Couples talk about how they found love on Contiki and what they’re getting ready for this Valentine’s Day
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For many young Australians, before they start getting serious about life, before they start taking life seriously, a fun-filled trip, party, trip with friends and friends during a gap year or university vacation, take the Contiki Tour It’s a coming-of-age ceremony.
Sometimes, as this couple attests, those casual holiday activities can turn into something more.
From love at first sight to a friendship that developed further, three couples tell the story of the love they started on their Contiki tour, how they did it, and what they’ll be doing this Valentine’s Day.
Claudia and Ben (pictured) share how they met and fell in love while traveling, and two other couples tell how they found “the one” on Contiki
Claudia and Ben – seven years together
Claudia, 28, was on a swamp boat trip in New Orleans, Louisiana – her “favorite place on earth” – when she spotted Ben, 33, with his “cute man bun” She mustered up the courage to go up and introduce herself to him, but suffocated in flight.
Despite the rocky start, Ben thinks Claudia is “in full swing” and the two hit it off and are “inseparable” for the rest of the tour.
“We had been drinking outside, and I quoted a quote from the movie Friends with Benefits, and Ben didn’t hesitate to finish it. There was the game,” recalls Claudia.
Claudia, 28, and Ben, 33, hit it off and became ‘inseparable’ when they met at Contiki, New Orleans
It’s a lucky coincidence, as Ben travels the US with a friend who suddenly comes home, leaving him alone.
“He called Kontiki and they said if you were flying right now, you could be in the Great South of New Orleans — that’s halfway — but you have to be there by tomorrow morning.” So, he really is At Dallas airport, and then flew to New Orleans,” Claudia said.
When the tour ended in New York, Claudia was meeting her mom and brother and wanted to travel some more, so Ben extended his trip to be with her.
After the trip, Ben was back home on the Gold Coast and Claudia was back in Sydney, but their message was “don’t stop”.
They would take turns meeting on weekends, and ten months later, Ben moved to Sydney.
Ben and Claudia tied the knot on Halloween last year after seven years together, and since they’re both big fans of the NFL in the US, this Valentine’s Day will be watching the Super Bowl on the couch.
Ben and Claudia tied the knot last Halloween after seven years of marriage and will be watching the Super Bowl on the couch this Valentine’s Day as both are big fans of the NFL in the US
Josh and Jesse – three years together
When Josh, 27, spotted Jesse, 26, on the London leg of their Contiki tour, it was love at first sight.
“The first thing I heard from Josh was ‘Oh my God, it’s so cold!'” Jesse recalled.
“We knew from the beginning that this was something special and we wanted to see what life had brought us.”
Josh and Jesse gave up their trip in Dublin and flew to Paris together instead of taking the bus back to London.
Eventually, Josh returned to Brisbane while Jesse continued to travel.
Josh, 27, fell in love at first sight when he spotted Jessie, 26, on the London leg of his Contiki tour
After Jesse returned home to Perth, Josh immediately booked a trip to see her in Perth.
“We did long-haul flights for over a year, alternating back and forth every month or so. Somehow it worked really well! It was difficult, but we all made it,” Jessie said.
“Josh works night shifts and sleeps during the day because I’m a teacher and work during the day. But every time he has dinner breaks, we FaceTime. We always make sure we communicate and have a plan when we meet.
After a year of trekking, Josh decided to take the plunge and move to Perth to be with Jesse before the Covid-19 outbreak.
While the strict boarder closure means he hasn’t been home to see his family for two years, he is happy in Perth with Jesse, who recently bought a house together, and their two kittens, Lucy and Faye. than living together.
While the strict boarder closure means he hasn’t been home to see his family for two years, he’s happy with Jesse in Perth, who recently bought a house together with their two kittens, Lucy and Faye. than living together
Belinda and Peter – 15 years together
Belinda, 40, from Brisbane, newly divorced and looking for adventure, and Peter, from Long Island, USA, took the opportunity to travel during the summer as a history teacher, and what started as a “convenient vacation trip” turned into a lot. more.
“It’s a Contiki Ultimate European, so 45 days, the same 45 people crammed into a bus,” Belinda said.
Belinda, 40, and Peter hit it off on Contiki’s European tour, which she describes as “45 days, the same 45 people crammed into a bus”
“It took a couple of days before our roads actually crossed. The first time I remember talking to Peter on the bus after a rainy Versailles visit, although I didn’t get moving until Corfu.
For the rest of the tour, both put on brave faces, “trying to be casual,” staying in touch when they were about to part ways, as friends, when they got home, and then Peter embarks on a journey to Australia.
“The thinking was that he had eight weeks to travel around the country, and the first few weeks were at my house. He arrived, and he just never went on that trip,” Belinda said.
“Once he got back to New York, we admitted we loved each other and that was the beginning of the long distance race.”
David, Rebecca and Carissa, the three friends they made on their Contiki trip traveled the world to celebrate their wedding with them
They worked it out with lots of phone calls, texts, and travel back and forth, and then when they got engaged, Belinda’s visa went through and she moved to New York.
The couple just celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary on Saturday, February 12.
The three friends they met on their Contiki trip, David, Rebecca and Carissa, traveled the world to celebrate their wedding with them.
Belinda and Peter will spend their Valentine’s Day at home with their 18-month-old son and three dogs.
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