Welcome to the first of our Monday Musings. This week we thought we’d start with a short poll on what you most look forward to when jetting off on a Just You holiday. Simply click on your choice in the poll above. If your highlight isn’t on the list, why not comment below. In fact, once you’ve made your selection, why not tell us why it’s your highlight?

 

1.    Getting ready for the trip

Once you've booked the excitement can begin, from holiday shopping, talking to your friends about your itinerary and possibly talking to your fellow travellers here on the community

2.    Meeting the rest of the Just You group for the first time

As introductions begin and the conversations start to flow, there's the wonderful realisation that these are your travel buddies for the following days.

3.    Arriving at the destination/hotel

You've arrived and can officially escape from daily life and switch in to holiday mode, admiring the views of your destination

4.    Chatting to the Tour Manager

The tour managers are unique, each adding their own flavour to a tour. Sharing their experiences and trying to ensure you get the most out of your trip.

5.    Seeing a landmark / sight up close and in person

You've seen them in books, magazines, on the big screen and possibly in friends photos and now, you're standing before a magnificent structure, a beautiful view and just soaking up the experiences that your eyes are beholding.

6.    Learning something new from the local guides

Whether its helping with your pronunciation of a hello or hearing about the history and culture of their country, the local guides exude passion for their home ground.

7.    Spending time with the Just You group and sharing experiences

Sharing experiences with someone is always special, and sharing your stories over dinner usually create a warm and friendly atmosphere to enjoy... "Do you remember the bear we saw yesterday walking around the Lake, I can't believe we saw it with our own eyes!"

8.    Relaxing each evening in a room of your own

After a day of shared experiences, on your Just You holiday, there is the opportunity to head back to your room, relax and think about where you have been as well as what you have seen and done before putting your head down for a good night's sleep ready for the next days' adventures.

9.    Meeting the local people

Everyone has a different story to tell and getting to hear about the local life from those who live it everyday can be enlightening, refreshing and sometimes quite emotional.

10. Trying the local food

What's the saying "when in Rome..."? Whether its trying some of the street food in Cambodia, sitting down in a local Chinese restaurant or sampling the local produce of Tuscany, tasting the local food is always a treat.

Go on.... tell us what your highlight is...

Hi Julia 

Can I say that all of the options above go to making the holiday for me.

My first JustYou trip was the National Parks and Little Big Horn in October 2011. Highlights for me,before I went,were Little Big Horn,Yellowstone,Mount Rushmore and the Grand Canyon,which all were better than I expected. In addition,I enjoyed the Badlands and Salt Lake City,where I got to see ice hockey,at the 2002 Olympic arena, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir practice.

All the National Parks had something interesting to see,my one regret was not collecting the Park stamps from the start of the tour,so an excuse to,hopefully,go back to get the missing ones.

Keith

Sorry Julia. I can't comment on just one. Each holiday is a blend of many factors

Well I voted for #5 - seeing a landmark up close which is essentially what I am spending my money on! Most people voting so far seem to be of the same opinion and I, and I guess most other people, will choose a tour primarily because of the destination. It might be interesting to see how the vote turned out were there a sliding scale of 1 to 10 in order of personal importance! All factors are important to the wider success and enjoyment of a tour and whilst I, for example, enjoy the single room it is not somewhere I want to spend more time than absolutely necessary!

Hi Julia

There are so many different highlights on each holiday but the overriding highlight on each holiday for me has got to be actually arriving at the destination and being able to say "made it" especially after a long haul flight.

Best wishes

Di

Hello All,

My first JY was Jordan, Sinai and Cairo in October 2010. Two huge ticks for iconic landmarks (hence #5) Petra and the Giza Pyramids. It was such a wonderful experience with so many fond memories. The food and hotels were brilliant- who else has slept in a cave as in Petra- being woken at 04.30 by the local muezzin calling the faithful for prayer.

Wadi Rum and the Seven Pillars of Wisdom- so much history. Dip in the Dead Sea and the Red Sea. Ancient ruins at Jerash, Karak and Madaba. Sinai was reached by a ferry from Aqaba to Nuweiba. Watching the men pushing their new goods in wheelbarrows back home. The burning bush at St Catherine's Monastery. Crossing The Sinai Desert to reach the Suez Canal, watching huge container ships coming out.

Cairo was so different. Saw the Bent and Steps Pyramids beside Giza. Tick the Sphinx as well. My Arabic has become better with shukran or La shukran- thank you or no thank you 🙂 Now been to both Memphis- Egypt and Tennessee.

I thought I would have a problem just choosing one, but maybe not :heart: 

Jan

Hi Julia

i would say arriving at my destination after a long flight and either diving straight into bed or getting into holiday mode with the shorts and cap before venturing out to explore the area, hopefully without getting lost and i'll never forget my first visit down under arriving in strong wind late at night and awkening to such beautiful early morning light the next morning in the middle of November

best wishes

Dave

Well, I have realised that I often have a different perspective, but the results of this poll seem to be confirming that !! I was torn between meeting the locals (my first choice) & learning from the local guides or trying the local food, clearly not favourites with other travellers, though I'm not suprised as I've seen it in action. You won't find me in the rush to get photographed by some iconic monument or say, at Macchu Pichu....exciting yes, but I don't get such a great rush from seeing in person what I've already seen hundreds of photos of. However, actually experiencing the spirit of a new country through its people & food is, to me, the all. Actually, my first thought was that what I enjoy most is the hours & hours, or rather days & weeks that it takes me to weigh up all the holidays on offer & decide which holiday to book. Factored in are things such as in a country like Iran it would be difficult for me, as a single woman, to communicate freely with the locals....or in Peru I had the opportunity to eat grilled maggots, not simply more pasta or tapas! Nowt so weird as folks!

I book a tour for what I can see and do while I am there. Everything else is a bonus. I love flights to be on time and luggage to be on the carousel is always a bonus. Meeting a new bunch of people and getting on with them is great fun. Having done many tours I have stayed in a variety of rooms from very grand to very basic, as long as its clean, and has a functioning bathroom I am happy, tea/coffee making facility's, iron, ironing board, hairdryer and air con are all a bonus. I am a total bore with food so great banquets or something different is not for me. Same goes for the locals I am happy to pass the time of day, but I would rather be seeing and doing than chatting to locals. I have shared a room on a Kenyan tour, but much prefer the solitude of my own room.

Cindy

I've voted for arriving at the destination, quickly followed by all the others in no particular order!

Sylvia

When booking a holiday, being single there is always an element of apprehension of who will also be on the holiday and will you get on with them. Having said that, I have been on 2 previous singles holidays and everyone has been great, and you have the luxury of being able to do your own things should you wish to. I always look forward to meeting local people as you can get the best real experience from those who live at the location and they are always willing to share their knowledge. The fact you usually get your own room is also important as when you get to a certain age, it is difficult to share!!