Couples joining JY singles holidays seems to be creeping in. When I went to Venice in February there was one couple in the group and it seems that on the Mykonos and Santorini holiday the same happened. Unlike the latter the couple on our tour were really nice and joined the group most of the time. However, at least one person in our group was recently bereaved and it really upset her. What also rubbed it in was that we were away over Valentine's Day. I am not against people who are married but for one reason or another want a holiday without their partner. There are lots of holiday companies catering for couples but not so many who do singles' holidays.

Is this something that is going to happen on a regular basis?

What do other people think?

Rae

Sorry for the delay in responding I wanted to talk to my colleague in our customer care department.

We have been made aware of a couple of instances whereby there has been a couple travelling on a Just You holiday. This is certainly not something that we are encouraging and should a couple speak with a holiday advisor they are being directed to our sister company, Travelsphere, as this is a more suitable group to travel with. It is becoming difficult to police, more travellers are booking online, booking separately and travellers don’t always have a common surname.

It is important to us that the integrity of Just You is not lost and since we have been made aware of this, the team are becoming more vigilant with bookings that are taken.

Kindest regards,

Julia

In both cases there was nothing JY could have done - ithe couples obviously made their bookings completely separately and under different surnames and no amount of vigilance beforehand would have spotted them. All one can do in a similar situation to the above is let them get on with it and, if having a couple in the group upsets someone else by bringing back memories, be as supportive as possible to that person - once discovered, the Tour Manager can hardly send the couple home early.

Ann

This has been raised a few times in the past, and I accept it's difficult to police.

JY is as you say, a company for people who wish to travel alone, and while there are a lot of people in relationships, who travel without their partner (for various legimate reasons), I find it very strange that a couple travelling together would use JY. There may be "couples" who, for whatever reason, don't wish to share a room, but one would assume they do actually want to be together during the holiday, and thus would be better with single rooms on a Travelsphere holiday.

I understand that JY used to offer a discount to people who wanted to share a room, with either double or single beds I guess. I have to say that I find this very odd for a singles holiday company, thus mayby you could confirm that if I rang you and wanted to share a twin room with a friend, we would not be offered a discount by JY, or any of its agents.

Thanks.

Stuart

Rosie

I have sene couples in the non platonic sense on JY- ie they were just friends but have always integrated well into the group! Seems like you have been a bit unlucky and it seems silly for them to have picked a JY holidya insted of Travelsphere!

Mark

Thanks again.

Rae

I to have been in tours were very good friends (man and woman) go away people can be very good friends with out being a couple these people have mixed with the main group.

Cindy

Rae

I hope that Customer Services can be vigilant towards it. As stated it is difficult when there are so many ways to book now.

The only sort of experience I have had is on the Highlights of Tuscany holiday a couple of years ago when 4 ladies had come together as a group, had apparently booked through a travel agent and stated that they did not know it was a singles holiday. They stuck together like glue the whole holiday, and when you are in a smallish group it can be difficult.

Julia

This has been raised a few times in the past, and I accept it's difficult to police.

JY is as you say, a company for people who wish to travel alone, and while there are a lot of people in relationships, who travel without their partner (for various legimate reasons), I find it very strange that a couple travelling together would use JY. There may be "couples" who, for whatever reason, don't wish to share a room, but one would assume they do actually want to be together during the holiday, and thus would be better with single rooms on a Travelsphere holiday.

I understand that JY used to offer a discount to people who wanted to share a room, with either double or single beds I guess. I have to say that I find this very odd for a singles holiday company, thus mayby you could confirm that if I rang you and wanted to share a twin room with a friend, we would not be offered a discount by JY, or any of its agents.

Thanks.

Stuart

Hi Stuart,

I can confirm that not only would you not be offered a discount for sharing a room, you wouldn't be able to book a twin room.

This may have been available in the past (and is still available by some of our competitors), but I have just spoken with the head of the holiday advisors team and when asked the question whether or not we would allow a pair of friends to share a room the answer was a flat no.

Kindest regards,

Julia

Have seen it once but to be honest it was a big group and the fact they didn't mix i never saw as a issue, I've seen many people travel together such as friends, cousins, workmates, mother/daughter, niece/aunt, sisters etc. Some of these have mixed with the group others haven't but the same can be said of some solo travellers (very rare).

On my recent Tuscany holiday i was asked if a group of us that were getting on well had travelled together, the answer was NO we had actually met the night before at the airport hotel through this forum (i've never travelled with anyone else but have occasionally known others from previous holidays, but not planned to book same trip).

On these holidays most people make friends and group up a few days into the trip, that doesn't mean they leave others out, its the way it is. Not really too much different to travelling with someone, its your loss if you dont mix.

On the 2nd type couple, someone who meets on holiday and clicks i see no issue whatsoever, we are grown ups and it happens anywhere, lots of singles together increased odds i would say. Lets be fair its very rare (less than one couple per holiday i would say)and in most cases moves on after the holiday rather than on the holiday. But if it is happening to somone and i see they are getting on well i'd just give them a bit of space.

All this makes it sound like these holidays are full of friends and couples, that certainly isn't the case the vast majority (95%+) are solo travellers.

Mick

There was a couple on the trip to Heart and Soul of America last November, always sitting together on the coach, went everywhere together- very annoying as they only joined in when they had to :blush:

Jan

Yes these holidays are aimed at single travellers, but surely its up to the individual or couple what they do. And just because they do not mix, its their loss. I have seen some single travellers not mix, even after being approached by different members of the group.

And if JY start (which they do not) saying this person or that couple cannot travel, where would it end.

So stop worrying about what others are doing and get on and enjoy your holiday.

Does it really matter?

Yes these holidays are aimed at single travellers, but surely its up to the individual or couple what they do. And just because they do not mix, its their loss. I have seen some single travellers not mix, even after being approached by different members of the group.

And if JY start (which they do not) saying this person or that couple cannot travel, where would it end.

So stop worrying about what others are doing and get on and enjoy your holiday.

I agree with Sim1 entirely. My view is that what other people do on their holiday is there business.

If it is a large group I do not think it matters if a few people keep to their friends and do not mix. If it is a small group that holiday could well be cancelled if some people were banned because they are not travelling entirely alone.

I have been on 10 singles holidays (always alone), each group has been different as regards mixing and I have enjoyed every one.

What an interesting topic. Conversely, I for one would be disappointed if I wanted to travel with Travelsphere as a solo traveller and was told that I couldn't as it was for couples....

Regards

Sylvia

Rae

JY travellers are a mixed bunch and are single travellers for all sort of reasons and I have many memories of talking and laughing late in to the night as we all shared our stories. Couples tend not to join in or are reluctant to reveal all. After all after your holiday you will probably not see the people you met again but travel and new people broaden the mind.

"Specially designed holidays for those who are travelling alone or with friends"

So it's a normal holiday then?