Any opinions on Stray travel?

[Stevie]

Hi all!

I did a search for Stray travel on this forum but didn't find anything so hopefully I am not repeating what has already been said (if I am please just point me in the right direction).

I am considering taking Stray from London to Venice in April for 2 months followed by solo travel for a further 2 months in Eastern Europe etc once I have the hang of it all - I haven't backpacked before.

I was just wondering if anyone had heard anything about Stray - good or bad - and if you would recommend it. I'm not into the whole Contiki 'thing' (maybe its just a stereotype?) but wouldn't mind a bit of security at the beginning.

Any opinions would be really really appreciated!

Thanks

[nitsansh]

I need translation to plain English, please...

stevie said:

once I have the hang of it all

I'm not into the whole Contiki 'thing'

If you're afraid to do it your own way from the start, that's fine... but IMO you don't need 2 months for that... and you have only 12 "organized" days and the other 48 days you should do it yourself...

Pricewise, it looks a good deal... the equivalent of rail tickets (8-days 3 countries selectpass plus London-Paris) will cost just slightly less... you've got the added value of some guided tours, and you've got the transportation and accomodation arranged for you (for these 12 days)...

[Kim]

Yeah, I have to agree-it's fine to do an organized tour in the beginning but you will be so sick of it after 2 months.

There is a misconception about travelling alone-what people don't realize is that way more times than not, if you start out travelling alone-you won't be that way for long! You meet up with other people in hostels so quickly by sharing a room. If you are booked into something where you don't have much flexibility, you won't have your options open if say, you meet some friends and decide to head to Austria with them.

It doesn't matter if you haven't backpacked before-all you really need is a good backpack, a reliable guidebook and a sense of adventure-you'll have a great time!

Kim

[nitsansh]

Kim
The Stray Europe deal is not a tour... It's a unique package that combines the hop-on hop-off concept with transportation by trains (and occasionally by boat or bus) and guided city tours.
Considering the price is even less than equivalent rail pass when reservations are added (I didn't see it mentioned specifically, but I guess it's included in the price), it's a very good offer! And like other HOHO tours, they can book hostels for you, which saves you lot of headache in high season.
As I see it, you can take this offer and travel with them for 12 days (London to Venice is the so-called southern half at 275 pounds, I presume), and do it yourself the rest of the time.
Their schedule has 2 departures a week from each city on the route, so you can stay for 3-4 or 7 or 10-11 or 14 days and so on between the "travel days". The "pass" is valid up to 4 months IIRC. There's no danger that you'll get "stuck" with the same group of people throughout the tour, which I guess is what you mean by the "Contiki thing".
On the basis of this itinerary, you can make multiple "side trips" - It's up to you!
Some examples: You can leave the tour at Paris and take a trip to Belgium and Holland, or to parts of France not covered by the tour (I suggest the Loire Valley, Bretagne and Normandy). You can leave the tour again at Barcelona to tour the rest of Spain and Portugal, and from Rome you can travel further south in Italy.
The stops on the route are a combination of the "must sees" - London, Paris, Barcelona, Nice, Cinque Terre, Rome, Firenze, Venice are all included - and some "off the beaten path" like Cahors and Nimes.
Since the tour is using public transportation and not tour buses, the need to book in advance is smaller. I guess there should no trouble to book the next leg just one day ahead.
Well... that's what I imagine from reading the website... I must admit that I needed some time to fully understand this unique package... and I don't know anybody that travelled with them (how long are they in business?), so maybe there's a gap between what promised on the site and what's in reality...
But it is definitely worth checking... and as I previousely said... moneywise it's a good bargain, and you've got nothing to lose, unless they get bankrupt...

[Stevie]

Thanks guys,

After posting that I had a look a rail passes and they are more expensive. I think it might be the way to go. In addition to the Stray route I am also planning on going further into Spain than they go and also trips to Hungary, Russia and Poland.

By the contiki 'thing' I meant the whole going out, getting smashed and getting laid etc. Personally I'm more of a red wine in a quiet bar kind of girl! As I said this may be a stereotype since I haven't experienced it first hand. Although I will never forget my friend - a solo backpacker - telling me about meeting a girl in Europe doing Contiki who was carrying her friends camera with her to take photos because her friend was sleeping off a hangover in the bus all day! (While not just spend $20 on a coffee table book?!)

I guess I can go off by myself and/or other solo travellers and not stick with the group if I find it's not quiet my scene. And plus I do want to meet lots of different people. I just think the security of always having accomodation is a plus for me to begin with along with saving money on rail travel.


Thanks again, this entire message board has been a huge help so far!

[nitsansh]

Stevie
The difference between the Stray offer and rail pass is not such big that it should be your main consideration... it's 50$ here or there... but if you want to do some side trips from the main route, that would cost you money, and you might want to purchase a pass to cover these trips... and if you were using one pass for your entire journey, including the part you get with Stray and that you do yourself... then you might find it's not cheaper...
What I mean is... suppose you would buy 5-days 3 countries selectpass to cover the extra trips... it's 250$ to add to the 420$ that Stray cost... which is a total of 670$... if you bought one pass for the entire "western" leg of your trip, that would probably be the 15-days 5-countries selectpass at about 550$, plus the trip between London and Paris which you can do by Eurostar train for 75$ (pass holder or youth fare), or just 35 pounds (50$) by bus or a cheap flight. So for about the same price you would get more flexible transport deal.
What you should consider is whether you like the guidance and organization that Stray offer you effectively for no extra cost, against the less flexibility and freedom of choice, since they dictate to you the timetable, itinerary, accomodation (though you still have some choice, and you are not commited to stay at their recommended places) and company.
Basically, that's the difference between independent and organized trip, and Stray is still organized trip even if more flexible than others.

[nitsansh]

But if your side trips accumulate to, say, only 100$... then compare it to 10-days selectpass which cost about 400$, and you still find that you don't save money on transport with Stray...
But I repeat... the money is not the main issue... even 100$ (and don't think that I don't value your hard-earned money...) is not such big difference in the overall picture... you can make up that 100$ if you save 2$ a day over 2 months...
You should make a choice between fully independent trip and half-organized half-independent trip...

And in this sort of flexible trip you don't really have a group. You'll have a different group every day, since people can seperate from the tour and re-join as they wish...
Every time you meet the tour group at the start of a travel day you'll look around and see which people you met before... perhaps in Rome you'll see someone whom you've seen the last time in Paris 6-weeks earlier...

[Stevie]

Okay now I really have no idea!

I think I need to sit down and figure out exactly where I want to go and what passes I need etc.

I think I would rather do the fully independent way but i just have fears that I won't be able to find anywhere to sleep! (silly i know)

As said above money isn't the main consideration so I am leaning towards not using Stray now... I'll make up my mind eventually!

[nitsansh]

Relax stevie
Everyone (well... most people I know) has fears when he/she faces a new challenge and enters unknown territory (to them)... this is natural... and there are important choices to make, and you don't know what to do...
That's what we, the "experts" on this forum, are here to assist you... we will never make the decisions for you, but will give you information and advice that would help you make smart decisions... (do I sound like your parents? well... I might be nearer to their age than yours...)

Now... as you said, you begin the trip in April... there are still 4 months left, so you don't need to rush... take the time and gather information before you make the decisions... most offers (with a notable exception of inter-continental flights) will be available a month, a week or even a day before you arrive...
Let's see what you HAVE to do before you leave your home to Europe... you need a return air-ticket (though it's possible to fly one way, in most cases you better not) and, in case you choose to buy a railpass, you need to buy it before you get to Europe, because these passes are NOT available there.
Basically, everything else can be arranged while you travel in Europe. There should be no trouble to take Stray's offer in London - since their prices are quoted in pounds, and their trip leaves from London... it means their headquarters is probably in London... and as they use public transport and not tour buses, I believe there is no danger that their tour will ever be sold out!

<<<I think I need to sit down and figure out where I want to go >>>
Stop here!
Yes, this is step one, and if you noticed, I ommited the word "exactly" on purpose...
I suggest NOT to move on before you get a good idea of where you want to go, what you want to do, for how long time, and one other important matter... in what company (with whom? solo or with partners?)...
And there are more basic questions you need to think about at this stage... what level of living you would be comfortable with but can still afford it? There is quite a wide range of levels even within the definition of "backpacking"... from living in a tent and cooking on a stove or fireplace to staying in low-level hotels or pensions and eating in cheap restaurants... and in the middle... staying in hostel dorms (shared rooms) and using the hostel kitchen to cook meals with occasional "splurges" of pensions and restaurants... what is your style and do you have enough money for it? and if you have less money than you need... where can you cut down expenses?

<<<i just have fears that I won't be able to find anywhere to sleep! >>>
You must have read Stray's advertising... they have exagerated this by far, and they have interest to do so...
There is little chance, even in high season, that you would not find "anywhere" to sleep... but you may find that the places you wanted to sleep are all sold out... this is no reason to take a tour, that only guaranties you one night in every city they stop... if you want to stay there longer, you have to find accomodation by yourself... and since you start your trip in April, you would have less trouble (except around Easter) since this is not high season... it would be more difficult when you get into July and August...

But don't worry about it now... go back to step one...

[nitsansh]

I just read your profile and noticed that you are from down under... (well... the only Canberra I know of is in Australia...)
Therefor, the air ticket to Europe will cost you more than most travellers... and you better start shopping for cheap offers from now! I know nothing about the market of Australia-Europe air tickets... which destinations you can fly to?
Presumably London is the busiest route from OZ.. but you may like to consider other options... how about Istanbul for instance? This is the closest place in Europe for you, and I know many OZ backpackers go there (most people I met at the hostel in Istanbul were OZ and Kiwis...)...
Perhaps for you one-way flight is a good option... since I don't know much about your market I can't advice on that... you have to ask fellow OZ, and I don't think you'll find them on this forum... (do we have OZ members, Kim?)

[Stevie]

Yep I'm from Australia.

The plane ticket is no problem because I was lucky enough to get a round the world ticket for my 21st birthday this year.

So I will be going Sydney-LA-San Fran-Chicago-NY-Europe-Asia-Sydney. I am thinking about flying into Amsterdam because since last post I have found out I will probably live in Chicago for a few months before I go to Europe and won't get there til around September. Because of the weather I thought it might be a good idea to fly into Amsterdam and make my way down? I don't have a huge desire to go to London so I am happy not to fly in to there anyway, but if I can make it on the way home it will be a bonus.

Thanks for all the advice nitsansh and I will have a think about my options, start having a look at the rail tickets & prices and of course keep on reading this message board!

[nitsansh]

Does the ticket allow you to fly to ANY destination in and out of Europe? Does it allow open jaw? (fly into one city and out of another?)
One thing I can assure you... you will find flights from NY to more destinations in Europe than anywhere outside Europe... I'm quite sure that you can fly from NY to all European countries.
You should have plenty of choices for your onward flight to Asia as well.
If you intend to travel 4 months from September, you would end the European tour in mid-winter (I guess you know the seasons are upside-down from your place...). If you plan to go to Russia or Scandinavia, you should do that first because it already freezes there in October. But if you plan to get a tan on a mediterreanian coast, September is also your last opportunity before the season ends. Also if you want to trek in the high mountains, don't do that after September.
For any other activity, October is generally fine, especially in the low lands. In November it gets quite chilly in western, central and eastern Europe, but the meditereanian coast is moderate.
December and January are the coldest months everywhere, but western Europe (the Atlantic coast) is milder than central and eastern Europe, and the mediterreanian is the best place to be in winter.
Take this in consideration when you plan your trip.
There's no need to make a decision about transportation and rail passes until you get to USA. In fact, you should have no trouble ordering a pass just a week before you fly to Europe - any travel agent in USA sells them, or you can order them online and get them by mail in 2 days.
Since you will be travelling across half of the globe before you get to Europe, I really don't see why you should be afraid to do it the independant way.

[Pauline]

Hi everyone, I will be going to Europe in early Apr. Planning to take the Stray Tour from London to Venice. Its the best that I have found so far (for 2 gals travelling to Europe 1st time). Problem is, I am worried that the company is those fly-by-night establishments, though I found them listed under VisitBritian.com..
So my greatest worry is that, after paying up 275 pounds through credit card (internet booking), I arrive in London and am stuck there with nothing... becos the company has ceased to exist ..etc
Any advice?

[nitsansh]

What makes you worry about THIS company?

[Pauline]

I am worried because their website is so simple, and their message boards had no contribution since Sep 2002... so, like Stevie has mentioned, never really heard of anyone who has gone with them. But still, since they are listed under the British Tourism site, guess I can assume they are reputable.
I will be booking the tour soon, and doing the London to Venice circuit from 30 mar - 11 apr (Not hopping off becos of time constraint).
Will need a flight to London from Venice. So far, I see that Ryanair has the cheapest prices, from internet. Will there be any cheaper tickets if I buy from London instead? Is Ryanair ok? They dun seem to have any email that I can write to, seems like must call their enquiry lines.