As you are aware, the Federal Government of the United States of America made the decision to withhold budget spend. This decision directly affects all Federal run institutions, which are now closed.

Members of our customer service team are in the process of contacting all of our customers booked on National Parks, Mount Rushmore and Little Big Horn holiday to explain how your planned holiday has been affected.

Kindest regards,

Julia

Regarding the complaint on Trip Advisor, I don't understand the mentality of some people - if the national parks are shut by the US govt it's hardly JY/Travelsphere's fault is it?? From what Julia has said they have a team working non stop on a new itinerary to ensure that those already on tour have the best holiday they can under the circumstances.

Cheers,

Bob

But perhaps just as well Katy. There is a complaint on Trip Advisor from a customer currently travelling on this holiday with Travelsphere. All the national parks are shut. What a waste of a holiday !

Yes, agree with the cancellation - accept that I will have to do this trip another time. But this was to be my main holiday this year and its left a bit of a gap, was really ready to do it - instead of flying to Denver yesterday now have free time - started on clear up of the spare room yesterday and today spent the morning at Homebase and B&Q. Not quite what I'd planned. 😞

Hi Katy, I'm so sorry for you that your holiday has been cancelled as I know you were so looking forward to it, but I suppose what else could JY do given the circumstances? Have you booked for another date or what are you going to do? I also feel so sorry for those currently out there on JY/Travelsphere national parks tours, it must be so disappointing for them.

Regarding the complaint on Trip Advisor, I don't understand the mentality of some people - if the national parks are shut by the US govt it's hardly JY/Travelsphere's fault is it?? From what Julia has said they have a team working non stop on a new itinerary to ensure that those already on tour have the best holiday they can under the circumstances.

Cheers,

Bob

Hi Bob, in the circs I'm glad the holiday was cancelled - because, as you say, with the National Parks closed it would have been pretty pointless. Haven't read the Trip Adviser whinge, but - as I'm sure you've experienced - there is always someone looking to advertise their complaints whenever you're on holiday. And it wasn't Travelsphere who closed the National Parks. In fact the very first JY holiday I did, someone actually flew home halfway through the holiday (from Europe) because she wasn't happy - I understand (from other tour members) her complaints had begun in the departure lounge at Gatwick.

Now don't know when I can do this trip. The next JY trip I was planning to take was the Vietnam/Cambodia which I was looking to do maybe Feb next year (before the weather got hot). Now thinking to bring this forward a bit maybe the end of November or Jan - need time to sort out visas and vaccinations. And I was thinking of doing the new Chicago to New Orleans trip next year in November as that time of year really works for me. So unless I can maybe do it next June I think its going to be 2015 before its possible for me to do it.

Did think about doing a short trip somewhere in the next couple of weeks, but everything's a bit of a poor second choice after LBH -toying with the thought of the walking in Yorkshire option at the end of next week as I've never been to York. Need to get my enthusiasm back up.

Katy

Katy

I hope your new travel plans work out! I did Vietnam/Cambodia in Feb this year and it was brilliant! The weather in the north Hanoi/Halong Bay wasn't great - rainy in Hanoi and foggy in Halong (which is the default weather there seemingly, so don't expect it to look as it does in photos!). But from Hoi An onwards it was warmer and dry. Very humid in Siem Reap but bearable! On reflection, I still think I'd prefer to do that trip then rather than Dec/Jan, end of monsoon in the south and cold in the north. With unpredictable weather these days it's very hard to tell!

I'm just back on the computer after being out for a few hours and for the craic (as we say in Ireland) I decided to try and find that Trip Advisor moan - eventually I did and I'm very glad to say that the reviewer has been well and truly brought to task by the 11 or 12 replies, some of which are scathing! I thought adversity was meant to bring out the best in the British character????

Cheers,

Bob

Cindy

Your other options all sound good. I hope you are also enjoying your unexpected break at home.

Time to sit and read the brochure and make plans !