Just returned from Catalonian Tour on 6th June. Enjoyed the holiday and my first time in Spain. Contacted a fellow traveller on community which made things easier because quite a few in the group had booked with friends. At the start of the holiday the Just You rep did not make herself visible and I only noticed her Just You clip board. After being ticked on a list I was directed to security after which you're on your own. At Barcelona airport I noticed a small lady holding a travel sphere notice and attached underneath a small hand written notice in biro stating just you. Easily missed and after a lengthy wait for a missing passenger from Manchester, lengthy walk to the coach, we were on our way unaccompanied to the hotel. 2 groups arrived at 1.30pm, 1 group at 3 pm and the Gatwick group with the tour manager at 9.30pm. The hotel was very clean, good food selection and friendly staff. Tour manager Lynn was very friendly and socialable with everyone. Unfortunately the hotel was surrounded by high rise hotels and the dining tables were arranged in sets of 4 places which made socialising difficult.5 minute walk to beach and pleasant long walkway. Better shops in the old town. Missed the rosa tour as a day of rest was needed so didn't see colourful Gouda architecture. Barcelona trip quite tiring but enjoyed the experience. Return journey was a d.i.y experience as our tour manager went with Gatwick flight at T1 and we were taken to T3 and had quite a walk to the correct entrance for check in. Overall an enjoyable holiday but still apprehensive about airports as I still feel that travel arrangements are d.i.y all holiday companies expect passengers to be experienced with procedures. Not so when you travel abroad once a year. My tip is to try and contact fellow travellers on the community page as you don't feel totally alone at the airport.

Hi there.  I'm glad that you had a generally good time, and enjoyed the hotel.  I agree with the dining experience as far as tables being concerned.  I feel that the option should have been there for alternating between tables. 

I hope that JY have taken note of your thoughts re the arrangements at the airport.  It is exactly the experience that I had.

On tours with multiple airport departures it would be cost prohibitive for Just You to have a tour manager travel with each airport group so if you decide to use Just You again it may be a better option for you if possible to use the same airport as the tour guide - you can Ask The Editor before you book for this information 

I'm well travelled so I'm comfortable navigating my way through any airport dealing with security etc. but that's not the case for some others perhapsmanyone making a first solo trip abroad 

It's disappointing to read Just You didn't arrange the hotel provide larger more sociable tables seating arrangements for your group meals. It seemed the general consensus on the forum was for larger more sociable tables seating for group meals after the issue was recently raised. Seems with your tour group seated on 4 seat tables maybe Just You hasn't listened to this preference

It's uncomfortable and disappointing when you encounter multiple friends groups on a Just You tour and also compounds the 4 seat tables arrangements as friends groups often sit together and use the same tables it's not the product Just You markets and sells to the solo traveller

Best wishes ElizabethF

Just You can you please advise?

Thank you

Best wishes ElizabethF

Just returned from Catalonian Tour on 6th June. Enjoyed the holiday and my first time in Spain. Contacted a fellow traveller on community which made things easier because quite a few in the group had booked with friends. At the start of the holiday the Just You rep did not make herself visible and I only noticed her Just You clip board. After being ticked on a list I was directed to security after which you're on your own. At Barcelona airport I noticed a small lady holding a travel sphere notice and attached underneath a small hand written notice in biro stating just you. Easily missed and after a lengthy wait for a missing passenger from Manchester, lengthy walk to the coach, we were on our way unaccompanied to the hotel. 2 groups arrived at 1.30pm, 1 group at 3 pm and the Gatwick group with the tour manager at 9.30pm. The hotel was very clean, good food selection and friendly staff. Tour manager Lynn was very friendly and socialable with everyone. Unfortunately the hotel was surrounded by high rise hotels and the dining tables were arranged in sets of 4 places which made socialising difficult.5 minute walk to beach and pleasant long walkway. Better shops in the old town. Missed the rosa tour as a day of rest was needed so didn't see colourful Gouda architecture. Barcelona trip quite tiring but enjoyed the experience. Return journey was a d.i.y experience as our tour manager went with Gatwick flight at T1 and we were taken to T3 and had quite a walk to the correct entrance for check in. Overall an enjoyable holiday but still apprehensive about airports as I still feel that travel arrangements are d.i.y all holiday companies expect passengers to be experienced with procedures. Not so when you travel abroad once a year. My tip is to try and contact fellow travellers on the community page as you don't feel totally alone at the airport.

Good Morning RosesJ,

I am so sorry to hear about the difficulties you faced at the airport and during your holiday. I have passed this on to a member of the Just You customer services and they will look into it and hopefully be in contact with you soon.

My apologies again.

Kindest Regards,

Mildred

Glad you enjoyed your holiday and thanks for taking the time to write a review. It would be lovely to hear more about what you did and saw during your stay.

Airports are all the same - but if you are ever worried about what is expected, almost every airport in the world has a website with a section on what you need to do and how to do it.

Kezzer

As far as regional departures are concerned, I would happily travel to a main departure airport instead of using a regional departure (if offered) but invariably this involves a long travel time both ways (4 hours for Heathrow, closer to 6 for Gatwick , and invariably an overnight stay, one if not both ways, and yes I know people travel a lot further than me, and I respect that).  However for such a short flight time to Barcelona I deemed it ridiculous, when I have East Midlands Airport half a hour by taxi away.  I never expected to see a rep at the airport although I was keeping a very sharp eye out for someone.  Apparently I was told by CS that there was someone there, but as all 4 of us did not see them , I am not aware where they were.  I am quite familiar with East Midlands, but I have also travelled from Stansted and Birmingham and not found anyone either, which was a little disconcerting as I had never used either of those two airports before.  It's just a matter of having a guiding hand if you are a first time traveller, or nervous that is all. 

As far as the situation at Barcelona is concerned, I am afraid that this needs sorting.  The EMA arrival was met only by a driver with very little English, who only picked us up and dropped us off at the hotel.  Fortunately the receptionist at the hotel was very helpful, gave us the information from the TM who was coming on from Gatwick, which helped, and then we were left to our own devices. 

As far as the flight back was concerned we were (along with the Bristol group) picked up by a driver, transported to the airport, and left to find our way to our separate departure points.  Barcelona airport is not too bad, but I have had the same situation at Faro  which is more difficult to negotiate. 

I appreciate totally that JY cannot find endless staff, or local reps to facilitate help at foreign airports, but if this is not going to happen, then appropriate information should be given to regional departure travellers so that they are aware.  I have usually found that there is some assistance on the outward arrival at least, certainly there was at Faro, but this time was quite shambolic.  I spent some time before actually travelling (as I thought initially that I was the only traveller from EMA), in trying to find out if there would be assistance and never got a satisfactory answer.  My replies on the CS survey of the holiday reflected this I think.

As far as the table situation at the hotel was concerned, I think it may have been a problem for the hotel, as it is small, and the dining room only had limited space, but I do think that the option might have been there to move amongst tables.

Just returned from Catalonian Tour on 6th June. Enjoyed the holiday and my first time in Spain. Contacted a fellow traveller on community which made things easier because quite a few in the group had booked with friends. At the start of the holiday the Just You rep did not make herself visible and I only noticed her Just You clip board. After being ticked on a list I was directed to security after which you're on your own. At Barcelona airport I noticed a small lady holding a travel sphere notice and attached underneath a small hand written notice in biro stating just you. Easily missed and after a lengthy wait for a missing passenger from Manchester, lengthy walk to the coach, we were on our way unaccompanied to the hotel. 2 groups arrived at 1.30pm, 1 group at 3 pm and the Gatwick group with the tour manager at 9.30pm. The hotel was very clean, good food selection and friendly staff. Tour manager Lynn was very friendly and socialable with everyone. Unfortunately the hotel was surrounded by high rise hotels and the dining tables were arranged in sets of 4 places which made socialising difficult.5 minute walk to beach and pleasant long walkway. Better shops in the old town. Missed the rosa tour as a day of rest was needed so didn't see colourful Gouda architecture. Barcelona trip quite tiring but enjoyed the experience. Return journey was a d.i.y experience as our tour manager went with Gatwick flight at T1 and we were taken to T3 and had quite a walk to the correct entrance for check in. Overall an enjoyable holiday but still apprehensive about airports as I still feel that travel arrangements are d.i.y all holiday companies expect passengers to be experienced with procedures. Not so when you travel abroad once a year. My tip is to try and contact fellow travellers on the community page as you don't feel totally alone at the airport.

Thanks for writing a review.

Glad you had a great time overall despite some minor probs.

Mark

Hi Roses,

Glad you  enjoyed your holiday and thanks for taking the time to write a review.   It would be lovely to hear more about what you did and saw during your stay.

Airports are all the same - but if you are ever worried about what is expected, almost every airport in the world has a website with a section on what you need to do and how to do it.

Kezzer

Thanks for the info regarding airports. I'm not a nervous flyer but I think it's the fact you're on your own for a long period of time before the flight and not knowing the people on the same tour. I enjoyed the holiday especially the monastery at Monserrat. The Catalonian coast tour enabled us to take in the views and lovely beaches. I didn't realise the Rosa and Gerona trips were extra and to be quite honest I needed a rest so unfortunately missed the Rosa trip. I will research the hotel location next time. Good hotel but in the wrong place. Overall an enjoyable holiday with some interesting people.

Just returned from Catalonian Tour on 6th June. Enjoyed the holiday and my first time in Spain. Contacted a fellow traveller on community which made things easier because quite a few in the group had booked with friends. At the start of the holiday the Just You rep did not make herself visible and I only noticed her Just You clip board. After being ticked on a list I was directed to security after which you're on your own. At Barcelona airport I noticed a small lady holding a travel sphere notice and attached underneath a small hand written notice in biro stating just you. Easily missed and after a lengthy wait for a missing passenger from Manchester, lengthy walk to the coach, we were on our way unaccompanied to the hotel. 2 groups arrived at 1.30pm, 1 group at 3 pm and the Gatwick group with the tour manager at 9.30pm. The hotel was very clean, good food selection and friendly staff. Tour manager Lynn was very friendly and socialable with everyone. Unfortunately the hotel was surrounded by high rise hotels and the dining tables were arranged in sets of 4 places which made socialising difficult.5 minute walk to beach and pleasant long walkway. Better shops in the old town. Missed the rosa tour as a day of rest was needed so didn't see colourful Gouda architecture. Barcelona trip quite tiring but enjoyed the experience. Return journey was a d.i.y experience as our tour manager went with Gatwick flight at T1 and we were taken to T3 and had quite a walk to the correct entrance for check in. Overall an enjoyable holiday but still apprehensive about airports as I still feel that travel arrangements are d.i.y all holiday companies expect passengers to be experienced with procedures. Not so when you travel abroad once a year. My tip is to try and contact fellow travellers on the community page as you don't feel totally alone at the airport.

Good Morning RosesJ,

I am so sorry to hear about the difficulties you faced at the airport and during your holiday. I have passed this on to a member of the Just You customer services and they will look into it and hopefully be in contact with you soon.

My apologies again.

Kindest Regards,

Mildred

Thank you for your response. I realise it's difficult to have JY staff at regional airports but it's important to have clear signage at the destination airport. I felt on this occasion it was unprofessional to have a scribbled note saying Just You. On my last holiday I was met by the tour quide at Pisa Airport who clearly displayed a flag stating Just You.This gives confidence that you are paying for an accompanied holiday.