I have just read all the comments with great interest. I agree with Bob and I too am happy to pay a bit extra for included meals and excursions. This makes the holiday stress free without any hassle. Also, I am not sure if going with Travelsphere would guarantee nice large rooms such as those we get with Just You - I have been on 3 holidays with Just You and so far all rooms have been great. You may end up with an inferior room despite paying a supplement if you travel with other companies! At the end of the day the choice is up to an individual as to which company they travel with. Anyway these are my personal thoughts.

Jaya

Thanks for the input, your information is very useful.

With a bit of luck the pound may strengthen against the Aus dollar and get back to where it once was, that certainly would help the budget.

Mick

I have actually done 5 long hauls and 4 European trips with Just You in the past. I know how good the company is especially for long haul holidays and that is why I booked the holiday as I would rather pay extra and go with a Company I know and trust. I also note that in the brochure the feedback for this tour is 100% good or excellent.

Will post feedback on this site on my return.

Regards

Eve

that is a very helpful reply and I think answers the questions raised, many thanks!

Best wishes,

Bob

Australia is more expensive than people expect: eating out can be costly, so to have breakfasts and several dinners and a couple of lunches included is useful to the budget, but not just that it is part of the JY/social experience.

Breakfasts in the hotels are very good: continental and cooked with lots to choose from.

Dinners: Sounds of Silence, a very special experience and is a sell-out; Tramcar in Melbourne, magical, also very popular.

People usually have to book both of these several months in advance.

They are all-inclusive: food and drinks - alcoholic and soft drink options.

Another point to bear in mind is that single supplements don't guarantee a "twin room for single occupancy", quite often it can be a single room. With JY you are guaranteed the twin room.

So, depending on your budget and on what you want from the holiday, hopefully this info will help with the decision-making?

Australia is a remarkable country, with so much to see and experience, so however you go and whoever you go with it is fabulous.

Although I started this thread and still think this particular holiday is expensive despite the explanations, my comparrisons are purely based on travelspheres price.

There are other companies out there but I've heard some very bad reports including travelling with only 3 or 4 people.

JY are good and I'm confident will look into the pricing.

I've done 5 trips so far (and one with travelsphere) with two more coming up this year, all the holidays are good quality, that isn't an issue.

Mick

Hi Ben

I have been reading this thread with interest as I am on the November trip to Australia.

I too couldn't work out why the cost of holiday was greater than Travelsphere but I wanted to travel with Just You and do it this year before the prices go up again!

Whilst there has been an explanation from your product team there still seems to be a shortfall of £200 in comparison with Travelsphere.

The itinerary for November has been changed and the meal in a Tramcar in Melbourne which was supposed to be our farewell meal is now on day 10 with no farewell meal on day 20. I would like to suggest to the Product Managers that in view of changes to the itinerary that Just You arrange a farewell meal in Cairns at no extra cost.

I would point out that Friendship Travel are now starting to offer holidays to Australia and therefore I think the Product Managers need to review their pricing to be competitive. I did check out the Friendship holiday, which is a lot cheaper, but it is shorter and less comprehensive.

Regards

Eve

Hi Eve,

I'd never heard of Friendship Travel and looked at their website after reading your post - they seem to be an inferior copy of Just You! I also looked them up on TripAdvisor and they got some really, really bad reviews - bad tour managers, exaggerated descriptions of what was included etc. so you have been warned! It's JY all the way for me, I've been on four hols with them and 2 more booked and I wouldn't want to travel with any other company - until I run out of holiday options that is! By the way, in case you're the cynical type I have no connection with JY and quite happily endorse them free of charge!!!!!

Best wishes,

Bob

I have been reading this thread with interest as I am on the November trip to Australia.

I too couldn't work out why the cost of holiday was greater than Travelsphere but I wanted to travel with Just You and do it this year before the prices go up again!

Whilst there has been an explanation from your product team there still seems to be a shortfall of £200 in comparison with Travelsphere.

The itinerary for November has been changed and the meal in a Tramcar in Melbourne which was supposed to be our farewell meal is now on day 10 with no farewell meal on day 20. I would like to suggest to the Product Managers that in view of changes to the itinerary that Just You arrange a farewell meal in Cairns at no extra cost.

I would point out that Friendship Travel are now starting to offer holidays to Australia and therefore I think the Product Managers need to review their pricing to be competitive. I did check out the Friendship holiday, which is a lot cheaper, but it is shorter and less comprehensive.

Regards

Eve

Thanks for your comments, to all of you, much appreciated. This is now sitting with the product managers so we'll see where we end up, but I couldn't agree more about less hassle = less stress.

Kindest,

Ben