Concept / Budget vs. Time Out / Superior

Last Updated: Dec. 01, 2011

ibiza, superior tour

Contiki offers 3 main styles of touring in Europe, each with varying itineraries. All styles have a great mix of sightseeing and free time with the main difference between the styles being the accommodations used.

Here are a few more differences between the tour styles that may help you choose the style that suits you best.

Differences Between Tour Styles in Europe

.	Time Out/Superior Full Description	Concept/Budget Full Description	Camping Full Description
Accommodation:	Hotels	Cabins, Budget Hotels and Special Stopovers	Tent
Who you Share with:	Single, Twin or Triple Share	Twin to Quad Share	Twin Share Tents
Sleeping bag required?	No	Yes *	Yes *
Included Meals:	Time Out/Superior Meals	Concept/Budget Meals	Camping Meals
Contiki Staff:	Tour Manager and Driver	Tour Manager, Driver and Site Reps	Tour Manager, Driver and Supercook
Countries Visited:	Single country, In-Depth Regional and Multi Country Tours	Multi Country Tours	Multi Country Tours

* If you book your tour from the USA or Canada you will receive a voucher for a sleeping bag that you can collect at the Contiki Basement in London . Feel free however to bring your own sleeping bag. You can also purchase sleeping bags from the Contiki Basement if you are booking your tour from elsewhere.

All Styles of Tour Also Include…

Transport: The same coaches, ferries and transport are used for all styles of tour in Europe.

Sightseeing: The same included sightseeing tours by your Tour Manager and Expert Local Guides are used for all styles of tour in Europe.

Free Time: There is lots of Free Time on all tours however this will depend on the number of nights you spend in each destination and doesn’t vary greatly from tour style to tour style.

Optional Excursions: Many of the optional excursions are available on all styles of tour. There are some excursions that are only available on certain tours and you should check the individual tour itineraries to see what is available.

Travel Time: Travel Time is the same on all styles of tour and, as always, will depend on the varying distances between your destination cities.

Party Scene: The Party Scene will most certainly depend upon the others on your tour as well as, to a small extent, your tour style.

Socializing with other Contiki Tours: The nature of Camping and Concept/Budget tours generally lends itself to being a little more social than Time Out/Superior/Hotel tours. The level of socialization within your tour group however will very much depend very much on the personalities on your tour. Camping and Concept/Budget tours tend to meet up with other Contiki tours simply because many of the accommodations used are the same while only occasionally Time Out/Superior/Hotel tours share the same hotel. There may also be times where your tours itinerary runs parallel to that of another tour so you may also meet up with other Contiki groups at optional excursions and evenings out.

As with all things though, you are free to do what you like with your free time and there are loads of opportunities to meet and mix with the locals in each of your destinations.

Add a Comment Comments (2)

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Explorer1275297 posted on Aug. 15, 2011 Flag as Inappropriate
Having different styles of traveling is what makes Contiki Holidays such a GREAT Company to Travel with…

I did European Highlights (Concept/Budget) 2 Summers ago ‘07, and the Spanish Spree this past Summer ‘08 (Time Out/Superior) and I have to say they are quite different in Style of traveling, yet are both still very fun. Also both styles allow just as much Free Time in each city!
I found the Concept/Budget tour had much more of a lively atmosphere, as well as more of a party atmosphere (ex. partying almost every night at the bars at the campsites/ Special Contiki Stopovers).
While the Time Out/Superior was lots of fun, but was less of that party atmosphere, although there was some partying – as the trip ended in Ibiza, it wasn’t the same “students” party atmosphere. This trip was a great experience to learn all about Spain, and gain more insight into the history, as it was a ‘indepth regional tour’!
Both trips exceeded my expectations, and I have tons of memories (and photos) from both, (nor do I regret doing one style over the other).
I suggest looking into both travel styles before choosing your trip, that way you know what to expect, and get to choose which style is right for you! If you don’t mind sleeping on a single, thin mattress, and love to socialize, then do the Concept/Budget. If you are one to need to be in a hotel, with those luxuries that come along with that, and are more interested in socializing at bars/ clubs, then do the Time Out/ Superior.

And although I haven’t done a Camping Tour, I have only heard great things about it! Happy Contiki-ing!

Explorer1113956 posted on Oct. 03, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate