steffiec
  • (Member) (Topic Starter)
(Member) (Topic Starter)
Hi 

After a wonderful trip with you ( for the first time) to Namibia last August, I was all excited thinking Just You had answered my travel needs . But , and I do understand some of the reasons behind this, like so many other companies offering escorted tours, the choice is so so limited to anyone that is both working still and also happens to work  in education. This is not just teachers, but catering, reception, premises, cleaners, student and pastoral support, teaching assistants, librarians. This often also applies to Higher Education staff too btw

I may have found two, finally, after much frustrated date searching, that I may be able to do with you, with a little negotiating at work if I am lucky, but please can you bring this up at decision making level.  Yes, we may end up paying a little more for school holiday dates, but that is true of any holiday we take that is during school holiday time.  Unlike parents, we cannot ignore the dates and go anyway :s

Thank you for your attention

Stephanie

Moderator2
(Member)
Good Morning Stefanie,

Thank you for your feedback. I have shared your comments with the holiday creators here at JYHQ.

Kind Regards,

Amy

stu151
(Member)
This has been discussed a number of times before and it's simply not viable - below is a copy of a comment/reply of Feb 17 from Bob which sums it up very well.

Stuart

"This issue has been raised a number of times over the years and I've read a lot of responses from JY on this topic!  They have, at various times, put on numerous departures during the school summer holiday period.  However as this is a peak time for holidays in general, prices are much higher for flights, accommodation etc. so JY consequently had to charge more for them.  This resulted in these departures not selling well - the anticipated number of teachers booking did not materialise and so a number of tour departures had to be cancelled.  Since then JY have only run a small number of departures during this time.  This obviously applies to European destinations.  Long haul tours are not really advisable during this period as the weather is generally unfavourable (one of the exceptions being the summer Arctic adventure to see the polar bears).  Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Bob"

nixon
  • (Member)
(Member)
Stephanie

This is a subject that has been raised many times over many years and I have not seen a significant increase in term break holidays. I do feel for you and others with this situation.

Cindy

Gwyn
  • (Member)
(Member)
Totally agree, Stephanie! I first travelled with JY back in 2008 and have enjoyed loads of brilliant holidays. Sadly not one of the holidays I fancied this year was available to me due to term dates and it will be the same in 2018. I bit the bullet and arranged my own jaunt to Italy back in August and although there were some stressy moments, it was enjoyable and much better than no holiday! So I will have another go at independent travel in 2018, and will probably soon be lost to JY. Hey ho.
steffiec
  • (Member) (Topic Starter)
(Member) (Topic Starter)
'Gwyn' wrote:

Totally agree, Stephanie! I first travelled with JY back in 2008 and have enjoyed loads of brilliant holidays. Sadly not one of the holidays I fancied this year was available to me due to term dates and it will be the same in 2018. I bit the bullet and arranged my own jaunt to Italy back in August and although there were some stressy moments, it was enjoyable and much better than no holiday! So I will have another go at independent travel in 2018, and will probably soon be lost to JY. Hey ho.

I do the same . Am off to Bologna soon.  However, I speak Italian so feel quite secure.  So often the dates are literally just one or two out of sync with terms.

When I came back from Namibia I thought I would book another two or three so all in diary and ended up booking none as all avoided school dates.  So like you, pretty much lost to JY which is just a shame. 

Going to Kenya however, yippee with Jules Vernes which does just scrape into my dates . I see JV now are also beginning to offer some dates uniquely for solo travellers too rather than just No Single Supplement on selected dates. 

I would so so have booked Spring flowers in Crete with JY and also Ethiopia if there was a trip

 and also right dates. As you say, Hey Ho!

steffiec
  • (Member) (Topic Starter)
(Member) (Topic Starter)
'stu151' wrote:

This has been discussed a number of times before and it's simply not viable - below is a copy of a comment/reply of Feb 17 from Bob which sums it up very well.

Stuart

"This issue has been raised a number of times over the years and I've read a lot of responses from JY on this topic!  They have, at various times, put on numerous departures during the school summer holiday period.  However as this is a peak time for holidays in general, prices are much higher for flights, accommodation etc. so JY consequently had to charge more for them.  This resulted in these departures not selling well - the anticipated number of teachers booking did not materialise and so a number of tour departures had to be cancelled.  Since then JY have only run a small number of departures during this time.  This obviously applies to European destinations.  Long haul tours are not really advisable during this period as the weather is generally unfavourable (one of the exceptions being the summer Arctic adventure to see the polar bears).  Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Bob"

But none of the other holiday dates fit either. Not just summer... there are all the half terms and Easter and Xmas too............ now travelling with a different firm . A shame as I had a fabulous time with JY

Moderator2
(Member)
'steffiec' wrote:

'Gwyn' wrote:

Totally agree, Stephanie! I first travelled with JY back in 2008 and have enjoyed loads of brilliant holidays. Sadly not one of the holidays I fancied this year was available to me due to term dates and it will be the same in 2018. I bit the bullet and arranged my own jaunt to Italy back in August and although there were some stressy moments, it was enjoyable and much better than no holiday! So I will have another go at independent travel in 2018, and will probably soon be lost to JY. Hey ho.

I do the same . Am off to Bologna soon.  However, I speak Italian so feel quite secure.  So often the dates are literally just one or two out of sync with terms.

When I came back from Namibia I thought I would book another two or three so all in diary and ended up booking none as all avoided school dates.  So like you, pretty much lost to JY which is just a shame. 

Going to Kenya however, yippee with Jules Vernes which does just scrape into my dates . I see JV now are also beginning to offer some dates uniquely for solo travellers too rather than just No Single Supplement on selected dates. 

I would so so have booked Spring flowers in Crete with JY and also Ethiopia if there was a trip

 and also right dates. As you say, Hey Ho!

Good Morning steffieC,

We hope that you will continue to book with JY for future holiday destinations, as we are always looking to improve our holiday itineraries.

Kindest Regards,

Amy

Moderator2
(Member)
'steffiec' wrote:

'stu151' wrote:

This has been discussed a number of times before and it's simply not viable - below is a copy of a comment/reply of Feb 17 from Bob which sums it up very well.

Stuart

"This issue has been raised a number of times over the years and I've read a lot of responses from JY on this topic!  They have, at various times, put on numerous departures during the school summer holiday period.  However as this is a peak time for holidays in general, prices are much higher for flights, accommodation etc. so JY consequently had to charge more for them.  This resulted in these departures not selling well - the anticipated number of teachers booking did not materialise and so a number of tour departures had to be cancelled.  Since then JY have only run a small number of departures during this time.  This obviously applies to European destinations.  Long haul tours are not really advisable during this period as the weather is generally unfavourable (one of the exceptions being the summer Arctic adventure to see the polar bears).  Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Bob"

But none of the other holiday dates fit either. Not just summer... there are all the half terms and Easter and Xmas too............ now travelling with a different firm . A shame as I had a fabulous time with JY

Good Morning Steffiec,

I'm sorry to hear that you will now be travelling with a different firm.

I hope that you will consider JY for any of your future holiday destinations.

Kind Regards,

Amy

jayli
  • (Member)
(Member)
'steffiec' wrote:

Hi 

After a wonderful trip with you ( for the first time) to Namibia last August, I was all excited thinking Just You had answered my travel needs . But , and I do understand some of the reasons behind this, like so many other companies offering escorted tours, the choice is so so limited to anyone that is both working still and also happens to work  in education. This is not just teachers, but catering, reception, premises, cleaners, student and pastoral support, teaching assistants, librarians. This often also applies to Higher Education staff too btw

I may have found two, finally, after much frustrated date searching, that I may be able to do with you, with a little negotiating at work if I am lucky, but please can you bring this up at decision making level.  Yes, we may end up paying a little more for school holiday dates, but that is true of any holiday we take that is during school holiday time.  Unlike parents, we cannot ignore the dates and go anyway :s

Thank you for your attention

Stephanie

I haven't looked at what JY has to offer but, in general, there seem to be plenty of holidays to South and East Africa in August (a good time for safaris) - and one of JY's direct competitors offers a holiday in Sri Lanka in August which, when I went, had several teachers on it.

You might also like to take a look at  Trailfinders, which has a very good reputation: they organise individual tailored family holidays to diverse regions of the world specifically including school holiday times.

And there's always the Verona opera festival . . .

Jim