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Topdeck vs Contiki for Europe trips
Are you looking for a European holiday but can’t decide whether you should choose Topdeck or Contiki to take you there? You’re at the right place.
With both Topdeck and Contiki targeting the same age group and having similar itineraries and prices, it may be difficult to pick one.
We researched and compared both based on prices, itineraries, payment methods and deals offered. Check out our comparison of European trips on Topdeck and Contiki and discover the best one for you.
Topdeck vs Contiki Europe trip
| Feature | Topdeck | Contiki | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| What are the choices for European tours? |
|
| Both cover all regions of Europe. Additionally, Contiki visits Belarus. |
| Do tours include flights? | Internal flights only. | Internal flights only. | Neither include international flights. |
| Can I price match? | No | No | Neither price match. |
| Is there lay-by or payment plans? | Deposit of USD$200 is required to book. Full payment required 42 days prior to departure. | Deposit of USD$200 is required to book. Full payment required 45 days prior to departure. | Both allow you to book your trip with a deposit. |
| Are there booking/charge fees? | No | No | Neither charge booking fee. |
| Is there online chat? | Yes | No | Only Topdeck offers live chat. |
| Is there a loyalty scheme? | 5% off on your next trip. | 5% off your next trip if you booked a trip of 7+ days with Contiki or its sister sites: Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Uniworld River Cruises, Busabout, Haggis Adventure, Shamrocker Adventures, Lion World Travel, African Travel, Brendan Vacations and AAT Kings. | Both offer discounts for return customers. |
| What ages is it for? | 18-39 year olds. Can be negotiable if you fall slightly out of the range. | 18-35 year olds. Trips designed exclusively for this age-range. | Topdeck has more relaxed age restrictions. |
| Is there a single supplement? | Yes, at an additional cost. | Yes, at an additional cost. | Both offer single supplements at a surcharge. |
| What are my payment options? |
|
| Topdeck offers more payment options. |
Who offers the best price?
On comparing prices on both websites, we found that Contiki has a higher price than Topdeck for trips with comparable itineraries.
For instance, at the time of writing a 21-day trip around Iberian Peninsula costs from $2,951 on Topdeck while the similar trip starts from $4,029 on Contiki.
The verdict: On an average, Contiki offers better prices than Topdeck. But it’s always better to compare the prices on both websites for certainty.
Which offers a wider range of tours?
At the time of writing this, Contiki has 178 and Topdeck has 179 European trips.
The verdict: Both companies have almost the same number of trips that operate on similar routes.
Any other differences worth noting?
Cancellation policy:
Contiki has a more customer-favouring cancellation policy than Topdeck.
Contiki allows you to pay the full amount prior to 45 days from the trip while Topdeck requires you to pay no later than 42 days.
If you cancel the trip between the second and fourth week before the start of your Contiki trip, you lose between 25-50% of the trip cost. This hikes up to 60-80% on Topdeck.
For the last week cancellation before the day of departure, Contiki deducts 50-75% while Topdeck charges a 100% cancellation fee.
Percentage 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% |
Percentage 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% |
What are the deals like?
Both Topdeck and Contiki offer early payment discount, last minute deals, loyalty offers, group-travel discount and multiple-trip discount.
Unlike Contiki, Topdeck offers a Festival Discount if you joined them at a festive event.
Last-minute Europe trips can be discounted up to 30% on Topdeck and between 20-30% on Contiki.
For example, at the time of writing a 19-day European Horizons tour is on offer at 30% off on Topdeck while European Inspiration tour of the same duration has a 25% discount on Contiki.
The verdict: Both companies have the same discounts for early payment, loyalty and multiple trips. However, we found that Topdeck offers better last-minute deals than Contiki.
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