It's my first trip with Just You as well and from what I've been told and read in the community there will be someone to meet you at check in at Heathrow. Also you look out for the Just You labels for fellow travellers.

Yes I agree the music night out in Chicago does sound great and I'm certainly looking forward to it and everything else on the trip too.

Paul

Yes, I would certainly be up for a night out in Chicago, it would be good. I don't know Les all that well, but I expect he would come along. I've been trying to find out what the temperatures will be for October, I usually go over there in September when mornings are freezing but days are hot. I don't know if this applies to October.

Don't worry about the airport bit, just have your label on view and a fellow passenger is bound to start speaking to you, if only to tag on for support!

Best wishes

Lyn

Sounds like there is going to be at least four of us for the night out in Chicago (but think we'll get some more), pan is irish pub for food then blues club (usually gets going 9.30 ish). Feeling it'll end up both nights as we're on hol, somewhere differen of course as there are plenty to chose from.

Ok given the 6 hour time difference we'll be a it tired first night but should be arriving at hotel early enough for a nap befor going out, often do that then stay out a bit until really tired, then have good nights sleep and straight into time zone, works for me.

Looks like the tour manager will get a night off, probably come along with us, lol.

Like yourself i'm a bit of an american regular done around 20 cities and think we'll get a big variation of tempretures along the route (nothing really cold i hope) so will be takingboth warm and cool weather stuff.

Mick.

If i had seen your posts earlier I probably would have booked on the trip with you guys as I am big music fan and its nice to see some friendly chatty people on here. But I cannot wait for september and I'm sure I will meet some lovely people who will also like to join me in some live music. Thanks for the info on the airport, I think thats the main part im nervous about just the initial meeting people and knowing where to go what to do but I know I will be fine once I get to the airport.

Kirsty

And we would have loved you to come along in October but don't worry you'll definately meet some great people in september every JY trip I've done it as been a good crowd.

As for the airport with it been a long haul holiday you'll meet the other travellers in the lounge beforhand which is good, along with a couple of free drinks of course.

Mick

I don't suppose it matter which date you go on. I'm sure there will be places to catch some live music and I'm sure others will want to go with you. As for us on our trip we are lucky because Mick has been to Chicago quite a few times and knows where is best to go.

Free drinks at the airport sounds great. Free drinks are always great.

Although its still a few months away time will soon start to fly by and before we know it we will be on the plane.

I'm looking forward to reading the posts from the other travellers who have already gone and who ate about to go. This will be a trip of a lifetime and I can't wait.

Paul

I have just come back from the first ROUTE 66 trip and it was GREAT!!!

I've been reading a testimonial from your trip. Sounds great and I can't wait.

I've since found out that our trip only has 2 places left so it's proving to be a very popular tour.

Any tips for the trip Jayne? What was the best bits?

Paul

Just booked my hotel for heathrow, got good deal at Park Inn (4 star), one night hotel and 17 days parking for £80 through my AA membership.

Its on Bath road so on free bus route and i know there is a good pub opposite, excellent food much cheaper than hotels.

Mick

Paul

The Pub is called "The three Magpies" directly across road from the hotel. Ate there when stayed at Renaisance which is also very close.

If you are flying down you you can get a service bus from heathrow central bus station, no's 140, 105, 111 and 285 all stop outside hotel, its first stop on bath road.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/heathrowterminals123-13970.pdf 

Now 39 booked (one place left, 12 men 27 ladies ages 30's to 80's).

Mick

Been on the website for the Park Inn. Wow you have a great deal as its not much cheaper than that just for a room for the night. No problem though. I'm all booked in. See you on the 7th October.

Paul

With AA you can choose "undercover hotel" but don't know which one until you paid so it bit of lottery, just knew it 4 star but had a good idea by the info they give.

i should be down in good time (although possibly visiting friends first), so we can arrange time and meet before the day.

Make sure you are hungry, lovely mixed grill in pub i recall.

You booked your flight down ?

Mick

I have today received confirmation from JY of my booking on this tour (1 of the last 2 places). This will be my 1st JY holiday although I have been to the USA many times, mainly Florida and the theme parks. I have to say that like of the newbies I was very unsure about taking a singles holiday. I made my final decision to book this trip after reading your correspondence and just hope that the other 30+ travellers are not one big group!. I will be travelling to Heathrow on the Sunday as I do not want the hassle of a M25 traffic jam on the Monday am.

I have not booked any optional extra excursions yet but will probably book them all, except for the River City Casino excursion which is no longer available.

Looking forward to meeting you all, perhaps at the Park Inn!! Will let you know.

Thanks again

Kay

Yeah flight is booked and should be at Heathrow around 3:30. Hotel by 4:30 so say around 6 or 7 in the Three Magpies. We can arrange to meet in the hotel reception and decide a time later. Hope there is maybe a few more that can join us. I've looked on that link about the free bus route and there is a direct bus from terminal 5 that should pass the hotel. Makes it easier I guess than going through the central bus station.

Paul

Hi Mick, Paul, Lyn & Les

I have today received confirmation from JY of my booking on this tour (1 of the last 2 places). This will be my 1st JY holiday although I have been to the USA many times, mainly Florida and the theme parks. I have to say that like of the newbies I was very unsure about taking a singles holiday. I made my final decision to book this trip after reading your correspondence and just hope that the other 30+ travellers are not one big group!. I will be travelling to Heathrow on the Sunday as I do not want the hassle of a M25 traffic jam on the Monday am.

I have not booked any optional extra excursions yet but will probably book them all, except for the River City Casino excursion which is no longer available.

Looking forward to meeting you all, perhaps at the Park Inn!! Will let you know.

Thanks again

Kay

Hi Kay,

Welcome hope you get to the Park Inn will be great to meet a few travellers the night before. As you see on here Paul and myself have booked in there and will meet for the first time, go for a meal and drink. We will put a meet up time (reception) nearer the date.

This will be my 7th JY holiday, done 5 so far and doing Austria in August and from my experience the other 30 wont be one big group, the vast majority will be like ourselves totally solo and hoping to mix with everyone.

I also haven't yet booked any optionals but will do at a later date, not decided which yet.

I've done America many times (but not florida), mainly city breaks but have done two of the other JY american touring hols which were great.

As you will have read earlier on this post myself and Paul are planning to do a Blues Club in Chicago and Lyn (and pssibly Les) as also said she would be interested, you are more than welcome to come along as is other travellers.

Mick

That sounds great, will check which bus stop the night before so we not searching around, think we'll just have to cross the road.

Saying that we are nearest hotel to the central bus station so not a problem going there first only takes 5 minutes on bus.

Remember you can use the free buses to get to the hotel sunday when you arrive, it really is easy, to the let on the map it tells you which bus stop for which bus.

Would expect to arrive between 3pm and 4pm myself, a bit of time to unwind after driving down.

Mick

Just checked and my flight down to heathrow it s 3:30 and should arrive by 4:30. Still not a problem for the evening. Not booked a breakfast at the hotel. I'll probably get a bite to eat when we get to the airport. I'll have a look at the times of the direct bus from terminal 5 and see from there which option I take. Plenty of time to decide but time will soon start to fly by and before we know it we will be on that plane.

Paul