Not a question really - more an observation which I would be interested in hearing other people's opinion on. I have noticed lately a few comments about how large a group was on a few trips. Having experienced this myself (40 of us in Hawaii) I felt that although this didn't spoil the holiday, I have enjoyed the trips which have smaller groups so much more. With larger groups it is virtually impossible to get to know everybody, let alone remember everyones' names and this leads to cliques being formed. As previously mentioned, on touring trips when you stop for coffee / lunch / loos the wait is so much longer meaning those at the back of the queue lose out. Checking in to hotels also takes so much longer as does service at meal times. I also was more aware of a feeling of being herded around like sheep and of course the poor TM has to work so much harder looking after everyone.

It may not be the case but it seems to me that group sizes are increasing - many of the Italy and US holidays in particular have 35-40 people on them and wonder whether JY could consider running more trips with fewer people. I guess the answer is likely to be 'no' as market forces control these issues, but I would be interested to see what other forum users think.

Sally

What a great subject of discussion to start. I'd certainly be interested to read what other members think.

We've not done anything to increase maximum group sizes. As we have broadened our range so much over the last three years, our average group size is actually decreasing. That being said, our Italy and US holidays continue to be in high demand and groups are often full.

Obviously, we want to make sure that as many people as possible get the holiday they want on their preferred date without sacrificing the overall holiday experience for each individual traveller and we try to find the right balance between demand and customer experience. In terms of the number of travellers that we take away with us each year, we have not seen very many comments regarding the group size being too big (or at the other end of the spectrum the group being too small) so we hope the balance is about right.

I look forward to hearing what the wider community thinks and sharing it with the rest of the business.

Kindest regards,

Julia

Hi Sally,

What a great subject of discussion to start. I'd certainly be interested to read what other members think.

We've not done anything to increase maximum group sizes. As we have broadened our range so much over the last three years, our average group size is actually decreasing. That being said, our Italy and US holidays continue to be in high demand and groups are often full.

Obviously, we want to make sure that as many people as possible get the holiday they want on their preferred date without sacrificing the overall holiday experience for each individual traveller and we try to find the right balance between demand and customer experience. In terms of the number of travellers that we take away with us each year, we have not seen very many comments regarding the group size being too big (or at the other end of the spectrum the group being too small) so we hope the balance is about right.

I look forward to hearing what the wider community thinks and sharing it with the rest of the business.

Kindest regards,

Julia

Hi Julia

I agree with Sally. 30 is about right as max. There were 28 on the trip to Apulia on 8 Sept, and since we were able to get to know everyone, the group gelled well. I looked at a New Year break sometime ago, saw a review that mentioned 66 and promptly cancelled that idea. Far too many. Last year in Calabria there were 30, and that felt comfortable as well.

Sylvia

I do think that a maximum of 30 people on the trip would be a more manageable size for everyone concerned. I realise that JY is a business and wants to optimise its profits but perhaps they could increase the number of holidays to the most popular destinations while decreasing the number of people in any one group. It is possible that some people would miss out on a particular holiday but there might be alternatives and, as most holidays stay in the brochure for several years, they could perhaps get in early on booking for the following year.

Ann

I agree with Sally regarding group sizes. I went last to Costa De La Lus in September 2013 (my first holiday with JY) and the group was 40. In the dining room there were two tables of 20 p[eople and each table formed their own groups.The group size did not spoil the holiday but as Sally commented it is imposilbe to get to know everyone let alone their names. This year I went to Lake Como and the group size was 25, all women! This size of group enabled us to ineract better althougth not as many laughs without some male conversation. The Tour Managers must find the smaller groups better especially if any problems arise.

I have been looking at some of the American holidays but am put off a bit by the fact that most of the groups seem to be in the region of 40.

When I went on a Discovery Weekend a couple of years ago we told by the TM that the groups were usually in the twenties but never more than 30. Maybe other travellers feel the same but have not thought to raise the subject.

Regards

Val

I agree with Sally. It is easy to mix with smaller groups. I think 20-25 is a nice number. If you have a large group then everything takes more time - even boarding the coach!

Regards

Jaya

I recently returned from the Mount Rushmore and National Parks trip and posted a review including comments about large size of group. I have to add that our wonderful TM Julie quickly learned everyone's names including surnames and I think that's an achievement with 39 people. I would also prefer a slightly smaller group mainly to reduce waiting times for loos and food. Julie must have felt she was herding cats at times!!

Mary

Cindy

There were 6 of us who regularly ate the evening meal together,but,I would guess that over the course of the holiday, another 10 joined us for one,or more,meals.Of the others,on the trip,I probably interacted with most of them,but,I could only name another 10,with any certainty,unless I had had contact with them on the community,which added another 5,my memory for faces being what it is.

Keith

I have found the loo situation, is always an issue regardless of group size due to the number of women you usually get on any one trip. This can be combated by people taking responsibility for themselves and not all heading to the loo at the same time. A good TM will ensure the is plenty of time at every rest stop for everyone.

In my experience, smaller groups give you less freedom to do what you want. You also notice more any personality clashes. I was on a holiday to Uzbekistan (not with JY) when two strong outspoken people took a dislike to each other – the tension this clash caused the rest of us was horrible. Had it of been a larger group (we were 15 people) most of us would probably never noticed their dislike for each other.

The only thing I would add, is that when the group is large (30-40 people) there definitely needs to be two exits to any coach used. On my recent trip to the USA with JY in September there were 39 of us, and getting on and off the bus was a pain because there was only one door. That said, our TM Julie was amazing and allowed for this – she also made us all rotate seats within the coach so it gave everyone a chance to sit up front and get off quicker at some point. I think all in all I spent time with nearly every single person on this tour. Some I got to know better than others, but that's natures way.

I'd also hate to see the holidays get more expensive. Smaller groups usually means higher costs which for me would mean less holidays.

Kerry

I think that 30 should be a max on all trips for all the reasons mentioned!

Great idea for a thread Sally! :thumbup:

Think the most has been 33 with another company, 15 couples and 2 elderly singles plus me. Hard work, still do not know Nick's wife name :P

I believe there are 37 on the Heart and Soul next month. I apologise now if I do not remember your name :)

Jan

Rotating seats on the coach never works - the system always breaks down after a couple of days if implemented - and on most tours the experienced TM hasn't even attempted it! I am very glad about this, as I hate being near the back of the coach as it makes me queasy! By the way, I don't hog a front seat either, around a third the way down the coach is perfect for me!

Cheers,

Bob

Unlike a lot of holidays I've been on I didn't notice any cliques forming, although I admit I did tend to stay in the company of the same people most of the time simply because I got on well with them, but we were always open to others in the group and I hope we weren't perceived as a clique because that certainly wasn't the case. On more than one occasion we sat at the table trying to remember everyones name. By the end of the holiday I had spoken to nearly everyone and knew their names, and what a great bunch of people they were, but there were at least 6 people whose names I couldn't remember and I never had a conversation with.

It's inevitable that cliques will form in large groups because its so much easier to remember a small number of names than it is to remember over 30, it also gives you an element of comfort if you know there is someone you can spend your free time with instead of having to look around for someone to spend it with. Unfortunately there are the very odd occasions where a bit of 'them and us' creeps in amongst cliques.

I agree with everyone re loo/coffee stops, this becomes even worse when you have another coach load of people turning up at the same time as you, there never seems to be more than 2 loos. There is never enough time to do loo queues and coffee queues comfortably.

I would be happy with the maximum of 25 people. I've booked a holiday for next year for which I am more worried about there not being enough people rather than for too many, but after that I have already made up my mind that I will ask how many places are available on particular holidays before I book which will go towards helping me make a decision, I'm much happier in smaller groups.

"In terms of the number of travellers that we take away with us each year, we have not seen very many comments regarding the group size being too big (or at the other end of the spectrum the group being too small) so we hope the balance is about right."

Thanks for raising this one Sally. I am one of the travellers who have thought but not commented before! After several trips both with JY and other companies, always as a single, I have found groups approaching 40 lead to "congestion" - a quick photo/loo stop turns into a marathon as everyone gathers their bits and bobs and slowly emerges from the coach, and yes I have been one of those on occasion! I believe that due to this further short point of interest/photo opportunity stops may have been cancelled on some trips.

Groups approaching 40 people means that when on a guided tour, or when information is being given, not everyone can be in easy earshot. This is especially difficult when in the neighbourhood of other tour groups - easy to tag onto the wrong group too (thought it strange the guide had started to speak in French)!!! People not hearing instructions e.g. when and where to meet up, causes concern and delays. It is also good to be able to interact with the tour manager or guide without feeling there are another 39 people also wanting to have a word. By the way I have enjoyed several JY holidays and most of the Tour Managers and local guides have been excellent.

Toilet and food stops have been covered by others - oh dear ladies! we have commandeered the gents on occasion!!! Using squatties in China etc speeds things up and is good for the leg muscles! I have been in a position on a large group tour where we all were asked to order food first and everyone else was served well before my table and so we had to rush our meal, use the facilities and get back on the coach, where others had time to enjoy the surroundings and visit various shops and points of interest.

By its very definition Just You caters for a wide range of travellers. Some very experienced, confident and independent and others "finding their feet" or lacking confidence, maybe with physical issues, and perhaps needing more time/support from a tour manager - not so easily managed in very large groups.

Not sure how it works with room bookings, but I wonder if having to book a large number of rooms increases the chance of a poor standard of room, especially in older hotels. And before someone points out it may also increase the chance of an excellent room - why do I always get the dustbins, air con units or car park view :s !!!!!!

Some companies include group size in their advertisements e.g. 8 - 25, so you have an idea of minimum and maximum numbers. But I presume they have the right to increase the numbers……..

For me somewhere around 18 to 26 individuals in a group would be ideal, especially on touring holidays.

Obviously, the downside of a smaller group is higher prices (because for example a $10,000 bus divided by 20 people rather than 35 people is a going to be a lot more).

So if it were to add £100 on to your holiday price for example, would everyone be happy to pay that? or would you rather pay the same price and accept that there may be up to 35-40 on your trip?

Hi I agree with everything Kerry has said! I have no problem with large groups, there is more of a buzz and it's easier to avoid any moaners or troublemakers! On the tours I've done the number has ranged from 14 to 44 and I also agree with a number of others who have said around 30 is probably the ideal number.

Rotating seats on the coach never works - the system always breaks down after a couple of days if implemented - and on most tours the experienced TM hasn't even attempted it! I am very glad about this, as I hate being near the back of the coach as it makes me queasy! By the way, I don't hog a front seat either, around a third the way down the coach is perfect for me!

Cheers,

Bob

Bob

I so agree with your comments on seat rotation, the tour I have just been on she was a new manager to JY., she nearly freaked when we said NO!!! To seat rotation. I agree no one should HOG the front seats but no way do I want to be told which seat to sit in...we all moved round and changed sides, personally I prefer left hand side middle back! With a small group like I have just been with we all sat where we wanted and no one sat together we all choose a vacant seat next to us to spread out a bit.

Cindy

Cindy