Travel worldwide with Contiki
By Megan Helgeson, Assistant Campus Life Editor
March 1, 2008 | 2:10 p.m.
Studying abroad is often a student’s choice for traveling and experiencing different cultures. For many, however, experiencing an exotic country should not include studying. Contiki holidays can help provide the traveling experience of which students dream.
Contiki is a “travel company for students and young people,” said junior Hannah Menke, a Contiki intern at Ohio University.
The trips are designed for 18- to 35-year-olds in locations such as Europe, New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Canada. According to the Contiki Web site, the company can get you inside 32 of the world’s most intriguing countries, and with 100-plus itineraries, you’re sure to find the perfect trip.
Although Contiki does provide itineraries, travelers do not have to follow them, and they have the option of customizing their trip with “excursions.” The Web site recommends this individual involvement, saying its optional excursions are the perfect way to personalize trips, which allows for more time to do exactly what you want, where you want, which helps travelers enjoy every second of their vacation.
This means no boring museums if the traveler does not want to see them. Possible excursions include day sailing and snorkeling in Australia, a show at the Moulin Rouge in Paris, dining and German entertainment at the Bavarian Beer Hall in Munich and a ride in a famous gondola boat in Venice, Italy.
Contiki also takes care of the minor trip details most people do not want to deal with.
“We provide accommodations, transportation and half of the meals,” Menke said.
According to the Contiki Web site, Contiki rolls in a comfortable luxury coach with soft reclining seats, air conditioning and huge, wraparound windows for you to relax and enjoy a panoramic view of the beautiful surroundings. The site also explains the trips' meal plans, saying Contiki will provide breakfast and many dinners and ensure travelers get fresh, seasonal produce but still have the opportunity to indulge in meals at local eateries on their own time.
Contiki is an international company, which means that a tour group is made up of travelers from many nationalities. Besides a mixture of cultures, backgrounds and interests, Contiki promises that travelers will "make friends with people from around the world; travel connections you’ll have long after the trip has ended.”
What travelers need to choose is which tour to take, including the style of the tour and how long the tour will last. Travelers decide whether to travel through either one or multiple countries or through different regions. They can also take ski and cruise style trips. The duration of the trip can last from one to seven days to more than 28 days. Whatever preference a traveler has, Contiki has a plethora of options from which to choose.
As the Contiki representative for OU, Menke shows presentations to anyone interested. “I get the word out there,” she said. “I talk to classes and student organizations about [Contiki]."
By exploring the world with Contiki, the company expresses its hope for individuals through its motto, "Be a traveler, not a tourist.'"
If interested in the program, contact Menke at hm121705@ohio.edu to see a presentation or visit Contiki.com to find the trip of your dreams.
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