Only been in touch with one of the Cilento group, exchange texts and messages periodically and had a meal when she was in York. Was a nice group be good to cross paths with a few again at some point.

Nothing yet planned for 2016 although thinking about New York but would do it myself not with JY. Will definately do a touring hol somewhere with JY this year and fancy another walking hol, really enjoyed Tuscany.

Away to Madrid for 5 nights on thursday, using my Avios points for that one then later this month to Cuba (thats with JY).

Want to do something at Xmas/New year but cant make my mind up what, may even revisit somewhere i've been.

Take care and maybe our paths will cross again.

Mick

Hi Gail,

Hope you are well.

I don't live close to any of the airports JY use so i often stay over at airport hotels often getting a good hotel/parking deal.

However for a flight at that time in a morning (6-30am) and considering i would need to leave the hotel just after 4am to check in i would probably drive down overnight as the roads are quiet and to be honest getting up at that time its pointless paying for an hotel in my opinion.

Wouldn't put me off a holiday though.

Mick

Hi Mick

I am well thank you. You are a fantastic advert for JY because I know you have been on loads of their holidays and I know you always stay in hotels and arrange to meet up with lots of JY travellers before the trips you do. One of our mutual friends has just come back from from the New Orleans trip and said she had a fab time, and two of our Cliento travellers (male) met on a Barcelona trip recently and also had a great time. What JY trips have you planned for 2016?

Like others here I would far rather overnight than have to fly from Gatwick (where regardless of flight times I would still have to overnight).

Like others have said it amazes me the lengths people go to, to join a tour and also the added expense, I think the hotel night before or return becomes part of their holiday, I know Mick loves to arrange a meet up if he is staying at a hotel which is a great idea and a good way to meet people. A few people I have met on my travels if it fits in with things I am happy to met them at LHR for a chat so they are not alone so to speak.

Even living close I find with a very early start I never get a quality sleep before hand, so every one is blurry eyed on the day.

I hope you get things sorted so you can go on the tour.

Cindy

Hope you are well.

I don't live close to any of the airports JY use so i often stay over at airport hotels often getting a good hotel/parking deal.

However for a flight at that time in a morning (6-30am) and considering i would need to leave the hotel just after 4am to check in i would probably drive down overnight as the roads are quiet and to be honest getting up at that time its pointless paying for an hotel in my opinion.

Wouldn't put me off a holiday though.

Mick

Toni

Well Gail, unless you live close enough to Stansted, or any other airport for that matter, everyone will be in the same boat. For me it will be an overnight stay at the Premier, but that's something I have come to accept.

Over the past 10 years I've either had to stay overnight going or coming back from a holiday due to flight times from and to Heathrow and Gatwick, and Stansted will be just the same, I've found that to be the nature of all the JY holidays I've been on. It's an added expense I know, but I look at it as part of my holiday, if I didn't I wouldn't have been on any JY holidays. Many people have the added expense of hotel stays or flights from places like Scotland, Ireland, the Channel Isles. If you really want to go to Calabria don't give up for a 6.30 am start.

Avocet

Hi Avocet

I agree with you and feel for many travellers I have met on the many JY trips I have done. It amazes me that people are willing to travel form Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Scotland, Ireland, Newcastle and beyond to get to Gatwick, Heathrow or any other airport for a holiday, I know lots of people stay overnight in a hotel and get flights from where ever they live, I admire everyone that does that.

So I made a point to make the flight direct from Stansted and guess what.............every flight is 0630hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE HAVING A LAUGH RYAN AIR!!! I really don't know what is worse getting to an airport, that has no rail network from where I live, so get a taxi at some godly hour, or sit on a coach for four hours? They are both dyer situations to be in for me! Not sure Calabria is on my list now :(:(:(:(:(

Hi gail,

I empathise. When i went to Cilento coast the flight was 7:30- i had to travel through the night.

Eeeek!

Mark

Over the past 10 years I've either had to stay overnight going or coming back from a holiday due to flight times from and to Heathrow and Gatwick, and Stansted will be just the same, I've found that to be the nature of all the JY holidays I've been on. It's an added expense I know, but I look at it as part of my holiday, if I didn't I wouldn't have been on any JY holidays. Many people have the added expense of hotel stays or flights from places like Scotland, Ireland, the Channel Isles. If you really want to go to Calabria don't give up for a 6.30 am start.

Avocet

I'm sorry this tour is off the bucket list.... hopefully only temporarily.

Airlines do change their routes and times so while this is not a doable option for you at the moment, it may be available at another point in time. (I'll keep my fingers crossed for you).

Kindest regards,

Julia