Thanks for getting back to me further on the cycle tour. The cyclo tour sounds quite good the way you have put it. If the cycle tour does not happen I will be less disappointed now. Free hands for even more photos as if I need the excuse!!

I remember landing in Uzbekistan at breakfast time and by the time we had negotiated immigration and getting to the hotel we at least had breakfast and the opportunity to get into our room for about an hour before heading out on an afternoon city tour. At night we had a great welcome dinner & drink but everyone was in bed early as we were up at just after 4am for the internal flight. This tour is now longer so the internal flight is now the day after. 3 internal flights in Burma - there are going to be some seriously early starts this I know.

I like the others tend to just get my case and take to the room although I did let the porters do almost everything on my most recent tour - perhaps I'm more relaxed these days with a massive 4 tours under my belt!

Really enjoying the feedback on the Burma trip without nothing too much being given away.

Angie

PS When are Monty's clues for the new brochure going to start?!

Cheers,

Bob

Hi I've just noticed a couple of posts on this thread over the last few days that I haven't seen before!  Thanks Hils, Jonah and Meryl for your comments.  I'd certainly be interested in doing the optional excursion in Mandalay if it was a cyclo tour rather than a cycling one so I'll see what's on offer when I go next Feb.  Hils, that's sounds plenty of time to freshen up after the flight - I hope we have the same arrangement.  So much to anticipate on this tour, I hope I won't be setting my sights too high!

Cheers,

Bob

Myanmar will not disappoint!

Great to hear!!

:)

Cheers,

Bob 

PS I never usually use smilies!!

:) 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂  

Cheers,

Bob

All I will say is go with an open mind and you will not be disappointed. I am used to getting up early so early starts are not usually a problem for me plus like Bob I tend to go to bed early when on holidays. We had to get up at 3.00 a.m. for our flight to Flores on the Mexico, Guatemala and Belize trip and I was okay whilst some of the others moaned a little bit! Glad the cycle trip has been replaced by a cyclo trip as I would not have been able to do the cycle one. Mind you, I am not going till 2018 so who knows what changes will happen by then.

Jaya

Hi Pahill

Unfortunately I am not retired and work full time plus have to commute to London, which means nearly 3-4 hours extra travelling time.  But since I like to see as much as I can whilst I am on a touring holiday I do not mind coming back more tired than when I left and also feeling as if I need another holiday to get over the one I have just returned from!  The best thing for you to do is look at the itinerary carefully before you decide which holiday to go on.  On some holidays you get more free time than the others so you need to choose one with great care.   Also, believe me that brand new tours are more or less the same as the ones which have been going on for some time.  Your other option is to opt out of some of the included excursions and some people do this.  I am sure you were not a guinea pig!  I also hope that this one trip has not put you off travelling with Just You.  

Best wishes

Jaya

Thanks for the feedback. You have said one thing that I find very disturbing - that new tours are more or less the same over time. This says to me that Just You don't listen to feedback and/or make changes to accommodate the majority opinion. If the next group that goes still get taken out into Yangon to see three sights having been up for 24 hours at that point, that will prove your point as not a single person on the tour enjoyed that first afternoon as a result - and I made a point of asking everyone as I variously sat with them over the tour what they thought of that scheduling.

This was my 13th JY holiday, so I am well used to their style and make-up. It was just the worst for free time as there wasn't any - at all. Every other tour I have done with JY gives you at least half a day with nothing planned to do, sometimes two half days. This tour needs something like that somewhere during its length.

Hi Pahill

Just You do listen to feedback and make changes where required.  Unfortunately it is not easy to please everyone hence it is very important to look at the suggested itinerary to see if the tour is suitable or not. Touring holidays are hectic in nature!  Also, everyone's expectations are different.  I do hope your next holiday will have enough free time.

Jaya

I meant to book the optional cycling tour when booking the holiday. I hope that I can still do this!

Hi Johanna2, I had booked the cycling option for the November departure but JU have contacted me to say it had been cancelled and it will now be cyclo excursion.

I'm booked on the 13 February trip, as my first JY trip. Reading all the reviews, it looks like it's going to be a busy one which suits me fine as I'm a keen photographer and hope my fellow travellers will indulge me by taking some photos of me at various places!!!

The cyclo tour looks good; I haven't booked that yet, but will probably do so. I thought about booking the add-on but as it's my first trip, thought I would get into the swing of a JY holiday first.

One question, the currency advice was very useful and I'll bring dollars to change up at the airport. If I change up too much, is it difficult to change back on the way out?

Also helpful if the advise about bare feet and hygiene in general, I'll pack some wet ones!! For my fellow travellers, I'm a reflexologist and also do Thai foot massage, so I'll pack some wax in case anyone has particularly sore feet!!!

Kind regards

Judy

A reflexologist and a keen photographer - you will be extremely welcome on this trip! There are quite a few of us going on this one who are photographers so you will be in good company and will find many willing to take your picture for you. If we are lucky enough to get Yvette Barnett as our tour manager she is a superb photographer and has taken sone amazing shots of Burma.

Looking forward to meeting you in 37 weeks!!!

Sally

This forum is great .... I was so anxious about booking, but glad that I did. Perhaps it'll be the start of many travels with JY, who knows! I guess once I get to Heathrow and meet people there, I'll be wondering what I was worried about.

Judy

Regards currency do not change too much at once.  Our TM advised $100 at Yangon airport and this lasted most of us until well into the second week.  Nearly all the hotels will take dollars anyway, it is only the markets, some smaller restaurants, toilets and temples that ask for Kyat.  According to the later group that travelled after us there are more ATM's going in all the time so a debit card may be your best option and most hotels will take credit cards as will the silk workshop at Lake Inle (be warned this is dangerous retail therapy territory).  Bringing Kyat out is not allowed although I did bring a couple of low denomination notes as mementoes but I suspect that changing back to dollars will be difficult if not impossible.

You are spot on there - once you get to Heathrow all your concerns will slip away. Having the use of the lounge at Heathrow makes things a lot easier as it is a great way to meet most of the group before you fly. I do warn you that this travelling business is highly addictive and I guarantee by the time you get back home you will already be looking to book your next trip.

Sally

Look forward to seeing you in Burma.

(37 weeks Sally, are you marking the days off on your calendar, someone's excited).

It looks like my feet will be in good hands. It will be an amazing trip.

Regards Julie

As the saying goes 'There's an app for that!' - a fantastic countdown app. Just 256 days to go now.........?

Sally