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All USA Tours from Contiki

16 contiki trips through usa.

• Coach / Bus
• Christmas & New Year

Southern Adventure (12 Days)

The tour was amazing, the manager did a top notch job, it’s great for making lots of friends, such a blast. A little rushed and fast paced, but it’s better than the stress of organising your own trip. Definitely doing it again

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Grand Southern (21 Days)

Nashville to Dallas Road Trip (9 Days)

Miami to Dallas Road Trip (12 Days)

• In-depth Cultural

New York Uncovered (4 Days)

I loved this tour and our guide Jon was great. However it should be advertised as a 3 day tour as the 4th day is just check out of the hotel, no activities.

Eastern Discovery (10 Days)

It was a great experience

• Hiking & Trekking

National Parks Road Trip (End Los Angeles, 12 Days)

Best of USA (13 Days)

Guides and activities - professionalism at its best.

Yellowstone and Grand Tetons (4 Days)

New York to Miami (10 Days)

USA Road Trip (End Las Vegas, 23 Days)

LA Explorer (3 Days)

• Sightseeing

New York Explorer (3 Days)

North East Highlights (7 Days)

• Mountain Hikes

National Parks Road Trip (End Las Vegas, 12 Days)

All usa contiki tour reviews.

• USA Travel Guide | All You Need to Know
• 10 Best Backpacking Tours & Trips 2024/2025
• Best time to visit East Coast USA (Low & High Season)
• Best Time to Visit the West Coast, USA in 2024/2025 (with California)
• Best USA Vacation Spots for Couples: Parks, Cities and more
• 5 Best Guided Backpacking Trips & Tours
• Best 10 Day USA Itineraries 2024/2025 (with Reviews)

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Contiki Review – Travel Tours, Group Vacations & Adventure Holidays

Amar Hussain

Senior Content Contributor

778 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 63 U.S. States Visited: 9

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

33 Published Articles 3134 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 47 U.S. States Visited: 28

Director of Operations & Compliance

1 Published Article 1172 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 10 U.S. States Visited: 20

Young Travelers

Solo travelers, friends or groups, destinations, contiki australia, contiki europe, contiki japan, contiki new zealand, contiki thailand, contiki usa & canada, contiki reviews, contiki vs. topdeck, final thoughts.

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Contiki provides travel tours for young adults. The tour company was incorporated in the mid-1960s after a group of friends posted a flyer on a noticeboard advertising space on their 12-seater minibus to travel around Europe. To this day, group travel is still immensely popular, as you not only get to explore a fantastic destination, but you get to make lots of friends in the process.

Contiki is one of the best European bus tour companies out there, but it also offers group tours all over the world. Many tours use coaches, and groups can be as large as 52 people. In some destinations such as Africa and Latin America, group sizes can be as small as 12 people up to a maximum of 30.

Each tour has a driver and a trip leader that will be with you for the entire journey, and local expert guides will also join you for specific activities. With your travel, accommodations, and itinerary arranged for you, all you need to worry about is having an incredible time.

Who Are Contiki Tours Good For?

Contiki tours are exclusively for travelers from 18 to 35 years old so that you can experience a new destination with like-minded young vacationers. The tours are incredibly social and many travelers meet lifelong friends. Including a combination of scheduled activities and free time, the tours let you tick-off bucket list experiences and landmarks before enjoying a beer with your new pals.

Whether you’re an experienced traveler or are embarking on your first solo trip, Contiki tours are perfect for single travelers. You’ll experience the excitement of independent travel while having the logistics taken care of. Rather than having to approach a new friend in a hostel bar, you’ll get to know your fellow travelers in a less daunting environment.

Tour prices are based on twin sharing with a fellow traveler of the same gender, but you can also upgrade to a private room for a fee.

It’s not just solo travelers that choose Contiki tours. Groups of friends often join tours together as they love the idea of meeting more new people as well as getting to travel with their friends. You can all book your places and pay final balances independently, avoiding 1 person having to be responsible for everyone’s finances.

Contiki Tour Types and Destinations

Everyone has different preferences when it comes to travel. To help travelers choose which tours might suit their travel style, Contiki has tagged its tours under various categories.

Contiki’s Adventure tours include the usual transport and accommodation, but they also include unique travel experiences for adventurous types. You could be quad biking through the Cambodian countryside or soaring high above the Sonoran Desert in Arizona in a hot air balloon.

Hot Tip:  Be sure to check out our adventure travel essentials before your next trip.

African Safari

Africa’s incredible landscapes are teeming with wildlife, large and small, from majestic elephants bathing in watering holes to color-changing desert chameleons. African Safari tours include plenty of wildlife encounters and other bucket-list experiences such as Victoria Falls, the Sossusvlei salt pans, and Table Mountain.

Beach Trips

Contiki has picked some of the best beaches in the world to create tours with the perfect blend of sun, sea, adventure, and nightlife. Beach Trips tend to follow the coastline of a destination, so you can enjoy surf lessons to beach yoga and sunset cocktails to fresh seafood dining.

Hot Tip:  We take the pain out of packing for your beach vacation with this printable packing list .

Discoverer trips offer an excellent balance of culture, iconic sights, and adventure. You’ll tick off lots of bucket list experiences as well as authentic local encounters, which are often the most memorable moments. These tours are generally longer than 9 days, so you’ll get to immerse yourself in a destination.

Iconic Essentials

Iconic Essentials tours cover comprehensive itineraries around Europe and include some excursions and lots of free time. This means that you can tailor-make your trip to only see the sights that are important to you. If you’re used to traveling solo or are skeptical about touring, this tour type could be a good compromise — travel and accommodation are arranged but many of the excursions are optional.

Hot Tip:  Check out the best compact, mirrorless, and DSLR cameras for travel so that you can capture iconic sights on your tour. 

In-Depth Explorer

In-Depth Explorer tours enable travelers to experience a destination like a local, with lots of authentic experiences to immerse yourself in the local culture. Accommodations include well-situated, independent hotels, so you’ll enjoy the comfort and convenience while knowing you’re supporting local communities.

Island Hopping

Why stay on 1 island when you can experience them all? Island Hopping tours allow travelers the opportunity to experience the unique culture and quirks of island life while enjoying the journey in between. Relax on palm-fringed sandy beaches, sip a cocktail while watching an island sunset, or go in search of marine life with a snorkel or diving excursion.

Hot Tip:  Make sure you’re prepared for your beach tour with these recommendations for the best travel beach towels and blankets .

Sailing and Cruise

Sail between beautiful islands and buzzing port towns with a Sailing or Cruise tour. On some tours, your ship is your transport and your accommodation, so you’ll only need to unpack once for your whole trip. When it comes to sightseeing, you’ll get the best of both worlds, with regular stops for land-based exploration and plenty of incredible views of the coastline.

Short Trips and Festivals

Short Trips and Festival tours are great for those who want to explore a city for a couple of days or combine their holidays with a festival or celebration. These include music festivals, New Year’s Eve celebrations, or local public holidays, so you can celebrate in style while soaking up the local culture.

Hot Tip:  If you’re heading away on a short break, you might want to upgrade to one of these recommended carry-on bags , including wheeled cabin bags and backpacks.

Ski and Snowboard

Ski and Snowboard tours offer the perfect solution if you’re looking to explore a new destination while getting in some slope time. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned pro or a complete beginner, you’ll have the option to book lessons and chances are there will be someone on your tour of a similar standard. Enjoy the cool and crazy vibes of Tokyo before taking a train to one of the nearby ski resorts or hit the slopes in Lake Tahoe on a sightseeing trip through California, Arizona, and Nevada.

Small Group

Some of Contiki’s groups accommodate up to 50 people, which some travelers love, as it allows them to meet more people. If you prefer a smaller, more intimate travel experience, Contiki offers Small Group tours with tours averaging 12 to 24 people.

Volunteering

Contiki’s Volunteering tours allow travelers to give back to the countries and communities they’re exploring. Volunteer tours combine exploration with a service element, such as participating in sustainable development projects.

Other Tour Types

Contiki has a variety of other tour types:

• Backpacking
• Christmas Tours
• Group Travel
• Guided Tours
• Hiking and Trekking
• New Year’s Eve Tours
• Sightseeing
• Solo Travel
• Winter Holidays
• World Tours

Contiki provides over 350 tours to 75 destinations within these countries, continents, and regions:

• Latin America
• Middle East
• New Zealand
• U.S. and Canada

Contiki Top Tours

Contiki offers itineraries of up to 22 days to explore this vast country. Many cover the popular east coast from Sydney to Cairns, while others venture into the remote outback to watch the sunset at Uluru. Sail around the Whitsundays, learn to surf at Byron Bay, or see where the rainforest meets the reef at Cape Tribulation.

• Includes transport, accommodation, breakfast, and some activities

Hot Tip:  As flights are not included in the tour price, you might be interested in the best ways to fly to Australia with points and miles . 

Contiki is well-known for its European bus tours, but some destinations utilize transportation by train or boat for coastal areas. It’s usually unnecessary to fly between destinations as combination tours like European Discovery typically cover neighboring countries. Let’s take a look at a sample of what’s available.

Contiki Croatia

You can discover Croatia as a standalone tour or as part of a combination Balkans or European tour. With one of the longest coastlines in the Mediterranean, it’s the perfect sailing destination, stopping at the historic coastal cities of Dubrovnik and Split and the beautiful islands of Korčula and Hvar.

• Includes transport, accommodation, some meals, and activities

Contiki Greece

You can island-hop your way around Greece or visit as part of a wider European tour. With most tours starting in Athens, you can explore the iconic Acropolis and Olympic Stadium before sailing between the likes of Mykonos, Santorini, and Ios.

Contiki Italy

Contiki runs a wide variety of trips to Italy, ranging from week-long tours visiting some of its most iconic cities and coastlines to 45-day European tours. From exploring Roman ruins and floating cities to sampling fresh pasta or delicious wine at a 16th-century Tuscan winery, you’ll most definitely be living la dolce vita .

Japan is an enchanting county of contrasts, from bustling cities to ornate temples and magnificent mountains to war memorials. With the high-speed bullet train, it’s pretty easy to get around to Kyoto and Hiroshima, and some tours include a trip into the mountains for skiing or snowboarding.

Hot Tip:  If you’re planning to visit Japan in Spring, take a look at our ultimate guide to the cherry blossom festivals .

Explore the North Island, South Island, or both with a Contiki New Zealand tour. Cruise across the Bay of Islands, go white water rafting down Kaituna River, or spend a night on the town in Wellington. Contiki tours range from 6 to 19 days.

• Includes transport, accommodation, some meal, and activities

Hot Tip:  If you’re flying from the U.S. to New Zealand, find out which U.S. airports Air New Zealand flies direct from .

Embark on the ultimate Thailand adventure and tour the northern jungles of Chang Mai and the exotic coastlines and islands of the south. If you’re looking to visit more than 1 country, some tours combine Thailand with neighboring Cambodia or Malaysia.

If you’re looking for a tour closer to home, Contiki offers trips throughout the U.S. and Canada. These range from 2-night city breaks exploring Los Angeles , Orlando, or New York, or trips up to 26 days covering most of the eastern and southern states.

Hot Tip:  If you decide that a group tour isn’t for you, check out the best road trips in the U.S.  that might inspire you for your next vacation.

My Contiki is a platform for you to manage your profile and bookings and view trip itineraries, including the details for your Trip Manager (the person responsible for running the trip day-to-day). If you want to chat beforehand with people that will be on your tour, you can do this in the Meet Up area and you can also access any social media groups that the Trip Manager or your fellow travelers might set up.

Contiki is a well-reviewed tour company with the following overall ratings:

• Feefo : 4.6 out of 5
• Contiki.com : 4.6 out of 5
• TourRadar : 4.7 out of 5

These are some recent reviews from some of Contiki’s top tours. It’s clear to see that the Trip Managers contribute hugely to the enjoyment of the tours. The majority of the negative reviews for Contiki center around the lively nature of the tours and a focus on drinking culture. While this may suit some young travelers, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

Australian Outback Adventure “The trip itself was incredible, we had so many activities, most of them you had to pay for but it was defiantly money well spent, it was worth it!! There was a lot of travelling involved but it was all an amazing adventure, and we got to get to know everyone much better.” — Emma Mccaw

Croatia Island Sail “Dani was incredible, made it such a fun experience. She was so knowledgeable with history and local tips. Gave us plenty of down time and got the party started at the right times. It was a great week and would definitely recommend to friends” — Harriet Gilmour

Japan Winter Wonder “The trip manager was absolutely brilliant. We visited amazing places and our accommodation was very good. We were well looked after and our trip manager always made sure we were enjoying ourselves. There was so much to do everywhere we went and there just weren’t enough hours in the day to do them all but we always saw the highlights in every city.” — Anonymous

New Zealand The Big Tiki “Honestly can say one of the best trips I have been on! Amazingly well organised and the included activities were very good. A big thanks to Dan and Pat for organising it all so well and going above and beyond to make sure we made it to our activities!! The accommodation was very very good and I thought the itinerary covered everything key.” — Anonymous

Spotlight on Greece “The trip manager was really cool and took us to amazing local spots! The activities went from nature to museums to wine and dining! It was all a blast and I highly recommend for anyone who has only a week to get away! The locals are all so friendly and the food is amazing! Beautiful hotels and easy transportation included! A must see!!” — Melanie Button

Thai Island Hopper East “Everything was great. Especially for the price of the trip. Trip manager was amazing and everything was set out for us. Best experiences with not a worry in the world.” — Alexander Brighton

United States Grand Southern “Trip is well thought out stopping at great spots around the U.S. The extra add ons were fantastic, a large variety of what you normally get on organised tours. The trip manager Hayley Jo was beyond amazing, she went above and beyond to make sure anything was possible on the trip! Would highly recommend the Hot air balloon and snowmobiles, was such a great day!” — Emma Walker

Topdeck is another popular tour company covering many of the same destinations as Contiki , with both companies extremely popular for European bus tours. Both appeal to the same target market, however, Contiki does have a firm age limit of 35, and Topdeck caters to “18-30 somethings.” The travel style is very similar across both operators with socializing at the core, and both offer small group tour alternatives for those looking for a less party vibe.

When it comes to cost, Topdeck comes in cheaper than Contiki on the overall tour price, but this is often because there are more entrance fees and excursions included with Contiki. Topdeck provides a lot more free time, so any activities would be additional.

Contiki is an extremely popular tour company for young people, but large group tours are not going to suit everyone’s travel styles. Contiki tours are known for their lively, party atmosphere, which many travelers love. It’s as much about meeting new people and socializing as it is about exploring a new destination for them.

Many travelers make lifelong friends within their tour group, and the company states that many people have even found love on a Contiki tour. Contiki recognizes that not everyone wants to travel in a large group and has created some tour categories that have a more in-depth focus on the destination or for traveling in smaller groups.

As with other group tour operators such as G Adventures and Intrepid Travel , Contiki is committed to sustainable travel by supporting local communities, ethical animal experiences, and planting 1 tree for every traveler that uses e-documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go on contiki if you are over 35.

Contiki has a maximum age limit of 35 for all of its tours, so if you are over 35 you would not be permitted, unfortunately.

Should I go on a Contiki tour alone?

Whether you’re an experienced traveler or are embarking on your first solo trip, Contiki tours are perfect for single travelers. You’ll experience the excitement of independent travel while having the logistical side of things taken care of. Rather than having to approach a new friend in a hostel bar, you’ll get to know your fellow travelers in a less daunting environment.

Tour prices are based on you sharing with a fellow traveler of the same gender, but you can also upgrade to a private room for a fee.

Are Contiki tours safe?

Contiki is committed to providing a safe environment for all travelers, and Trip Managers are there to support travelers with advice and recommendations on safety. Although most traveler’s experiences are problem-free, there is always a small element of risk when exploring an unknown destination.

Are Contiki tours good for couples?

If you’re a sociable couple happy to be around the company of others, you’ll likely enjoy a Contiki tour. If you’re looking for a quiet, romantic trip with lots of alone time, it probably won’t suit you.

Do Contiki trips include flights?

Entry and exit flights from the meeting point are not included in the tour price. Any flights that form part of the itinerary are included in the price (unless otherwise stated) and these are often used in Asia and South America where it’s necessary to cover large distances in a short space of time.

Is Contiki a party tour?

Contiki tours do have a reputation for being party tours, featuring a reasonable amount of free time to explore the local nightlife. Although the atmosphere can be quite lively and social, it’s up to the individual whether they decide to partake.

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CONTIKI

Contiki Tours are an organised group tour of young like-minded travellers from around the world, in groups of 13-50 people, aged 18-35. The tours can span from a couple days, to 1 week, 2 weeks or even up to 45days, so there is something for every type of traveller. Contiki tours are perfect for first time travellers, solo travellers, social travellers, adventurers and groups. Simply, they are perfect for anyone who doesn’t want the burden and stress of having to plan a trip themselves – Contiki organises accommodations, destinations, transportation and all the little bits in-between.

Trip Styles.

Contiki can sometimes be characterised as very intense and fast pace, this is because they’re trying to give you a taste of various destinations in a short period of time. You should take this into consideration before planning your trip, because this pretty much means, no sleeping in, lots of hours on a bus and less time to explore some of the most beautiful destinations in the world. But fret not, there are also tours that offer a more relaxed pace, offering you more time at each destination to see and do more. It’s really worth considering how you want to travel, because depending on which pace you choose will determine what you are able to experience.

Contiki is perfect for taste-testing destinations so that you can grasp an idea of what places you’d love to come back to in the future. 

The various paces and trip types are;

• Discovery Plus
• High Energy
• In-Depth Explorer
• Freestyle Camping
• Sailing & Cruise
• Festivals & Short Stays
• Winter & Ski

Contiki tours are perfect because they take away the headache of planning. Planning your own trips takes a lot of time and researching. Contiki makes it as easy as “bags to coach”, so all you need to do is get there on time.

The Contiki Pack.

Before departure, Contiki provides you with a passport wallet to bring on your travels.

• Europe and UK sim card
• ‘Know before you go’ pamphlet
• Miniature Europe travel guide
• Trip information and Itinerary
• Hotel list duplicate for family/friends
• Booking summary and accommodation details

Kick Start Meetings at Contiki Basement.

Tours leaving from London have a kick-start meeting at the Contiki Basement the night before the trip departs. Located by the Royal National Hotel (which is also the meet-up spot), they begin at 6pm, so all you have to do is ask at the Contiki Basement reception desk where the meeting is – usually it is in the Royal National’s breakfast buffet room. On Bedford Way, it is clearly signed.

The meeting is quite underwhelming. The name gave me the impression that we were all going to sit down and get to know a bit about each other and learn all about what will be going on with the tour and learn the rules etc. The reality was a little intro with two other tour groups, checking our details (Travel Insurance and Emergency Contacts) and meeting our Trip Managers. It is a great opportunity to meet your fellow travellers, though I found that once everyone had filled out their forms they left – which was understandable, everyone’s jetlagged!

What you need to bring to the meeting;

• Trip documents (provided in your Contiki Pack)
• Travel Insurance info

The Contiki Basement is open;

• May 1 – September 30: 9.00am – 8.00pm (Summer Hours)
• October 1 – March 31: 11.00am – 7.00pm (Winter Hours)
• April 1 – April 30: 11.00am – 8.00pm

Me Time Optionals.

Just as the name states, these experiences are little bonus experiences and excursions that you have the option to do while on tour in your ‘me time’ – meaning the part of the tour where travellers are left to explore or relax on their own. The price for these is not included in the overall tour cost, so you can basically pay per optional activity. The price range for these can really range, some perfectly fitting to the average budget, and some are more costly – like skydiving in Switzerland. The ‘Me Time Optionals’ are a perfect opportunity to bond with your new friends, as most people usually opt to do all of the excursions – but it’s completely up to you. You don’t have to decide on which ones you want to do straight away, a few days into the trip you are given a form where you can tick each one you want to do – as some require pre-booking. Then you are given a few days to pay, they are generally pretty flexible.

If you opt to spend your ‘Me Time’ according to your own plan, you typically arrive at the destination one day, and then the next day is the day to explore it. Your TM will give you a short tour of the area as well as providing a map and highlighting the popular landmarks for you – from there you are off to roam for yourself.

Contiki offers a good balance between guided time and history lessons, i.e. in some places you are taken to places you don’t want to go to. In Paris you are taken to a perfume shop/museum, and it’s up to you how much you pay attention to the demonstration. In other places you may be offered a short walking tour which is great as an introduction.

Note: The coach will ALWAYS go with the tour group and scheduled optional activities.

Your Destinations.

As I said before, Contiki is perfect for taste-testing a destination. You will always get to see the major landmarks in each country. No doubt about it. In Paris? You will stand on top of the Eiffel Tower. The smaller things, might not meet your expectations, where the itinerary says you will see something, it may just be a drive by, or a short stop. Like any destination, there’s usually TONS to see, but Contiki is generally fast-paced, so you may find more use for your time than waiting in line at the famed Anne Frank Huis.

One of the biggest perks of being on a Contiki tour, is that they get you access to things that would be difficult to plan yourself, like skipping long lines at the Eiffel Tower.

Trip Manager and Drivers.

Your Trip Manager (TM) is one of the most important assets of your journey. They know everyone and they know pretty much anything about the destinations – they are there to answer your questions, and inform you on the local history, attractions and also provide you information regarding the tour. The TMs are there to make you feel safe, and ensure that you are having a good time, but in saying this, they are not the Mummy or Daddy of the trip, they aren’t there to hold your hand – it’s completely up to you to make sure you are there in time for the bus.

Your TMs and your driver can pretty much make or break your trip. The driver is the one responsible for getting you from point A to point B, and the more experienced the driver, the more likely he is to know all the short-cuts, back routes, and ways to avoid rush hour – so fingers crossed they are perfect with time management.

During your journey you are also able to use hashtags for your TM and Driver – and they pick their favourites to go towards winning more Contiki Tours. #ContikiMike #ContikiPaolo

Your Fellow Travellers. 

18-35yr olds, the average Contiki tour is made up of a mixture of various traveller dynamics. Solo travellers, pairs, couples, friends, and siblings, you’re pretty much ensured to make yourself comfortable somewhere or another. The TMs are always there to help if you’re feeling a little shy, and know that making friends on a Contiki tour is one of the best parts of the journey – they’ll become your friends for life, not matter where on the globe they reside. Your Contiki Family will become your family away from home.

When it comes to group dynamics, you shouldn’t be worried about who you’ll end up touring with. The groups can range up to 50 people, so you’re guaranteed to meet people you jive with.

Contiki Rules. 

I cannot stress enough how important it is to be on time. Not only will arriving early get you in the good books, but Contiki is known for leaving people behind who don’t show up on time. If the bus leaves without you, you are pretty much left to sort out how to meet them at the next destination. If you are lucky, you can jump onto another Contiki bus, but know that this won’t always be an option. Obviously if they know you are near, the TM isn’t going to leave a member of your Contiki Family behind, but there is a limit – every 5 minutes you are late each day takes off more and more time that you could be spending at your new destinations.

Accommodation. 

Contiki has accommodations at both ends of the spectrum. They usually level themselves out – i.e. the closer you are to the centre of the city, the more likely the hotel will be quite basic, because otherwise it would cost you $$$. The further away from the city, the nicer the establishment – so you’re basically paying for location or quality. Either way, they have their plus sides. The negative to the accommodations located further away from the city, you may have to organise transportation to get back and forth. The Contiki bus always offers fixed pick-up and drop-off times, and your TM will always let you know how to get around by public transportation.

On Contiki tours, you have the option to share a room with 1 to 3 people, or single. For most trips you will only have to share with one other, though when booking the trip, you have the freedom to make this choice. If you really want the private room, you’ll have to pay a bit extra, but I would REALLY recommend at least sharing with one other traveller – if you’re solo, this is the perfect chance to make a relationship with someone else on your trip.

Each tour and its location varies on the quality and types of foods and how many meals are provided in the overall cost. More often than not, breakfast is always provided, and some dinners – but some meals are left to you, or are available through cultural dining experiences in the ‘Me Time Optionals’. There’s a balance of average meals, to amazing meals, but it’s up to you how you spend your money in your free time. If you have a dietary requirement, Contiki is happy to accommodate you and ensures you get a special meal at group dinners. On days where you are free to organise your own dinners, it’s a perfect opportunity to find a local restaurant with your Contiki Family.

Drinking and Parties.

Contiki is pretty well-known for it’s party scene. Travelling with a group of young people, it’s not hard to see why. A perfect way to get to know your fellow travellers, it allows people to let off some steam, get more comfortable around these strangers and dance,  a lot . Trying local drinks is always fun – and if you plan for it, you can hit up Oktoberfest in Germany! But again, like the ‘Me Time Optionals’, it is totally up to you to decide whether you want to drink and go out. You can go out, and not drink or not go out at all, or you can drink until your head hurts – just make sure you’re able to get onto the bus the next day. Basically, it’s up to you to be responsible, know your limits, but also have fun, create bonds, and know that there are plenty of options available to you.

When there are group events on at night, the coach will take you there. Most of the time there will also be a pick-up time, but it is NOT available late at night. The general routine through the week was to go out every second night before coach days, as you can nurse the hangover without wasting a day of travelling.

There will be hookups. It’s basically up there in that party-scene genre. People are away from home, making new experiences, far far from the general judgey people that they know from home. Contiki is pretty much a conductor for hookups, putting a large group of young adults together, all high on life, seeing the world, and mix that with some nights out and alcohol, you can see where this is going. But know, everything that happens on Contiki tours is completely respectful, people will always judge, its human nature, but everyone understands that its a part of the Contiki lifestyle, everyone’s there to have fun. You might even get a holiday romance on board the coach, #ContikiCouple.

Pleeeease., don’t overpack. Pack clothes that can mix and match together instead of a new outfit everyday. Mid way through your journey there are laundry facilities available to the Contiki Family, around 20Euros it’s worth splitting a laundry bag with your roommate/s.

As well as this, you should think ahead about what sort of luggage you want to bring, backpack or suitcase. Backpacks are perfect if you are going to have to do a lot of walking and carrying your stuff, but suitcases are more suited for coach journeys as most of the time you’ll only have to move your bag to your room, and from your room.

Note: You should pack a few outfits for going out, you’ll want to feel nice when you’re out for the evening. Also, make sure you bring stuff to do on your downtime on the bus, as well as things to make you comfortable – the chances are high that you’ll want to take a nap after an early morning wake up. 

Just so you know.

There WILL be a theme party. You will not know what it is beforehand, and you’ll have enough time as everyone else to prepare for it.

Now don’t take me too seriously when I say down time, because this is pretty much only when you’re on the bus and sometimes late at night when everyone is winding down. Sometimes after arriving at a new destination you are gifted a few hours before dinner, but some people choose to use this time to explore the local area or socialise – time will fly.

On the Road.

When driving from one place to another, after departure, your TM will let you know when your next stop is, which is usually somewhere to refuel, grab a snack and take a bathroom break. There is a bathroom on the bus, but this is only there for emergencies (and once the tank is full, it can’t be used at all until it can be emptied, which can’t be done in most places). Sometimes the coach takes you the scenic route when first arriving to give you a scope of the beautiful city, it all depends on time.

Your coach is your home, so keep it clean and respect it. Chances are high that a few of your fellow travellers will be cursed with the Irish flu, so this is something to consider on nights out, can you handle the hangover? There are plastic bags available throughout the coach. The bus has a clock visible at the front, and nice big windows that are cleaned nightly by the driver. The seats are as comfortable as a coach bus can be expected to be, they recline, but it’s pretty much like being on an economy flight. By the toilet in the centre of the bus there is a charging station – but you will still need adaptors.

On board the bus, music is played usually from the TMs iPod (or your fellow travellers), but as well as this, every tour gets a ‘day song’. This song will play for the rest of your trip, to psych you up each morning.

Note: THE CONTIKI COUGH IS REAL. Pack cold and flu tablets, whatever you need. Sitting in a bus of circulated air means if one person is sick, chances are someone else will get it.

It’s been said that the average tipping on Contiki tours is $2 a day each for the driver and your TM, but there is absolutely no pressure – pay what you think is fair. They will hand you an envelope, and you can put whatever you want in it.

Getting the most out of your travels, my top tips:

• Your attitude is everything. Be positive or your negativity will bring you down.
• You won’t get along with everyone.
• Not everyone will enjoy it – don’t ask me why, just be aware.
• Do the things that you  enjoy . You paid for this trip, so make it what you want to be. If you want to sight see, do it. If you want to drink the trip away, do that.

The Post Contiki Feels.

When you get home, like any exciting trip overseas, you’re going to have that travel bug well embedded. Take advantage of that and go out, see your friends, explore your hometown. It won’t last forever, and soon enough you’ll get those Post Travel Depression feels – that feeling when you notice your every day life just isn’t as exciting as it was during your travels.

Want some tips on taking advantage of the travel bug once you’re home? See here .

Check out their website: www.contiki.com for more info.

Feel free to ask me any questions you have about Contiki tours!

Holly O'Sullivan

Holly is the founder and content creator of THATraveller. Holly travels the world, photographing, writing and vlogging about all of her journeys.

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12 Pros and Cons of Contiki Travel – Is Contiki A Good Fit For Your Next Vacation?

Looking to book a vacation with Contiki and you’re on the fence about it? Stress no more, I’ve got the inside scoop to the pros and cons of Contiki trips! The pros… the cons… you’ll find it all here!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you book using one of the links below, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

First, a little bit about my experience with Contiki: I’ve personally been on (4) Contiki Trips – Northern Thai Highlights , Ecuador’s Lava Line , Moroccan Adventure, and Ultimate Vietnam Experience.

I found out about it in the craziest way – from my neighbors trash! When I saw a travel magazine that had been thrown out and figured I’d check it out because I loveeeee to travel. I had never heard of Contiki but was immediately intrigued when I saw that they were a tour company aimed towards 18-35 year olds. I flipped through the magazine and was in awe of the amazingly fun pictures, descriptions, and itineraries. Then I spent the rest of the afternoon researching online if this would be a good fit for me.

Within 2 weeks, my friends and I had signed up for a 7 day trip to Thailand with this tour company. We didn’t know what to expect but were excited to check out a new country and maybe make new friends. We anxiously awaited the 8 months and boarded our flights ready for an adventure….

….And an adventure it was!!

Contiki had a jammed packed itinerary for us with so many unique activities! We loved each and every one of them. Every day was better than the last and it was over in the blink of an eye. Even my two friends, who had never been out of the country, loved every second of their time with Contiki in Thailand – they made navigating a new country very easy, safe and stress free!

I’ve listed some of my favorite things about Contiki below, as well as some of my least favorite things!

Use this as a guide for the best pros and cons of Contiki to decide if it is a good fit for you!

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• Contiki’s motto is “ Travel with no regrets ” and they sure know how to make that come true! You’ll get to see and do everything that will make your Instagram explode with likes.
• There is a $200 deposit when booking the trip. If you find out later on that you can’t go, you can transfer your deposit to a different date or different trip completely! They don’t require the full payment until 45 days before the trip.
• Most all trips are based on double occupancy. If you want to travel alone, and have your own room there is an additional fee.
• They say 55% of travelers on their trips are female… however, I feel like it’s probably closer to 65-70%.
• Before you go, you’ll receive an “itinerary” and list of the hotels you are staying in. There is no formal schedule saying 7:30- Meet in Lobby; 8:00- Board Bus. It was very vague.

Pros – WHAT I LIKED ABOUT CONTIKI:

Read about my favorite parts of traveling with Contiki below:

They really know their audience. This tour is for 18-35 year olds and it was definitely geared towards activities that age group would find fun! It was every bit educational, adventurous, and fun as you’d want it to be! On our tour we biked, hiked, swam in waterfalls, played with elephants, went to local bars, and more!

Each tour has (1) Contiki Guide and (1) Local Guide. This was great because you got the best of both worlds. If you’re going to multiple cities, it is possible that the Local Guide will change throughout your trip – however, your Contiki guide will always be the same! This was great because we really had the best of both worlds. It was nice to have a constant guide with us every step of the way. It was also nice to know that we were getting a local guide so that could really tell us about their hometown.

Breakfast was provided each morning . Breakfast at the hotels always had a good variety of food options. In Thailand , there was always a mix of Western and Thai food. Ecuador breakfasts were simple but filling. Most tours include breakfast each morning and a few other meals which is a great way to experience a taste of local flavor.

There is a lot of driving in the motor coach. That might sound like a negative to most people, but Contiki did what they could to make the experience a positive. The motor coach itself was very nice and always air-conditioned. They made designated bathroom stops which was nice. Sometimes we would play games on the bus or watch movies.

There are like-minded people on the tour . It’s a great opportunity to meet people from all over the world. Every time I travel with Contiki, I meet people from Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and USA. It is fun seeing those cultures blend and experience a new one together.

Our tour guide was always able to recommend the safest and best bars for our nights on our own. Going out in a foreign country can be daunting because you never know what a dangerous place is. Our guide was always knowledgeable on the area and had great recommendations.

Experience the country as a local. Because you are on a tour, you are able to do things that you couldn’t if you were a solo traveler or here on your own! Contiki provides experiences to allow you to see what the local life is like by bringing you to locals houses and farms. You get to speak with locals and learn from them in their community. For instance, we played soccer with a local community in Ecuador and we talked to a local villager (our guide was a translator) about life in Thailand and about her newborn baby.

Cons – WHAT I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT CONTIKI:

Like any travel company, there are pros and cons of Contiki! Find out what I didn’t *love* about my Contiki Trip below:

My idea of “luxury” accommodations and their idea is completely different. Now, I’m not saying the hotels were BAD. But, they were far from luxurious. Some didn’t have a hairdryer or common amenities. Others were in iffy locations or slightly rundown. We weren’t in the hotel rooms very much, so it wasn’t bad, but I would have spent an extra couple hundred dollars for nicer hotels and a better experience at night.

They did not provide a packing list. I wish they had provided us with suggested items to bring along on the tour. I say this because I do not typically bring a towel with me as the hotels always have one. However, since we were moving hotels each night, we couldn’t bring the hotel towels with us. We did a lot of outdoor activities in water (river, lakes, waterfalls, etc) and really needed a towel each time to dry off.

Be prepared for some ‘add-on’ expenses if you want to see and do everything. For instance, they picked a hotel outside of a city, and then expected us to pay on our own to get to the city to experience the nightlife as a group. They asked $5 for the group picture. They took us to a cemetery but didn’t pay for the museum access. On my particular trip, these were small add-ons, but I know other trips have more expensive add-ons. It wasn’t a make or break, but just something I wish I had known prior.

You can’t go at your own leisure. Well, duh – you’re on a tour! However, this is most definitely still a negative for me. There are some places I would have loved to spend a few extra hours exploring and enjoying when we only had 30 minutes. There were also one or two places that I could have skipped altogether. Also, all the potty breaks that take 20 minutes when you only need 2-3 minutes is sometimes frustrating.

Contiki provided a genetic itinerary without much detail. Having a more detailed itinerary would have allowed us to better plan our free time. Unfortunately, the itinerary they gave us weeks before the trip was pretty generic. “Wake up here, go here, explore here, and have some free time before going here”. There wasn’t any detail to what we were doing, how we were getting there, how long we had at each place, and how much free time we had. This proved difficult when trying to book events in advance for our free time. They also provided a list of the hotels – see below for an example.

There you have it – an overview of the pros and cons of Contiki! To me, the Pros outweigh the Cons significantly, but only you can decide that for yourself! Overall, I loved my trips with Contiki. I went it in with average expectations and I was blown away by the fun adventure each and every day! Now, whenever I’m interested in visiting a new country, I look up the Contiki trip to see if it’s something I can do!

Save this post for later on Pinterest: Pros and Cons of Contiki Travel https://pin.it/6n62kkk

Related Contiki Posts:

• Review: My Experience with Contiki’s Lava Line Ecuador Trip
• Top 10 Things to Know Before Booking your Contiki Trip
• Book Your Contiki Trip Now  (affiliate link)

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A few of my Aussie friends and my ex who is a kiwi did contiki on a few tours through Europe. They said they had a good experience and met amazing people but if they knew about the tours beforehand and the limited time, add ins etc they would never have done that or chosen much shorter yours with them so they could go and extend in some Locations.

Makes sense! There are definitely pros and cons to each contiki trip and it’s not for everyone! So far, I’ve loved all of my experiences with Contiki! 🙂

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The Good, Bad and a Brutally Honest Contiki Review (Are Contiki Tours for You?)

By: Author Taylor Lorenz

Posted on Last updated: 04/29/2022

To kick off my solo travel career I opted to try a group tour so I wasn’t 100% alone. It was through a friend that I heard of Contiki tours and soon after I found myself on not only one, but three different tours back to back.

But what’s the truth, the brutally honest truth of Contiki travel? Below I cover exactly what to expect as one of few completely honest Contiki reviews.

Keep in mind that this is based on my experiences and that others may have had significantly different experiences, though the majority agree that Contiki tours are awesome and a wildly good time.

Table of Contents

What is Contiki?

Contiki is a tour company created for 18-35’s who want to travel the world and live by the Contiki slogan #NOREGRETS. They do a pretty good job of following up with their slogan on trips that are pretty much dream itineraries for travellers who want to see as much as possible with limited time.

Contiki offers tours for destinations around the world including Europe, Asia, USA and Canada, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand and their latest tours are now in Africa too.

With tours as short as a weekend to as long as 45 days, there is something for everyone. They offer budget to luxury, priding themselves in offering eight different travel styles. And with 53 years of tours under their belt, they know a thing or two about doing it right.

They’re also known for having 50% of their travelers as solo travelers, making it easy to meet others.

Contiki Europe Reviews

I personally only went on Contiki tours in Europe and I did the following two:

• London to Athens Plus Mykonos and Santorini Island Escape
• Oktoberfest

My short take Contiki tour reviews? All of these tours are awesome and I would recommend them to anyone travelling solo or who wants to see as much as possible in a short amount of time.

Expect for Oktoberfest, that was a completely different type of trip and it was too, totally awesome with excursions and transfers and Oktoberfest tables organized for you.

Should you go on a Contiki tour?

This is the short answer.

Yes, if…

• You like to party
• You want everything organized for you
• You’re a solo traveler wanting to meet people
• Your budget is not small

No, if…

• You have a tight budget
• You don’t care about meeting people
• You want to explore more in places
• You like luxury or relaxation

And for the long answer…read through these highlights and not-so-great things about Contiki tours to help you make a more informed decision.

READ MORE: 15 Benefits of Travelling Alone

Kind of People on Contiki Tours

If you’re Australian and are debating going on a Contiki tour to get away from your country or to meet people from around the world…you’ll probably end up meeting more Australians than anything. Little did I know before leaving for the trip that Contiki tours are insanely popular in Australia and widely known across the country.

When I mentioned Contiki tours to people back home in Canada, not many knew what I was talking about.

Contiki Culture

Contiki tours are targeted to a younger market, with most traveler’s being between the age of 19-23. That age is a party age. So if you’re not a big partier then you may want to reconsider.

I’m not saying that it isn’t fun without the partying because it is, you still do and see awesome things, but there is usually a lot of drinking involved. Like drinking almost every night. It’s always a good time.

Contiki Tours for Solo Travellers

There’s something about traveling with people that really affects how quickly you become close. In no time you will find some people who you mesh well with, and by the end of the trip, you’ll be crying because you have to go on your separate journeys.

These tours bring people together in a way that’s different than your friends at home which make them ideal for solo travellers. Since my tours I’ve met up with multiple people and travelled with a few from these trips. Travel friendship bonds you in a way like no other.

What are Contiki guides like?

The guides are so much more than a guide. They’re not just the ones telling you what time you have to be on the bus by, they’re also the ones partying with you until the last one calls a quit.

They’re not just giving you phenomenal tours of a city, they’re also there to chat with you at breakfast. They’re not just your tour guide, they’re also a part of your family, your Contiki family which you’ll love dearly in the end.

What are the groups like?

Put a bunch of boys and girls together, mix in a lot of drinking and spontaneous decisions because well why not, you’re on vacation! And you’ll find some drama, usually amongst the girls, and usually over a boy. You’re with the same people on a bus day in and day out, cliques can form and people get mad when boys sleep with more than one girl. Shit happens, people get jealous, this is nothing new, but something that can be expected.

Luckily this never happened on my trip! Though my big tour was 30 girls and 4 boys, two of which were gay, one found out his girlfriend at home was pregnant while on the trip and the last ended up marrying one of the girls he met on the trip!

Contiki Cough

Don’t be surprised to hear from past Contiki tour goers about the Contiki cough. You’re on a Contiki bus with the same people and sharing rooms, someone is bound to get sick. And then it spreads. With the lack of sleep and busy schedule you know one person will get sick and share their gems amongst everyone. Most common is the Contiki cough, or a cold, or both.

What do you see on a Contiki trip? What is the pace like?

Tours in general are known for being quite quick and the Contiki tours are no different. I took a slower pace tour and found myself jumping from city to city in the blink of an eye. You can spend anywhere from 1-3 nights in each city, which some people think is too little.

I like to think of it as a small taste of each place. It’s just enough to know if you like the vibe of a place before you move on. Then you’ll know exactly where you’ll want to come back to in the future.

The good news is that different kinds of tours are offered for different paces, budget and accommodation style.

READ MORE: Groups Tours: Are They A Good Idea for You?

Is there any freedom?

Yes! What’s great about Contiki tours is that it’s not back-to-back events with every minute of your day planned. There are nightly events which you can attend (at an extra cost) or you can do your own thing. As long as you’re on the bus when you need to be, that’s the only time the tour guide ever does a headcount.

You’ll always have the day to yourself. This is when your tour guide and bus driver will take a break and you and your new-found BFFL can see all the sites your heart desires.

Food & Accommodation

If you want local experiences, to try amazing food, and stay in good accommodations then don’t take a Contiki budget tour. I can’t vouch for their luxury trips but the budget ones bring you to restaurants that every tour goes to, and accommodation  can  have bed bugs (guess who slept in a hotel lobby in Greece because we discovered bed bugs in our room at 2AM?).

Accommodations are often outside the city centre because they are cheaper. You have time to discover your own tasty food during the day and opt to go out for your own dinners if food is important to you.

Best Contiki Tours

Ready for a Contiki trip? These are a few of the most popular Contiki holidays that look pretty epic. As you’ll soon realize, Contiki Europe is the most popular.

Greek Island Hopping

Countries Visited:  Greece (Paros, Santorini, Mykonos and Ios) Tour Length: 11 days Best for: More relaxed, chilled travellers

European Discovery

Countries Visited:  England, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland Tour Length:  12 days Best for: Travellers with limited time who want to see the most

Simply Italy

Countries Visited:  Italy, Vatican City Tour Length:  15 days Best for:  Italy in-depth

Countries Visited:  Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland Tour Length:  8 days Best for:  Ireland in-depth

European Horizon

Countries Visited:  England, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland Tour Length: 11 days Best for: Europe highlights with minimal time

Is Contiki Worth It?

Only you can decide.

Contiki Tour Highlights

• Maximize what you get to see in limited time
• Make great friends
• My Contiki seamlessly makes handling documents and meeting people a breeze
• You never have to worry about booking a thing or transportation
• Expert guides who go above and beyond
• Ideal for solo and group travellers

Contiki Tour Downsides

• Expensive (as are all tours)
• Always large groups (which could be a good or bad thing)
• Heavy focus on partying (only a downside if you’re not into that)
• Fast-paced aka little time for relaxation on the majority of the tours but not all

The truth about Contiki tours is that they’re made for young travelers, people looking to have a great time, see some sights, drink some French wine, and meet people. The experience is as much of a party,and about meeting people as it is about travel.

People will sleep together, you will see some amazing sights, you’ll make good friends, you’ll get little sleep, you’ll party lots, you’ll try unique experiences for each area, and most of all, you’ll come out of it with no regrets (as they promise), which is pretty good. Just don’t be one of those people who gets #NOREGRETS tattooed on them and I’m sure you’ll leave with none.

The simplest truth is that you’ll spend a decent amount of money, you’ll have a great time and you’ll scratch the surface of travel, seeing only the best of the best things to see in each place.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links which I earn a small commission from and are at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure policy for details. Thank you for supporting my small business!

Disclaimer: Taylor’s Tracks is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.Com and affiliated sites.

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Auston Kim Aces No. 18 at Wilshire Country Club

Jin hee im sets new scoring record at wilshire.

• Tournament News
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The second round of the 2024 JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro was marked by two remarkable aces at Wilshire Country Club. Alexa Pano showed off her skills with a hole-in-one on the 12th hole from 175 yards with a 6-iron in the morning wave. Meanwhile, LPGA Tour rookie Auston Kim stole the show in her stunning tournament debut with an ace on the 18th hole from 135 yards with a pitching wedge.

It is the sixth ace of the LPGA Tour season and the third in two rounds at the JM Eagle LA Championship. The 2023 Epson Tour Graduate shot an even-par 71 and is currently in a tie for fifth with Emily Kristine Pedersen.

"It was my first ever hole-in-one. Very cool that I can finally say I have a hole-in-one now," said the 23-year-old Kim. "I was trying to hit about a 128 shot into 18 green, and (it) just landed perfectly up front. Bounces a couple of times, rolled and went in. It was awesome. It was really cool.”

With Kim's hole-in-one, CME Group will donate $20,000 to CME Group Cares Challenge – Score 1 for St. Jude. The season-long charitable giving program turns aces into donations with a minimum guaranteed donation of $500,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The LPGA Tour rookie's ace has now raised the 2024 donation total to $120,000, and Kim joins fellow American Pano and Republic of Korea native Jeongeun Lee5 as the third player to make an ace in the early rounds in Los Angeles, Calif.

While the hole-out was a nice exclamation point on her opening nine, Kim was just as excited for it to happen during a competition round, nearly knocking over her caddie, Sarah Bowman, in her celebration.

"Very cool. Again, everything, so many people watching, and I love playing in front of crowds," said Kim. “Of course, there are nerves involved, but it's always fun to embrace the moment. I just tried to hit the best possible shot I could. It was a really awesome moment, and I'll never forget it."

🚨 ACE ALERT 🚨 Auston Kim cards the second ace of the week on 18 and has the best celly 🥳🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZAXS1PpJ3m — LPGA (@LPGA) April 26, 2024

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Australia’s Grace Kim opens 4-stroke lead in LPGA Tour’s JM Eagle LA Championship

The Associated Press

April 27, 2024, 10:58 AM

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Grace Kim opened a four-stroke lead Friday in the LPGA Tour’s JM Eagle LA Championship, shooting a 5-under 66 in tricky afternoon conditions at Wilshire Country Club.

A stroke ahead after an opening 64, Kim had an eagle, four birdies and a bogey to get to 12-under 130. The 23-year-old Australian patiently worked her way around the tree-lined layup, trying not to get frustrated with the bumpy greens.

“I think the less thoughts, the better,” Kim said. “Obviously, during the afternoon round today, we’ve got poa annua greens so just have to stay patient with them. You can kind of see how it can get bumpy, so working with the course and not getting too wrapped up around putts not going in.”

Maja Stark was second after a 69, also in the afternoon.

“I feel like maybe not taking everything so personal because they are a little bit wobbly.” Stark said. “Especially late. Like the whole day pretty much the ball has been wobbling because there has been so many people walking on it.”

The Swede finished second last week in Texas in The Chevron Championship, two strokes behind top-ranked Nelly Korda in the first major of the year. Korda withdrew Monday, a day after her record-tying fifth straight victory.

Defending champion Hannah Green of Australia shot a 69 to join Germany’s Esther Henseleit (68) at 6 under. Denmark’s Kristine Pedersen (67) and American Auston Kim (71) were 5 under, and Rose Zhang (69) topped the group at 4 under.

Grace Kim won the LOTTE Championship last year in a playoff in Hawaii for her first LPGA Tour title. She missed the cut in The Chevron , shooting 76-72.

She started play Friday on the back nine, rebounding from a bogey on the par-3 12th with the eagle on the par-5 13th and a birdie on the par-4 14th. On 13, she hit a 5-wood to 10 feet. She added birdies on Nos. 3, 6 and 7 on the second nine.

“I think I’ve got to breathe a little bit,” she said. “I did get a little bit nervous on my back nine, so making sure I don’t rush too much and just staying in the present.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry share lead in team event at TPC of Louisiana

AVONDALE, La. — Rory McIlroy is enjoying his first visit to New Orleans — on and off the course.

McIlroy and Shane Lowry shot an 11-under 61 in fourball play Thursday for a share of the first-round lead in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA Tour’s only team event.

The Irish duo shared the lead with the teams of Ryan Brehm-Mark Hubbard, Ben Kohles-Patton Kizzire and Aaron Rai-David Lipsky.

Davis Thompson-Andrew Novak, Thomas Detry-Robert MacIntyre and Cameron Champ-M.J. Daffue were at 62 Twenty teams were 9 under or better on a crowded leaderboard at TPC of Louisiana.

McIlroy’s introduction to New Orleans included a sampling of crab beignets from popular restaurant La Petite Grocery on Wednesday night, a meal he shared with Lowry. On Thursday, they feasted on the Pete Dye layout, birdieing their first four holes.

“I’ve had a wonderful time so far,” McIlroy said. “I’ve only been here a couple of days but we’re staying downtown. It’s a cool city, great food scene.”

McIlroy had the team’s first three birdies, although on the par-5 second Lowry was inches away but watched as his teammate knocked in a putt of about 4 feet. After a pair of pedestrian pars, they birdied four of the next six holes before closing out with a birdie on the par-5 18th to gain a share of the lead.

“We both played nice golf,” Lowry said, emphasizing the importance getting off to a fast start. “We both made some nice birdies and contributed to the team, and I think we’re very happy with the day.”

Brehm and Hubbard mirrored McIlroy and Lowry with four opening birdies. The team made the turn in 6-under par 30 and bookended birdies on the 10th and 11th and 17th and 18th holes on the back nine.

“Just like usual, we ham-and-egged it,” Brehm said. “I don’t think either of us were feeling amazing about our games coming into the day, but we just feed off each other really well. “I was doing a lot of spectating today.”

Russ Cochran, the oldest player in the field at 65, made his first PGA Tour star since 2013, teaming with Eric Cole for a 69 that left them tied for 73rd. Cochran’s son, Reed Cochran, is Cole’s caddie. Cole had a hole-in-one on No. 14.

On Friday, they will play alternative shot.

“Looking forward to getting out in foursomes tomorrow,” Lowry said. “It’s a format that’s tougher, but it is an enjoyable format.

McIlroy was noncommittal Thursday when asked if he and Lowry would attend the popular New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Friday afternoon. The duo have an 8:53 a.m. tee time Friday.

“Who’s playing tomorrow night, do you know?” McIlroy asked his good friend.

“No, I’m not going out anywhere,” Lowry said with a laugh. “I’m staying out of trouble.”

Jazz Fest notwithstanding, McIlroy joked he hopes the pairing has a late tee time Saturday, meaning they will be close to the lead.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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Zurich classic of new orleans 2024 saturday tee times, pga tour pairings and how to watch, share this article.

There are some familiar names on top of the leaderboard after 36 holes.

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are one of the four teams tied for the lead at the halfway point of the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The duo sits at 13 under along with Davis Thompson and Andrew Novak, Ryan Brehm and Mark Hubbard as well as Aaron Rai and David Lipsky.

While those are the names at the top, there were a few notable teams who went home early after missing the cut.

The golf course, located in Avondale, is a par-72 track measuring 7,425 yards designed by Pete Dye.

The purse at the Zurich Classic is $8.9 million with $1,286,050 million going to each member of the winning team. The winners will also receive 400 FedEx Cup points each.

Davis Riley and Nick Hardy are the defending champions. This time around, they are among the groups tied for 32nd at 8 under, making the cut on the weekend.

Zurich Classic : Photos

From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the third round of the 2024 Zurich Classic. All times listed are ET.

Saturday tee times

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ESPN+ is the exclusive home of PGA Tour Live . You can also watch the RBC Heritage on Golf Channel free on Fubo . All times ET.

Saturday, April 27

Golf Channel/ Peacock : 1-3 p.m

CBS: 3-6 p.m.

Sirius XM: 1-6 p.m

ESPN+ : 7:15 a.m.-6 p.m

Sunday, April 28

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Australia’s Grace Kim opens 4-stroke lead in LPGA Tour’s JM Eagle LA Championship

Grace Kim hits from the 16th tee during the first round of the LPGA LA Championship golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Maja Stark gestures after finishing on the ninth green during the first round of the LPGA LA Championship golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Rose Zhang waits to putt on the fourth green during the first round of the LPGA’s JM Eagle LA Championship golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Grace Kim opened a four-stroke lead Friday in the LPGA Tour’s JM Eagle LA Championship, shooting a 5-under 66 in tricky afternoon conditions at Wilshire Country Club.

A stroke ahead after an opening 64, Kim had an eagle, four birdies and a bogey to get to 12-under 130. The 23-year-old Australian patiently worked her way around the tree-lined layup, trying not to get frustrated with the bumpy greens.

“I think the less thoughts, the better,” Kim said. “Obviously, during the afternoon round today, we’ve got poa annua greens so just have to stay patient with them. You can kind of see how it can get bumpy, so working with the course and not getting too wrapped up around putts not going in.”

Maja Stark was second after a 69, also in the afternoon.

“I feel like maybe not taking everything so personal because they are a little bit wobbly.” Stark said. “Especially late. Like the whole day pretty much the ball has been wobbling because there has been so many people walking on it.”

The Swede finished second last week in Texas in The Chevron Championship, two strokes behind top-ranked Nelly Korda in the first major of the year. Korda withdrew Monday, a day after her record-tying fifth straight victory.

Defending champion Hannah Green of Australia shot a 69 to join Germany’s Esther Henseleit (68) at 6 under. Denmark’s Kristine Pedersen (67) and American Auston Kim (71) were 5 under, and Rose Zhang (69) topped the group at 4 under.

Grace Kim won the LOTTE Championship last year in a playoff in Hawaii for her first LPGA Tour title. She missed the cut in The Chevron , shooting 76-72.

She started play Friday on the back nine, rebounding from a bogey on the par-3 12th with the eagle on the par-5 13th and a birdie on the par-4 14th. On 13, she hit a 5-wood to 10 feet. She added birdies on Nos. 3, 6 and 7 on the second nine.

“I think I’ve got to breathe a little bit,” she said. “I did get a little bit nervous on my back nine, so making sure I don’t rush too much and just staying in the present.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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What is Contiki?

Contiki are the world leaders in organized youth travel. We’ve been providing amazing travel experiences for young travellers, from 18-35 years old, since 1962. Imagine how good you would be at something if you had been doing it for more than 60 years?

Everything about Contiki is deeply rooted in our two values ‘Make Every Moment Count’ and ‘We’re About People’. We don’t just talk, we walk the walk and live by our brand philosophy of ‘ Travel.Together. ’ which means to travel with one another, with the destinations we visit, the people and cultures we enjoy and the environment.

You’ve never experienced travel like this.

Why only 18-35?

Focusing on 18-35 year olds allows us to tailor a dramatically more powerful travel experience and an itinerary so fun it feels like all of your best Friday nights combined.

Tailoring to select ages brings together like minded, likeable people, and allows us to use Social Travel planning to build great groups of people so fast you’ll wonder if you’ve been friends forever.

What destinations can I go to with Contiki?

A sunrise, shoreline or bright light for every whim. We are proud to offer more than 350 Global trips, intelligently designed for a seamless and simple social travel experience. Visit our search page to discover your perfect travel destination.

How does it work?

We’re reinventing hassle free travel. Whether you are a solo traveller or group you can be rest assured that there has been tonnes of planning behind every trip.

Booking with Contiki means you are saying yes to a smile inducing trip where the typically stressful elements just seem to magically happen.

No one does trips like Contiki, essential accommodation, transport, reservations and so much more is all taken care of. You can multiply the magic with trip add ons and numerous customisations for your free time.

Every single Contiki social travel trip is managed by one of our expert Trip Managers, who are there to provide hands-on support and ensure your trip runs smoothly whilst you stay in the moment.

From 2022 your good time will be good for the planet as all Contiki trips are carbon natural. Find out more here.

How many other travellers are on each trip?

Group sizes are completely dependent on where and how you choose to travel with Contiki. 

In Europe and in most of North America and New Zealand, group sizes can range between 24 – 53 awesome travellers. 

In regions like Asia, Australia, Africa and Latin America, and on some North America and New Zealand trips, our group sizes are considerably smaller – as low as 12 or up to 30 travellers max.

Detour trips offer a different type of experience and max out at 16 people led by a local host.

Wondering what is so great about travelling together? Check out the Contiki Social travel page.

Each group is administered according to our strict Covid policies which can be viewed here.

What’s included?

All essential trip elements have been catered to ensure a great time, with great people in great places. But you mean more specifically right?

Your accommodation, essential trip transport, and a good handful of meals are included in the cost of your Contiki trip (on most trips we offer breakfast every day, plus a hand-picked selection of authentic and tasty meals). 

To fill your days and Insta feeds we have Included Experiences, which are basically the sights and activities we think you just can’t afford to miss. Of course you also get our expert and highly trained team of Contiki staff to support throughout.

A day by day breakdown of inclusions and Free Time Add-Ons are available on the trip specific pages. 

We always try to accommodate special requests such as birthdays, proposals etc. Please chat to our team and we can explore how we may support the request.

What’s not included?

Contiki social travel trips have a large degree of flexibility built into them to enable you to truly own your experience. This means that some trip elements are not included in the initial cost and may require additional budgeting. 

Flights to and from your starting and ending points are not included in the cost of your trip. These can be added on during the booking process either online or via our contact center or booked independently by you.

Each trip contains the right amount of free time for you to explore or indulge your travel desires. We offer Free Time Add-Ons, which are additional experiences that are not included in the overall price. These add ons are highlighted on the specific trip page. Your Trip Manager will highlight these to you and organise their booking on trip. Exceptions may apply where pre booking is required but this will be made known to you in your pre departure information.

A number of meal times are left open for you to explore a region and its foodie offerings in greater detail, so budgeting for your taste in non-catered meals is important. 

Travel insurance and visas are also not included in the cost of your trip, and should be booked separately.

What are Contiki's sustainability credentials?

Travel comes with responsibilities. That’s why we’re determined to travel sustainably and consciously, and that’s why we’re willing to take a stand on issues closest to our hearts. Find out more details here . With the help of our four-point Climate Action Plan, we're now on a journey to Net Zero - committing to carbon reductions and evolving to support the transition to a low-carbon future. Find out more details here .

Do I need to purchase travel insurance for this trip?

Yes! It’s a requirement of traveling with Contiki that you take out comprehensive insurance cover for cancellation, personal injury, death, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, evacuation expenses, personal liability & loss of personal property and Covid related expenses before you travel with us. It’s also super important to check that your insurance covers all of the activities you’ll be trying out, particularly any adventure activities (for all you adrenaline junkies). For more information check out our full travel insurance FAQs.

Can I stay in my destination a few days before/after the trip starts/ends? And can Contiki help me arrange this?

Yes and yes! You can add pre- and post-trip accommodation to your booking in one of three ways:

When booking your trip online

In the 'My Travel Portal' after you've made your booking

By calling us any time on 0808 281 1120

In certain cities, you may even be able to secure a preferential rate for you pre- or post-trip accommodation.

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