Choosing between group travel companies can feel like picking your favorite child—or at least your favorite flavor of ice cream. When it comes to Contiki vs EF Ultimate Break, both offer life-changing experiences for young travelers. Whether you’re dreaming of sipping wine in Italy or exploring the bustling streets of Bangkok, understanding the nuances of these trips is crucial before you book.
I’ve done five Contiki trips so far and often times people ask me various questions about Contiki. On the other hand, in November 2022, I went on the EF Ultimate Break Germany, Italy, and Switzerland trip, and it changed my life in so amazing ways.
Let’s dive into the details to help you decide which one is right for you.
The Solo Traveler Experience: Will You Make Friends?
People do often travel solo, and so should you. If you have someone to go with, obviously then go with them, but don’t be afraid to travel solo. Of the five Contikis I’ve done, four of them I’ve actually traveled on my own. About 50% of the people are probably with somebody else, whether it’s a significant other, best friend, or a sister. The rest of the people are just like myself; they’re there on their own and they’re looking for people to become friends with.
On my EF Ultimate Break trip, I was supposed to be going with my girlfriend at the time, but we had broken up not too long before. I had already paid for the room so I kept it, still processing the breakup throughout the trip. Even with low energy at times, I made some amazing friends that I’m still in contact with today and couldn’t imagine my life without this trip and without them.
Roommates and Social Dynamics
You’ll get paired with a roommate. That roommate is usually single as well unless they’re part of a threesome, in which case they’re just the odd man out. Beyond that, don’t be afraid; you’re going to make great friends.
By the end of it, you will have your heartbroken in more ways than one potentially. These people that you meet on this trip are going to be like your family after 10, 12, 14, 20, or 47 days. When you say goodbye to them on that last day, you’re going to never see the majority of them ever again. You do grow very close to these people. You might even find love; I had a best friend when we did the first Contiki together and 10 years later he actually married a girl that he met on Contiki.
Group Sizes and Demographics
Group sizes vary depending on the region and depending on the season. In the summer in Europe, you’re going to have around 50 people on your Contiki, and it’s the same for North America. In Asia, you get around 30 people depending on the season.
I don’t mind the large groups. I think the big plus of having a large group is that you’re guaranteed—or almost guaranteed—to find someone that you’re going to get along with. When you’ve got only 15 people on a trip, the likelihood of you finding someone is a little bit smaller.
Age Ranges
Age ranges can vary. I know a lot of people are afraid of being the youngest person on the trip or being the oldest person on the trip. My only advice to you is don’t worry about it. There are so many people on these trips; you’re going to have a lot of people that are older than 30 and you’re going to have a lot of people that are younger than 30.
Contiki has a very strict 18-to-35 policy. You typically get a younger group overall. There are going to be people who like to sightsee more than they like to party. Because of these large groups, that’s not going to be an issue because the people who like to sightsee are going to typically hang out with the people who like to sightsee. Age isn’t much of a factor in that case.
Itinerary and Pacing: What to Expect
Not all trips are created equal. They have what they call Modular trips. What that means is that the group of people you start with might not be the same people you end with. You might start a trip that’s already in progress. It can be very difficult to integrate yourself with a new group, especially one that’s been traveling and very close.
If you are worried about tight schedules between flights or tour meetups, you might wonder is a 2 hour layover enough for an international flight when rushing to catch your group.
The Reality of Travel Days
There will be very long travel days ahead. You might have a day where you’ve got five, six, seven, eight hours of travel. There’s really no way to avoid that with the amount of ground Contiki or EF Ultimate Break is going to cover in a very short period of time.
I think they’re a great opportunity to catch up on sleep. Just make sure you plan your meals and your drinking around the period of time that you’re going to be stopping off at a convenience store along the way, typically every 2 hours.
On my EF trip, we had an early wake-up. We were on the road going four hours to Innsbruck, Austria, staying there for about three-ish hours, and then another four hours over to Salzburg. It was a lot of travel, but the views were incredible.
Accommodations: Hostels vs. Hotels
The accommodations are fine. I don’t understand why people actually complain so much about the accommodations. I’ve never felt unsafe, unclean, or uncomfortable. They’re fine. They could probably be in better locations at times—I know in Athens we were in a very sketchy part of town—but the hotel itself was fine.
Unique Stays
Some of the things you get to do is get to stay in really cool exclusives. There is a beautiful Chateau in France that you get to stay at, and it’s actually owned by Contiki. Then there’s other places like this place in Thailand where we got to stay on a floating raft accommodation. Yeah, they’re not five-star hotels, but you’re not paying for a five-star hotel.
On the EF trip, my room in Venice had a really nice bed and a real incredible view too. In Munich, I had a little mini bed and a view of the highway, but a nice bathroom. In Salzburg, the room was definitely clean, pretty big too, and the view was actually a lot better during the day—you actually see the mountains.
Booking Your Own Room
You can book your own room. This is something that if you go through a travel agent you’re probably not going to be aware of. For usually around $100 extra a night, you can usually book your own room.
There are going to be times where you want to crash early and your roommate’s going to want to stay out another 3, 4, 5 hours and they’re going to be stumbling home at 3:00 or 4:00 AM. I have often done work on my trips so I might be up late on my laptop, and I don’t want anyone to be awake so I make sure that I have my own room.
If you are packing expensive gear like a laptop or camera, you might be debating between Tumi or Away luggage to keep everything safe in shared rooms.
Budgeting: The Hidden Costs
You’re probably going to spend a lot more money than you think. The cost of the trip isn’t the only expense. There’s also that flight over. You’re also going to be drinking a lot, eating a lot, and partying a lot.
There are free time optionals or free time add-ins, and those start adding up pretty quickly if you do all of them. I do recommend you do a lot of them because I find that they’re often some of the best, most memorable things you do on a trip.
You also have souvenirs and transportation such as taxis or Ubers you have to pay for. It can add up very quickly, and I would recommend that you budget between $200 to $500 per week that you’re going to be on the trip.
If you are looking for nightlife perks, you might want to check out Hard Rock legendary membership reviews to see if you can save on drinks or entry fees in major cities.
The Activities: From Culture to Clubbing
On the EF Ultimate Break trip, we went on a sightseeing tour of Venice to see a lot of the famous landmarks. We went to a glass blowing tour, wine tasting, and a gondola ride.
In Innsbruck, the architecture is amazing, food was really good, and views of the mountains were incredible. In Salzburg, we hiked up to the top of a fortress and got some really cool views.
Nightlife and Socializing
A lot of drinking and wine tasting which was really fun. In Munich, we went to a beer hall after much better beer tasting. Our local tour guide basically ran a brewery for a while in London; it was awesome.
The trip wouldn’t have been complete without an amazing goodbye dinner and going clubbing with everyone at a local club in Engelberg. It was honestly the perfect ending to the trip.
Warning: Moral of the story kids, don’t get so wasted that you forget your phone on the train in Munich. As I stepped off, I was very drunk—like gone—and I forgot my phone on the train. By some miracle, my friends found it and brought it back.
Comparative Table: Contiki vs EF Features
| Feature | Contiki | EF Ultimate Break |
|---|---|---|
| Age Range | Strict 18-35 | 18-29 (mostly) |
| Group Size | Large (30-50+) | Variable (20-40) |
| Accommodation | Hostels, Hotels, Chateaus | Hostels, Hotels |
| Pacing | Fast-paced, frequent travel | Moderate to Fast |
| Solo Friendly | Very High (50% solo) | Very High |
| Cost | Modular pricing + add-ons | Inclusive packages available |
Final Thoughts: Which Should You Choose?
When comparing Contiki vs EF Ultimate Break, both companies offer incredible opportunities to see the world without the stress of planning every detail yourself.
For Contiki, be aware that group sizes are large, travel days are long, and you will likely spend more than the sticker price. But the social connections are unmatched. You can actually connect with people before you even book the trip. Go to Facebook and do a quick search looking for the particular trip you’re going to be doing.
For EF Ultimate Break, the experience is life-changing. From the top of an Alp—which was definitely by far my number one experience on this trip—to the heartfelt goodbye dinners, every moment is curated for impact. If you’re thinking about booking this trip, I highly recommend it.
Ultimately, whether you choose Contiki or EF, you’re signing up for adventure, friendship, and memories that last a lifetime. Just don’t forget to budget for those extra drinks!