Planning the Trip of a Lifetime: Budgets, itineraries* and yen
* These dates are rough, they are NOT fixed.
So things are moving on. I finally confirmed the cost of my group jaunt in Japan this week meaning I can finally work out a budget to decide on how long I can stay. Indeed I’ve come to the logical conclusion that’s it will be much, much easier to switch things round a little. I’m going to fly out in April, maybe a day or so before the rest of the group (depending on my state of mind and their flight times) then stay behind afterwards, meet Eri-san in Tokyo (depending on her schedule) and see the rest of the country in my own time (subject to budget, of course). Plus it means no needless repetition and that I can revisit places I really enjoyed.
Plus while I intend to base myself in Kyoto and Tokyo, I don’t want to limit myself to those two cities. I want to go to Nara, Tenri and Osaka. I’d love to see a bit of the countryside as well, find a nice rural onsen, smell the mountain air (but not climb them). Having spoken to various hotels in Kyoto and Tokyo about getting rooms sorted, it seems easier to do it ‘off peak’ which seems to start after the sakura vanish in late April. I should still be there to see them, I hope.
So I did what any self-respecting person does, I took a peek at my new potential flights, they’re a little more expensive than my original ones but what’s £50 between friends? However I did learn that there’s now a second flight, a codeshare with ANA, a night flight which leaves in the evening UK time and gets in around tea time the following day. I’m presuming the seats are the same, so if you buy an Upper Class ticket, you get a seat in First Class. I need to check this though, just to be sure, but it’s much more convenient. That said, a night flight would be easier on me jet-lag wise, it would also start off my trip in good stead and I would then fly home in the usual UC manner (which I am rather partial to).
The added bonus would mean I could go straight from Narita to a hotel in Tokyo and perhaps stay an extra day in order to see Narita itself on the way back, to wind down so to speak? It’s all up in the air but again depends on financing, timing and my, as yet, unpublished plans. But it is a start, one I am thoroughly looking forward to.
With the Virgin Atlantic flights, Upper Class is considered the equivalent of Business Class with other carriers, so if you buy an Upper codeshare you’re more likely to get a Business Class seat with ANA. That said, ANA’s business is meant to be very good.
If you decide to with VS keep an eye on what booking class it is (Z, R, D or J) as the Z class will have a hefty penalty to pay if you decide to change the dates, which is normally 70-100GBP plus any fare difference (which there always is as you almost always have to “upgrade” Z to R class). If you’re going as a group (10 adults plus) it might be worth talking to Virgin Flightstore as they do discounts for a group or more.
I suppose as a frequent Virgin Atlantic flyer you might be able to get a good Miles Plus Money deal in Upper if you’re flexible. If you’re not a Flying Club Member you can sign up online and get your miles backdated for any flights in the past six months. Miles Plus Money flights are normally pretty good value and only use 15K miles.
Also when the earlier flight lands, the Narita Express (into Tokyo) tends to be less busy as it normally lands off peak. As long as you can sleep on the plane you’ll land really well and wide awake
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Aw darn. That sucks. I will have to check then. It’s a Z class but then I wasn’t going to change the booking once it was made.
Aren’t you just the fount of information, Ian!
I certainly try
, lol. Your blog(s) interest me so I help where I can, especially as I work in travel and I’m just sending “feelers” out for journalism at the moment.