Jaya
  • (Member) (Topic Starter)
(Member) (Topic Starter)
'Peter G' wrote:

Hi Jaya

Thanks for a great review. Another one to add to my list - maybe later this year. Did you pay extra for single occupancy at the lodges?  I thought hot air balloon flights were not possible with Just You  due to Health and Safety issues.

Off to New England in the Fall with a train company  on Wednesday.

Peter

Hi Peter

Yes I paid extra for sole occupancy - it was not cheap but was nice to have my own space.  The balloon flight was not through Just You and we all signed a disclaimer.  We were lucky to have a Tour Manager who helped us book the flight.  Well worth the cost as the views were amazing.

Jaya

Jaya
  • (Member) (Topic Starter)
(Member) (Topic Starter)
Hi Rose

Of course, I will do a review of the Australia trip. Am quite excited about it and not too long to go now. At the moment I just do not have the energy to get the bank robbery team up and running!

Regards

Jaya

Moderator2
(Member)
'BGray' wrote:

'BGray' wrote:

Hi Jaya,

Thanks for your review - you say you didn't take any notes so you must have a photographic memory.  What a detailed review, it leaves nothing to the imagination....sounds like you had a great tour.  However, I was very surprised to read that you did a hot air balloon flight after all the discussion on the forum about them and JY saying that they were not offering them any more!  Especially as I wanted to do one in Namibia and Burma and wasn't facilitated...I would like some clarification from JY about this please!

Best wishes,

Bob

Hi Amy/Julia,

Is there any response from JY as to why the travellers on this tour were given the opportunity to do a balloon ride on this tour and I haven't been on various tours I've done where they were available?  And I don't want to be fobbed off with excuses like "there wasn't time on your itinerary" etc.  As a very loyal and prominent customer over the years, I feel very aggrieved that Jaya and co were facilitated and I haven't been.  Previously I was told that JY weren't offering them for health and safety reasons.  I responded that I would be happy to make arrangements with the local company to do one (and I presume that's what Jaya and friends did on this tour with Somak) but the itineraries were arranged in such a way that the only way to do so would have been to miss out on an included activity so it wasn't an option.  I am talking about tours such as Namibia and Burma.  Even One Traveller offer a balloon ride on their Burma tour!!

From an increasingly disgruntled and disillusioned,

Bob

Good Morning Bob,

There is no change in policy at the moment but we are definitely looking into this.

Kind Regards,

Amy

SusieB
(Member)
Hi Bob

Sorry you've not managed it yet, I hope you do soon.

Guess we were very lucky in having a superb Tour Manager i.e.Barbara Eastlake.

Regards

Sue

Jaya
  • (Member) (Topic Starter)
(Member) (Topic Starter)
Hi Bob

I hope I have not opened a can of worms by mentioning the Hot Air Balloon flight. As I said, this was not through Just You, but through a superb Tour Manager who helped in facilitating this. I guess it all depends on who the Tour Manager is and whether or not the itinerary can be tweaked a little if necessary. We were indeed very lucky in having Barbara Eastlake and a great group of people who did not mind the small tweak.

Hopefully your dream will come true one day.

Kind regards

Jaya

BGray
  • (Member)
(Member)
Thanks Sue and Jaya,

Yes Barbara is wonderful - we had her in India.  My annoyance is with JY, who so far have not facilitated me on any tour to do a balloon flight when they have been available at the destination.  First world problem, I know...but still very disappointing.  It is a stupid policy that they are not offering them as an optional excursion when other tour companies do.  JY offer helicopter flights, small plane flights, microlights....so why not balloons???

All the best,

Bob

PennyA
(Member)
Great review Jaya. Well recalled.

I was on this tour with Jaya. It really was a most fabulous experience.

What cant be conveyed in words is the reality and actuality of it all:

The wind and dust in your hair as you charge across the plains with the roof up on the jeeps. The sun on your back and in your face. The dryness and hardness of the ground. The total silence of the footsteps of a herd of elephants crossing the track in front of you. In contrast to the noise of the lion cubs suckling on their mum. The serenity and coolness as the sun dips down behind the hills on the Tanzanian border. The thrill of being woken in the middle of the night to the sound if hippos and lions, but knowing you are safe. The delight of the village children, despite their poverty, waving infectiously as we drove by.  

Not to be forgotten, the hysteria, hilarity and emotion of the bonding of a group of strangers, all sharing something very special.

You can only experience these things by going and doing it for yourself!! 

Penny (Gilberts jeep)

Jaya
  • (Member) (Topic Starter)
(Member) (Topic Starter)
Hi Penny

You have totally summed up this wonderful experience! Given a chance I would love to go back again.

Regards

Jaya

JackieS
(Member)
Jaya, i notice you paid the supplement for single occupancy room - is this an inferior room or a standard double room for single occupancy? 

Thank you

Jackie

Jaya
  • (Member) (Topic Starter)
(Member) (Topic Starter)
Hi Jackie

No the rooms were not inferior. They all were standard double room for single occupancy. This is the only holiday where you had to either share or pay a single supplement due to the lodges not being very big. The extra cost was worth it if you like your own space.

Regards

Jaya

RogertheRed
(Member)
'Jaya' wrote:

'RogertheRed' wrote:

Hi Jaya,

What a fantastic review. Another one for my ever increasing list of trips to do.

Regards,

Roger

Hi Roger

You should try and do this trip sooner rather than later - highly recommend it.

Regards

Jaya

Hi Jaya,

The only thing to do now is to choose between Sept.,/ Oct., 2018. I see you went in September but from your experience of having lived in Kenya is there much difference between the months other than the price? (it would cover my travel costs hotel etc., at Heathrow). I've seen reviews elsewhere that suggest October is the best month. Your views would be appreciated.

Regards,

Roger

Jaya
  • (Member) (Topic Starter)
(Member) (Topic Starter)
Hi Roger

I have replied to your email. Both September and October are okay as wildlife is plentiful. October can be wet but again who can tell with the weather. We had some rain in September as well. You are in for a treat!

Jaya

TrevorWh
(Member)
'Jaya' wrote:

Hi Roger

I have replied to your email.  Both September and October are okay as wildlife is plentiful.  October can be wet but again who can tell with the weather.  We had some rain in September as well.  You are in for a treat!

Jaya

Hi Jaya

I have read your excellent review and along with other users found it invaluable.

I have been on a few Just You holidays and I am going to Kenya in either Oct or Nov this year.  I would prefer Nov to  get away from the British weather but looking at the weather forecast, on average there are 15 rainy days in November with 110 mm of rain against 7 days in October.  I  know it is impossible to be certain how the weather will affect the holiday, but in your experience is October the better bet.

Regards

Trevor

Jaya
  • (Member) (Topic Starter)
(Member) (Topic Starter)
Hi Trevor

I think October will be the better bet rather than November as it will be quite wet. We got a little rain in September and when it rains it gets muddy! One can never tell with the weather nowadays as it has changed globally. You will really enjoy this holiday and will not be disappointed at all. Do write a review on your return and have a wonderful time. Given a chance I would love to go back some day.

Best wishes

Jaya