* * * Last edit: April 5, 2008 * * *

. . . . . . . . . Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . .


How to choose a tour? Read cdm155/Crissy's post.


Posting & Research Tips

** check out the Contikipedia !!! It is the continually updated and searchable wiki/encylopedia of all things Contiki.
From what to bring, what to wear, what the accomodations are like, description of all the destinations, etc.
It's also a work in progress so be patient. If you have any comments or
suggestions about the Contikipedia, please post them here To seach the Contikipedia, click on the Contikipedia tab
above and a search bar will appear at the top of the new page.


If you are looking for people on your tour, they are probably not in the advice section of the msgboards, which is what this is
... you should go to the Meeting place instead. ps: Don't worry, you are not the ONLY one going on your tour ... there will be others !!!!
(ps: this type of posting will also get moved to the appropriate meeting place category)
If you are curious about what a specific tour is like, don't immediately post it in the advice section, that type of question is too vague.
You can get a plethora of info by scanning and looking for your tour (or a similar tour) in the following areas:

• Reviews
  
• Travelogues (55)
  
• Contiki Cafe (66 travelogues)
  
• Videos on YouTube
  

Before posting:

try scanning through the Advice section first since there are many questions which are repeated many times over
referring to luggage, money, travelling alone etc. Chances are your question has been answered a few times and better yet,
there may be interesting questions that you may not have considered, but apply quite nicely.

if applicable, which tour are you looking at/going on? (the msgboard crystal ball's guessing ability is not that good yet,
we tried to defog it, but Windex is pretty expensive these days ...)

this msgboard has an excellent search engine - it's the "Find" tab with a magnifying glass symbol at the top of the message boards.
You can also perfom an Advanced Search as well.

read the extensive words of wisdom from Matty, a Tour Manager with 50+ guided tours.

Below are search links to common European Advice topics:
*** [C] links to a Contikipedia entry.

Adaptors/Convertors See Reference Table [C]
Age (Drinking Age) [C]
Airline/Flight
Alcohol
Allergies [C]
Travelling Alone [C]
ATM [C]
Backpack [C]
Basement (Contiki) [C] (map)
Booking
Books Maps Guides [C]
Bottled Water
Budget (Money) [C]
Budget Tour (aka: Concept Tour) [C]
Bus/Coach [C]
Cabin [C]
Calling Card / Ekit [C]
Cash [C]
Camcorder/Video
Camera
Camping [C]
Cancelled Tour [C]
Catacombs [C]
Cell Phone [C]
Charging/Recharging [C]
Clothes
Clothes Washing [C]
Coach/Bus [C]
Concept Tour (aka: Budget Tour) [C]
Contiki Basement [C]
Contiki Cough [C]
Convertors/Adaptors [C]
Couples [C]
Credit Cards [C]
Currency [C]
Day Bag [C]
Discount [C]
Early Bird Discount [C]
EKit [C]
Food [C]
Flight/Airline
Free Time [C]
Guaranteed Departure [C]
Hair Dryer / Straightener
Hostel [C]
Hotel [C] (Directions Heathrow -> Royal National/Imperial) [C]
Internet
iPod
Insurance [C]
Iron
ISIC/ISE/IYTC [C]
Jeans [C]
Language [C]
Laundry [C]
Locks
Luggage/Suitcase [C] (weight[C] / size [C] / storage [C])
Maps [C]
Modulated Tour [C]
mp3
Memory Card Warning: Fake Memory Cards
Mobile Phone [C]
Money [C]
Money Belt [C]
Night Before Meeting (aka Pretour Meeting) [C]
Oktoberfest (+Meeting Place) [C]
Optionals [C]
Overnight Bag [C]
Packing [C]
Passport (US passport delays) [C]
Pickpocket [C]
Pretour Meeting (aka Night Before Meeting) [C]
Recharging/charging [C]
Roommate [C]
Security [C]
Shared Room
Shoes [C]
Shower
Sleeping Bag [C]
Solo [C]
Storage [C]
Straightener (Hair)
Student ID [C]
Suitcase/Luggage (weight[C] / size[C] / storage) [C]
Superior Tour (aka: Timeout Tour) [C]
Theft [C]
Timeout Tour (aka: Superior Tour) [C]
Tipping [C]
Towel (not req for Superior tours)
Transfer
Travel Documents [C]
Travelers Cheques (only for last resort backup) [C]
Travelex
Triple Share [C]
Tube (London Subway homepage) [C]
Vegetarian [C]
Video Camcorder
Visas [C]
Washing [C]
Water
Weather (historical averages)
Winter


Send me a PM if there is a common topic that you think should be on this list.
And check back since I will continually update this.
So to start you off ... here are 40+ Pretour Tips (48 to be exact) to get you on your way ... http://www.eastboca.net/EuroPan/BeforeYouGo
You may agree with it - or you may not, but then again, it's free advice ...



Happy trails & pack light ...



- Vic



ps: one final note, I suggest you do not include your direct email in your post, but rather replace the @ sign with (at), i.e.: use something like:
username (at) hotmail.com
- - - instead of - - -
username@hotmail.com.
There are many programs that harvest messageboards for emails to add to their spam lists.

ps2: DO NOT USE ALL CAPS !!!! THIS IS JUST TOO ANNOYING (I might take the liberty of deleting it)
Hey ... have you actually read all of this? Here's a little treat.
Large Real Time photo above Mt. Pilatus in Switzerland.
Satellite Image. Enjoy !!!




You get on the Tube at Heathrow Airport and after ~45 minutes, you get off at Russell Square.
No buses, no tube transfers. Couldn't be easier and is fairly inexpensive.
.

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

13% off Contiki tour prices / Optionals Discount
Pretour suggestions ...
I want to fly a wingsuit !!!!

I second that Vic!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sarah Smiles,