Latest Travel Blog Entries

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

The main difference between Camping, Concept/Budget and Time Out/ Superior/ Hotel Tours is the styles of accommodations utilized.

Time Out/Superior/Hotel Tours pack in loads of sightseeing, free time, extra excursions and stay in Superior Class Tourist Hotels. This allows for:

• The choice of single, twin, or triple share rooms
• Hotels with private bathroom facilities
• Direct-dial telephone facilities available at most hotels
• Security boxes available at most hotels for your safety

Time Out/Superior/Hotel Tours also include:

• Regional Tours – focusing on specific regions. For example, Simply Italy in Italy, Spanish Spree in Spain, or Greek Island Hopping in Greece while the Mediterranean Highlights and Tuscany focus on specific regions.
• In-Depth Regional Tours for short breaks in cities like London, Rome, Paris and Amsterdam.
• Cruising Tours on Louis Hellenic Cruise ships through the Mediterranean.

Please note: Time Out/Superior/Hotel Tours operate year round with only some tours available in Winter. Camping and Concept/Budget Tours only operate in the summer (Departing March – September).

Where You Stay

Follow the links to check out some of the Time Out/Superior/Hotel Tour Hotels in each city.

Food

• Breakfast – Breakfast is always included on all European Contiki Tours. European Continental breakfasts are supplied at the hotels where you stay. The Continental style usually consists of rolls, butter, jams, tea or coffee and juices. Sometimes in northern European countries they will add an egg, ham or cheese. This will certainly seem different to home and somewhat repetitive if you are used to a cooked breakfast, however this fare is normal in Europe, especially in the more southern, hotter countries.
• Lunch – Lunch is not included and is always up to you – allows you the freedom to eat what you want and enjoy the local flavors.
• Dinner – Roughly half your evening meals are included and generally in the Table d’Hote style. Some are buffet style but usually consist of 3-meal course dinners with meat or fish as the main. Most dinners are served at your hotel or at a local restaurant. Dinners that are not included are left up to you to sample and enjoy the local cuisine and on some nights there may be an optional excursion meal planned.

Please note: If you have special dietary requirements (eg Vegetarian), let your Tour Manager know during the Pre-Tour meeting (a friendly reminder prior to the dinners also) and they will notify the hotels and restaurants

Sunday, January 31, 2010

As you get ready to travel?

Here are some tips to give you peace of mind while you are away and make sure you do not make your house as a target of opportunity. These are some simple precautions from the experts.

• Be mindful of who is around when you are discussing your trip - there is no need to let too many people know or draw attention to the fact your house might be empty for a period.
• The best deterrent is to have someone housesit. If that is not possible, ask a trusted neighbor or friend to take in the newspaper, mail, and any other deliveries and keep an eye on the house. Give them your trip plans and an emergency phone number so they can reach you in case of an emergency. You can also arrange with the post office and newspaper to suspend delivery for the time you are away.
• Lock doors, windows and secure sliding doors (a metal rod or a broomstick in the sliding door track is an inexpensive lock), as well as the garage, the basement, and the attic. Some people even disconnect the power to motorized garage door openers.
• Move any valuables from plain sight.
• Check on your appliances, unplug anything that doesn't need to be on while you're away. Lower air conditioning/heating units to energy-saving levels.
• Set timers to turn on lights if you do not have someone staying at the house.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

There are three types of Contiki tours that travelers can choose to take, Camping Tours, Budget Tours, and Superior Tours. Each style has a mix of sightseeing and free time with the main difference between the styles being the accommodations used.

Contiki Camping Tours are the least expensive way to experience the destination, and are for travelers who don't mind roughing it a bit. Campers stay in 2 person tents that are provided by Contiki and help in the preparation of meals. Mattresses are also provided but a sleeping bag and towel are necessary additions that the travelers must bring.

Contiki Budget Tours, also known as Concept Tours, are a less expensive way to see the destination without camping. Travelers who choose this tour stay in backpacker style accommodations and are able to meet many people. Travelers are usually put up in hostels or specialized Contiki Villages. Contiki Villages, also known as Contiki Special Stopovers, are specifically made for Contiki travelers and are manned by Contiki personnel. Many of the travelers are singles or students touring on a tight budget, but it is also common for couples to choose this tour.

Contiki Superior Tours are the most expensive of Contiki's tours. The main difference between the Superior Tours and the other two tours is that travelers stay in Superior Class Tourist Hotels. Superior Tours also include Regional Tours, In-Depth Regional Tours, and Cruising Tours

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Europe is a place of wonders, an intriguing past and timeless elegance.  Here, watch history come live as you explore the destinations of your choice.  Saver new foods and discover new passions.  Shop for exquisite fashion and wander bustling markets for the best bargains.  Let some of the most renowned theatres in the world excite and entertain you.  Discover lands where fairytale castles exist and real kings, queens and princess rule.  Europe is charming and positively magical, alluring, enchanting, enthralling and it's where Harry Potter, Shakespeare , Sherlock Holmes and "Angles & Demons" come to life.

Europe is defined in its thriving cities, breathtaking countryside, quaint pubs and the world's finest museums.  A day in Europe could be a day of sightseeing, romance or just a long afternoon sitting at a sidewalk cafe.

We welcome you to research your next European tour by destination, or by clicking on our preferred travel partners.

Here is our network of Europe travel destination sites:
Atlas Cruises & Tours| Christmas Market Tours | England Tours | Escorted Family Vacations | France Tours | Greece Tours| Ireland Tours | Italy Tours | Luxury Tour |Oberammergau | River Cruise | Russia Tours | Scandinavia Tours | Spain Tours

We also have specialty European Tour Operators sites:
Contiki Tours | Cosmos Tours | General Tours | Globus Tours | Insight Tours | Tauck Tours | Trafalgar Tours

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Life is an empty backpack waiting to be stuffed with unforgettable travel experiences and Europe is a mind-blowing adventures you don't wan to miss out on.

Don't rest until you've walked the wall in Berlin, kicked up your heels at a Parisian cabaret show and sipped fine wine on the capital Barcelona, share gelato with friends in Florence and discover Mozart in Vienna.  Visit Prague's medieval castle, mix with locals at a beer garden in Munich and tame the rapids of the Astrian Tyrol on a heart thumping white water rafting adventure.  Coming home without visiting the Colosseum in Rome, swimming in Santorini or riding a cable car in the Swiss Alps would be a job half-done.

A successful trip will be rewarded with thousands of stories to tell and a made-to-order view of one of the world's oldest, most unique and spectacular continents.

Experience all of this and more with Contiki tours.