I started travelling with JY in 2010 and from the outset there have been friends travelling together on all the trips I have done. The worst example was the New England and,Canada trip where more than half of the group of forty were travelling with relatives/friends. I now meet up with two travel buddies that I met on JY holidays but we mix with other people. On my last two holidays I have noticed that, although people were travelling independently, groups formed very quickly and they did not then mix. I have travelled with a friend on a Travelsphere holiday but you can not always be guaranteed a single room and I do not want to share!

Provided people mix then, having experienced both travelling on my own and with friends, I do not mind either way.

Lesley

I am constantly puzzled as to why people go on a Just You holiday with people they know? i.e. cousins, friends etc? Someone was asking me a few weeks ago about my latest JY holiday and says she was thinking of coming on one with her mother? Why? I asked her....well we are both on our own!! Duh!!! I suggested Travelsphere to her - cheaper if going with someone and same company. I couldnt understand her logic, sorry.  I have found on a JY holiday the group dynamics change entirely when 2 or 3 people who have come together, stay together and dont join in with the group. To me the whole point of JY holidays is for single people to have a holiday together, mix and socialise on their own, without friends, family etc? Maybe I have missed a point somewhere? What do others think?

Hi jintzky,

I have been on a total of 15 solos holidays and of those one (not JY) was with friends.  It was with someone who was recovering from cancer, desperately needed a break, but not on her own, and the other someone I met on a JY holiday who, co-incidentally, had been looking at the same tour.   We had separate rooms, and sat on different tables at mealtimes, but although we usually stayed together during the day, we were not in each others pockets all the time.  Our friendship is strong enough to let us go our own ways with others on the tour.

I do agree though that the tour can change if “groups” stay together.  But there may be reasons, other than being friends or relatives, why they do it.

Sylvia

Personally I don't see it's a problem, I have travelled both alone & with a friend on a JY holiday. On my recent tour I was with a friend & we wanted single rooms, not available on TS at the time & only cheaper if you share. I have found often people who pal up at the airport, or on the plane, also stay together throughout the tour & don't mix with the group, so what's the difference? I can honestly say that I can still remember the names of all 23 fellow travellers because I spoke to them all. We weren't joined at the hip & spent time separately mixing with others, which is the way it should be in my opinion.

Barb

I really do feel that this topic, which has been discussed on the forum so many times at this stage, is really redundant - as every single JY tour I've been on (without exception), I have seen people who have travelled singly buddy up with another, to form a pair, or small group, within the tour party.  Unless the person really wants to keep to themselves, people pair up really quickly - often with the person they sat on the coach or at dinner with, within the first day or two!

Hope this helps - it's just human nature!

All the best,

Bob

Jan

ps I do not want to share a room, hence the reason for JY.

First trip,I ever did to USA in 2006 was with my mother in law who had become widowed and her dream was to go to NY, so I went with her to give her moral support, she only travelled once more with JY to Norwegian Fjords, and then decided it wasn’t for her, I have made in Total approx 12 tours ...I met on that 1st trip a lovely lady who I travelled on many tours with, this was because we had the same interests, if there was a trip that the other didn’t like we went alone...if we travelled together we did MIX and socialise with others in the group, we were both single travellers, as Bob has said this subject has been discussed many times, there are no real answers.

At the end of the day it is each individuals holiday and with who, where, and why, they travel is up to them.

I have travelled solo and had fun and also with a friend and had fun.

Cindy

As long as there are a reasonable number of people who are friendly and willing to mix why should it concern me what the others do?

Regards

Jaya

Most of these posts seem to be in defence of travelling with friends aquaintantses from previous trips. Whilst the majority are friendly and willing to mix, on several occasions, I have come up,against the “saving seats syndrome”on coaches and at dinner. As a seasoned but very shy traveller, I still find this intimidating and upse

Hi SarahS

I also find it intimidating and upsetting, myself I think it is rude. I have just returned from my first just you holiday and cane across this situation. One of the group went to an empty seat at dinner and one of the ladies already sat at the table shook her head so the guy knew she was keeping a seat. I am glad it wasn't me I would have been so embarrassed, the gentlemen seemed to take it in his stride thankfully. Whilst I have no issues with people travelling together or indeed meeting up I really feel that if you choose this type of holiday you should be prepared to make an effort and mix. I am glad I did anyway met some lovely people so if they don't mix it's their loss at the end of the day imo 

S

I have had many great singles holidays but recently discovered more people come with their "bestie" - thus my thread. Wont put me off though - JY on the whole deliver great holidays. Thank you for your comments...matter put to bed...

Most of these posts seem to be in defence of travelling with friends aquaintantses from previous trips. Whilst the majority are friendly and willing to mix, on several occasions, I have come up,against the “saving seats syndrome”on coaches and at dinner. As a seasoned but very shy traveller, I still find this intimidating and upsetting.

I’m not keen on the “saving seat” syndrome either- doesn’t overly bother me,cos I tend to do my own thing and concentrate on “ looking out of every window” and enjoying where I am rather than concentrating on learning the name of everyone in the group ( which does preoccupy some, at least for the first day or so!)- but then I’ve probably developed a thick skin through life! 

I have been on about a dozen JY holidays now-a couple I’ve bumped in to mates from previous tours and/ or booked knowing they would also be travelling, but we haven’t been in each other’s pockets. 

In my experience, on the more “off the beaten track” tours, often with smaller group sizes, there tends to be less of the “saving seat” behaviour and more mixing with the whole group-perhaps these are the slightly more adventurous groups? .

 It’s not great if you find this behaviour upsetting- try not to let it spoil your enjoyment of amazing places.