Hi Chris and everyone,
just paid the deposit.... but alrady changed some plans...looks like I`m going to start my summer tour in Alaska instead and make my way down South which means I need to re-scedule this tour to later in July
and miss the Stampede . What a pity would have been great to meet your cool group!
Well...I might change my plans again and still join..... Wish you a great tour otherwise!

Heike

gday to everyone who is going on the trip my mate and myself just paid for our whole trip first leg being canada and the rockies, main reason for going is the stampede and what ever comes with it, will meet up with you all at the sandman ready for party ,and this is our first conteki trip

Hi Heike,

Sorry you had to make other plans... would have been nice to have you along with our tour group... hey if you change your mind, there's always time... anyway, it's your tour and you should do what works out for your schedule, even though I think you'd get more out of the Stampede tour...

Either way, whatever you decide, happy planning and happy travels... you really can't go wrong with Contiki...

Hey Explorer 1087201, glad to have you aboard... looking forward to meeting you on tour... Stampede's always a good reason to do this trip... and you get to spend Canada Day in Canada which is always a lot of fun on this tour as well. It's gonna be a blast...

Hi all,
Been a long time since I've been on here Argh i'm so excited....not long to go now!! Looks like our tour is getting very full Yay! Good to see there are quite a few aussies on the trip as well...go aussie go! hehe

So just wondering how i actually sign up to the facebook site? Having some trouble with it. Any help would be appreciated!

Looking forward to meeting you all very soon
Mealzy xoxo

Hi Chris,
Contiki is the best way to travel!Have already done three tours....turning 33 later this year so Contiki time is running out and have to make the most of it. Looks like I do the Alaskan Adventure now (not confirmed yet), maybe Grand Canadian or Canada/Rockies Tour after.I might asked you for some advice if I`m on a later tour or about Vancouver - definitely going to read your tour reviews!
Heike

Hi gang...

just over 100 days to go

It's great that we're getting more and more people signed up for this tour, and looks like we'll have a pretty good mix too...

Mealzy, if you want to get onto facebook, there's a link I posted to it awhile back, or you can type Canada & Rockies Contiki in the search box... and it should bring it up.

Heike, so you're a Contiki pro then... you can still do Contiki for as long as you want, but yea, if you have any questions, let me know, I'll answer them as best as I can.

Chris

Hi everyone...

we're in the process of getting things underway for this tour...

there are optionals that Contiki will be offering... and there's a separate set of optionals offered for this Stampede tour as well...

I'll be going around in the next little while and hopefully touching base with everyone and asking who's interested in what individually. In order to try and create a great atmosphere, I'm also going to ask you what you'd like to get out of this tour... This is your tour guys and you'll be the ones to decide how to make it one of the best tours ever!!!

Look forward to chatting with everyone...

Not long to go now...

Chris...

gday chris

wondering what the optionals are for the stampede tour


nathan

Hi Nathan,

nice to meet you... I think I misworded it... it's a list of extras rather than optionals... things like I'm hoping to get most of you to try out Canadian ice wine... so I need to know how many people are interested so I know how many bottles to get.

Assistance with airport transfers to and from the hotel, who's interested in sharing photos and making a compilation for the tour then passing them out at the end of tour... small things added to the tour, rather than things to do...

there'll be plenty of that offered by Contiki... whitewater rafting and horseback riding is def recommended depending on weather and Stampede is a must for this tour... I'm hoping everyone comes out for Stampede... cause that's what this tour is all about, and what separates it from a regular Canada & Rockies tour. But I am working on a list and should have a pretty good idea by the end of next week. I also need to discuss some things with Contiki and my travel agent and have it approved as well before I put anything into place.

Are you booked for this tour? you can take a peek at some things I've got planned on the Facebook site if you want.

Chris

chris

a mate and myself are booked on this trip the stampede is the main reason we are going , we fly in the day before and are staying at the sandman from what i can figure out people are meeting there the night before for drinks? anyway we will be up for what ever happens

nathan

Hey fellow Contiki travellers,

for those of you wondering, we will be probably meeting up at 6 PM if you guys can meet up in the lobby of the Sandman Hotel... if the tour is leaving the same time as previous years, we should be departing the Sandman around 11:45 AM on Jun 27th, so I'll prob join you guys for a drink after the meeting. There's a few pubs close by as the Sandman's in downtown Vancouver. I can take you guys out afterwards... or if people wanna catch up on some sleep there's a Bar & Grill right next to the hotel.

Just a small recommendation... the drive up to Whistler the following day is up a really winding road, and hangovers are not a good thing, you might want to pack yourselves some multivitamins and motion sickness pills, just in case... and lots of water.

I've had a number of people ask about airport transfers. For those of you flying into Vancouver airport... my suggestion would be to use the Airporter Shuttle bus unless you have a lot of time and keen on navigating the streets of Vancouver by transit. Rush hour traffic is madness, so the Airporter would be the best option during that time of day. (we don't have any freeways in Vancouver lol) The price for the Airporter is $13.50CAD one way and $21CAD return trip... so it would be better probably for you guys to book a return trip... however this is up to you. this doesn't have to be done until you arrive. For those of you coming around 4:30 PM on Jun 26th (I think there's a few of you), I'll be swinging by the airport to meet up with you guys, as I'm headed up to Vancouver around that time anyway.

For those of you staying an extra day or two after the tour, we can probably head to Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mtn (great view of Vancouver at the top) in the afternoon of the breakfast (give people a chance to sleep in... trust me the last night's usually a big one), and prob Aquarium if there's time... and after the Aquarium, you guys will be close by to shopping areas for anyone that wants to buy stuff. (you might want to save the shopping for after the trip, so you're not lugging all that stuff around on tour)

Those coming in earlier, I would probably say, if you can hit Granville Island, Stanley Park & explore downtown Van...

One of my tour mates on my very first Contiki had a great idea of putting together a Contiki DVD for that tour... from then on, the idea took off, and it's back again for the Stampede tour... for those of you interested in a keepsake of this tour, I'll be talking more about it on tour. This is part of this tour's keepsake pack. I do need to know numbers for this one, so I can bring enough of them on tour, esp if there are people not staying more than an extra day after tour and want this option.

I know Contiki's included breakfasts in the itinerary in Calgary, one of the things I would suggest doing however is a Stampede Pancake Breakfast... they're all over town... will get back to you guys on this if there's anyone interested in this.

If you want to get Stampede Wear, there's a shop in Banff and a shop in Calgary we can hit... usually stuff at the Stampede is more pricier... if there's a bunch of people, I'll see if I can get a group discount.

Contiki contracts out one group photo, I believe it's in Banff... I'd like to get one at Lake Louise and a few other spots as well.

If anyone has a waterproof digital camera, and you're doing the whitewater rafting and piddle/peddle, please let me know... The whitewater rafting photos were $20 per photo last time I was there... kinda a bit pricey...

Those that don't want to bother looking for a photo shop or spending money to download photos can use my laptop... I'll have some blank CDs/DVDs for whoever needs to make room in their memory cards if you're finding you're running out of space on day one... which has happened... as a group we took a collective 5000+ photos last time.

Sorry this has been a long spiel... Well, I hope everyone's excited... less than 3 months to go see you all then.

Chris

Hi Everyone and Anyone... I'll be on this tour too! Can't wait to go to the Stampede, should be awesome! Will try and find you guys on facebook too! - Danielle

Hi Danielle,

Welcome to Contiki Canada & The Rockies with Stampede. Yea, Stampede's gonna be a good time for everyone. Hope you'll be able to make the pre-departure meeting for drinks with everyone...

I see you've joined our Facebook group... More stuff will get posted probably a little closer to departure date... come chitchat with some of your fellow travellers before then. When are you arriving into Vancouver?

Chris

Hey gang,



Bad news... my hands have been tied... my offer to help out and provide services has been rejected by Contiki USA corporate office in Anaheim.

If I don't end up doing this tour, I hope you guys have a really great time, and remember a tour is only as good as you make it... this is your tour... make the best of it, don't expect too much and go with the flow.

Have fun...

Chris

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RS1973SAR,

Hey guys!

My friend and I are heading on this tour and it will be our first time overseas so I'm sure you can imagine how excited I am. I'm from Victoria, Australia and can't wait to see you all there, if you are taking this tour. We touch down on the 26th and with our jetlag, we should be wide awake. Haha.

Samantha