Would not like to see transport to the airport added, as I assume that would obviously make the holidays cost more.  I can get to Gatwick and Heathrow in about 1.5 hours from where I live by public transport, any travel by road would take a lot longer (especially during rush hour).  But I guess everyone's views on this issue depend on their starting point, times of flight etc.

I did last week book a holiday with another tour group (not the 50+ one) and was offered transport to the airport there and back, within the price.  Its  a 10 day holiday and leaves from Gatwick and returns to Heathrow.  I declined the car trip to Gatwick, as due to the timings it would be travelling to the other side of London during rush hour (I live NE London) and getting to Gatwick is actually pretty easy using public transport for me.  But I did take the return from Heathrow, as the flight gets in early evening and I think the car could be a good option.  Anyway will be interested to see how it works. 

Katy

Hi Katy

You are lucky that you live so close to Heathrow & Gatwick so you can plck any holiday, unfortunately for all of us that live north of Watford a additional flight or coach travel and maybe a night in a hotel puts a cost on top of the holiday cost. So included travel would enable us to go on a wide range of tours

Steve

I did last week book a holiday with another tour group (not the 50+ one) and was offered transport to the airport there and back, within the price.  Its  a 10 day holiday and leaves from Gatwick and returns to Heathrow.  I declined the car trip to Gatwick, as due to the timings it would be travelling to the other side of London during rush hour (I live NE London) and getting to Gatwick is actually pretty easy using public transport for me.  But I did take the return from Heathrow, as the flight gets in early evening and I think the car could be a good option.  Anyway will be interested to see how it works. 

Katy

Using Cuba as an example, where I have travelled often & extensively, then comparing a firm named elsewhere in the thread that offers travel to the airport then whilst they sometimes use the same hotels as JY/TS...

1) In Havana this firm uses a hotel outside Havana in a suburb called Mirimar. There is a free shuttle but no mention of the frequency of this and at best this will be 1/2 hour to the centre or a taxi costing around £10 each way. There is not a lot to do in Mirimar. On the other hand JY uses a hotel right in the centre. Plenty to do & no hidden transfer costs.

2) For Trinidad then JY uses a very nice hotel on the beach. You are a short hop from Trinidad if you want to stay on or even as we did on a TS trip one time pop back into town in the evening. The other company stays in Sancti Spiritus which, on Cuban roads, is about an hour inland and whilst pleasant enough is out in the sticks meaning you are pretty well stuck in the hotel.

I am sure others could make similar comparisons.

Whilst open to some flexibility I would not like to see this at the expense of JY/TS seeking to cover the cost of home to airport transfers by cutting costs elsewhere such as moving to out of town hotels where they have used centrally located ones in the past..

I am sure a while back there was a discussion about a reward system or discount for frequent users or if people booked on our recommendation etc. Is this still being worked on? Or was I dreaming and hoping this.

I to do not want to absorb a proportion of a charge for others to get a taxi ride.

Cindy

best wishes

Dave

I, for example, live on the Isle of Wight and for any trip there is the challenge of the Solent to cross each way. It is my choice to live there and am not complaining but I invariably have to factor in the cost of a hotel at the start or end of a trip depending on flight times.

If you get a sea mist etc then this can seriously disrupt the crossing, which stops overnight, so if an early morning crossing is delayed the knock on effect can be a missed flight. Safer therefore to travel to the airport the day before.

Coming back then a delayed flight, baggage delay etc etc could mean that you can't get back before the last crossing of the evening. Safer then to book a hotel & travel back next day.

I am sure there are others with similar timing issues so if there were flexibility to take this into account it would certainly be something to consider.

I did book a taxi from Southampton to Heathrow & back a couple of years ago when I had just recovered from a broken shoulder & did not want to risk further injury. Much more pleasant than the train or coach but it was at a price...

That being the case, and the fact that many of JY's holiday prices for 2017 have increased considerably compared to 2016 - Ultimate Alaska has increased by £400 - I think it would be a good idea if JY included this service in the new 2017 prices.

Mike

Hi I obviously have no objection if a transfer/chauffeur service is offered as an optional extra; however I would object strenuously to it if it were factored into the basic holiday price as I (and many others) would not/could not avail of it.  Most JY customers have no big issue with travelling to London to start their holiday (if a regional departure is not available) - it is an inconvenience but a means to an end!  I do not see why everyone should have to pay for this to be included in the holiday price, as many, if not most, wouldn't use it.

All the best,

Bob

Hi Bob 

I understand what you are saying, but don't you think that single supplements are factored into JY hols you have only to check other holiday companies and do a price comparison to see this

Steve

All the best,

Bob

Yes - France (you used to do 'Postcards from Provence').I did that one & would really like somewhere in that area,

or Italy. Preferably 8 days & contrary to other posts I have read, I live close to Gatwick so only consider flights from there !

 I think JY have moved into more exotic holidays & forgotten those of us who prefer to have one base & options of excursions or relaxation.