I am considering booking the Calabria trip in September, by which time I should be fully recovered from my hip operation! Please could you confirm whether or not the hotel has a lift (although stairs should be no bother by then!) and also whether or not you can pre-book seaview rooms etc.

Lastly, please could you confirm which airline is used, numbers booked, male:female ratio, ages, etc.

Many thanks.

Cheers,

Hils

My colleague has advised that there are about16 steps from the grand staircase at reception area to the lift, taking you to upper floors. Going to beach would mean going down about 30 steps to lift. Then a well-lit tunnel area to then reach more steps taking you to beach. There are also a few steps to the pool.

No upgraded rooms are available to pre book to guarantee a sea view room although we can request one for you if you request this at the time of booking, however, these are never guaranteed.

The 19th September date is fully booked.

For the 26th September there are currently 6 travellers booked, all women aged from mif-50s through to late-70s. The airline is listed as BA departing Gatwick at 06:40hrs. As always I must stress that flight information is provisional and details would be confirmed in your final documents.

Kindest regards,

Julia

My advice to you would therefore be that, unless you are VERY sure that you have completely recovered, are now completely steady on your feet and won't be relying on a stick, I would wait until next year. It would be such a pity to go all that way and then find that you were struggling and unable to get as much out of the holiday as you had hoped.

Ann

Thanks for coming back to me re the steps etc.

I notice that Travelsphere arrive in this hotel the day before the JY tour on 26th September, and that their holiday dates are all discounted!! Hope they don't bag all the best rooms!!

Am waiting to see my physio this week, before I can book. Am also considering Burma for either the February or March date 2016 - Chinese New Year is in February but March will be even hotter - decisions decisions! Is it better to go on the first date of a new tour or the second when any quirks have been ironed out? I know this trip is getting booked up very fast.

Cheers,

Hils

There are a number of terraces around the hotel, used for pre-dinner drinks, outdoor dining, breakfast, the pool, yoga, etc. Most have some steps leading to/from them. And the "beach" area has a lot of decking with steps linking the various sections.

Toni

I stayed here some time ago and I seem to remember a " semi-landing" in the staircase, from the lift to reception, meaning that all 16 would not have to be attempted in one go. Perhaps someone who has been there more recently can remember.

Sylvia

I haven't been able to check on the website as the tours for this year all seem to be fully booked. However in the brochure it only states that a certain amount of walking is needed. There is nothing about the amount of steps in and around the hotel and I feel that it should be mentioned in the brochure. Personally descending steps, especially without a handrail is a major nightmare for me. :s It's only been through reading up on the forum that I have been able to find out about all the steps and slopes. Thank you to everyone who has given out this information!

On the subject of the excursions here as they are all included excursions there is no information about minimal/moderate or strenuous walking which I recognise is different for different people but is a good guide. It's great that on the website a lot of the optional trips for many of the holidays is marked like this (Croatia Istrian Coast is a great example) but are JY likely to extend this to include the included excursions?

It's a holiday I would LOVE to go on but sadly issues like this mean that I might have to byepass it again for next year.

Julie (Calm Air Pal!) - I'm also considering Namibia for May next year!

Cheers,

Hils

Thanks so much for all your advice re steps etc. etc. I've just seen the physio and he's had me up and down steep steps, my steep drive and a hilly road, and has give me the all clear to book this holiday!! There is 11 weeks before the trip, so I hopefully will be super fit by then!!

Cheers,

Hils

That is great news, you are making fantastic progress! Hope you have a brilliant holiday.

Best wishes,

Bob

Glad to know that you are getting fitter each day. You will love Calabria. I was not exactly fit when I went some months after I finished my cancer treatment and I managed the stairs, steep slopes etc so am sure that you too will be able to do so. Just stop and have a breather every now and then - I did when I had to use the steps. My room was down below (I think it was called the Garden room) and there was a long flight of steps leading to and from it. The steps were not too steep though. Have a lovely holiday. Please do a review on Burma as this is one holiday which is on my wish list to do in the near future.

Jaya

Jaya

I would love to come to Namibia in May unfortunately I have just rearranged all my holidays. I am going to Brazil in September, with a couple of friends, for three weeks. Japan was booked for October and the lovely people in the Just You office let me move my holiday to April, next year. I am looking to book Namibia for September next year . If you fancy going in September?

Take care Hils

Julie x

Really glad to know everything is going so well after your op and you are looking forward to travelling again. Something occurred to me that might be of relevance re your new hip - airport security!

I was given to understand that there would be no problem getting through the scanner, but I get stopped every time and have to wait for a female security officer to be "patted down". It is no big deal, but I thought it may help to know that this might happen.

Good luck on all your travels. It would be nice to know how you get on.

Regards, Chris

Hi

Really glad to know everything is going so well after your op and you are looking forward to travelling again. Something occurred to me that might be of relevance re your new hip - airport security!

I was given to understand that there would be no problem getting through the scanner, but I get stopped every time and have to wait for a female security officer to be "patted down". It is no big deal, but I thought it may help to know that this might happen.

Good luck on all your travels. It would be nice to know how you get on.

Regards, Chris

Hi Chris,

I knew about airport security, and asked my consultant whether or not I needed to carry a card saying I'd had a hip replacement, but he said no, as terrorists can carry these cards too!!

I have just started driving again in the last couple of days - my nearest big supermarket is 25 miles away! I didn't realise shopping could be so sore! Think maybe I overdid it - not used to having to stretch up for things! Maybe go back to ordering online - I was getting quite friendly with the Tesco driver!! Am trying to do 5,000 steps a day, and increasing by 1,000 each week, and am down to just a stick now, which I only use outside.

Cheers,

Hils

Hello Hils,

I would love to come to Namibia in May unfortunately I have just rearranged all my holidays. I am going to Brazil in September, with a couple of friends, for three weeks. Japan was booked for October and the lovely people in the Just You office let me move my holiday to April, next year. I am looking to book Namibia for September next year . If you fancy going in September?

Take care Hils

Julie x

Hi Julie,

Remind me again - how many weeks holiday do you get?!!! I worked for 40 years and the most I got was 4 weeks!! One of the girls I met on the Mykonos?Santorini trip last year, is keen for me to go to Canada with JY in September next year on the Rocky Mountaineer trip - I haven't decided yet, but May seems a good month for Namibia (according to Bob!).

Cheers,

Hils x

I am a very lucky girl I get six weeks a year and I use them to the best of my ability. The Rocky Mountaineer tour looks good you will love every minute of it. I have read some good reviews on this trip.

May does look a good month to go to Namibia. You can let me know how you get on when you get back.

Best wishes

Julie x

I just thought it worth mentioning again if you do Namibia in May don't underestimate how cold it can be. Not Polar Bear cold of course, but I certainly needed my sweater most days (and gloves a couple of times!). The skies were clear and blue but the wind chill really made a difference. It did get up to the mid 20s C on occasion but I can certainly say we needed the blankets provided on the safari jeeps in Etosha.

I hope you both decide to go as it really was amazing.

Sally

Hello Hils,

I am a very lucky girl I get six weeks a year and I use them to the best of my ability. The Rocky Mountaineer tour looks good you will love every minute of it. I have read some good reviews on this trip.

May does look a good month to go to Namibia. You can let me know how you get on when you get back.

Best wishes

Julie x

Hi Julie,

I've just seen Sally's post about the weather in Namibia in May - she says it was cold, but not polar bear cold! I've had a quick look at the weather for September, and maybe that would be a better month to go. Having had so many cold countries lately:- Canada, Italy, Slovenia, Scotland - I'm desperate for some warmth!! Fed up of snow and rain!

Cheers,

Hils

Just to clarify a bit about the weather - it was low to mid 20s in Windhoek, Damaraland and Etosha. Cooler, perhaps 18-20C in Swakopmund. First thing in the morning and in the evenings it was cold throughout the trip - wear a fleece and long trousers and you'd be fine - and wrap up warm for the boat trip! As I said in my review, the blanket did come in very handy on the jeep on the early morning safari but by around 10am you could dispense with it!

Cheers,

Bob