Contiki Tour Review: Is Contiki Cheaper Than Solo Backpacking?

"When Contiki posted on Facebook claiming you could “literally save hundreds of dollars” by touring with them and that backpacking was “so 1997,” I called them out and they replied that group rates give them better deals — but after digging into one of their 2019 budget options (the European Discovery Tour) I found that to be disingenuous. That tour is 12 days and listed at $1,656 USD, includes 16 meals (5 dinners and 11 breakfasts), 21 activities (plus 12 optional at extra cost), and 11 nights in shared hotel rooms with 1–2 other people; on paper it looks like $138 USD per day, but with the first and last days mostly in transit you really get about 10 travel days (closer to $165/day), and once you add even modest extra meal costs (~$9/meal), typical attraction fees (~$30/day) and a round-trip flight (~$600) the trip approaches ~$2,800 total (about $280/day). By contrast, my independent 10-day budget numbers (flight $600, meals $300, sightseeing $300, transport $250, accommodation $350) come to about $1,800 ($180/day) — roughly $1,000 less — so Contiki is not cheaper. I’ve never taken a Contiki tour (I’d thought about it but couldn’t justify the cost and frantic pace), and while friends report it’s fun, social and party-focused (young travelers, lots of alcohol), it’s not the sort of value or travel style I want." - Matthew Kepnes