This was the first time this trip had run. There were 17 of us, 9 men 8 women, ages mid 40s to mid 80s. If any of the other tour members are lurking on this board, hope they will jump in and add any comments they have. Overall I enjoyed the tour, I LOVED NASHVILLE, met some lovely people and we had a lot of fun – although maybe we didn’t quite cover what I expected, especially in terms of seeing the National Parks.
Some overall points first; the bus we had was very comfortable and David the driver was great; wifi worked well at all the hotels (except for the last where it was a bit dodgy), we also had reliable wifi on the bus; breakfasts were all included – at the first hotel (Nashville) waiter service, proper plates etc, at the rest the usual US buffet with some hot, some cold, making waffles etc and paper plates etc (I know paper plates etc are hated by some but I know it’s the norm in these places and it doesn’t bother me.)
Prior to the trip I stayed at the Premier Inn near Heathrow, my first Premier Inn and I was pleasantly surprised. Took local bus to Heathrow next morning to check in, met another of the group at check in. We had use of a lounge, was very good and breakfast was available there (and lunch …….. the plane was late going out). During the wait met 6/7 others on trip and we sat and chatted.
We expected to meet the TM in the lounge, per our documentation and what JY rep at check in had said, but didn’t materialise. I think, and have said to JY, that we should have been texted to inform us that the TM would be meeting us in Nashville (the original TM pulled out about 3 days before the tour start apparently.) For instance, if I had known that the TM was a no show I think I would have had a walk round the lounge to see if there were any more tour members sitting by themselves who would like to join us (as I think some of the other JY veterans would), I know that one lady was downstairs by herself, unaware that there was an “upstairs” – and, of course, from reading the threads on the community I know some people are a bit nervous.
Well the Delta flight was late by the time we disembarked at Atlanta, and we had a connecting flight – yes, you know where this is going. The flight out of Heathrow was full, and Atlanta is a hub so there were many with connecting flights. The pilot did say that Delta would have agents after we left immigration to help (I didn’t spot any) and extra staff at immigration (well if that was extra staff I dread to think what a normal day is like). Immigration was a zoo, by the time I finally got through I couldn’t see any of the JY tour members I’d met at Heathrow and thought that I was the last and everyone was ahead, so rushed round the huge airport and got to the connecting flight. Turned out, I was ahead and the only one who made it, the rest came in on the next 2 internal flights. Tania, our TM, who was excellent at arranging stuff for the rest of the tour, only actually pitched up and introduced herself when the 3rd of the connecting flights arrived from Atlanta. Some of the group were new to JY, some had not been to the US before or not taken connecting flights in the US, so it was stressful for some on the tour.
We were then driven off to the Gaylord Opryland hotel, arrived just before midnight so just given keys and breakfast vouchers and went to room. Loved this hotel, and want to go back (and go back to Nashville). We stayed 2 nights but had no spare time, so didn’t have time to explore all the many facilities of this huge resort hotel. Its outside Nashville, there is a shuttle bus (didn’t have time to use) that goes into Nashville but its also more or less next to the Grand Old Opry and to an Outlet Mall.
Day2. Had lovely breakfast, got on bus and went to Hermitage (home of Pres. Andrew Jackson). Had tour with guide, walked in gardens, small house – pleasant trip. Then into Nashville for an included lunch meal, large noisy venue (wooden floors so noise magnified, am obviously getting too old for these noisy places). Food “southern” style, was fine – Tania TM though it was a bit slow but I thought it was OK. Then on bus for a bit of a bus tour of Nashville, unfortunately not time to do much and there are lots of music museums etc (so will have to return). We arrived back to hotel late afternoon. One of the other tour members and I wanted to go to the outlet mall because they had a Sketchers shoe outlet there, so 4 of us rushed off there and Doreen and I got some more of our favourite comfortable shoes. That evening there was a meet up for a drink (the second of which was free after you’d bought the first), prior to those of us who had booked the Opry going on there. Loved the Opry, it was a Friday evening radio show, 12 very different acts, none of whom I’d heard of. Want to go back.
Day3. Another terrific breakfast, then on the bus for Gatlinburg (2 nights Edgewater Hotel). Lunch en route at a food court, a lot of sitting in Sunday traffic. Itinerary implied Great Smoky Mountain NP, but we only had a very short stop there at the very edge of the Park late afternoon. Arrived Gatlinburg early evening. Hotel suffered badly by comparison with where we’d come from, it felt very run down. Gatlinburg also rather a shock, very tacky and downmarket - I didn’t like it at all. Was in a group of 4 of us who went out looking for dinner, passed plenty of places but all looked awful, eventually spotted an Irish pub on a side street so went there (not a good idea), the following evening we went to a diner (sort of downmarket Denny’s) that others had found and was a bit better. (Some went to the diner for breakfast as the hotel buffet didn’t appeal.)
Day4. Tania organised for those of us who wanted, I think 15 of the group, to go to Dollywood. We had the day there. Big scary rides (no takers from JY), a train ride through the mountains which I think most of us did, I also persuaded one of the others to go on a slightly scary ride with me which was lots of lurching about in the pitch black. There were shops, restaurants, a Dolly museum (with lots of her costumes), eagle displays, other museums and also lots of theatres which had various acts appearing throughout the day. Went with one other tour member into one of the theatres and saw a blue grass group who were a hoot. I enjoyed the day. +I’ve got the t-shirt.
Evening at a moonshine distillery where we could sample a lot (I think 12-15) of types of whisky. Lots of fun.
Day5. Drive, itinerary says Blue Ridge Parkway, we went to a Visitor Centre there, introductory film only spent a short time on the drive. Lunch stop at Arbys. Arrived at hotel in Raleigh (La Qunita), seemed nice hotel but spent hardly anytime there, off out straightaway to the included southern style family dinner. Dinner in a separate room in the restaurant, fried chicken, mac and cheese etc – enjoyable evening.
Day 6 Breakfast buffet – standard US fare. Tour on the bus around Raleigh with a local guide, viewed lots of house, mansions, state buildings from the outside. At lunchtime went to a farmers market, had hot dogs and peaches, both delicious. Left after lunch for Richmond (2 nights here – Holiday Inn Express, downtown) arrived early evening. Was lucky on the draw of the rooms, I got a suite. Tania had arranged for us to get a list of local restaurants, the hotel was in downtown Richmond but its absolutely dead in the evenings. There was a Thai next door, but many of us didn’t like Thai so about 6 of us explored further and ended up in the Liverpool themed pub (pictures and memorabilia of Beatles and football (the red side)). Good diner-type selection, we went there the next night as well.
Day7. AM Jamestown settlement, interesting, historical. Onto to colonial Williamsburg for lunch and further wander round historical town, shops, historic buildings. Enjoyed going to these places.
Day 8 On road to DC, with stop at Monticello (Jefferson home) – guided tour of house, lovely place. But it was very hot so uncomfortable. Then set off for Shenandoah NP – arrived about 2pm, afternoon of forests, viewing points, stop offs. Didn’t see any black bears. Then off to DC arriving early evening. Hotel 2 nights (Comfort Inn). Probably the poorest hotel room here but location good. We got another list of local restaurants from Tania, TM. It was way too hot, 95C so we only made it to a bar/restaurant a block away, we went there both nights, it was too hot to spend time looking for something else – but food was actually good, burgers and a glass of wine.
Day9. There was a morning bus tour of DC, I’ve been to DC before for a week recently, so I jumped ship to wander round by myself. But it was just so hot that I didn’t really do anything and the rest of the group pretty much got cabs back to the hotel from where they’d been left at lunchtime (too hot for us all to walk.)
Day10. Off to Philly for 1 night (Wyndham). On route we went to Amish tourist trap – fine if you want to buy thousand dollar bedspreads, assorted overpriced candles, novelty items etc, but really annoying from my perspective. I suppose there was a reasonable guide who came on the bus with us for an hour or so driving round and giving us a talk but, well, junk the rest. Arrived in Philly in the evening. It was still way too hot so most of us stayed and ate in the hotel restaurant that evening (the only place we stayed apart from Nashville which had bars and restaurant on site.)
Day 11. Waiter at breakfast, proper plates etc – a bit smarter hotel, which was very well located. We had a bus tour with local guide – she was not pleasant, complaints made to TM and one of us so cross they spoke to her directly. Anyway, we saw Liberty Bell and got off bus to see some other sites. Philly looked like a really interesting place, would be happy to return there. After tour we all went had some lunch before returning to wait in hotel for bus to take us to airport and home.
If anyone has any other questions about this trip, will be happy to try to answer.
Katy
