DO NOT BOOK: I wish I could make this up. My partner and I did the London to Santorini Contiki Plus Tour, paying $10,000 NZD each for a “premium” experience, and what we got was anything but premium.From day one, the Trip Manager bullied, mocked, and intimidated guests. We were left behind at a train station and then laughed at for being stressed. If you didn’t buy every overpriced add-on or drink every night, you were publicly ridiculed. At one point, we were told we had to “prove ourselves” by buying Aperol Spritzes. Really. As adults.Safety? Forget it. We were encouraged to drink illegally and hide from authorities. We were pressured into unsafe behaviour while being told it was all “fun and part of the experience.”Accommodation? The so-called “Plus” upgrade for the Adriatic Ferry was a joke. We were never told about the multi-share cabins until we boarded. We ended up crammed into a tiny room with three strangers and had to pay extra for our own private cabin, just to avoid getting sick and keep our privacy.The itinerary was chaotic. Add-ons were rushed, free time was a nightmare, and key attractions like the Louvre and Colosseum were “scheduled” on days they were closed. Venice’s Burano Island excursion promised authentic seafood but delivered underwhelming plates in the heat while we waited around like cattle. And to find restaurants and bars? We were told to check TikTok. TikTok. Not a guide, not a map, TikTok.Throughout, Contiki completely ignored serious complaints. Bullying, harassment, unsafe guidance, they framed it as “personal expectation” or “minor operational issues.” Their only solution was a tiny future travel discount, which does absolutely nothing to fix emotional distress or humiliation.If you value your safety, your sanity, or your money, stay away. This is not a guided premium tour, it’s a chaotic, unsafe, emotionally damaging experience.Recommendation: DO NOT BOOK. Contiki promises luxury, safety, and organisation. They fail on all counts.
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We’re firm believers that life’s greatest experiences are made better by the people you share them with. That’s why Contiki invented group travel for young people in 1962 and we’ve spent the past 53 years perfecting it. You’ll explore amazing destinations with a group of 18-35 year olds from around the world who share your passion for adventure, good times and creating memories that define what it is to be young, wild and free.See more
