Most asked question: how did it happen that I, the part time teacher who enjoys being a homebody, decided to bugger off overseas for a month?
Answer: A combination of impulse, good timing and family influence!
On Christmas Day 2011 my cousin Emma and I were chilling with some other family members under a tree in the backyard. Our Aunt Brenda was telling us all about her and her husband’s adventures overseas and in particular, to Oktoberfest in Germany. She was telling us that we MUST make the effort to travel!
Me: I’d like to and I have the flexible schedule for it but everyone I know has a morgtage or kids.
Emma (cousin): I’d like to but everyone I know is studying, has a morgtage or kids.
Both of us: WAIT A MINUTE….
….and two days later we booked Contiki!
The tour we decided to do was http://www.contiki.com/destinations/europe/tours/120-european-inspiration and the link gives you quite a bit of info on where we are going, I have also included the cities we visit at the bottom of this post. As well as the Contiki tour, we will be visiting family in Potters Bar (UK) for two days and spending four days exploring London.
So far, my impression of Contiki has been great. I am not a huge party animal and when you say “I am doing contiki” everyone gives you a knowing *you’re gonna get wasted and hook up with randoms* look. My friends were all quite surprised I had decided on it! There were a few reasons why and these have all been backed up by my interactions with the company so far.
- No planning required. They do it all. Easy peasy!
- Cheap. For 19 days of transport, tours, accommodation and at least one meal a day it was $3k.
- Organised. They do this for a living and I’m a noob traveller. Just the meeting centre alone (you can log on and chat to people going on your tour up to 8 weeks before you leave) has been fantastic.
- We chose a time out tour so it is all twin share hotel rooms with our own bathroom (hooray!) and the demographic of people on the tour is a little more balanced and a little less *giggly insane drunken 18yo* which would have led to me getting arrested for homicide.
- They cover all the main touristy things and you get spare time for extra stuff.
We leave Perth on September 22nd and the countdown is on!
The countries and cities we will visit
| Country | City |
| Australia | Perth ->; Doha |
| Doha ->; UK | Doha ->; London |
| UK ->; Netherlands | London ->; Amsterdam |
| Netherlands | Amsterdam |
| Netherlands ->; Germany | Amsterdam ->; Berlin |
| Germany | Berlin |
| Germany ->; Czech Republic | Berlin ->; Prague |
| Czech Republic | Prague |
| Czech Republic ->; Germany | Prague ->; Munich |
| Germany | Munich |
| Germany ->; Italy | Munich ->; Venice |
| Italy | Venice |
| Italy | Venice ->; Rome |
| Italy | Rome |
| Italy | Rome ->; Florence |
| Italy | Florence |
| Italy ->; Switzerland | Florence ->; Lucerne |
| Switzerland | Lucerne |
| Switzerland ->; France | Lucerne ->; Paris |
| France | Paris |
| France ->; UK | Paris ->; London |
| UK | London ->; Potters Bar |
| UK | Potters Bar ->; London |
| UK | London |
| UK | London |
| UK/Doha | London ->; Doha |
| Doha/Australia | Doha ->; Perth |
A photo of our Contiki documents (which arrived today!)
Mel's Travel Blog 
Imma comment on my own blog. Cos I am cool like that!
Hi Mel
I’m looking forward to your blog updates while you are away. You are visiting some exciting places. I hope you have the best time!
xx
Kaye
Thanks Kaye! Thank you for the comment as well – first person aside from me to write anything and it is my boss hehe 🙂 hi-5 for you!