Getting a Double Dose of Europe This Summer

Europe will be chock-full of special events this summer, what with the Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Expo ’92 in Seville, the Monte Carlo Grand Prix, Oktoberfest in Munich, the Le Mans 24-Hour Road Race in France and the “Running of the Bulls” in Pamplona, Spain. If you are between 18 and 35, the tour operator Top Deck can help you get to these and other popular events inexpensively from London.

Top Deck gets its name from its fleet of 40 English double-decker buses, which have been converted to provide bunk accommodations, plus kitchen and lounge facilities for up to 22 passengers. The company, which caters only to travelers 18 to 35, also operates camping and hotel tours. All of its European tours begin and end in London.

Because of the shared facilities, solo travelers do not have to worry about being charged single supplements. On camping tours, two participants share each tent; on hotel tours, three people share each room (a “two-share” is available for a higher fee). On some tours, an extra fee is charged for a communal food fund.

Top Deck operates tours ranging from mini-Easter breaks in Amsterdam to multiweek tours starting as far north as Lapland and ending up in a sailboat on the Nile River. Here are some short European trips that will take in major events in 1992:

--On May 27, an eight-day Deckerhome tour will head to Paris and then down to the French Riviera for the Monte Carlo Grand Prix. The fee is $305, plus $76 for the food fund, which covers three meals daily.

--On June 11, a five-day Deckerhome tour departs for Paris and the Le Mans 24-Hour Road Race. The $295 fee includes breakfasts.

--On July 5, two coach-camping trips depart for the “Running of the Bulls” in Pamplona. The seven-day trip costs $265; a nine-day version, which includes a beach stop on the way home, costs $295. Breakfast is the only meal included.

--On Aug. 8 and 13, two five-day coach-camping trips depart for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, , a spectacular concert performed on the Castle Esplanade by pipe bands in full Highland dress. The $259 price includes breakfast and event tickets.

--Both Deckerhome and coach-camping trips are available to Munich’s Oktoberfest in September. Six-day coach-camping trips cost $275 to $285 (breakfasts included) and depart Sept. 17, 22, 27 and Oct. 1. Eight-day coach-camping trips cost $300 and depart Sept. 24 and Oct. 1. Eleven-day Deckerhome tours are $375 to $399, plus $114 for a food fund, and depart Sept. 17, 22 and 27.

For more information on Top Deck tours in Europe or Asia, contact a travel agent or Campus Holidays, 242 Bellevue Ave., Upper Montclair, N.J. 07043, (800) 526-2915.

Contiki Holidays, which also operates tours for travelers 18 to 35 in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, will operate a special 25-day, seven-country European coach-camping tour that will take in Expo ’92 and be in Barcelona during the Summer Olympic.

The tours, which begin with one night in a hotel in London and include stops in France, Spain, Portugal, Monaco, Italy and Switzerland, depart July 10, 13, 16 and 23 for a price of $1,125. There are also departures on May 13 and 27 (for $1,040) and June 10 and 24 (for $1,125). The trips scheduled to depart Aug. 5 and 19 (for $1,040) will visit Seville in time for Expo ‘92, but will not be in Barcelona in time for the Olympics.

For details on Contiki programs, contact a travel agent or Contiki Holidays at (800) 466-0610 or (714) 937-0611.