Contiki - Just a party bus?

Last Updated: Apr. 16, 2008

Tags: all countries, drinking, party, travel and tour advice

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There’s no question about it – Contiki’s reputation as the world’s number one travel company was forged over 30 years ago in the 1970’s in a time when not only our tours, but the attitude of the whole world was a lot more liberal and bohemian.

Ask anyone from the era and they will tell you stories of wild nights of partying, drinking and well…maybe some hazy recollections of seeing the Eiffel Tower.

Google the travelogs of our recent customers or YouTube ‘Contiki’ and you’re more likely to see things about the sights, history, culture, food and friendships that people experience on a tour than drinking and partying.

That’s certainly not to say that if you want to party your way around you won’t find what you’re looking for but you’re more likely to find a mix of people on any give tour – including some who don’t want to party at all.

The world is a smaller place and with so many travel options literally at their fingertips, today’s young travellers are far more discerning and demanding than that those of their parent’s generation and Contiki has continued to respond and change with our travellers’ needs.

Contiki would not have continued to enjoy it’s reputation as the industry leader had it not evolved and changed with the times and while we still enjoy a great party and it is Contiki’s goal is is to give it’s travellers the experience of a lifetime, no matter what their taste in travel.

Tour Manager Opinions

“I think many years ago Contiki was just a drunken party bus, but today’s young travellers are wiser and more savvy than those of 20 years ago. We do have great parties on Contiki, but you definitely do not miss out on all the historical stuff as well – it is a perfect mix.”

- Michael Thomas, Tour Manager, Europe

“As a TM that does not drink, people often comment about how happy and excited i am in my role. Europe is an experience people enjoy, not something they want to miss eg sleep and stagger through. Most clients like to go out and have a good time and they balance this nighttime experience with active and enthusiatic experience during the day… this allows everyone to return home with memories to replay over and over again.”

by – Vicki, Tour Manager, Europe

“There is always going to be a social aspect as part of a tour with young people. This does not necessarily mean it is alcohol related, this could mean optionals or dinners and sometimes some bars. It is always your choice and you never should feel influenced to do anything that you do not want to do as you personally need to get out of the tour what you want to get out of it.”

- Lucky Phrachanh, Tour Manager, Europe

Past Travellers Opinions

“Contiki also has the image as nothing more than a few weeks of drinking. This is a bit harsh. Whilst there were many big nights on the tour, most people were usually on the bus first thing in the morning to go into the city to see the sights. After paying the amount of money to fly to Europe and then the tour price, spending each day hung over in bed is not exactly value for money. No one was pressured to go out either. You can make the tour what you want it to be, so it is flexible from that point of view. The average age on tour would have been around 25, with people 18 and some 35 year olds too. So the idea that it is just 18 year olds drinking their way around Europe was not the case!”

- Gomes, Posted 20 Apr 2007

Add a Comment Comments (9)

  1. im planning on doing a the europe explorer + greek island cruise option 2 (33 days) in august 09. im going it alone and thats just how i want to do it. just so i can meet a bus full of like minded awesome people. ive had so many friends go on contiki and ive only ever heard positive feedback. as the many people above (and possibly below me) have said contiki is what you make it, and such is life. i have been known to enjoy a drink, and im sure i will be when i finally get on my contiki! but i want to go on contiki to have experiences i will remember for a lifetime and friends i will have forever.

    Default_avatarScotty Becks posted 5 days ago Flag as Inappropriate

  2. I went on a Contiki tour a couple of years ago through Europe. Once the coach pulled into the hotel carpark each night, almost everyone made a beeline straight for the bar to start piling drinks into themselves and to have shot competitions. I’d never do Contiki again, only because a) I prefer independent travel, b) hearing stories of fellow travellers bragging about having vomited over their hotel bedroom floors and then leaving without saying anything to management or their tour managers, and c) you get drunk at home, plain and simple. Who wants to burn off a $1,600 tour by having a hangover for most of it? The majority of the young people on the tour I went on were happy to do this.

    Default_avatarBrad posted on May. 27, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  3. Contiki definitely allows for a mix of all the best aspects of travel – and it also attracts all sorts of travelers. I’ve done two tours (46 days and 32 days), and both times we had a few people that liked to drink all the time, a few people that didn’t drink at all, but the other 90% were people that wanted to get the most out of every aspect of the experience. We would sightsee during the day taking in the culture and sights of the cities, and at night we would have a few drinks and sometimes have some wild parties. The party nights were always before a traveling day, so even if we were hung over the next day we could sleep it off during the drive without missing out on anything. People generally went to bed at a decent time when we knew we had a big sightseeing day ahead of us. There was never any pressure on those who chose not to drink, and if you decided to go to bed early nobody ever thought anything of it. I hate hearing the negative comments about Contiki being no more than a party bus, because it simply isn’t true. After the 78 days I’ve spent traveling with them, I’ve found that activites are set up so you can make the most out of your tour without missing out on anything.

    Default_avatarCanadian Dave posted on Mar. 31, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  4. I have done 3 contiki tours so far and as an ‘Over 30’person the last thing i wanna do is get waisted every night!Contiki has the right mix of places to party as or just as many where you can enjoy stimulating conversation!The choice is yours!

    Default_avatarPrincessvixen posted on Mar. 02, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  5. im going on my first contiki tour this year…the Wild Western in the U.S….soooooo excited…i have heard from a lot of people that “if u want to go and tour make sure ur ready to drink!” i think the only way to see the world is through contiki…all u have to do is pay for ur tour (which is peanuts!) pay ur flight…and rock up!! im 22 and this is my first time overseas!!! sooooooo excited!!!!

    Default_avatarSasha1985 posted on Jan. 17, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  6. I have done so many contiki tours that staff thought I worked for contiki. I have tried concept to hotel tours from my early 20’s to mid 30’s and I can honestly say – “you get so much for your money, way more than you could do on your own AND you can’t help to make life long friends”. The tour is exactly what you make it- there is such diversity on the bus that if you are a partier than you will find great new people to explore the nightlife with, if you are into early nights and all day exploring there are those too. I have never had a tour manager who isn’t knowledgeable and if they didn’t know the answer they went to great lenghts to get it. The amount of time you save trying to get from place to place and the amount of money you save in acccomendations is more than enought BUT add on great leaders, drivers and lifelong friends…..you can’t not have a great time! Trace- the photographer girl

    Default_avatarExplorer1085222 posted on Jan. 08, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  7. It all depends on the people you get on your bus. But for the most part it is a massive party. Me and my mates went 37 straight days on the piss. But we still got up every morning and toured the cities. It’s not really about the drinking, its about having a good time and meeting people from all over the world. I would say if you are looking for a nice quiet stroll through Europe Contiki isn’t for you.

    Default_avatarTravel_Guy83 posted on Nov. 29, 2007 Flag as Inappropriate

  8. Hear Hear!
    I don’t want to spend my Contiki Tour being hung-over and can’t even remember the night before! There’s no point in that so don’t ruin the holiday for yourself as well as the people around you.

    Default_avatarj9 posted on Nov. 22, 2007 Flag as Inappropriate

  9. I have only been on two Contikis …on both of them it seemed like there were a few people who only wanted to party, and a few people who had absolutely no interest in it whatsoever.

    But the majority of people I met, enjoyed the culture and experiences during the day, but also had a drink or two each night.

    My advice: Dont get wasted every night. You can do that at home. Have a drink, be social, but dont waste your trip by being hung over every morning.

    DanO.DanO. posted on Oct. 13, 2007 Flag as Inappropriate

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