Hi All,
Planning a much needed trip out to Europe, however due to work restrictions, I can only take leave out during November / December
I was just reaching out to see if anyone has had any experience travelling Europe during winter?
More specifically, I was looking to do the following tour for 23 days: https://www.contiki.com/au/en/destinations/europe/tours/euro…
Be brutally cold and not much daylight.
If Europe is where you want to go just layer up, and snow would be nice to see
Pros:
Cons:
I've been to Europe once around that time and not at all keen to go in winter again.
I done Winter Contiki in Europe ages ago in my younger days. I would imagine Nov/Dec isn't as bad as doing it in Jan/Feb but its all part of the experience. Be prepared for:
- Short days with fewer hours of sunlight
- Cold but just make sure to pack lots of winter clothes and stack on the layers. Don't forget those thermals!
- Attractions that may potentially close due to snowfall
Being Contiki be prepared for:
- Travelers in relatively younger age group
- Itinerary geared towards a younger crowd e.g Visiting nightclubs on a nightly basis, etc
Can't comment on winter but have done summer contiki and it was the time of my life. I'm sure they would organise things that they know you can do and are available at the time. It would also be good to see a different scene to every other person who does Europe summer.
Contiki is fine when you're 18 on a gap year, but it's a horrible way to travel, and IMO: seen one club, seen 'em all.
Their itineraries are built around cramming the maximum stops in the smallest timeframe. 1-2 nights is barely enough to soak in even a small city, let alone Berlin. And good luck maximising your days when you're hungover because everyone is clubbing consecutive nights. Oh and it's winter, so even fewer daylight hours.
Do yourself a favour and make your own itinerary with fewer stops instead of rushing through cities to tick off a list.
+1 to this. They are really expensive and I usually laugh when I'd see a contiki bus go through central london. They don't even take the most efficient transport and ie in japan they bus everywhere overnight instead of doing bullet trains etc.
Travel yourself and stay in hostels and you'll have the same experience with meeting people and you can do what you want for cheaper.
And if you were going to do contiki, I definitely would not do it in Winter. That would be horrible if you chose that instead of Summer.
Contiki; it's Spanish for crabs.
It hurts a bit to see Germany reduced to a short stay in Berlin.
Europe in winter is so much nicer than summer. Fewer tourists make that.
That contiki seems good, but it doesn’t spend long in each place. If you’re after a big party and to see the two main sights in each place then it looks like a great trip, but if you want to see a lot more, I would find a tour that offers fewer stops but more time in each place. Top deck have a range of tours that have a min 2 night stay in each place.
Alternatively you can just organise it yourself and stay in dorms, but tours are great for being with the same people and making friends for life.
i did this exact tour a few years back, good for getting a taste of each city.
Keep in mind there will be a few on the bus that only do 1/3rd of the trip.
Use a backpack, not a wheely suitcase.
will primarily be the younger crowd, but when you stop, you can do your own thing.
Ended up doing it over january. tbh i didnt mind the cold. Helps to have a big jacket like a goretex.
Auschwitz was freezing, which was a bit of a reality check for most (assuming they knew what it was)
Some of those destinations are great in winter, it’s only 3 weeks most of the time you will be in a Heated bus, Christmas markets, snow and fun. I travel to Europe in winter and summer and enjoy both for different reasons, far less tourist groups in winter. I’d book it
Do your own trip and research where a bus load of contiki singles will be and go to the same bars if you get my drift
That really depends on who you are. If you're a bogan or a 20 year old who like to get smashed every night, and doesn't mind the sting of STDs in the morning, then yes. If you're not, then no.
I've done Contiki before during winter. It was my first time in Europe so it was a good way to see everything. I was lucky because I had a good group and it wasn't as rowdy as I thought it would be. Having said that now that I'm older I would probably not do it because it's easier to plan the trip yourself. But if you're by yourself and it's your first time going it wouldn't be a bad option and you'll meet new people. I actually prefer travelling in winter. When it's too hot I feel like I'm less motivated to do anything whereas in winter I can just bundle up more when I'm out and about. I'd also think about the type of luggage you bring. Cobblestone, wheelie suitcases and snow do not go together.
Having said that now that I'm older I would probably not do it because it's easier to plan the trip yourself.
yeah, i think your mid 20s is about the limit IMO. As the bulk of people are in that 18-21 year old range.
Contiki is great for visiting a lot of places in a short period of time. The bus goes straight to a place, everybody gets out, you walk in (tickets already organised generally). There is no way i could have that kind of organisation if i planned the trip myself.
I think some people get a bit annoyed it wasnt an in-depth european experience. But that's the nature of the trip, you get to experience it quickly, and if you like it, go back at a later date. If you didnt like the city, you were there for a day or so.
When people question the above comment, i always refer to a tourist bus in sydney. If you said "you've got 24hrs in sydney what would you do"?" It's likely going to be bridge climb, circular quay and a visit to manly beach. Is that a true sydney experience? probably not, but you've seen all the major attractions.
ive been on 2
bang fest
It's a great opportunity to visit the warmer parts of Europe like Italy, Spain, Portugal - when there are fewer crowds, shorter lines for attractions and the weather isn't oppressively hot.
Consider a small-group tour rather than Contiki… it really is a horrible way to travel. Try Intrepid or GAdventures. Have had good experiences with both.
I personally haven't done a Contiki but travelled throughout Europe a few times. Have you thought about planning the trip yourself? Once you reach Europe everything is relatively cheap compared to Australia i.e. food, alcohol, accommodation etc. You'd be saving a lot organising the trip on your own terms and might spend half as much. Definitely consider if you're looking to save money.