Europe Summer 2006

[piggy-buttercup]

same here.. I am thinking a month in europe and a month in SE Asia. I think I can live like a queen in SE Asia for one month with one week's budget of Europe.. 

I am actually thinking of going to europe for a few weeks after I quit my job...are you all going by yourselves or with friends ? Most of my friends have jobs and so they just can't take off to go backpacking around europe with me

Probably by myself.  Not ideal, no, but still better than not going.  My friends that have the money aren't interested, and those that are interested don't have the money.  Oh well.

[piggy-buttercup]

Has anyone tried one of the Contiki trips to Europe or even Australia?  While I think it would be a great adventure to travel alone I (and of course my parents) are a little nervous about safety.  Contiki was suggested to me as a solution but I don't know anyone who has gone on any of their trips.

I am thinking about contiki too. my friend went thru it and recommended it.

[andyg]

Has anyone tried one of the Contiki trips to Europe or even Australia?  While I think it would be a great adventure to travel alone I (and of course my parents) are a little nervous about safety.  Contiki was suggested to me as a solution but I don't know anyone who has gone on any of their trips.

ditto the question about contiki...has anyone heard anything about it, either pro or con ?

[Barney]

Asia is great, Barney. It is so much cheaper than Europe so you can stay a lot longer without breaking your wallet.

Any recommendations as to where? Like I said, Vietnam sounds awesome, and I've heard good things about Malaysia too.  I'm probably dreaming, cause I have no money, but it'd be sweet!

[piggy-buttercup]

Asia is great, Barney. It is so much cheaper than Europe so you can stay a lot longer without breaking your wallet.

Any recommendations as to where? Like I said, Vietnam sounds awesome, and I've heard good things about Malaysia too.  I'm probably dreaming, cause I have no money, but it'd be sweet!

thailand - kosa mui, pipi, puket
india - goa beach
cambodia

[queencruella]

For Asia- Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, China. I have a group of friends who had a really horrible experience in Vietnam, so for that reason I am not recommending it.

As for traveling with tour groups, it's honestly not that hard to get around on your own.  Plus you'll likely only see the really touristy places.  Some of the more touristy places can be like Disney World in the summer- just packed to the gills with huge tour groups.  If you really have no idea what to see in a city, there are lots of very short organized tours you can do.  If you do a bigger organized tour, you won't get that much free time at all, most likely.

[piggy-buttercup]

Now you guys have got me thinking about Contiki.  Part of me thinks it would be *too* touristy and American, but another part of me realizes I have no idea what I'm doing on my own.  And they do have a lot of options.  More thoughts people?

considering contiki too for exact same reasons.

check this out: http://www.ultimate-european.com/

[The Name's Dali]

Now you guys have got me thinking about Contiki.  Part of me thinks it would be *too* touristy and American, but another part of me realizes I have no idea what I'm doing on my own.  And they do have a lot of options.  More thoughts people?

We could throw together a LSD Contiki group, hahaha.

[The Poster]

This thread makes me sad that I haven't been back to Greece since I was like 15. 

[andyg]

Yeah, I've pretty much decided on doing the contiki route now.  I'm gonna do Road to Athens in May.  Anyone else!  Wooooo LSD group!

Lol, I'm in...i want a tour that has england, france and italy on it.