I've been looking at the holidays and really think that this may give me the opportunity to holiday. However, I have a few questions!! Most of my friends idea of holidays include lots of clubbing and sleeping a hangover off by the beach/pool and do not entertain the idea of excursions. Now, my issue is that I have a mobility disability, I am not able to walk very far and rely on crutches to get around for short distances, any further distances I rely on a wheelchair. I have looked at holidays for disabled but they really cater for people with severe disabilties.

I guess my main question is if I would be able to go away with you guys! I'd really like to be able to do a few excursions, and would maybe need help getting onto and off coaches, I don't walk terribly fast, would I hold the group up if I came out on an excursion?

I'm not after a particularly lively holiday, I'm fairly independent in the fact that it's just that I'd need help carrying stuff, getting on to and off coaches etc.. nothing really major I don't think.

How do the excursions work? Do you all go around in a group or do you split off into clusters?

Is it worth booking for a UK intro or just booking a holdiay and biting the bullet? I guess, like everyone else, there is fear attached with going it alone, its a case of looking at companies such as this or not going away again.... for me that is a daunting prospect!

Does anyone have any ideas/tips for a first holiday?

Many thanks in advance

MMM not quite sure how to answer these questions of yours, as most of the holidays I have been on have been rather action packed lots of getting on and off coaches, and maybe climbing stairs and walking etc, on my last holiday which was safari to Kenya we had a lady who had 1 or 2 sticks, she found it very hard getting on and off coaches. She did ask the driver to help her and to be honest he did get a bit fed up, and if I am honest we did as well as she was always holding us up with the coach part. I am sorry if that sounds harsh, but when you have a group of ladies and you have a 15 min stop to get a drink and use the toilets, every second counts. I would say to you is really look at what the write up says about your time there and have a word with the girls in the office and get there advise. You know what you can and cannot do, on a day to day level. If it is just a holiday sitting around it might be fine but if it is a action packed one you might be in trouble I feel. The people that you are travelling with have there own holiday to have, and due to insurance issues we as travelling companions can not get to involved with helping a person out in case we put our self at risk. I do hope this does not sound to negative, but talk to people and see what they say.

Cindy

Once away with a tour it is your HOLIDAY, a tour I went on to Austrian Lakes I did not go on two of the excursions, I and 3 ladies spent the two days doing our own thing. As long as the rep know's so she doesnt have to keep you in he head count of people it is fine. I have also known people who have friends or family who live in that country (USA) who have come to the hotel and collect a JY member and taken them out for the day. With regards to Oz or China if you do not go on some of the trips you might be missing out on some amazing sights thats all I would say. It is up to you... you travel with the group to a country and travel home with them how you spend that time is up to YOU. I hope you can find a tour that fits your needs.

Cindy

As for carrying your bags/luggage I would say on the trips I've done so far this was included in he holiday price.

Hope you can find something suitable.

Mick

Whilst I appreciate the difficulties one with a mobility disability has it saddens me to read that some people are not always helpful and sympathetic. As a nation we are supposed to be more wheelchair friendly. I hope previous comments do not put you off travelling on the holidays you wish to travel on. I am sure there must be fellow travellers who would be more than happy to help, not only with your luggage but also aiding with the coaches. Personally I would be more than happy to help as much as I could.

I have just booked my first Just You holiday for America and found the staff to be very helpful. If I were in your position I would have a chat with the staff to sound them out and go from there, perhaps find out which guide will be present and see what their thoughts are.

Happy holidays.

I guess as well as the fear of going away alone (which looking at the site, everyone seems to experienc) I wonder if private transfers via taxis could be arranged which would eliminate the need for anyone helping me on and off a coach so I'm not left at an airport stranded! I guess the only thing I'd need help with then would be getting my case through the airport. Ok, so this isn't ideal but is this viable?

I will definately take your advice though and ring through to the office and see what they think. Maybe they might offer a solution that I've not thought of or maybe they'll say its not viable at all, Who knows!

Thanks all for your input, and Ems, thank you for your reply, I felt a little less negative after reading that.

If your posting is aimed at me, my comments were to be honest, if I had posted that question I would want someone to be honest with me of how people really felt, rather than gloss over the problem and then the lady find herself on a tour that she cant cope with, as this happened to a lady on Kenya Safari, she thought people would help.. YES!!! people will help but not to the detriment of there own holiday or put them self at risk trying to get someone on and off coaches.

Cindy

Whilst I have not travelled to China or Oz, I have done NZ and I think you would find the pace of that trip difficult. I could be wrong though. Speak to the expects - JY tour managers.

Ems..

If your posting is aimed at me, my comments were to be honest, if I had posted that question I would want someone to be honest with me of how people really felt, rather than gloss over the problem and then the lady find herself on a tour that she cant cope with, as this happened to a lady on Kenya Safari, she thought people would help.. YES!!! people will help but not to the detriment of there own holiday or put them self at risk trying to get someone on and off coaches.

Cindy

Cindy,

My comments were not aimed at you, I apologise if you thought that, but was a generalisation of many peoples lack of understanding of those with disabilities. I appreciate everyone on a holiday wants to make the most of it. I guess from my point of view I also see it from the other side as my work involves seeing many of those with any kind of disabilitiy. Whilst even I would not want to put myself at risk, especially as I am self employed, I would certainly, as I said, do what I could.

I would hope that everyone on a holiday would enjoy to the fullest extent.

:)

I would hope that on any trip there would be others that would offer some assistance. on the USA trip the coach did have quite steep steps to get up. if you could manage these it should not be much of a problem. airports should offer assistance with bags and porterage was included on the tour I did so only transferred our own cases when we chose. some tours seem to be more active than others. A resort based holiday with optional excursions could be the way to go then you would be able to choose excursions that did not involve too much walking. However it does depend on where you want to go and what you want to see.

I went to China on a tour, this was as a single traveller but not in a solo travellers group. this tour did involve a lot of travel and walking just to fit all the sights in. So China may not be the best choice. However it was a wonderful place so could be worth the effort.

I would suggest you speak to Just You to see if any of the tours are more appropriate than others. Maybe post on the forum to see who else is going on the tours that interest you.

I have booked for Vietnam in October and really looking forward to it.

Jenny

You and others probably won't like my reply, and sorry if it upsets anyone, but I agree with Cindy with her comments and have a few of my own.

I have been on quite a few JY holidays, and they have all been busy days, getting on and off coaches. The main point I would like to say is you have to remember that it is the fellower travellers holiday as well, they are not there to be carers to a complete stranger. Yes I would help once or twice, but not during my whole holiday. Also they are not "reps" they are tour managers, who are there to ensure that everything goes smoothly at the airport, at the hotel and at the excursions, they are not tour guides, their role is not what a "rep" in a resort would do. As Cindy says, sometimes you are limited for time and things can get very rushed. When I went to Rome with JY and also Prague, were were told, be at a certain point, at a certain time, because the coach can only stop for a few mins otherwise they get a ticket, so it was a mad dash to get everyone on the coach. I agree with all the other posts, you need to contact JY and talk to someone, but I think you will find what JY holidays are not really suited for something with the disability you say you have. Have a look on the internet, there are other companies that do holidays for single travellers, where the pace is not so busy.

Again apologise if this reply upsets anyone.

Thank you for your responses. I think the best option is going to be a resort based holiday where then I have a choice to go on excursions. I do appreciate all comments and the honesty given, whilst its sad, I do understand that due to health and safety its not possible to offer additional help. I guess also, its not fair to ask for assistance as everyone is there for a holiday and I guess that on a long trip having to help someone along could possibly wear thin on peoples goodwill.

Anyway, am now going off to look at resort breaks. Thanks again to you all,

PS Hi Mary, yes it was a great hol and I'm really glad you enjoyed it, some brilliant people on that trip all right!

I am going on the Am.Golden West tour and though I don't have any sticks or crutches, I do have a mobility scooter in case any long walks are included. I spoke to the jy office and they felt that the tour was fine for me to do.

Margaret

Jan.

Did hear a story about a rep who had to get one lady out of bed every day-no carer- were they having us on?

I can't think of a single long walk on that holiday, so you should be fine and have a brilliant time!

Hi Margaret,

I can't think of a single long walk on that holiday, so you should be fine and have a brilliant time!

Thank you so much for your nice message.

I only saw it today as I don't get notification of threads to which I've subscribed even though I ask for that!

Margaret

You know what you can and cannot do, on a day to day level.

If it is just a holiday sitting around it might be fine but if it is a action

packed one you might be in trouble I feel.