help! contiki VS topdeck tours

[anna_aus]

hey everyone
i need your help, ideas, opinions etc... im really stuck on which tour company to go with, im planning on doing a 20 day tour with either contiki or top deck but dont know which one to go with!
has anyone travelled with either and what are you opinions?

[jeza]

i've done a contiki, for what it was it was good...i knew it was expensive and a rush trip when i booked it but since it was my first solo traveling experence and i was a timeframe this was fine for me.

they do try to rip u off with optional excursions, but otherwise it was good...plenty of people to meet obiously, great for partying everynight at the campsites they take u to....buses were decent...there was a mate who did a top deck i was talking to and from what he said it was pretty much the same... i belive they are owned by the same company.

my advice, pick which one just on what itinerty sounds the best 4 u, they do vary slightly

[mbo108]

I'd go with Contiki but that is solely based on the fact that one of my best friends runs tours across America for them...

[Resolve]

I did contiki this summer. Very well organized, and on time group of folks. Its true they have optional excursions, which actually are pretty interesting. I figured what the hell I'm in europe, I can pay my credit cards off later. I'm not gonna be back any time soon

[LostFarmboy]

Ditch the tour, get a Lonely Planet, and make your own itinerary. That's the best way.

However, if you HAVE to do a tour, i know a few people that have been on Contiki tours and they seemed pretty happy with them. But, i think you'll find that it doesn't matter which one you choose, they'll both go about doing the same things the same way. I'd choose the cheapest one if it was me.

Edit:
Or, you could use busabout. They're not really a tour group (i think), they're more a means of transport, but the buses are packed full of young travellers, so it would be a good way to meet people with the freedom to spend however long you want at the distinations on their route.

[thekid]

i met a few dudes in valencia that were doin busabout. they seemed to love it. you can stop of at any destination for as long as you want, then just jump back on the next bus.

i would go with the make your own itinerary plan though. more random, more do it yourself, and just generally more fun.

[hegartyc]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(anna_aus @ Aug 4 2006, 01:47 AM) [snapback]133606[/snapback]</div>

hey everyone
i need your help, ideas, opinions etc... im really stuck on which tour company to go with, im planning on doing a 20 day tour with either contiki or top deck but dont know which one to go with!
has anyone travelled with either and what are you opinions?
[/b]

I would definetly recommend Contiki. It is perfect for our age group because everyone on the tour is there for the same reason and want to have fun and experience new things! They offer so many different lengths of stays, and superior or budget tours, you have options galore!

I went alone and came home with all new friends! I loved going on the trip and make new memories with new friends!

If you want to check out some pictures, or funny stories of my trip check out my blog: http://katedoescontiki.blogspot.com

[Brookers13]

i second the busabout thing..98% of the australians i met were doing busabout and loved it

[contr002]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(anna_aus @ Aug 3 2006, 10:47 PM) [snapback]133606[/snapback]</div>

hey everyone
i need your help, ideas, opinions etc... im really stuck on which tour company to go with, im planning on doing a 20 day tour with either contiki or top deck but dont know which one to go with!
has anyone travelled with either and what are you opinions?
[/b]

I have backpacked in Europe and did Contiki in WUrope. Both have advantages and both have faults. I backpacked in Europe for six weekd and two years later I did a two weekd Contiki...lets just say I have retired my backpack. I'd go with Contiki

[Malli16]

Yeah, I thought I was all about traveling "alone" but when I got down to thinking about it I did not know where the heck to start planning and plus my parents were kind of freaked about girl traveling alone in Europe, etc. Anyway I ended up going on a Contiki trip and I highly recommend it. Everything is organized extremely well, you get to see a variety of places, you still can do your own thing but you have a new group of the most random friends ever so you can experience it WITH people. I loved the people on the trip, I actually have one of them flying in to visit me this weekend. And if in the future I want to do the whole backpacking thing, I now have some clue as where I want to go and how to go about it. Yeah thats basically it- contiki gets my vote

[Marz]

Hey! I've been on a Contiki. Just this summer I went to Europe for two weeks and I had a great time! I went on my own but met a lot of great people and the Tour Directors and Drivers are awesome!

What I like a lot about Contiki is that everyone on the trip is just out there to have a great time and has a positive attitude and are all around 18-35 years old. Also, it was so much less stress than having to arrange a trip all by yourself. You don't have to worry about booking hotels, finding transportation, and waste your time getting lost.

I hope to go on another Contiki next year!