Travel: Japan - General

[sharonkhoo]

Estéema\" post_id=\"2129466\" time=\"1708403183\" user_id=\"66413:

Relax & enjoy yr Japan trip!

Got to choose once first! And find a travel date that fits all the different constraints! We plan to go in May.

[zac's mum]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2129467\" time=\"1708404208\" user_id=\"28674:

Got to choose once first! And find a travel date that fits all the different constraints! We plan to go in May.

Have fun! Tour group in May will prob be mostly your age group couples/females, or young working adults, sans kids.

[MyPillow]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2129440\" time=\"1708388012\" user_id=\"28674:

Thanks for the tips. Esteema - I'll use your list for reference! But for this trip, we are probably going to go on a tour because I have no energy to research (too many things on my plate in the next few months, and we plan to go in May). My husband is not the kind to research these things. He will just give me a rough outline, and it's always me that works on the details! But I really can't look at trains, hotels, places to visit etc this time, so he said to look for a tour.

We are leaning towards taking a tour (9D seems the most common length) which covers the main central areas (roughly Tokyo to Kyoto), to give an overview of the country and let us have a taste of how things work there. We can then home in on specific areas in future trips.

I've been recommended Chan Bros, Nam Ho and EU so far by other friends. I know the tours will be rushed, and they will probably have more shopping than I like, but other than that, any comments?

chan is prob the most Ex package, prob they give better hotels (?) or airlines.
there are others agencies, wts, ctc, lge, eu, or some smaller ones, natas is coming, so hope u are able to find good prmos and share with us

[sharonkhoo]

MyPillow\" post_id=\"2129477\" time=\"1708408501\" user_id=\"70594:

chan is prob the most Ex package, prob they give better hotels (?) or airlines.
there are others agencies, wts, ctc, lge, eu, or some smaller ones, natas is coming, so hope u are able to find good prmos and share with us

I've given up on Chan Bros - their website is having problems, I think. Hardly anything listed, and keeps giving me blank pages. Just checked - NATAS is 1-3 Mar. Not sure if I can face the crowds.

Oh another thing I found - all the tours are conducted in Mandarin! I'm OK with that, but it does show the demographic they are targeted at.

[MyPillow]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2129482\" time=\"1708409537\" user_id=\"28674:

I've given up on Chan Bros - their website is having problems, I think. Hardly anything listed, and keeps giving me blank pages. Just checked - NATAS is 1-3 Mar. Not sure if I can face the crowds.

Oh another thing I found - all the tours are conducted in Mandarin! I'm OK with that, but it does show the demographic they are targeted at.

i think shd be bilingual, i joined tour grp to korea 15yrs ago, the tour leader was fr msia.

[sharonkhoo]

One of the travel agents told me that usually at the NATAS fair, the prices will be the same as in-store, but there may be freebies given. I think I’m just going to book and not fight the crowds at NATAS. I don’t think I want freebies enough!


We’ve also invited our older girl to join us for this tour as they offer triple sharing. Hope the rooms won’t be too cramped! But we won’t spend much time in the hotels since this is a tour. Now waiting for her to get clearance to take leave for that period.

[ChiefKiasu]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2129516\" time=\"1708477713\" user_id=\"28674:

One of the travel agents told me that usually at the NATAS fair, the prices will be the same as in-store, but there may be freebies given. I think I'm just going to book and not fight the crowds at NATAS. I don't think I want freebies enough!

We've also invited our older girl to join us for this tour as they offer triple sharing. Hope the rooms won't be too cramped! But we won't spend much time in the hotels since this is a tour. Now waiting for her to get clearance to take leave for that period.

I've been to Japan twice and both times the rooms are really tiny even if the hotel is decent. Anyway, as I was alone then maybe they just threw me to their smallest rooms they have to offer

[zac's mum]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2129516\" time=\"1708477713\" user_id=\"28674:

One of the travel agents told me that usually at the NATAS fair, the prices will be the same as in-store, but there may be freebies given. I think I'm just going to book and not fight the crowds at NATAS. I don't think I want freebies enough!

We've also invited our older girl to join us for this tour as they offer triple sharing. Hope the rooms won't be too cramped! But we won't spend much time in the hotels since this is a tour. Now waiting for her to get clearance to take leave for that period.

Japan hotel rooms are notoriously tiny! Triple sharing (which is what my family always chooses) is ok in terms of bed size (we insist on separate single bed/sofa for DS, to protect my sleep); however, there will be almost zero room to open up your suitcases (especially if u share a large one). May be better to travel with 1 small suitcase each (and i know u travel light); easier to find floor space to open them.

[SG_KP1]

Can also consider some of the Western Brands or the Japanese Brands affiliated with Western hotel chains/reservation systems. Not sure what everyone’s standard is, but 30 - 40 sq meters for a basic room should be doable.

[sharonkhoo]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2129519\" time=\"1708479018\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2129519 time=1708479018 user_id=53606]
Japan hotel rooms are notoriously tiny! Triple sharing (which is what my family always chooses) is ok in terms of bed size (we insist on separate single bed/sofa for DS, to protect my sleep); however, there will be almost zero room to open up your suitcases (especially if u share a large one). May be better to travel with 1 small suitcase each (and i know u travel light); easier to find floor space to open them.[/quote]

That's OK for us - we do travel light from years of experience. My husband and I went to Thailand for 5 days with 1 suitcase of the carry-on size! We've stayed in those tiny HK hostels (4 in a room) where there was no space to walk unless the others moved their feet onto the beds. And there was one B&B in the UK where I had to open the (24\") suitcase in the corridor outside the room - again that was a 4-in-a-room situation.