Regards

Caroline

Another take on this situation - I would prefer to travel with a group that was made up of a good number of people who know each other than for JY to refuse to book them/direct them to TS/give them their own departure IF it then meant that my departure didn't run as a result of small numbers!  As JY have dramatically increased their number of tours and departures over the last couple of years, the average number per tour has dropped quite considerably for many tours, which means that more tours are in jeopardy of being cancelled due to insufficient numbers.  It would certainly be the lesser of two evils as far as I'm concerned to have the group size augmented by a number of friends travelling together to ensure that the departure actually ran!!  As far as I'm concerned I go to see the sights on the itinerary and the composition of the group is very much of secondary importance.  I've never been stuck for company on a JY or indeed a TS tour to date!

Cheers,

Bob

So Cindy, if your bookings were linked, then JY must have been aware you were going together then? It's perhaps not much of a problem when two people book, but I took a holiday to Tuscany a few years ago and there were 17 people on that tour who knew each other (out of 35 travellers) and they planned to holiday as an ever increasing group each year, presumably JY would have also linked their bookings so would be aware of the situation. I believe in the latter case, JY should have directed the group towards TS, or even better, given them their own tour. As stated earlier, this experience also put a lot of first time travellers off using JY again, which is a shame as I think there's a much greater market for singles holidays than ever before.

Regards

Caroline

Yes in my case I suppose JY would/could see that we were two singles travelling together, my friend would book first then ring me her booking ref, then I would ring up book my tour and JY would linked her ref to my booking, so we could be near one another rooms seats etc, she had started useing JY before me, I met her on my first tour, if it wasn't for JY I would of missed out on this beautiful friendship and the shared memories we had, we still did travel separately as well as together.

I think you were very unlucky to have had a group of 17 that's not good...it. Isn't of been better for JY to run the tour just for them.

Cindy

The 'spirit' of JY is that solos will feel comfortable and not overwhelmed by

chums or couples.

Whilst JY can't guard against friends booking a tour, I think we should all be

sensitive to others' comfort.  I should hate that a timid solo (as I once was)

would be put off for ever by feeling left out and isolated within a group.

If you are travelling with friends then there are plenty of tour operators out there.

It wouldn't have bothered me so much to be honest if everyone had mixed and tried to get along with the rest of us, but some refused to do that, and had their own table at mealtimes. I can just go off on my own and it doesn't bother me either as I visit a country because I want to see it, but 17 out of 35 is a considerable number, and the tour would still have run had they gone on their own tour as it was over-subscribed. I just think it would be a bit off-putting for someone taking their first holiday with JY.

Just my opinion though.

Regards

Caroline

Hi,

It wouldn't have bothered me so much to be honest if everyone had mixed and tried to get along with the rest of us, but some refused to do that, and had their own table at mealtimes. I can just go off on my own and it doesn't bother me either as I visit a country because I want to see it, but 17 out of 35 is a considerable number, and the tour would still have run had they gone on their own tour as it was over-subscribed. I just think it would be a bit off-putting for someone taking their first holiday with JY.

Just my opinion though.

Regards

Caroline

Hi,

It wouldn't have bothered me so much to be honest if everyone had mixed and tried to get along with the rest of us, but some refused to do that, and had their own table at mealtimes. I can just go off on my own and it doesn't bother me either as I visit a country because I want to see it, but 17 out of 35 is a considerable number, and the tour would still have run had they gone on their own tour as it was over-subscribed. I just think it would be a bit off-putting for someone taking their first holiday with JY.

Just my opinion though.

Regards

Caroline

One group comprising 17 (out of 35) is just not on IMO.  Another holiday company I travel with have a facility on their online booking form which advises  "if your group is over 9 please click here".  I accept that one person will not be booking 16 holidays on behalf of others but could JY ask a similar question on their form?  It would at least raise a flat (for want of better words).

People could be getting wise to a certain amount of disapproval that has been expressed in the past and being careful in not revealing they will be travelling with someone else when booking a holiday, they will therefore go undetected by JY.

What happened in Sarah's experience is totally out of order, especially if JY were aware of the group at the time of booking.  I would hope that names were named in the TM's report and that those concerned received a warning letter from JY stating that unacceptable conduct will not be tolerated, "two strikes and you're out".  JY would probably lose more customers in letting bad behaviour go unchecked than they would in banning a group who obviously had no respect for fellow travellers.  There is something very sad in that a group of mature ladies feel the need to behave in the way stated in order to enjoy themselves. We all like to have a good time, but there are right and wrong ways of going about it.

Depending upon the size of the holiday group I don't mind the odd couple of friends travelling together, not all are joined at the hip but I have come across some who were, but I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable if half the group were in couples because, however good peoples intentions are, if they are already friends I would still feel like an outsider. If you've travelled on your own you know what that feels like, and it's much easier doing something when you are with someone you know.  Luckily, so far, I have always been able to find someone I get along with and have met some lovely people and had some great holidays.

It's still a bit early but I will take the opportunity now to wish everyone at JY and on the forum a Happy Christmas, for those of you who are going on a JY holiday for Christmas have a great time, and happy holidays to everyone in the New Year.

Avocet

I agree with all you have to say. I feel JY do have a responsibility to address the issue of a disruptive large group on a holiday. If they had adjoining rooms it must have been prearranged and very obvious and should not have been allowed to happen. My main concern is for nervous, first time single travellers who were on this holiday and were put off by this experience. I sincerely hope this is a one off situation but at the end of the day JY are a comment company and are unlikely to turn away business.

Best wishes to you for Christmas and happy travelling in2017.

Lesley

Recently I went on a short holiday with two friends.  The company knew we were together. One asked to be in a room next to me.  This was for minor disability reasons.  The other friend who, had her reasons for not wanting to travel alone, wasn't too bothered, but found herself on the same floor anyway, although this was not requested.

We were together on the coach, but often split up during the day.  Once, when we were together, we came across one lady who looked lost and lonely, and we made it very clear that she was welcome to join us. She did and we all enjoyed her company.  The three of us were never together at dinner.

Please don't get me wrong.  I am not saying this arrangement was perfect, but there can be times when someone needs to travel with someone they know.

Sylvia

You make your point very well.  Another aspect to this whole debate is that I have found that invariably those who don't know anyone prior to travelling pair off very quickly during the first couple of days, often with the person they sat with on the coach travelling from the airport or at breakfast the following day.  The ladies are more likely to do this, whereas I've noticed the men are either more likely to keep their own company or go around together in a little group.  I usually link up with a few of the ladies after a couple of days and I hope they don't mind my company!  As I've said before, I've never been stuck for company on a JY tour and on the vast majority of them I have travelled not knowing anyone beforehand.  Of course there have been times I've come across someone I have met on a previous tour and I've thought to myself "oh no...." but that's another story!!!

Cheers,

Bob

We have all been there ? but wouldn't it be a boring world if we were all the same?

Rose please don't worry you will have a great time I am sure.

Cindy

I would not let all these comments worry you. There will always be someone to talk to, eat meals with even if there are people who know each other. I have been on 14 Just You holidays and have never had a problem. Of course, like Bob said, there will be people who will stick together but I never let this bother me. It only becomes a problem if you let it become one. Go and enjoy yourself and I sincerely hope your first Just You experience will be as good as what mine was in 2009! Have a wonderful Christmas and happy travelling in the New Year.

Best wishes

Jaya

You will both be absolutely fine, there will always be more people of their own than with someone else, in fact, on my last two holidays no one had ever met before.  You've plucked up the courage to get over the first big hurdle in booking, now go and enjoy, may it be the first of many more holidays for you both.

Avocet

Yes friends travelling together can be a problem. BUT, I usually travel with a friend and we always end up making new friends. We have an agreement that we do our own thing if we want, go on different excursions if we choose and we always go out of our way to talk to others in the group and try to make new friends. What is the point otherwise? In fact one of the replies on this forum is from someone I met several years ago in the US and we have been in touch ever since. As to being pointed towards Travelsphere, well my friend and I always do our booking together, but as individuals, and never once have we been pointed to Travelsphere! However, last year we went on a "regular" holiday and had some couples refuse to talk to us because they obviously thought 2 divorcees were after their husbands............that was not fun at all.

I do hope you will have better luck on other JY holidays.

Jools