Preliminary Japan itinerary
Oct 4th, 2005, 07:43 PM
#21
So no shopping is not an option. I thought so.
Glad you got to the "get over it" stage. You could:
1) save the points
2) spend the points for one more night and get what you paid for: one more night
3) spend the points for one more free night and get another free free night
For me, it is a no-brainer as I would take option 3 to get the free free night and fit my plans around that. You won't be losing anything no matter which option you choose.
Glad you got to the "get over it" stage. You could:
1) save the points
2) spend the points for one more night and get what you paid for: one more night
3) spend the points for one more free night and get another free free night
For me, it is a no-brainer as I would take option 3 to get the free free night and fit my plans around that. You won't be losing anything no matter which option you choose.
Oct 5th, 2005, 03:16 AM
#22
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I could give up the night in Hakone for that extra free night, and make Hakone a day trip while I am at Westin. And Nikko would be a day trip- a very early start.
So Sun, Mon in Tokyo, Tues. day trip to Hakone, Wed day trip to Nikko, Thurs check out and head to Disney.
So Sun, Mon in Tokyo, Tues. day trip to Hakone, Wed day trip to Nikko, Thurs check out and head to Disney.
Oct 5th, 2005, 09:13 AM
#23
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emd:
I noticed it's a preliminary itinerary. Do you have airline tix yet? Why don't you fly back from KIX on the last day. You'd have to connect thru haneda in tokyo but seems a lot less hassle than catching the train the day before and would give you one more full day in Kyoto. Just a thought.
Aloha!
I noticed it's a preliminary itinerary. Do you have airline tix yet? Why don't you fly back from KIX on the last day. You'd have to connect thru haneda in tokyo but seems a lot less hassle than catching the train the day before and would give you one more full day in Kyoto. Just a thought.
Aloha!
Oct 5th, 2005, 01:38 PM
#24
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Good question. Last year, my son and I deplaned in Minneaplois on the way home, and dragged all of our luggage (and my huge foot) through customs there before waiting for another plane to finally get to Dulles and then home. It was awfully taxing. AS a result I decided to take the one nonstop ANA flight that goes Dulles to Narita and back this year. It is the only nonstop from Dulles to Japan. The ANA nonstop from Narita gets us back at 3 pm Sunday. My 13 yr old daughter will be with me and she will be starting school on Monday a.m. after an extra week off added onto her spring break. I want to make the transition as easy as possible for her, and I think the nonstop from Narita to Dulles is the way to go. I'd much rather do a shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo than go thru what we went thru last year on the way home.
I have her ticket, FF award thanks to United points and Star Alliance w/ANA. I am trying to decide whether to pay for my ticket, or buy alot of United points to pay for half of it and use the rest of my points to pay the rest.
We will have a pretty full day in Kyoto on that last day. For our last night I have booked the New Miyako, a rm. in their brand new south wing that just opened last week, right across the street from the train station, so we can just hop over to the station and the shinkansen at 4 pm.
I have her ticket, FF award thanks to United points and Star Alliance w/ANA. I am trying to decide whether to pay for my ticket, or buy alot of United points to pay for half of it and use the rest of my points to pay the rest.
We will have a pretty full day in Kyoto on that last day. For our last night I have booked the New Miyako, a rm. in their brand new south wing that just opened last week, right across the street from the train station, so we can just hop over to the station and the shinkansen at 4 pm.
Oct 5th, 2005, 04:47 PM
#25
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and BTW, I need to really thank mrwunrfl big time for turning me onto that nonstop ANA flight from Dulles to Narita. I learned "gratitude expressions" in my Japanese for Travelers class last night, so I should just go ahead and say domo arigato gozaimasu. But maybe since I know him a little bit and we are same age I can just say "domo" and be ok.
Oct 5th, 2005, 05:15 PM
#26
do itashimasu, emd. hawaiiantraveler is on to something. You can use your award to use ANA to return from Itami ITM via NRT to IAD on NH 002.
The following link shows that ANA flies from KIX to Haneda only but from ITM to Haneda or NRT.
http://www.ana.co.jp/eng/dms/network...ukoutoshi.html
This might require a change of terminals at NRT, but maybe not.
How many miles do you need?
The following link shows that ANA flies from KIX to Haneda only but from ITM to Haneda or NRT.
http://www.ana.co.jp/eng/dms/network...ukoutoshi.html
This might require a change of terminals at NRT, but maybe not.
How many miles do you need?
Oct 5th, 2005, 11:22 PM
#27
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Ok, I hope you don't mind my playing a (faux?) Japanese teacher here.
> "domo" and be ok.
Domo can mean a simple "Hi" too. It also could mean a very light/almost insignificant "thank you" but in this case, I would say arigato or even between friends we often say "domo arigato and omit "gozaimasu".
> Dô-itashimasu.
It's Dô-itashimashite. ("Dô-Itashimasu?" means What will you you?)
> "domo" and be ok.
Domo can mean a simple "Hi" too. It also could mean a very light/almost insignificant "thank you" but in this case, I would say arigato or even between friends we often say "domo arigato and omit "gozaimasu".
> Dô-itashimasu.
It's Dô-itashimashite. ("Dô-Itashimasu?" means What will you you?)
Oct 6th, 2005, 02:48 AM
#29
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Thanks for bringing up this option. I checked the site and plugged in a Sunday in Oct.- the earliest flight is 8 am from Itami, arrive Narita at 9:10. If I have to change terminals, this is too late for me, as fl. #2 leaves Narita terminal 2 at 11:10. After my experience last year when it took us over two hrs. at Narita to get to the gate even getting there at 9:10 at the correct terminal makes me nervous. Am I being too paranoid? I will call ANA today and see about this. If I have to go from Kyoto to Itami to Narita and then from airport to Narita City to stay on Sat. evening, taking the train might be less hassle (?) I'll have to do the math on the trains also to see if I could drop the JR pass if I do this, considering the trip Kyoto to Takamatsu and back.
mrw: I have almost 28K miles. I can buy 25K (max amt. to buy) for $696. Then still need 8K miles to get to 60K for FF ticket. If $626 gets me 25K then I'm essentially paying $529 for the other 35K (the ANA ticket is $1225). Is it worth a mileage run to get the 8K points? I could perhaps get 8K miles if I switch from using Starwood credit card to using United card for next few months, hoping FF seat will still be available.
kappa, good to hear from you! I need help w/the Japanese, although I do have a good teacher and of course my son, who has over a year of Japanese now, constantly corrects me...
mrw: I have almost 28K miles. I can buy 25K (max amt. to buy) for $696. Then still need 8K miles to get to 60K for FF ticket. If $626 gets me 25K then I'm essentially paying $529 for the other 35K (the ANA ticket is $1225). Is it worth a mileage run to get the 8K points? I could perhaps get 8K miles if I switch from using Starwood credit card to using United card for next few months, hoping FF seat will still be available.
kappa, good to hear from you! I need help w/the Japanese, although I do have a good teacher and of course my son, who has over a year of Japanese now, constantly corrects me...
Oct 6th, 2005, 07:00 AM
#31
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This board is so messed up right now, the posts are jumping all over and order changes every time I refresh the screen! So no, I had not seen your reply (it must not have topped on my screen when you replied) but will try to find it now.
Oct 6th, 2005, 07:29 AM
#33
was taught that it meant you're welcome and that the -shite makes it "you have been welcomed". and read about service people saying "arrigato gozaimashita, do itashimashite" (in a high pitched nasal voice, of course) when you leave a place. Thought that I heard this too. I have gotten puzzled looks on occasion when saying it. oh well.
emd, have you checked united.com for ways to earn miles? Under the mileage plus tab you should see links for promotions, partners, earning miles. Look for info there about the Ameniti program. They had offers of 25,000 bonus miles for joining at a cost of $299.
I don't think that it would be worth 28,000 miles plus $600 plus 8K of mileage runs. You should be able to get the ticket for $900. But the real point is that if you spend the $1250 for the ticket then you will actually earn miles for the trip (over halfway to MP Exec on that one trip).
emd, have you checked united.com for ways to earn miles? Under the mileage plus tab you should see links for promotions, partners, earning miles. Look for info there about the Ameniti program. They had offers of 25,000 bonus miles for joining at a cost of $299.
I don't think that it would be worth 28,000 miles plus $600 plus 8K of mileage runs. You should be able to get the ticket for $900. But the real point is that if you spend the $1250 for the ticket then you will actually earn miles for the trip (over halfway to MP Exec on that one trip).
Oct 6th, 2005, 07:40 AM
#35
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ooo, will definitely check out the Amenti offer, thanks. I joined My Points just a few days ago- wish it had been available sooner as it looks good for racking up miles. And I do use the FTD 10 miles per dollar when I send flowers. The dining rewards program isn't as good as it used to be though, they changed the point structure.
I'm also going to wait and see if ticket price comes down as time goes on a bit.
I'm also going to wait and see if ticket price comes down as time goes on a bit.
Oct 6th, 2005, 09:55 AM
#36
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mrw, I tried and was able to bring up an itinerary on ANA's site for the ITI flight on a Sunday morning at 8 a.m. and connecting to fl. #2 to IAD at 11:10 a.m.
Well, this is a very interesting development. Hyperdia has been down today (it appears it is down til Firday night at 6p.m.- I am guessing from the Japanese on their home page) so I can't get the info on whether I'd still need a rail pass to go Tokyo-Kyoto-Takamatsu-Kyoto. But if I can save money on the traims by eliminating Kyoto-Tokyo and maybe not needing the rail pass, then the savings and convenience will be great, and I get another night in Kyoto (maybe- if I can get to Itami in time on Sun. a.m.?)
Two questions:
1) How early do I need to leave Kyoto on Sunday morning to be at Itami for an 8 a.m. flight?
2) And if I go thru security at Itami, do I have to go thru security again at Narita? If not, then Itami is REALLY sounding good.
Well, this is a very interesting development. Hyperdia has been down today (it appears it is down til Firday night at 6p.m.- I am guessing from the Japanese on their home page) so I can't get the info on whether I'd still need a rail pass to go Tokyo-Kyoto-Takamatsu-Kyoto. But if I can save money on the traims by eliminating Kyoto-Tokyo and maybe not needing the rail pass, then the savings and convenience will be great, and I get another night in Kyoto (maybe- if I can get to Itami in time on Sun. a.m.?)
Two questions:
1) How early do I need to leave Kyoto on Sunday morning to be at Itami for an 8 a.m. flight?
2) And if I go thru security at Itami, do I have to go thru security again at Narita? If not, then Itami is REALLY sounding good.
Oct 6th, 2005, 10:06 AM
#37
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I HATE that luggage screening area at Narita! It gets the "worst airport baggage screening" design award. I would LOVE to avoid it.
But I just thought of something. If I leave from Itami Sun. a.m., I really can't send stuff to Narita ahead of time to be picked up at the baggage storage place. Because I won't have time to land in Narita, get the stuff, get it checked and catch my flight, right? So I guess I just send the stuff to Itami instead and get there early enough to deal w/getting it from the luggage storage place and checking it w/my bags? I wonder what time the luggage storage places at Itmai open on Sun. a.m....
But I just thought of something. If I leave from Itami Sun. a.m., I really can't send stuff to Narita ahead of time to be picked up at the baggage storage place. Because I won't have time to land in Narita, get the stuff, get it checked and catch my flight, right? So I guess I just send the stuff to Itami instead and get there early enough to deal w/getting it from the luggage storage place and checking it w/my bags? I wonder what time the luggage storage places at Itmai open on Sun. a.m....
Oct 6th, 2005, 10:13 AM
#38
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Just found a bus that goes from NEw Miyako hotel Kyoto to Itami, takes 55 min.l leaves New Miyako at 5:34 or 6:04 a.m.
http://www.okkbus.co.jp/eng/
And if I take a bus, I don't have to send luggage ahead! I can just have it loaded on the bus and get a cart at the airport! This is great!!
But help me w/the security question please, if you know.
http://www.okkbus.co.jp/eng/
And if I take a bus, I don't have to send luggage ahead! I can just have it loaded on the bus and get a cart at the airport! This is great!!
But help me w/the security question please, if you know.
Oct 6th, 2005, 10:17 AM
#39
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emd,
You would send your extra bags to the last hotel your staying at on that last evening, that way you just check them all in at once at Itami airport... I would think. You would probably have to be there 1 1/2 to 2 hrs before your flight at that time of the morning.
Aloha!
You would send your extra bags to the last hotel your staying at on that last evening, that way you just check them all in at once at Itami airport... I would think. You would probably have to be there 1 1/2 to 2 hrs before your flight at that time of the morning.
Aloha!
