As I have done 2 out of the 3 Christmas & New Year Europe holidays, I have booked to go with Travelsphere to Lake Garda and the Austrian Tirol. There are 3 other singles booked on this holiday, and the rest are presumably couples. Have any of the Community travelled with Travelsphere (I know you have Bob!), and can give any advice and their views on how the holiday was? It is a very large group (40) and I'm hoping I won't end up with a single room rather than the usual JY double room for single occupancy!

Cheers,

Hils

Hi All,

As I have done 2 out of the 3 Christmas & New Year Europe holidays, I have booked to go with Travelsphere to Lake Garda and the Austrian Tirol. There are 3 other singles booked on this holiday, and the rest are presumably couples. Have any of the Community travelled with Travelsphere (I know you have Bob!), and can give any advice and their views on how the holiday was? It is a very large group (40) and I'm hoping I won't end up with a single room rather than the usual JY double room for single occupancy!

Cheers,

Hils

I travelled with Thomas Cook in 2008 as a single with 15 other couples and 2 singles- both in their 80's. We had a great time and at no time did I have a single room. I was welcomed to tables and everyone made sure that I was never alone. We started in Atlanta, made our way to Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans.

After that I have only travelled with Just You on my own. So much easier. Not really looked at Travelsphere as there is so much I want to see with Just You, holidays and work not helping :P

Jan

I met you on the spirit of India Tour in feb 2012 5 months after I had my 2nd full knee replacement and 10 months after my first one. I managed fine with what has now been called my dodgy walking stick so I know you will be OK with your long haul travel planned for next year.Enjoy.

Now I have done a few tours with TS, all long haul. I have always had a double room to myself.On the whole people in the group have invariably been friendly. Last year in Peru

there were 38 of us, 8 being solo travellers. Apart from two couples, who weren't particularly friendly with anyone, everyone else was great once we all got to know each other a little,, which is the same for any holiday really.

My TS tour to Nepal in 2010 with a JY friend was almost a JY trip according to our TM Jan, because there were so many women on it.

On this holiday I struggled because it was the year before my knee ops and walking was a b it difficult BUT when i did a short hike/trek and got a bit stuck going down some rocky hills it was a gentleman who was travelling with his wife who helped me with Rabin our local guide. In fact Nigel presented me with a certificate he had made

saying that I had been trekking in the foothills of the Himalayas and signed it Sherpa Nigel on our last evening. Fantastic holiday.

Another TS holiday National Parks and Canyons I travelled with a JY friend and her JY friend. My friend's friend for some reason took exception to me and would have spoilt my holiday had it not been for other travellers on this TS trip. Various couples saw what was happening so I was taken under the wings of these people.

That's enough about some of my TS holidays. So all in all Hils I think you will enjoy a TS Christmas and New Year trip. I personally still prefer JY though.

Oh and my walking stick always travels with me now hidden in my rucksack just in case I need bit of extra stability.

Kind regards

Di

Hello Hils

I met you on the spirit of India Tour in feb 2012 5 months after I had my 2nd full knee replacement and 10 months after my first one. I managed fine with what has now been called my dodgy walking stick so I know you will be OK with your long haul travel planned for next year.Enjoy.

Now I have done a few tours with TS, all long haul. I have always had a double room to myself.On the whole people in the group have invariably been friendly. Last year in Peru

there were 38 of us, 8 being solo travellers. Apart from two couples, who weren't particularly friendly with anyone, everyone else was great once we all got to know each other a little,, which is the same for any holiday really.

My TS tour to Nepal in 2010 with a JY friend was almost a JY trip according to our TM Jan, because there were so many women on it.

On this holiday I struggled because it was the year before my knee ops and walking was a b it difficult BUT when i did a short hike/trek and got a bit stuck going down some rocky hills it was a gentleman who was travelling with his wife who helped me with Rabin our local guide. In fact Nigel presented me with a certificate he had made

saying that I had been trekking in the foothills of the Himalayas and signed it Sherpa Nigel on our last evening. Fantastic holiday.

Another TS holiday National Parks and Canyons I travelled with a JY friend and her JY friend. My friend's friend for some reason took exception to me and would have spoilt my holiday had it not been for other travellers on this TS trip. Various couples saw what was happening so I was taken under the wings of these people.

That's enough about some of my TS holidays. So all in all Hils I think you will enjoy a TS Christmas and New Year trip. I personally still prefer JY though.

Oh and my walking stick always travels with me now hidden in my rucksack just in case I need bit of extra stability.

Kind regards

Di

Hi Di,

Good to hear from you again! Of all the 14 JY holidays that I have taken, India is still top of the list! Interesting that you always carry your walking stick with you too - mine is going to be a permanent fixture in my handluggage now that I have had my hip done! I will need to get pretty fit for Burma, and am thinking of doing Namibia next year too! Will have to fit in Kerala as well soon!!

Thanks for your advice about TS. I would normally go with JY, obviously, but I don't fancy Costa Brava which is the only other combined Xmas/New Year in Europe that I haven't done. I've noticed that there are a different assortment of people on the Xmas/New Year trips, compared to the other ones I have done - on one, which will remain nameless, we had the Happy Group (I was in that one!), the Grumpy Group, and The Men!!! The latter did their own thing! It will be interesting to see what the TS group is like. Needless to say I will enjoy myself whatever they are like, as I haven't been to Lake Garda, and love Austria. Better than sitting at home, on my own, with a turkey sandwich - sob!

Will report back for future singles who may consider TS.

Cheers,

Hils

I went on Travelsphere's San Francisco to Vancouver in May. It was a mixture of couples,pairs and singles.We all got on very well,Patrick Twomey was a great tour manager,very knowledgeable,and sorted out the few problems,with transportation in Seattle,the main one.

Lake Garda is a beautiful location,easy to get around on the ferries.I have only been on a day trip to the Dolomites,but,a lot of small pretty villages and cable cars to snow covered mountain tops.

Have a great time

Keith

Thank you for replying.

I am going on the JY Vietnam trip in November. Next year I am also thinking of Namibia probably in May. High up on my list to do are also Costa Rica and Nicaragua,Kerala--love India- and Burma.

Would love the Polar Bears too, but too expensive. Enjoyed reading your posts on that tour.

I hope that by now you have recovered from your hip operation and wish you lots of happy travelling again.

Cheers

Di

Hubbie and I have had a few coach holidays with Travelsphere and rated the company very highly!

There were occasionally single people in the party but everyone was looked after and certainly included.

I've just returned from the TS trip to Peru; there were 8 singles in a group of 34 and everyone was friendly, always including me in conversations etc. Dinner was only included on one evening during the main tour, so I ate dinner with one or two of the singles from the group on many occasions. I also did the Amazon extension where all food was included, so we intrepid few (9 - singles and couples) sat together at a group of tables in one section of the restaurant.

This was the first holiday that I've had with TS and on balance I still prefer JY, simply because people are all in the same situation for one reason or another. However, if there was another TS holiday I really wanted to do then, based on my Peru experience which was completely positive, I wouldn't say no - although I'd prefer it if there were other single people within the group.

Regarding being allocated a single room - I would take the view that I don't pay a single supplement with TS to be put into a single room, and would insist to the TM and hotel concerned that I be moved to a double room. The whole principle of charging a single supplement is based on the premise that 2 people in a double room may spend more money in the hotel than if that same room is given up for single occupancy. So stand your ground and complain!

I hope that my one experience with TS has helped you; the holiday itself was fantastic and will live long in the memory.

Cheers

Mike

I remember my parents telling fond stories of the solo's on their trip to Oz a few years ago when with TS. They all mixed. This re-assured me when I booked to go to Peru with TS last year. I had a great time.

Off with TS in November this year. I've eyed up a JY trip for 2016 so it's great to have the option for both. JY is always preferable but if you fancy something.....just do it....you'll be fine!

Angie

I do agree though that payment of a single supplement should ensure a double room is available.

As JY is increasingly being used by large groups of friends travelling together, as well as pairs of friends and even couples, the difference with Travesphere is reducing by the year. Even after paying a single supplement, TS holidays often cost less than the equivalents with JY, and TS do have a greater choice destinations. Having tested the solo water with JY, I would certainly consider travelling as a single with TS if the destination and the price was right.

I do agree though that payment of a single supplement should ensure a double room is available.

Hi Sarah,

The reason I started using JY all those years ago, was that I was fed up of paying for a pokey single room and a hefty single supplement! I have done 14 (with 2 more booked) tours with JY, and this is my first with TS. The single supplement is £400 (£40 a night extra!) so I most certainly expect to get a double room for single occupancy for this! If I don't, I think a quiet word with the TM, and also inform him/her that I will be writing a review on the JY Forum!!

I luckily haven't come across large groups booking together on JY, although I have booked a few long haul JY trips with a friend - by no means do we stick together, and as we are both keen photographers we actually ask to be in different boats/jeeps etc. and both want to have a window seat on the coach to take photos! We very much mix with the rest of the group and it is unusual for us to even sit at the same table at meals - yes, we are friends really! Obviously we do meet up in the evening for a drink, or two! I know what you mean though about people booking together and excluding the rest of the group - the topic has been mentioned many many times on this Forum!

Thanks for all your help. I will report back!

Cheers,

Hils

Hi All,

As I have done 2 out of the 3 Christmas & New Year Europe holidays, I have booked to go with Travelsphere to Lake Garda and the Austrian Tirol. There are 3 other singles booked on this holiday, and the rest are presumably couples. Have any of the Community travelled with Travelsphere (I know you have Bob!), and can give any advice and their views on how the holiday was? It is a very large group (40) and I'm hoping I won't end up with a single room rather than the usual JY double room for single occupancy!

Cheers,

Hils

Hi,

I have been with travel sphere twice- the first was to Paris for New Year. The trip was great, but it was Paris at New Year and i was the only single with the majority being romantic couples. Although we all rubbed along it did get uncomfortable at times as i felt i was muddling in on private time. The tour manager said it was very unusual for me to be the only single and that i was quite unlucky.

The second was to Cliento Coast and i went there with someone i met on the croatia trip. I would have gone via JY but the dates were conflicting. There were about 5 other singles on the trip and both couples and singles mixed well and there was no problem.

I would always opt for JY over travel sphere, simply to avoid any potential awkwardness however Travelsphere has a much wider range of holidays than JY so i would never rule it out. If there were other singles on the holiday than even better but if i wanted to go on a holiday that much, the fact that it was with travel sphere would not put me off.

Thanks

Mark

I agree with Mark. I would stick with Just You, but if there was a holiday offered by Travelsphere which I really wanted to do, then I would go ahead and book it. At the moment I am still trying to catch up with all the holidays I want to do with Just You!!

Jaya

I went on many tours with 'ordinary' tour companies before I discovered JY.

I've travelled with JY for more than a year now and I still have mixed feelings.

The range of holidays offered by JY gets a bit restrictive as you build confidence

and want to be more adventurous. Or when you want to revisit a country and wish

to go back and see it from a slightly different perspective.

I still travel with other companies and I always ask at the time of booking to make sure

that I'm not the only single on the tour. I've rarely had a problem with substandard

rooms.

BUT it's less stressful travelling with JY knowing that there are a lot of like-minded

single people! My main grouse is that the JY groups are sometimes very large.

I wonder if JY are reluctant to cover more unusual countries for fear that they won't

fill the tour. I've been with other companies where they've let the tour go ahead with just 6.

fleurbyfleur

Just You have started adding more destinations so hopefully you will find something you like. For me personally, at the moment, there are so many great destinations on offer by Just You and many more being added each year that I am having trouble keeping up due to time and finances! As for the groups, it depends on where you are travelling to. Some destinations are more popular so will attract larger groups. I think 20-25 is a good number, but a larger group will not stop me travelling to a destination I want to visit though I too prefer a smaller group.

Jaya

Best wishes,

Bob

PS I am off on a Travelsphere holiday tomorrow, I gather there are 13 couples and 7 single travellers so I won't be on my own! I wouldn't hesitate to use TS if they offered a destination JY didn't.