Recent Articles

These are the most recently updated articles in Contikipedia.

1. How much spending money should I bring? - Europe

   More Tour and Travel Advice for Europe How much spending money to budget for is a difficult question to answer as everyone has their own style and rate of travel spending. Some will go out and shop till they drop spending perhaps 100 of Euros or Pounds every day, others will party spending more in bars while again others will spend more money on museum entries and souvenirs, while others yet again will get though on the bare... read more >>

   14 comments | Saved 261 times

2. Tips on Saving for a Trip

   Based on the Contiki Forums Topic Personal Loan or Hard Saving..? Save on Tour Costs and Flights Shop around for the best deals for airfares etc You would be amazed at how much prices can vary. Get quotes and do your sums and book early for the most inexpencive tickets, also departing/arriving between Tues-Thursday will cut the ticket cost. Try and not go in peak season (from June till the end of August & December/school holidays) Check for deals f... read more >>

   28 comments | Saved 81 times

3. Camping Tours

   General Overview Camping Tours are the least expensive way to see Europe and include all the sightseeing, free time and extra excursions of other Contiki Tours. People who choose to go on camping tours are generally very outgoing and don’t mind roughing it a bit. They are very popular with gap year students. The buses used for the tour are the same as other styles of Contiki Tours and get loaded up with all the tents, cooking equipment and food hampers needed to run the tour. Helping eac... read more >>

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4. Money belt

   Money belts and neck pouches you carry under your clothes are great no matter where you travel in the world. There are pickpockets in many European cities like Rome, Prague, London and Paris and money belts give you the piece of mind in that you know where all your important and valuable documents are and that they are kept on your person. While they may feel a little funny to start with, they are far safer than pockets and backpacks as you may leave your backpack behind somewhere but you’re not goin... read more >>

   6 comments | Saved 14 times

5. Suggested packing list - Europe - Summer

   More Tour and Travel Advice for Europe What to pack for travel to other parts of the world The following is a suggested packing list for a Europe summer tour. People are individuals though and often have personal preferences and opinions as to what to bring. The following then is not a definitive list, but should give you a good guide as to what you should pack for your European tour. Clothes 1 rainproof jacket/small umbrella ... read more >>

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6. Where you stay - Concept/Budget Tours

   PLEASE NOTE: These are just a sample of some of the accommodation Contiki uses throughout Europe. There is no guarantee that every tour will stay in the lodgings listed below. Check your Contiki Travel Documents for confirmation of your accommodations. On Concept/Budget Tours, accommodations are generally in campsites, budget style hotels and hostels as well as Contiki Special Stopovers. Where you stay is one of the main differences between t... read more >>

   2 comments | Saved 40 times

7. Suggested packing list - Europe - Winter

   More Tour and Travel Advice for Europe What to pack for travel to other parts of the world The following is a suggested packing list for a Contiki winter tour to Europe. People are individuals though and often have personal preferences and opinions as to what to bring. The following then is not a definitive list, but should give you a good guide as to what you should pack for your European winter tour. Clothes 1 rainproof jacke... read more >>

   15 comments | Saved 195 times

8. Suitcase Vs Backpack

   More Tour and Travel Advice for: Europe, USA & Canada, Australia and New Zealand “I would advise travellers to take a suitcase with an extendable handle and wheels for any overseas trip. Firstly, suitcases can be packed in a very organized manner so that anything is easily accessible once you hit your hotel room. Wheels and a handle allow for easy transport, whether into a hotel, a coach in the morning, or out onto a sidewalk to catch a cab to the airport. Additionally, ... read more >>

   34 comments | Saved 237 times

9. Optional Excursions - Europe

   Everyone is different, so you have a choice to enhance your itinerary with Optional Excursions during your tour. This choice of activities is based on what past travellers have asked for and are designed to help you get the most out of your tour. What are Optional Excursions How to pay Here’s a taste of what’s available Austria White Water Rafting Mountain Biking Mozart and Strauss Concert Croatia Dubrovni... read more >>

   3 comments | Saved 37 times

10. Dress code - Europe

    More Tour and Travel Advice for Europe Contrary to some literature, you do not need to dress up with dress pants and dresses to get into clubs and bars in Europe. Most of the time jeans and a t-shirt is more than enough with some bars and venues even allowing entry with shorts and flip flops. General For most occasions, comfortable, casual clothes are recommended for your European travel adevntures. Going Out and Evening Wear Although you don’t have to wear slacks and ... read more >>

    10 comments | Saved 366 times

11. Power adapters

    More Tour and Travel Advice for: Europe, USA & Canada, Australia and New Zealand Do you need a power point adapter? If you’re travelling away form your home country or region of the world then chances are that yes, you do. Power outlets have different shapes in different parts of the world and you may need an adapter to convert the shape of your home power plugs to the shape of the outlets in the region of the world you are travelling to. How many do you need? It dep... read more >>

    24 comments | Saved 156 times

12. Western European language basics

    There is no need to enroll in French, Italian, German and Spanish classes for your European Tour. Your Tour Manager will fill you in on how to say some of the basics (eg. hello, please, thank you) in the native tongue of each of the countries you visit. It is often not only useful, but also polite to know a few of the basics in the local language and it’s a good idea to try and remember and uses these basics. English is a widely spoken and understood ... read more >>

    4 comments | Saved 156 times

13. Auckland

    Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city. Built on the edge of the world famous Auckland Harbour, it is also known as the ‘City of Sails’. Sky Tower Rising above the Sky City (official site) complex, the Sky Tower in Auckland is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere. At 328 meters (1000 feet) in height, it provides wonderful views of Auckland city, harbour and the surrounding area. The Tower also includes a selection of interactive displays while Sky City is also home to ... read more >>

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14. Christchurch

    Christchurch, the capital of Canterbury, and largest city of the South Island, is arguably the most beautiful and certainly the most English style city in New Zealand. Built on the banks of the Avon River, the city is also known as the ‘Garden City’ due to its beautiful parks and gardens, the most notable of which is the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. With a population of roughly 350,000 people, this is the second largest city in New Zealand with most of the city centered around Ca... read more >>

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15. Astrological Clock, Prague

    by – Matt Vernick, Tour Manager, Europe The Astrological clock is one of the most popular and recognized sites in Prague and can be found in the Old Square of the Czech capital. Every hour on the hour the marionettes on the clock ‘perform’ for the people watching below including the bell-ringing skeleton (representing Death – holding a beer funnily enough). If you love this you’ll also probably love the Glockenspiel in Munich, Germany – it’s tacky and touristy but you have to see it.

    0 comments | Saved 4 times

16. Shoes and Footwear

    More Tour and Travel Advice for: Australia, USA & Canada, Australia and New Zealand Shoes are important, to some people they are the only thing that matters and your choice of footwear when taking a tour is also important. It also matter what time of year you will be traveling as slushing around wearing flip-flops int he snow or ugg boots at a beach party isn’t much fun. Summer Tours Contiki recommends taking three pairs of shoes on any given tour: 1 pair of c... read more >>

    10 comments | Saved 88 times

17. Where you stay - Time Out/Superior/Hotel Tours

    Contiki has chosen a wide range of accommodation in order for you to best appreciate what Europe has to offer. From a magnificent 4-star resort in Vienna, Austria, to Europe’s highest hotel on Mt Pilatus in Switzerland – you’ll travel Europe in style. All are Superior Tourist Class Hotels and have excellent facilities while our special resort hotels have been chosen for their particular character, charm, locat... read more >>

    1 comment | Saved 68 times

18. Scandinavia (Tour)

    Style of Tour Time Out/Superior/Hotel Tour Please Note: This tour often operates as a Modulated Tour as part of the longer Russia and Scandinavia tour. Featuring Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland Staying in Stockholm, Elverum, Stryn, Voss, Oslo, Copenhagen Starting in Stockholm Finishing in Copenhagen Trip Forum Meeting Place Meet others who are going at the Scandinavia Meeting Place More information, dates, rates, and bookings Full itinerary, o... read more >>

    0 comments | Saved 1 times

19. Visas - Travelling to Europe

    More Tour and Travel Advice for Europe Depending on the nationality of the passport you are traveling on you may require visas to enter countries included on your tour. Every country in Europe has different entry requirements. You are responsible for obtaining all the necessary visas prior to the departure of your tour. You can consult your travel agent but the only truly reliable source of visa and entry requirements are the consulates of the countries themselves... read more >>

    11 comments | Saved 83 times

20. Norway

    Capital: Oslo Currency: Norwegian krone Language: Norwegian, English widely spoken Visas: Travel Visa Information Contiki Tours that travel to Norway > Norway has easily one of the highest standards of living anywhere in the world and the ‘land of the Vikings’ stretches the length of western Scandinavia sharing borders with Sweden, Finland and Russia. The whole west coast is filled with fjords, inlets and scenery of spectacular beauty, much of the country is natural, mountainous wi... read more >>

    0 comments | Saved 1 times