Welcome along and thank you for choosing this tour because of our correspondence. Like Mick says I'm sure there won't be a group of 30+. This will be my first JY holiday as well and although I was a little nervous when I first booked I now feel good because of the many comments about Just You in this community. Both Mick and myself are meeting up the night before and you're more than welcome to join us even if you're not staying at the Park Inn. If you're at another hotel close by we can still arrenge to meet in the Three Magpies.

Ive not booked any optional trips yet as I've not decided on which ones. Universal studio tour is 1 I will be going on for sure. I may not decide on the trips till I get out there.

Are you up for a night out in Chicago? A few of us as you've seen on this thread are going to a blues club that Mick knows. Should be a great night out and maybe we can arrange others along the way. I've read that on the April tour a few went into old town Albuquerque which sounds like a good idea to me as well.

Look forward to meeting you either on the Monday at Heathrow or the night before.

Paul

Hi 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

Paul,

I've not bothered with hotel breakfast either, if we get lounge passes (although not sure for terminal 5 as some posters have stated), there will be nibbles coffee, etc for free.

If not will grab something after security.

We'll be getting a good feed in the three magpies 8ish night before so wont need big breakfast.

Also you are on the plane about an hour or so before they bring lunch out.

Mick

As far as I see there is no lounge for us at terminal 5. There is however a JD Wetherspoons. I'm a big fan of these pubs and thought we could arrange to meet up with everyone there. Not too sure if JY have other arrangements with there being no lounge. I'm sure something can and will be arranged before we check in. Maybe our tour guide will suggest somewhere for us.

Paul

Lounge pass is included in the price long haul holidays but have read on here that some trips people have been refunded because the lounge is not available in term 5.

Still October is a long way off and something may be sorted by then.

If not Wetherspoons will be fine by me for breakfast.

Hopfully a few more will be reading this forum before then.

Mick

http://www.theskydeck.com/  Think I'll be heading up there for a look... I doubt I'll be standing on the glass floor though!

Victoria

Thanks Jayne

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

Hello Paul

Like I said elsewhere on here, the only bit we didn't really enjoy was the cowboy night but the rest was great. The view from the 94th floor of the John Hancock tower in Chicago is amazing. There is a Jazz club called Ledgends that several of the group went to in Chicago near the hotel - the hotel is also amazing.

You must go up the arch in St.Louis. Sadly you don't see much of Amirillo but Pontiac is great.

All of the rest is to but you must save some energy for Universal Studios and be prepared to be scared by the Simpson's rollercoaster! Who knew you could be so scared by something that isn't really real????

Oh and when you are told there is a 2 hour shopping Mall stop don't groan too much as the men on our trip shopped as much as we did! Can't wait to hear from all of you when you get back.

Have a ball.

Janne

Hi all, just a quick note to say I'm booked on the 8th October departure. I can't wait and am dangerously wishing the summer away!! Looking forward to meeting you all.

http://www.theskydeck.com/  Think I'll be heading up there for a look... I doubt I'll be standing on the glass floor though!

Victoria

Hi Victoria,

Welcome will look forward to meeting you at heathrow.

For the record I've been to Chicago numerous times and the Skydeck at the Wilis tower (formerly sears) is good but suggest the view from the Hancock is better because its nearer the lake. Also the queues arn't nowhere near as bad.

Don't know if you've read other comments on here but a few of us are planning to take in a blues club in chicago, you will be more than welcome to come along.

Also if you are staying over at heathrow a couple of us (maybe more) are staying at the park inn so meeting night before, will be off for a meal in pub called the three magpies on bath road.

Mick

Assume the club is Buddy Guys place, it can be good if the right act on, there are a few other places i know in walking distance suspect we'll be going to a different one each night.

Looking forward to going up St Louis Arch, was in the city many years ago but didn't get chance to go up.

can't wait

Mick

Hi Janne,

Assume the club is Buddy Guys place, it can be good if the right act on, there are a few other places i know in walking distance suspect we'll be going to a different one each night.

Looking forward to going up St Louis Arch, was in the city many years ago but didn't get chance to go up.

can't wait

Mick

yes Mick that was the club. I didn't go but some of the group went both nights. I was happy to enjoy the hotel!

Janne

Thanks for your posting. The more I read about the route 66 trip the more excited I get. I've never been to the USA before so everything for me will be new. I'm up for most things too so all that is on offer I will probably do. Seeing as how the cowboy evening has had some bad comments I think I'll give it a miss. Is there anything near the Amarillo hotel you could do instead? Universal Studios is 1 place I'm really looking forward too and it sounds like a great way to end the tour. As for a 2 hour shopping trip to a mall, well as I want to do all things American while I'm there then I gues a trip to the mall sounds good to me. The St Louis arch sounds great too and the John Hancock tower too although I'm a little scared of heights I shall still give them a go.

Not long for us to go now and I'm counting down the days.

Thanks for your input and look forward to seeing all the sights myself

Paul

Paul

Thanks for your replies, looking forward to meeting you all in October after what I hope will be a long hot summer. I have since spoken to a couple of people who have been to Chicago before and there is so much to do and see!

I think I will probably book all the excursions before I go. Universal is definate, I have been to the LA Studios before and although it is not as big as the Florida parks it will hopefully be possible to see quite a lot in half a day.

I have noted that the 2013 brochure will be out in September so the next big decision is where to go next year!!!

Kay

Thanks for all your replies. It's lovely to hear from so many enthusiastic people. I will probably be staying over the night before, I was hoping to stay at the Sofitel as it's linked to T5 by a walk way and I like the idea of that (I'm a bit lazy and so if it means ten more mins in bed I'm all for it!). I'd definitely be up for meeting the night before though at the pub you've mentioned, Paul & Mick. And the music in Chicago sounds great too. I can't wait!!!

I've seen a couple of mixed comments about the cowboy night which is disappointing as it's something that was high on my to-do list! I'll ask editor Olly to see if he can get some more info about what actually happens. And what goes on at Universal Studios? I imagine that it's all about roller coasters and less about the movies, am I wrong? Would I really rather go there and miss out on other LA 'delights' such as Venice Beach?

Look forward to chatting more soon

Victoria

Universal studios is great, visited it when I did Americas Golden West with JY a couple of years ago. We got 6 hours there and it wasn't enough there is so much to see.

The set where they did stunts from Waterworld was amazing, also special effects demos, bit of everything and a good few movie sets. The only roller coaster we did was Jurassic Park which was a good finish to the day, although got very wet. Will definately be doing Universal again.

LA traffic is horrendous if you plan visiting anywhere on your own, depends on location of hotel i would think.

Be good to meet you in the Three Magpies night before but if you have a change of heart book the Park Inn, its right over the road from the Pub. You can then go straight from the meal to bed rather than having to get to the other side of the airport and terminal 5 on your own.

We can travel over as a group in the morning, not bothering with breakfast in hotel, plan is in the airport after security.

Good you're another up for music night in Chicago, looks like could be a few of us which will be great.

Mick

Universal studios is on my list too. Like you Victoria I'm a little unsure about the cowboy evening as I've also read a few negative comments. Santa Fe seems a good trip and I'm wondering about the St Louis trip. Not too sure what this involves so I'll decide later.

The hotel you're thinking off Victoria is like you say right on terminal 5 but I find it a little expensive. As Mick says if you stay at the Park Inn we can all travel together in the morning which will make it easier for me seeing as I'm not 100% sure of where I'm going to. It will be great to meet as many people as we can the night before and I'm also glad you're up for the Chicago night out. To be honest I think all 40 of us and the tour guide will be up for the night out in Chicago.

How are you traveling Heathrow the day before? I'm flying down from Manchester and I think Lyn and Les will be too.

Paul

I asked Olly about the cowboy evening and he kindly replied. His comments are on a new thread I started entitled something like 'Route 66 - cowboy evening' - have a look and let me know what you think.

Just getting a few prices from Just You regards hotels and transport. I live in Leicestershire so will use the train or coach to get to the airport.

Wishing you all a happy jubilee weekend!

Bye for now

Victoria

Saw your post with regards to cowboy night, not totally decided on which excurrsions but suspect I'll opt for it, sort of interested in westerns so may enjoy it.

Would have offered you a lift to heathrow as I'm coming down the M1 (from Yorkshire), maybe picked you up at service station. However I'm actually going to Winchester Sunday morning to visit friends then over to Heathrow in afternoon.

Saying that if you would like a lift on our return from holiday you would be more than welcome, if so just book your transport one way.

Mick

I'm also a little unsure about the cowboy evening but reading the thread you started Victoria I can't see why the others said negative things. While I'm in America I want to do all things American and from what Olly says in his reply it does sound like a good trip. I shall wait until I read more post from more recent tours there.

I've just read your new thread Mick about the optional excursions too. I'm still unsure if I will do all of them. St. Louis is the 1 I'm most unsure about. I'm not a gambler at all so a night in a casino doesn't appeal to me but I may tag along if the majority decide to go on this trip. Santa Fe and Universal are on my list so far.

Not long to go now. Just over 4 months. Time will soon start to fly past.

Look forward to seeing you all in October.

Paul

At £20 the St Louis excurrsion is good value, like you I'm not a gambler but it includes dinner which we would need to buy if not going. Also looking at the St Louis hotel its well away from the city centre so maybe not a lot to do around the hotel if choose to stay there.

I'll probably end up doing them all to be honest, want to see Branson and again it includes dinner and the entertainment should be good.

Only thing I'm likely to miss is the included excurrsion city tour of Chicago as I've been so many times in the past seen most of it. While you do that may chill out at the pier depending on the weather or get bus to Hyde Park to the museum of science of industry which is awesome.

Mick