Contiki

Don't forget Booze money.... 5 Euro a drink.

In 2013 I spent about 60k (London, Paris, Amsterdam) but that also included a few extra days in London with a friend. Bare in mind that exchange rate was R14.50 to the pound back then.

Lets see:

European discovery 13 days R21960
Flights R12000
Visas (UK and Shengen) R3000
Spending money (Between 50 and 100 Euro recommended so lets say 75 Euro) R16047

You will be able to pay for most of the extras, food and booze from the spending money. I did.

R53007 but if you party a lot it will go up.
 
Stevi said:
Looks like I will be supporting local tourism for a while
Click to expand...

It is a lot but traveling around Europe is expensive for us unfortunately no matter how you do it. I was eating Tesco sandwiches everyday lol.

Even if you go solo or with friends it is expensive as even youth hostels/hotels can be pricey. I actually worked out Contiki to be cheaper if you consider the hotels you stay in and places you go.

Thailand Contikis are also a hoot and are half that price which is barely more than a 2 week trip somewhere in ZA.
 
Stevi said:
Looks like I will be supporting local tourism for a while
Click to expand...

We did 10 days in Italy in December 2015 (two people). First 7 days with Trafalgar, next 3 by ourselves. Trip cost was around R70,000, but that included souvenirs (about R10,000 worth) and a massive discount through Pentravel (it was a buy 1, get 1 free deal on the tour, which save around R13,000).

We weren't careful with money (intentionally), did all of the side trips (around 900 euros extra), did a number of extra tourist things in Rome and ate like kings, but this was only due to the discount.

For Europe tours I'd say budget around R3,500 per day, multiply by number of tour days, and that's a rough idea of what you'll spend.
 
So far my trip is going to cost (without spending money have no idea how much to take) :

Skipping London :

Contiki - R19 019
Flight - R9974
Shengen Visa - R1570

Total : R30 563

Including London :

Contiki - R19 019
Flight - R10 764
Shengen Visa - R1570
UK Visa- R2040
Accommodation in London for 1 night before the trip and 1 night after - R2150

Total : R35 554

If you do all the optional extras they add up to about 370 Euros (R6 610)
 
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jamacouve said:
So far my trip is going to cost( without spending money have no idea how much to take) :

Skipping London :

Contiki - R19 019
Flight - R9974
Shengen Visa - R1570

Total : R30 563

Including London :

Contiki - R19 019
Flight - R10 764
Shengen Visa - R1570
UK Visa- R2040
Accommodation in London for 1 night before the trip and 1 night after - R2150

Total : R35 554
Click to expand...

Have you worked in the cost of optional extras and food into that Contiki price? You mentioned they're around 400 euros, so I assume not?

For spending money, take as much as possible, you don't have to spend it all, but rather have it than not.
 
jamacouve said:
So far my trip is going to cost (without spending money have no idea how much to take) :

Skipping London :

Contiki - R19 019
Flight - R9974
Shengen Visa - R1570

Total : R30 563

Including London :

Contiki - R19 019
Flight - R10 764
Shengen Visa - R1570
UK Visa- R2040
Accommodation in London for 1 night before the trip and 1 night after - R2150

Total : R35 554

If you do all the optional extras they add up to about 370 Euros (R6 610)
Click to expand...

Budget between 50 and 100 Euro per day spending money (for food, drink, party, taxi etc). If you are a hermit 50 will be fine, if you are a party animal 100 will be fine.
 
TehStranger said:
Have you worked in the cost of optional extras and food into that Contiki price? You mentioned they're around 400 euros, so I assume not?

For spending money, take as much as possible, you don't have to spend it all, but rather have it than not.
Click to expand...
I edited original post just after you replied.

Everyone says do all the optionals but one of them is dinner and a cabaret show in Paris show for 110 euros and I highly doubt I'll be doing that.
 
jamacouve said:
I edited original post just after you replied.

Everyone says do all the optionals but one of them is dinner and a cabaret show in Paris show for 110 euros and I highly doubt I'll be doing that.
Click to expand...

You never know, the Cabaret might be much more amazing that you thought! Otherwise you can always find an awesome thing to do by yourself (or with other members of the Contiki group) during that time, and make your way back to the hotel at a later stage.

But even so, you can add another R4600 on to the price for side trips, and then max the spending money budget. That's still doing a decently sized contiki trip for R40,000 ex spending money, not bad considering how weak the rand is.
 
Paris cabaret show was Moulin Rouge Féerie when I went.

I was also on the fence but in the end so glad I did it. One of the more memorable evenings...

3 course meal with wines and champagnes, mind blowing show and party at the club next door afterwards. Feels quite special being there.
 
In 2013 me and a bunch of friends went on a Top Deck tour. Very similar to Contiki, but was slightly cheaper (around R100-R200 per day cheaper). Was a great experience and would love to do it again, but with the R/$ exchange rate and me wanting to buy a house, its not happening anytime soon.

With our specific tour the starting point was London, but we arranged to join the tour in Paris as they literally just got on the bus in London and then drove to Paris. We were not willing to spend money on a UK visa just for that.

But it was still a great experience.
 
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