A side-by-side comparison of two major travel companies.
Are you on the fence about choosing between Topdeck and Contiki? Considering how similar these two agencies are, we don’t blame you.
However, we've analysed both companies on multiple parameters including prices, tours, discounts and cancellations to help you quell your indecision.
You're welcome.
Topdeck vs Contiki
| Topdeck | Contiki | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where can I book tours to? |
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It's even. Topdeck doesn’t offer Latin American holidays while Contiki doesn’t offer African or Middle Eastern trips. |
| Do tours include flights? | Internal flights only. | Internal flights only. | Both companies don’t include international flights. |
| Can I price match? | No | No | Neither company price matches. |
| Is there lay-by or payment plans? | A deposit of USD$200 (AUD$255) per person is required. The remainder must be paid 42 days prior to departure. | A deposit of USD$200 (AUD$255) per person is required. The remainder must be paid 45 days prior to departure.Contiki also uses ZipMoney which acts like a layby service and lets you pay your purchase back over 6 months, interest free. | Both require a minimum deposit of USD$200 per person. Contiki allows slightly more time to pay the full amount. |
| Are there booking/charge fees? | No | No | No booking fees for both companies. |
| Is there online chat? | Yes | Yes | Both offer live chat. |
| Is there a loyalty scheme? | 5% off trips for returning customers. | 5% off on trips for customers who've booked a trip of 7+ days with Contiki or its sister groups including Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Uniworld River Cruises, Busabout, Haggis Adventure, Shamrocker Adventures, Lion World Travel, African Travel, Brendan Vacations and AAT Kings. | Both companies at the same level here. |
| What ages is it for? | 18-39 year olds. If you're slightly out of this range, Topdeck may still consider your admission. |
18-35 year olds. This is a strict age policy. If you don’t fit in this limit, you can book with one of Contiki’s sister companies. |
Topdeck is open to a wider age range. |
| Is there a single supplement? | Yes, for a fee. | Yes, for a fee. On certain tours, you can reduce the cost by opting for a triple/quad-share. | Single supplements are available from both at a cost. |
| What are my payment options? |
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Topdeck offers more payment options. |
Who offers the best price?
We compared some similar tours on Topdeck and Contiki and found a 10-day tour from Cairns to Brisbane including sailing for $2,352 on Topdeck and $2,363 on Contiki.
On comparing other tours, we found there is little variance in prices between the two companies.
The verdict: Both companies compete neck-to-neck to keep their prices comparable.
Which offers a wider range of tours?
Topdeck and Contiki come close in terms of range, too. While Topdeck offers 335 trips, Contiki is slightly ahead with 343 trips at the time of writing.
The verdict: As both companies are quite close, we can’t declare a winner here.
Any other differences worth noting?
Cancellation policy: Contiki has a more relaxed cancellation policy than Topdeck, allowing you to cancel as late as one day prior and still receive a return of 25% off your booking. With Contiki, you must cancel at least 14 days prior to departure or you'll forfeit your full purchase.
Both have different percentage fees depending on when you cancel. Generally if you cancel before final payment is due, you won't be liable for fees beyond the deposit. The later you cancel, the greater the fee.
Cancellation fee with Topdeck
| Days cancelled prior to departure | Cancellation fee based on your purchase price |
|---|---|
| 42+ days | Deposit only |
| 42-29 days | 40% |
| 28-14 days | 60% |
| 13-0 days | 100% |
Cancellation fee with Contiki
| Days cancelled prior to departure | Cancellation fee based on your purchase price |
|---|---|
| 45+ days | Deposit only |
| 45-22 days | 25% |
| 23-8 days | 50% |
| 7-1 days | 75% |
| Day of departure | 100% |
Site navigation: Contiki is visually more appealing and allows easier access to search results, maps and itineraries than Topdeck.
Feature image: Contiki
What are the deals like?
Both companies offer the following deals:
- Early payment discount: While Topdeck offers a 5% discount on trips booked six months prior to the departure. Contiki offers early payment discounts of up to 10%.
- Last-minute deals: On an average, we found Topdeck offers better last-minute deals than Contiki. Most deals on Topdeck have a 30% discount while the average discount on Contiki is around 15-20%.
- Return traveller: 5% discount on both companies.
- Discount for booking with friends: Contiki offers discounts for groups of four or more while discounts on Topdeck are available for groups of two or more. However, the total maximum discount on Topdeck is 15% while there is no restriction on Contiki.
- Multiple trip discounts: If you book two or more trips, you get a 5% discount on Topdeck and US$50 (AU$64) on Contiki, provided both your trips are seven days or longer.
In addition to these, Topdeck also offers a Festival Discount if you've joined them for a festive event.
In the past, Topdeck has boasted discounts of 30% off on last-minute European tours and 15% off on European winter tours. Contiki has shown 10-15% discounts on last-minute tours worldwide and 20% off Australian tours.
The verdict: Although both companies have a wide array of discounts, Topdeck gives more chances to secure better deals.
Current deals with Contiki and Topdeck
Topdeck
Up to 30% off last-minute deals
Valid on select last-minute departures. Destinations vary, but include China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Bali. T&C's apply.
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Contiki
Up to $550 off Australia tours
Valid on select 2018 departures. Destinations include Darwin, Alice Springs, Sydney, Cairns, Whitsundays and more. T&Cs apply.
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Contiki
Up to 10% off Africa tours
Valid for travel on select dates. Destinations include Tanzania, Cape Town, Kenya and more. T&Cs apply.
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Contiki
Up to $985 off USA and Canada tours
Valid for travel on select dates. Destinations include Las Vegas, Vancouver, Dallas, Santa Fe, New Orleans and more. T&Cs apply.
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Contiki
Up to $970 off Europe tour
Valid for travel on select dates. Destinations include England, Netherlands, Vatican, Belgium, Switzerland and more. T&Cs apply.
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Contiki
15-day Japan tour + 6-day ski experience from $4,979
Valid from 22 December 2018 - 26 January 2019. Includes accommodation, meals, transportation and more. T&Cs apply.
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Contiki
13-day Japan tour + 4-day ski experience from $4,589
Valid from 22 December 2018 - 26 January 2019. Includes accommodation, meals, transportation and more. T&Cs apply.
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Contiki
Up to 30% off last-minute Europe summer tours
Book a range of last-minute Contiki tours, from week long jaunts to month long journeys, to destinations like Italy, France, Germany, Greece and more for up to 30% off.
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Contiki
Up to 30% off last-minute Asia tours
Valid on select tours departing until 26 December, including Asian Adventure and Eternal India.
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Contiki
Up to 20% off Greek island hopping tours
Valid for travel on select 2018 dates. Includes meals, accommodation, transport and more. Destinations include Athens, Mykonos, Santorini and more. T&Cs apply.
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Contiki
5% off your next trip
Travel again with Contiki to receive 5% off your next trip.
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