UThis review is rather late as I have been ill with flu since returning. I have been travelling
with JY since 2000 and have always had great holidays including Christmas and New Year
in China, Hong Kong Costa Brava and Lake Bled. However Malta was altogether different.
First of all the shock of finding that there were 52 people booked when I was told that I got
the last place at no40! There was no JY tour manager only a local guide who kept reminding
Us that she was employed by the angency in Malta.
On Christmas Day we went to Gozo which was fine but we were supposed to be having lunch
in restaurant which I thought would be about 1 - 1 30 but we kept getting reports that they
weren't ready for us.The time was changed 3 times eventually we were called at 3 30 we were
rushed in to find that lunch was just buffet of pasta chips and chicken, dessert was a sliver of
cake. We were asked to leave as another group was due. We were ther less than 1 hour, lots of disappointed people.
The day we went to Medina we were given a picnic, a bun the size of a dinner plate a muffin and
water! We were told to get off bus and sit on wall to eat in a very cold wind. What we needed was
a hot coffee the quide said a coffee stop was not included. We. Opted for coffee so missed out on
most of the tour.
New Years Eve we were supposed to be going to watch Fireworks in Valletta from 9pm to 1am
Most of us didn't want to do this but it was obvious that we were expected to go as there was no
Entertainment provided. The local guide did put our case to management and we were allowed to join another group for dinner and dancing so she deserves a big thank you for that
Finally on departure day we were expecting continental breakfast before leaving at 5 45am.
We had tea or coffee but no juice or fruit or yoghurt only white sliced bread and jams. I have
had many an early breakfast in lots of hotels with JY this is the worst.
The hotel staff were magnificent and I think that the problem lies with local agent. I have done
18-20 trips since 2000 and this is the first time I have had to complain and I think a JY tour manager would have made a difference. This group was too big as I read on review of Lake Balaton
Smiggins