contiki v's backpacker tours?

Do the camping first. Ask along your way about a tour.
I hope you won't do it. Solo is best.

You'll do fine.
Hostels will help. Like minded folks there from all over.
Its the experience of hostels that's special. Not just the money saved.

Mooko!!!

I just went on a Contiki this past summer. We were in France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany and Prague for 14 days. It was seriously one of the best trips of my life and I'm planning to go on one again this next summer!

Before I went on a Contiki, I did the whole backpacking thing and Contiki was a lot less stressful. What surprised me the most about Contiki was how much free time we got (there definitely was not a pressured agenda) because I thought we were going to be doing EVERYTHING as one big happy family and that wasn't the case at all. The only things we did do together as one big group was eat some meals together and travel on the coach from one destination to the other. When we got to our destination, you were free to do whatever you wanted with whom you wanted. Another highlight of the trip was all the people that I met. People came from all over with different interests and personalities. I wasn't BFF with everyone but I was able to find my own niche and became really close with them. For me, they really made my trip. I still maintain contact and will be going on my next Contiki with them! But if you wanted to do some things by yourself, that is definitely an option but good company is always available for things that you'd most likely prefer not to do by yourself (like eating and going out).

Yes, there were early wake up calls (7-8 AM) but we did that while backpacking too in order to accomplish all that we wanted to do that day. I am not a morning person and am horrible if I don't get sleep so I slept on the coach rides (as did most people) and was well-rested and ready to go when we got to our destination. It really wasn't that bad. You fly across the Atlantic to travel and experience a different culture outside yours, not to sleep.

If you want to know more about my trip, feel free to message me! I can go on forever about it and answer any questions you may have! Good luck!

I've never met an unhappy conyiki customer. I live in Seville.

I've been on tours, and many other modes of travel. I just don't want a boss. Or to be herded.

look I don't want to abuse contiki too much because I've never been on one of their tours, but I did meet quite a few groups on my travels in Europe. If you really want to be in a big group of "hip-cool-young-beautiful-drunk-just-out-of-high-school" kids then be all means go on Contiki, read their brouches, its exactly like it sounds. Everyone I meet on Contiki tours were either drunk or scared and confused at train stations on their 'free day', trying to pay me to sleep with them, or telling me how Contiki is so awesome because today they are in France then tomorrow they'll be in Italy then the next day they'll be in Switzerland....and they just get to experience so much!

OK, that did sound a little abusive. I understand that some people might really want to do the party thing with people but staying in LP hostels provided you with enough fun people to get drunk with. Unless you don't want to just get drunk...then you really shouldn't go on a contiki tour. (I appreciate some people will disagree with this). It just really doesn't seem like the best way to see Europe.

Europe really is fine by yourself, like really truly, I'd say you'd find it hard to talk to anyone who's actually done it and regretted it. And if you really want to take a tour, don't take one aimed at 18-25yr olds and promotes itself based on the number of countries it visits. Have fun!
(apologies to those who genuinally love contiki, everyone is different and special)

I think contiki isn't bad and lots of people enjoy it but I would rather save money and have my own experience, like people say you meet lots of people in hostels too. When you travel there are always risks.

If you don't want to plan your own trip and willing to spend more money, plus be in a big group go contiki
If you want to save money but also have to plan a trip, but get to do things you want, then go solo

And like the guy before said about contiki people being drunk teens that isn't true