I have been reading the reviews of some of the latest Christmas and New Year holidays and was shocked to see from maria 36's review that there were 69 people on her trip to Mijas.   Was this a typing error (Jonah also queried this)?   If not, what on earth is JY doing?   I also see from Hils' review of A Viennese Christmas & Lake Balaton written in January 2018 and adeline_tan's of this Christmas that there were 40 folk in each of their holidays.   It really is too much.  There was a suggestion that groups should be limited to no more than 30 but in my experience I think perhaps 25 would be better. There have been lots of comments on the Forum about numbers on JY holidays in general and they should surely apply to the Christmas/New Year ones too.   

I realise that there are lots of folk on their own who want to go away at Christmas and/or New Year and it is good that JY caters for them but there really must be a limit on the size of the groups even if this does mean that some people miss out on the most popular ones.   In a big group, although some people are going to link up with others they find immediately congenial there are going to be others who will be put off by the mass of people and perhaps feel that they would have been better off staying at home.   Hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions cannot, with the best will in the world, cope with large groups (and a JY group isn't going to be the only one in town), nor is it fair on a Tour Manager (or Managers in the case of Mijas).  

Other people may have different ideas on the size of groups but my point is that as things stand at the moment Just You seems to be trying to cater for too many people at what can be either a very happy time of year for some customers or one at which others just don't want to be home alone.   If groups are going to continue to be as large as they have been on some holidays this year, no-one will benefit and indeed some will come home wondering whether they should even think about another JY holiday.   

Please, Vickie, ask the folk at Just You who decide these things to think again about having such large numbers of people on these special holidays.   There are several companies nowadays catering for single people and it would be a shame if Just You's clientele began to look elsewhere.

With belated good wishes for a happy and peaceful New Year to all.

Ann

Many thanks for your feedback regarding group sizes. I have passed this to our holiday organisers and they are looking into this for our 2019 trips.

Many thanks,

Vickie

I was also horrified to read of 69 persons on a holiday. We had 31 in Bucharest for Christmas which was manageable although I did not get to speak to everyone, nor they me.

30 is the absolute maximum that JY should be catering for. The competitors suggest 15, 25 or 30 dependent on the destination. Our JY trip to Ecuador and Galapagos in March is capped at 15 (yippee!).

Regards

Sylvia

Hello, Vickie.

I have been reading the reviews of some of the latest Christmas and New Year holidays and was shocked to see from maria 36's review that there were 69 people on her trip to Mijas.   Was this a typing error (Jonah also queried this)?   If not, what on earth is JY doing?   I also see from Hils' review of A Viennese Christmas & Lake Balaton written in January 2018 and adeline_tan's of this Christmas that there were 40 folk in each of their holidays.   It really is too much.  There was a suggestion that groups should be limited to no more than 30 but in my experience I think perhaps 25 would be better. There have been lots of comments on the Forum about numbers on JY holidays in general and they should surely apply to the Christmas/New Year ones too.   

I realise that there are lots of folk on their own who want to go away at Christmas and/or New Year and it is good that JY caters for them but there really must be a limit on the size of the groups even if this does mean that some people miss out on the most popular ones.   In a big group, although some people are going to link up with others they find immediately congenial there are going to be others who will be put off by the mass of people and perhaps feel that they would have been better off staying at home.   Hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions cannot, with the best will in the world, cope with large groups (and a JY group isn't going to be the only one in town), nor is it fair on a Tour Manager (or Managers in the case of Mijas).  

Other people may have different ideas on the size of groups but my point is that as things stand at the moment Just You seems to be trying to cater for too many people at what can be either a very happy time of year for some customers or one at which others just don't want to be home alone.   If groups are going to continue to be as large as they have been on some holidays this year, no-one will benefit and indeed some will come home wondering whether they should even think about another JY holiday.   

Please, Vickie, ask the folk at Just You who decide these things to think again about having such large numbers of people on these special holidays.   There are several companies nowadays catering for single people and it would be a shame if Just You's clientele began to look elsewhere.

With belated good wishes for a happy and peaceful New Year to all.

Ann

Well said Ann! This is the main reason I did not go away with JY last Christmas (in fact, did not book any JY holiday last year - the first time in over 10 years!). I went with another singles company this year, and even found with 30 it was too much! We have repeatedly said on the Forum (and on our post-holiday questionnaires) that these large numbers are causing a lot of us to look elsewhere - JY please listen to us! Looks like, yet again, I will not be booking any holidays with JY again this year, and I have done over 23 in the past, so you have now lost a regular customer.

Hils

Hello, Vickie.

I have been reading the reviews of some of the latest Christmas and New Year holidays and was shocked to see from maria 36's review that there were 69 people on her trip to Mijas.   Was this a typing error (Jonah also queried this)?   If not, what on earth is JY doing?   I also see from Hils' review of A Viennese Christmas & Lake Balaton written in January 2018 and adeline_tan's of this Christmas that there were 40 folk in each of their holidays.   It really is too much.  There was a suggestion that groups should be limited to no more than 30 but in my experience I think perhaps 25 would be better. There have been lots of comments on the Forum about numbers on JY holidays in general and they should surely apply to the Christmas/New Year ones too.   

I realise that there are lots of folk on their own who want to go away at Christmas and/or New Year and it is good that JY caters for them but there really must be a limit on the size of the groups even if this does mean that some people miss out on the most popular ones.   In a big group, although some people are going to link up with others they find immediately congenial there are going to be others who will be put off by the mass of people and perhaps feel that they would have been better off staying at home.   Hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions cannot, with the best will in the world, cope with large groups (and a JY group isn't going to be the only one in town), nor is it fair on a Tour Manager (or Managers in the case of Mijas).  

Other people may have different ideas on the size of groups but my point is that as things stand at the moment Just You seems to be trying to cater for too many people at what can be either a very happy time of year for some customers or one at which others just don't want to be home alone.   If groups are going to continue to be as large as they have been on some holidays this year, no-one will benefit and indeed some will come home wondering whether they should even think about another JY holiday.   

Please, Vickie, ask the folk at Just You who decide these things to think again about having such large numbers of people on these special holidays.   There are several companies nowadays catering for single people and it would be a shame if Just You's clientele began to look elsewhere.

With belated good wishes for a happy and peaceful New Year to all.

Ann

I take your point re numbers although I was in Calella at christmas and we had only 35 which was a good number.  However it was not the numbers I would have issue with - it was the age group!! Many in their 80's and at times the bar looked like a care home - some sleeping by their walking aids etc!! Even a very cantankerous member in our group who was very rude to some German guests and I had to step in. Fortunately we had our own lively group and again fortunately we were mixed in with the other hotel guests the first week a very lively Irish crowd who helped to make our Christmas! I would say the age group/mobility is more offputting than the numbers..I am seriously considering another company for my next holiday and definately not an HF Christmas abroad.  My full review will appear soon....still awaiting holiday questionnaire..

Thank you for your comment. We're reviewing our group sizes for our 2019 Christmas tours based yours and others feedback.

Many thanks,

Vickie

Hello, Vickie.

I have been reading the reviews of some of the latest Christmas and New Year holidays and was shocked to see from maria 36's review that there were 69 people on her trip to Mijas.   Was this a typing error (Jonah also queried this)?   If not, what on earth is JY doing?   I also see from Hils' review of A Viennese Christmas & Lake Balaton written in January 2018 and adeline_tan's of this Christmas that there were 40 folk in each of their holidays.   It really is too much.  There was a suggestion that groups should be limited to no more than 30 but in my experience I think perhaps 25 would be better. There have been lots of comments on the Forum about numbers on JY holidays in general and they should surely apply to the Christmas/New Year ones too.   

I realise that there are lots of folk on their own who want to go away at Christmas and/or New Year and it is good that JY caters for them but there really must be a limit on the size of the groups even if this does mean that some people miss out on the most popular ones.   In a big group, although some people are going to link up with others they find immediately congenial there are going to be others who will be put off by the mass of people and perhaps feel that they would have been better off staying at home.   Hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions cannot, with the best will in the world, cope with large groups (and a JY group isn't going to be the only one in town), nor is it fair on a Tour Manager (or Managers in the case of Mijas).  

Other people may have different ideas on the size of groups but my point is that as things stand at the moment Just You seems to be trying to cater for too many people at what can be either a very happy time of year for some customers or one at which others just don't want to be home alone.   If groups are going to continue to be as large as they have been on some holidays this year, no-one will benefit and indeed some will come home wondering whether they should even think about another JY holiday.   

Please, Vickie, ask the folk at Just You who decide these things to think again about having such large numbers of people on these special holidays.   There are several companies nowadays catering for single people and it would be a shame if Just You's clientele began to look elsewhere.

With belated good wishes for a happy and peaceful New Year to all.

Ann

I take your point re numbers although I was in Calella at christmas and we had only 35 which was a good number.  However it was not the numbers I would have issue with - it was the age group!! Many in their 80's and at times the bar looked like a care home - some sleeping by their walking aids etc!! Even a very cantankerous member in our group who was very rude to some German guests and I had to step in. Fortunately we had our own lively group and again fortunately we were mixed in with the other hotel guests the first week a very lively Irish crowd who helped to make our Christmas! I would say the age group/mobility is more offputting than the numbers..I am seriously considering another company for my next holiday and definately not an HF Christmas abroad.  My full review will appear soon....still awaiting holiday questionnaire..

Hi Jinktzy,

I have now done 6 holidays over Christmas & New Year (not all with JY), and there is definitely a different age group on these trips, probably due to the fact that some of us do not have any family at all/are widowed etc., and this time of year focuses so much on family. I was in Switzerland last Christmas and there was a delightful gentleman (and he was very much a gentleman and very well dressed!) who was the life and soul of the party and he was aged 88! There is another singles company who has various dates and holidays which have an age breakdown - All Ages, Over 50 and Under 50 - this company may be more to your liking! 

This is not the first post I have read recently that has complained about the older age groups. When I first started using JY the average age was 55-60 which was fine for me - at that time we were probably the only ones who could afford JY holidays!

So, use another company if you don't like the clientele!

Hils

As regards age, it has been said many times that this is just a number.  I have been out drunk, out walked, out danced and out talked by many a person older than me and I am in my 60's. We will all be old one day and hope that I, at least, will not be age barred from going on holiday to where ever I want to or am able to.

My concern and I have expressed it many times over the years has been the physical fitness of people, yes we all get old, yes we all have aches and pains and issues, but REALLY some people should really NOT be on these hectic tours that I go on. A tour to New Zealand one lady had to be sent back home she just wasnt up to it, and on a Kenya Safari a lady thought we were all at her beck and call...sorry I will help anyone if I can but I am not going on a holiday to be someone’s care giver. It is hard for JY to actually work out who is fit and who is not, as they just deal with the bookings, but perhaps a note of caution IN BOLD should be somewhere, that the clients are not care givers, and you must be able to get luggage on and off carousels, and they must be able to put hand luggage in overhead bins etc on plane. We are not baggage handlers.

Cindy

Holidays are always an individual experience and one size never fits all.  However I do agree that the Christmas/New year and also a lot of European holidays seems to be run on the lines of pack 'em in.  If there is that much demand, why not run more trips.

As regards age, it has been said many times that this is just a number.  I have been out drunk, out walked, out danced and out talked by many a person older than me and I am in my 60's. We will all be old one day and hope that I, at least, will not be age barred from going on holiday to where ever I want to or am able to.

I am well aware there are more youthful 80 year olds than 60 year olds....and indeed one 80 year old in Calella was last off the dance floor most nights! On the whole though the age group is high on JY holidays, and the age range can go from 40-80 - too much!  Perhaps it time for JY to start an "age range" holiday? I know the company you are referring to and I have had many good holidays with them - I may return to them....unfortunately for JY!

Having just booked a holiday I note that a question is now asked if any assistance is needed at the airport, if there are any mobility problems or any medical equipment is being taken on holiday.  Perhaps these should or are indeed are being used to try to gently guide customers away from holidays that may not be suitable.  The only downside is that as far as I am aware these questions do not appear if you book online.

Apart from the burden on customers, it is also unfair to the Tour Managers.

Just a thought.

LIKE JOHNAH. Says I to have been out walked etc by people much older than me! I am now 60 but I started travelling with JY in 2006....I know young people who are SO OLD in their mindset, and I Know old people who are the life and soul of the party!.. age is a number....

My concern and I have expressed it many times over the years has been the physical fitness of people, yes we all get old, yes we all have aches and pains and issues, but REALLY some people should really NOT be on these hectic tours that I go on. A tour to New Zealand one lady had to be sent back home she just wasnt up to it, and on a Kenya Safari a lady thought we were all at her beck and call...sorry I will help anyone if I can but I am not going on a holiday to be someone’s care giver. It is hard for JY to actually work out who is fit and who is not, as they just deal with the bookings, but perhaps a note of caution IN BOLD should be somewhere, that the clients are not care givers, and you must be able to get luggage on and off carousels, and they must be able to put hand luggage in overhead bins etc on plane. We are not baggage handlers.

Cindy

I agree re physical fitness. Yes JY perhaps should make it clearer that people should be fit and able to do all the thigns you have listed.  I have come across clients who cannot even manouvre themselves through an airport!! I am wondering if the fault lies with travel agents who are suggesting JY when clearly other companies would be more suitable i.e. SAGA or Titan (who seem to lift and lay you to airports now!) Also noticed other companies seem to mark in bold on pages where a holiday is not suitable for those with mobility problems/unfit to cope with strenuous holiday timetable etc..Perhaps the new idea of JY allowing us to fly from local airports, putting us in more control, will sift out those who cannot travel on their own?

This isn't something we're currently looking at, but I do pass all feedback from the forum on to the team, so they are aware.

I will ask about our website and send your comments on.

Many thanks,

Vickie

Regards

Jaya