Would you like a Gransnet trip?

It feels like some posters are interested and others are listing reasons to not do it.
Having been to lots of GN meet ups and also involved in helping plan them I've never met a Gran I didn't like or get on with sufficiently well to enjoy a weekend break with.
(Note: Burns lunch next Friday. 11 booked so far. I can add more names up till next Thursday. See relevant thread if interested.)

Crikey! Where did the conference element come from? I was thinking more in terms of 1 hotel or possibly a hall of residence at a university outside term time, and an informal and sociable meet for an overnight.

My thinking was that many of us who might be interested in a holiday might like to meet a few more Gnetters before committing. There’s a huge difference between a social media forum where everyone hides behind anonimity and a holiday with people unknown who are also on social media.

I wouldn’t go on a Facebook holiday ? but I might be interested in a GN trip if I found the real people to be compatible. I wasn’t calling for a national congress ?

Maybe finding a "central" venue has less to do with distance and more to do with rail links?
Couldn't help being amused that York is too far north. Good rail access, isn't there?
However, Inverness may just be too far north for most!

A few days abroad sounds good but significantly more expensive if a long train journey is needed to get to the airport!?
Certainly worth investigating.

I haven’t even managed a local meet up yet I think I would find it too difficult to be thrown in with lots and lots of unknown ladies as nice as it sounds

I think its a great idea!

I'm sure you'd be allowed to bring a friend with you if being alone with strangers or single supplements worried you.

I think a few days climbing the Brecon Beacons in Wales ?

Mamissimo We christened our Scottish all-day meet-up a "conference" because we booked a conference room for it (and got per-person delegate prices, which worked out slightly better than booking room, food, projector etc) Referring to "going to a conference" sounded more important than meeting a lot of other old women for a blether.

Granny23 I think you are onto something - but I would hate to be the one doing the logistics of seats, fares, timings, catering and so on.

Surely the logistics would be within the tour company's remit. I have only been on one coach/ferry trip (down the Western Isles) but the drop off and pick-ups of passengers from various locations and stops for mid-day meals were all organised very efficiently by 'the office' and facilitated by our driver/guide.

The trip was only for 7 days/6 nights but during that time we all became firm friends.

Would we not need a fleet of buses?

Further to my previous post on trains & travel lodge ladies, I did a quick recce and as an example found a lodge in Manchester (£30), Birmingham(£36) and York (£40) Monday 4th March and there’s bound to be a weatherspoons with a dinner & breakfast for £7.50 each.

I checked Trainline for me (north Wales) and it would be around £20 return with my senior railcard. So £75 plus whatever else I choose to spend which I would be happy with.

I appreciate that we all have different budgets/priorities but thought it worth a few minutes effort to see how viable it is. I welcome all input on the above and alternative options.

Given that Gransnet is open to all, and probably has many more members than the relatively few who post, what would be the criteria for joining such a holiday?

The OP refers to Colette which is a tour company so presumably it would be they who organise the bespoke trip.

So just like any other tour, if you like the itinerary and prices then you can book.

People seem to be getting a bit carried away worrying about the logistics!

I'd be up for a bespoke GN holiday/trip. Lets face it, with the numbers involved a big GN 'conference' is probably never going to happen and but an organised tour, or whatever, for interested parties would. It's difficult enough to organise meet ups to suit a dozen+ people, but with a set date/price/location/number, it probably would work. There will always be someone with whom you have a connection and equally someone with whom you have none at all. Fact of life! I'd be up for exotic climes, but equally a European city break would appeal. Give it a whirl GN and see what the response is.

Yes I'd go on a Gransnet trip/holiday.
I've read the OP as referring to a holiday/short break.
I've mobility problems, I'd still be very interested.

Travelodge? Weatherspoons? I thought this was supposed to be a holiday??
I was thinking the OP meant Caribbean, South East Asia or somewhere exotic - where people may not want to travel alone, or maybe somewhere you’d appreciate a guide - historical sites of the Amalfi Coast for example.

One in this country may be suitable for more people ie not be so expensive. What about a coastal town with maybe countryside nearby so coastal walks, country walks, town to explore and maybe local NT property or similar.

I think that travel agent should just set it up and see who's coming.

I like Granny23’s idea.

It quite appealing, I love the idea in theory. But in reality it would depend on whether or not I could afford it.
Also, I do have some problems in dealing with large numbers of strangers.

It might not be large numbers though henetha. You can only sit next to two people at a time. As a veteran of various GN events talking doesn't seem to be a problem! Generally, it seems to me that most Grans are considerate and friendly.
We tend to have lots in common somehow, even if it's just anno domino!

You're right, Jane10... I really will make the effort, providing it's something I can manage.

I have a friend who goes on trips similar to one mentioned above. They pick people up at various locations and take them to a hotel out of season and are very inexpensive. Also there are hotels which offer cheaper mid week out of season breaks for older people, probably with group discounts.

If it were to be arranged somewhere a long way from home I would take DH and stay longer to see the area. He could pootle off and do his own thing whenever he liked.

It would be good if it was somewhere with interesting things to do like NT or EH, a factory tour or something included.

Our local community held a quiz and we couldn't take teams. We each pulled a team out of the hat so we sat with random people we didn't know. It was a great way to meet people and meant we couldn't sit in cliques. I think that would be a good ice=breaker.

I also think that people should move around so that they are not sitting with the same person each time.

I also have mobility problems and would have mega problems walking up a flight of stairs with a suitcase. I also would need a room with a shower to give some idea of problems ahead.