Mark
I was trying to give you my honest thoughts but for some reason, you don’t seem to be taking onboard what I am saying which is a shame.
I would suggest you rephrase some of your thoughts as they are coming across in a very negative way.
You said..Mature lady who looks for the reassurance of an organised coach trip type holiday.. let me address this, just because someone is mature in age does not mean they are old and decrepit, as I stated age is a number, I have been out walked by many who are years older than I am..I have been amazed at how young in spirit many people are. I can assure you as someone who has travelled the world and done numerous tours with JY there are not many of us that need our hand held and need reassurance in any shape or form, and yes of course most tours take in a considerable amount of time sitting on a coach. How else can we get to see the sights!!.
As for these tours being sociable, they are what you make them, not every body wants to be sociable 24/7, I know I don’t, I am very happy sitting on a coach by myself I don’t need someone next to me, I go for full on tours so I enjoy a few hours peace to just watch the world go by, or chill and listen to music, other people need to be talking or being sociable all the time. As for your comment about..its not much of a dinner party evening social thing. TBH I am shattered from being out and about from early, so by the time I have had a evening meal, I do not stay up really late as the tours I am on have early departures the next day. I am not saying there are not some people who want to stay up, it really is each to their own, each person has there own agenda of what they want from a tour..
So if your looking for a very sociable, late night type of holiday then I would say really look at what’s on offer...the two holidays where people did hang around in the evening more for me were Poland and Tuscany this was mainly because they are not full on tours they are more relaxed and not mega early starts and just the one hotel location.
As I said before, for me a tour is about what I am seeing and doing, to meet nice people whatever their age or gender is a bonus.
Cindy