By Rebekah Funk
The rand may have hit a one-year low, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait until retirement for your first trip to Europe. Contiki – the company that’s been taking 18- to 35-year-olds travelling around the globe for 56 years – has released 26 new and improved summer trips to Europe with a 10% early booking discount*.
Whether you’d like to see as many countries as possible in your short break from university or take things at a slower pace, Contiki has an option to suit you. Check out the kind of trips you can take in eight different travel styles:
1. In-Depth Explorer Trips
A tour for the “culturally curious” – these trips aren’t about covering huge amounts of ground; they focus on a specific region in detail. See the Best of Britain during the 10-day trip to the UK’s most iconic cities (London, Liverpool, Manchester, Oxford, plus a sprinkling of Welsh charm in Cardiff). Optional add-ons include a tour of Warner Brothers’ Harry Potter Studio Tour or a Welsh banquet at Cardiff Castle. Meanwhile, Fiestas & Siestas is another 11-night in-depth explorer trip that takes you through Spain and Portugal’s hotspots in Porto, Lisbon, Madrid and Barcelona.
2. Discoverer
See as much of Europe as you possibly can – no matter how much time you have. Visit multiple countries on a single itinerary; these trips leave no icon unseen, no city undiscovered, no plate thoroughly unlicked, according to Contiki’s website.
3. High Energy Trips
Experience an entirely new trip from Contiki called Ibiza & Beyond. Departing from Gaudi’s artistic playground in Barcelona, the itinerary takes travellers to Ibiza, the party capital of the world, a city tour in Madrid and add-on cooking class in Valencia. You’ll eat all the tapas you can manage and perhaps learn to make Spain’s well-known paella dish. Plus, they’re the only trips with unique overnight stays: a 16th century French chateau, Austrian gasthof or cosy cabins.
4. Independent Insider
Contiki’s newest travel style is “group travel reimagined”. Curate three- to 13-night itineraries that reflect your passions and personal travel preferences, free of wake-up calls or group sightseeing. Itineraries are based in some of Europe’s trendiest summer locations like Nice, Copenhagen, Budapest, Mykonos, Amalfi Coast and Porto.
5. Sailing, Cruise & Beach Trips
Think cruises are just for old people? Think again. Contiki’s sister company, Uniworld River Cruising has designed affordable journeys under its new youth brand, U by Uniworld, aimed at travellers between the ages of 21 and 45. Experience sunrise yoga on deck, take an expert cocktail mixology class or dance the night away to one of the ship’s onboard DJs. Trips are eight days long and include The Seine Experience, Germany’s Finest, The Danube Flow, or Rolling on the Rhine.
Or how about trying your hand at sailing? Join the nine-day Idyllic Aegean and island hop from Greece to Turkey, stopping in the likes of Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Crete and Milos.
6. Winter & Ski Trips
Tired of the sunshine and heat of South Africa’s summer? Join Contiki’s Fire & Ice six-day trip through Iceland – one of the trendiest travel destinations at present. Pop on your Wellingtons and venture to Reykjavik, Vik, Selfoss and Skaftafell. This is an ideal trip for adventure and outdoor lovers, particularly if you opt to add on an excursion to the Blue Lagoon, where you’ll soak in natural, sky-blue geothermal pools and perhaps even see the Northern Lights!
7. Short Trips & Festivals Trips
Want the ultimate cultural experience abroad – think New Years, Christmas, Oktoberfest or Sziget (the ultimate island culture and music festival in Budapest)? Contiki offers short-but-sweet three-night breaks, ideal for the traveller who is tight on time but craving flexibility. They can be tacked on to the start or end of another Contiki trip as well.
8. Camping
Ideal for a money-minded traveller who wants to stretch their budget and see more sights, you’ll sleep under a starry-night sky in roomy two-person tents with air mattresses for added comfort. Campsites have amenities such as pools, bars and hot showers – pretty much all you need besides the sights in Europe, right?
*Book and pay by 31 January 2018 and get a 10% discount. Ts and Cs apply. Ask your Sure Travel consultant for full details.
Ready, steady…book!
Take advantage of Contiki’s 10% early booking offer – contactyour Sure Travel agent today to book your Summer 2018 European trip. Or call 0861 47 48 49.
WIN A JBL BLUETOOTH SPEAKER!
Contiki is giving away one JBL Flip 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, valued at R1,599. To enter the lucky draw, simply tell us which of Contiki’s eight travel styles suits you best.
To enter:
1) Post your answer in the comment section of the Facebook competition post.
2) Share the Facebook competition post on your own Facebook page.
That’s it. Competition closes 5 December 2017.
[Competition terms & Conditions]
1. Competition closes midnight 5 December 2017.
2. Winner will be selected by random draw and announced on 7 December 2017 via social media.
3. The judge's decision is final and no further correspondence will be entered in to.
4. Sure Travel's standard competition rules apply. Click here for full rules.
5. By entering this competition, entrants accept the above terms and conditions.
