I was talking about the reviews on the forum, new Italian holidays in particular, where hotels have been given less than good reviews by JY customers.

Being a woman myself, I still do not know why they can be 'cliquey'. I have come across this at work as well - some place more so than others. Best thing is to just ignore the 'cliquey' group and show them that it does not bother you. They are the losers in the long run!

Jaya

Recent comments on groups travelling together are starting to destroy the JY ethos. Possibley a victim of sucess? I will be seriously considering whether to go on paying a premium for solo travel, if I am likey to end up in the midst of couples, when I could spend considerably less by paying a single supplement with a regular company. I am also concerned at the of adverse reviews of some the hotels in this year's new holidays. I had several of the new trips earmarked for 2015, but I have almost decided to take a chance they will run in 2016, so I can read some reviews first.

Hi Sarah, can I ask which holidays you are referring to? We spend a lot of time trying to ensure we have the right hotels for our holidays so would be interested to know more.

One thing I have noticed, that this does not apply to men! I have never come across a group or a couple of men on any holiday. In fact the best holidays are when there is a 50/50 split of men and women. Men do not get cliquey!

That is so true, why is it? maybe those of the 'fairer sex' :rolleyes: could give some insight as to why they tend more to form little 'cliquey' groups and men don't? :)

Bosuncat was right about the Tuscany trip last year, there were a few little cliquey groups, all female!

and Kezzer has definately summed it up nicely with his paragraph on why single people choose to travel with just you! :thumbup:

Jackie

However I usually book touring type holidays and I have never found it a problem if several people who know each other are on the same holiday. I’ve travelled with lots of different travel companies offering holidays for single travellers and it has always been the same. I myself, have booked a holiday because friends I’ve made on past holidays are on it.

Let’s be honest here, most of us travel with a company like just you, so that we are not travelling on our own. Travelling in a group makes us feel safe but it also enables us do activities that we normally wouldn’t be able to do or wouldn’t feel comfortable doing on our own, plus you get the added bonus of being able share the experience with likeminded people.

I don’t actually think it really matters if you know or don’t know people on a holiday, in my experience if the group of travellers is larger than say 15 people, the group naturally form little cliques of people, because likeminded people are attracted to each other – that’s not a bad thing – making friends is part of the holiday experience. We are all different, so it not surprising that occasionally you come across people or small groups of two or three who keep to themselves, that is their choice and their loss.

In addition, the Tour Manager is on hand to ensure that everyone gets the best out of a holiday, I’ve usually found that if the Tour Manager is good at his/her job, they make sure that those who are maybe a little less self-confident are integrated into the group, as do the rest of the travellers. On the whole single travellers, whether they travel in packs or alone, I have always found to be friendly and caring.

Kezzer

I have been on 4 trips with Just You. I have only met two sisters travelling together- a favourite photo of one sister painting the Pyramids at Giza with a guard standing watching over her- this was 3 months before the Arab Spring, and a group of 3 who let others into the group so that we ended up with seven out for a meal. You are never alone as mostly everyone is in the same boat.

I was shocked by the 17 though on one trip- that should never have been allowed. Maybe they went with JY due to not sharing rooms, but as Julia said, they could have had their own tour.

Jan

I am glad that this separate thread has been started as it is a topic that comes up time and again and tends to intrude on the original thread each time.

Anyway. I have had plenty to say on the subject and agree particularly with what Ann F and PA have to say. I was on the same Tuscany trip with PA last year and the 4 ladies that he mentioned had booked through a travel agent and claimed to have no idea that they had booked on a singles holiday. If the travel agents are not telling them then they are not to blame really. There were problems on that holiday with what I can only call "cliqueness" and I know that I was not the only one to suffer. The last night I was " unfortunate" to be seated (because I had sat there at breakfast post the same group sitting there) on the same table. The hotel had put on a lovely farewell dinner for us, complete with disco, but because I was totally blanked by them I felt very uncomfortable and retired back to the hotel early. This experience is I have to say a very rare occurrence or so I have found. Most people will (even if they are in small groups) or at least have a drink or a conversation with you.

I agree that perhaps travel agents are not being educated as to what JY is as a company. Perhaps they are throwing the no single room supplement at any potential bookees to the exclusion of anything else. I feel like giving them a trial run to se what is said. :thumbup:

I am booked for Cliento coast on 28th Sept. It's my first holiday travelling alone & am now starting to worry, as I have been reading on forum recently that a lot of tours have groups of people that already know it other. Whilst I can appreciate the odd couple of people that travel together, I now have visions of me being the only one on my own & as in some of the cases on here being ignored! I'm probably worrying for nothing , but the reason I booked with JY was that I wouldn't feel so isolated. Lets hope my fears are unfounded as I'm looking forward so much to this trip.

Jackie

Don't worry, not everyone will be in a pair or group. You won't be left on your own. There are always some people traveling alone. I'm sure you will be fine.:)