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Contiki, the world’s leading travel company for 18-35 year olds, have launched their 2019/20 Europe product with changes to travel styles, product partnerships and trips aimed at simplifying the buying experience for both travel agents, as well as generation y and z travellers.

New Trips

The star amongst Contiki’s 21 new itineraries across Europe and the Middle East is Israel & Jordan, a brand new 11-day trip. Starting in Jerusalem, the trip travels to Nazareth, Galilee, the ancient city of Jerash, Amman, breathtaking Petra and Wadi Rum, Eilat and wraps up in the culture capital of Tel Aviv. Highlights include a guided tour of Petra, travelling across Wadi Rum by 4×4, floating in the Dead Sea and a visit to the Iraq Al-Amir Women’s Cooperative – an organisation dedicated to raising the financial independence of women in the region, and a Contiki Cares initiative. On sale now from $3,020.

Travel Styles

Introduced in 2014, Contiki’s travel styles have been a hugely popular way for travel agents and travellers alike to identify the right trip out of Contiki’s 300+ itineraries. In demonstration of their deep understanding of the 18-35 year old traveller, Contiki has made a number of considerable changes that address the consumer needs of an ever moving youth target.

This year, Contiki is unveiling ‘Iconic Essentials’, a travel style centered around stretching your budget. With only the essential experiences included, as well as simple but fun quad-share accommodation, the brand has been able to keep costs down while delivering the incredible Contiki experience and service that the market has come to expect. It is about value without compromise. The Iconic Essentials travel style replaces ‘High Energy’, which was synonymous with nightlife throughout Europe.

“What previous generations may have looked for in a travel experience has changed today,” says Vanessa Fletcher, Marketing Director. “From in-depth research and focus groups with our customers what we do know is how incredibly important value is to today’s young traveller. By focusing on just the essential experiences, travellers are more in control of their budget while still getting that great Contiki experience.”

However, where Iconic Essentials really comes to life is through its unique accommodation. In addition to Contiki’s infamous Special Stay properties like its 16th Century French Chateau, Swiss Chalet, and newly renovated Austrian Gasthof, this year they’ve partnered with a list of incredible hostel brands who prove that where you stay is more than just a bed.

Iconic Essentials joins Discoverer and In-Depth Explorer as one of Contiki’s three primary ways to travel.

  • Discoverer remains Contiki’s most popular travel style, staying in twin-share hotel accommodation with more included experiences than Iconic Essentials.
  • In-Depth Explorer trips also stay in hotels, however rather than visiting many destinations on one itinerary, trips focus on one country or region. Real, local experiences, are featured on every In-Depth Explorer trip.

Four trips across the styles (one Discoverer and three In-Depth Explorer) have been labelled with ‘Extra Free Time’ – including three days in each destination and a laundry list of incredible Free Time Add-Ons – allowing travellers to explore each destination in their own way while still reaping the benefits of a group trip.

Partnerships

Further developing the Contiki product to deliver value without compromise are a number of third party partnerships that have been integrated into trips. On Iconic Essentials trips, in addition to Special Stay properties travellers will be bedding down in best-in-class hostels from brands such as Generator, Wombats, A&O and Via who are famed for their cutting-edge design and social spaces. Additionally, Contiki’s continued partnership with immersive food experience startup Eatwith has resulted in its availability on all In-Depth Explorer trips.

Real experiences remain at the heart of what travellers get when they go with Contiki. Whether the icons, the unique or the unexpected, the brand’s no regrets philosophy permeates every hand-picked experience, from soaking in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, to wine tasting in a Tuscan castle or glacier hiking on top of Mt Jungfrau in Switzerland.

All of these changes are reflected in a newly designed brochure and website, aligned in messaging and content to deliver a seamless user experience whether in a travel agency or online.

But, while the brand may change trips and how they categorise them, the thing that sets Contiki apart which will never change is the brand’s longstanding dedication to the 18-35 year old market.

“We are forever asked if we’ll open up our age range, and the answer is no,” says Fletcher. “There’s something magic about the 18-35 year old market. It’s a time of exploration, change and development and there’s nothing like a shared travel experience during this period. Travelling with us, you’ll meet people from all over the world with the same thirst for wanderlust and have an experience you’ll be sharing with them for your lifetime. It’s something you just can’t get any other way.”

Real experiences, unique accommodation, local food, the best team and awesome people all deliver Contiki’s no regrets experience, on sale now at contiki.com