Jan.

Cheers,

Hils

The reason for including the group bookings section is so that we are potentially able to meet the needs of a group, without it impacting on the single traveller experience for others.

For example if a large group phone up individually and book they could almost take over a holiday and leave remaining passengers isolated which is certainly not what we want. If they call up our groups team - the team may be able to offer an exclusive departure just for them. For smaller groups, we are able to establish how it would impact on the larger group and notify fellow travellers. I think it's also important to mention that when we take a group booking for a Just You holiday - the groups team assess that the group are solo travellers and not best friends/couples so that all individuals on the holiday enjoy the same single traveller experience.

On your Tuscany tour because we weren’t aware of the group booking, we weren’t in a position to assess how the larger Just You group would be affected.

Kindest regards,

Julia

I did complain to Just You about it but they replied that they didn't know they'd booked it as a group - which is fair enough.

Other than that I've encountered a few sisters, friends, and even a couple on my last holiday, but never more than 2 people so it's never really been much of a problem, and they've always mixed with the rest of the group. The group of 12 may have been a bigger issue had the group been small though.

I notice in the small print at the back of the Just You brochure it states, under 'Group Reductions' - 'we are able to offer reductions for groups of 10 or more people on most of the holidays in our brochures' - it then quotes a telephone number to ring to enquire about group reductions. Can I just ask why this is stated in a Just You brochure? Really a company who specialises in holidays for single travellers (as stated on the front cover of the brochure) shouldn't be encouraging group bookings?

I'll add to what Bob says that I've met others at the airport and the night before by using this forum.

On my recent America trip 3 of us that were staying over met for a meal the night before and on the morning of the flight 8 of us booked the executive lounge, the forum certainly helped.

Mick

I always get a bit nervous as I set out, but have always met some fellow travellers at the gate or in a restaurant beforehand (those JY luggage tags are great for helping us to recognise each other) and by the time we reach the baggage carousel after landing, people are generally chatting away. It might take you a day or two to find some folks to click with and some people tend to pair off as the holiday progresses whilst others mix with everyone; but the best way is to talk to as many people as you can - and I find breakfast is a great time to mix with different people. For meals that aren't included, it's easy enough to find a few folks to eat with and it usually happens quite naturally. So please do go and book that dream holiday and have a brilliant time!

Cheers,

Bob

I haven't booked my first trip yet (waiting to get leave agreed as I am hoping to jump in the deep end and travel to Australia) and as it's my first solo trip for many years, I have read the above posts with interest.

I'm relieved that there appears to be interesting people who will mix with everyone and who don't feel the need to stay in the same group, excluding 'outsiders', all the time. Although I like my own company, I am looking forward to meeting new people and I don't mind where I sit for meals as long as the company is good!

Jan

Hi BosunCat!

I was on the same trip, genrally I wasnt bothered, but there were varying degrees of 'inclusiveness' from people who had travelled together. Overall, I thought that people who pre-knew each other were fine and did not feel a problem in mixing, I felt more 'resistance' from groups that had formed a clique straightaway on meeting!

I'm VERY independent and in the daytime, on trips/tours for the most part just like being on my own to go where I want when I want. I'm a wanderer and don't like being tied to someone else's agenda/needs, I like to wander around places on my own (although I did enjoy your company in Pisa Bosuncat!), doing things on a whim. The way I see it, it's my holiday and I shouldn't feel obliged to stay with anyone in the daytime, and restrict what I have planned or not planned to do.

In the evening it is different and I did feel some resistance from people who had formed 'cliques' on meeting each other on the holiday, who then went everywhere toether. It's that 'herding' mentality, safer to stay in the herd! But, there were others on the trip who came togther who were very friendly and I felt no barriers at all from them, they included me in everything, whenever I wanted to be included!

Like others have said, generally men don't form 'cliques' like women do and that was true on the Tuscany tour, I personally tried to meet someone different on most days/nights, and not automatically gravitate to the other men on the tour, but there were problems on having to sit at the same table for dinner where you ended up for breakfast, it caused some arguments amongst people! I found it irratating. I noticed that some of the cliques would ensure that they sat at the same seats on ther same table every day, putting up an invisible 'barrier' to others.

Having said all that, generally everybody on the tour were nice and I had a great time. However, I would prefer it if more people were genuine 'singles' so you get to meet more people and you feel less awkward about approaching people. The whole point of Just Ypu for me is that everyone is on the same level, single and out to meet other people and share experiences, without the feeling of 'intruding' into a group or couple.

Yes we found the Roman Baths together didn't we? :thumbup: It was a huge pleasure meeting you and I agree totally with most of what you say. I agree totally with what you said about having to stay on the same table for evening meal as you had for breakfast and yes it COULD be irritating.

I consider myself to be fairly independent and have no problem usually on finding my way round places although Italian traffic scares me a bit, and I am not a great map reader 😃 but what happened in Florence with this VERY insular "couple" could have really have upset me if I had let it.

Interesting to read your thoughts on "cliques" and some of the people on the trip freezing others out. I TOTALLY agree. As a smoker I know when I go on these trips that I will spend a certain amount of time on my own at night (as I certainly don't want non smokers having to put up with my smoking), but I didn't anticipate spending nearly all the time on my own. It was just the luck of the draw I guess as most of the people WERE friendly whether they had formed instant friendships or not.

Pleasure to have met you!! :thumbup: