I'm doing I will be gone almost 40 days myself. I will be back in London a couple days before the tour starts so if you wnat to do some sightseeing before, I'll be around.

I'm not sure about the shorts either, especially because I get really cold as it is. I hope it doens't rain or snow the whole time. But I think a picture of the Eiffel Tower with some snow on the ground would be a really nice picture!