Brian168
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Posts posted by Brian168
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Do please mention SnowJapan if you do contact them (lots of people seem to forget).
Thank you and good luck with it all.
I most certainly will.
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You could e-mail them now, most likely. Or any time between now and December, for that matter.
(I would honestly be shocked if they ever reach 100% occupancy in recent years. That is a big hotel...)
Oh that is wonderful news. I was really getting worried. Kinda stupid that agoda or booking.com would say they don't have rooms. They could have just said "rooms can only be reserved _ months in advance". But anyway, thanks again!
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I'm doing all of the legwork, or fingerwork, via booking.com/agoda/trip advisor. Seems you've had more luck than me. Last hotel I checked was something called Appi Grand and it was booked solid.
You're looking at Appi? The Appi Grand has a listing here: http://www.snowjapan...otel-appi-grand
There is contact information (e-mail, phone) on that page, so you can contact them directly and inquire. I seriously doubt they are booked solid -- probably just not set to accept online bookings that far ahead.
Yes Appi Grand, I saw that page and went to booking.com that said "no rooms on your specified days". But I'll believe you and try again in July, thanks a lot!
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Thats because they dont have the 2015 prices out yet,im guessing. they will tell you that there are no rooms available for your selected dates... sound familiar? Dont panic .Listen to what tubby said. I booked my accom, last year in July, and I was" very early" as my host mentioned, but I like to be organised.
Hakuba is easy to get to, lots of english signs and english spoken. Nagano is great to check out and the bullet train is great.
Wow, it's like the knot at the back of my neck loosened up, thank you and everyone else that informed me that that is how hotels operate in Japan. And thanks for the added tips!
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Pick any ski resort, have fun in the snow all day, get a private onsen/hot bath bottle of champagne....pop the question(NAKED) then go out for dinner.. It wont be the town that makes it romantic it will be the situation with the 2 of you?
Just a thought!
Oh trust me, after wracking my brain and eyeballs looking at every hotel, mountain, snow report, hotel review, photos, prices and amenities I wish there was a clear cut answer for "any ski resort". Actually there were a lot but then I get a "sorry the last room was booked a day ago". I'd love to get this done, trust me. But with you advice, and the others above, I'll try my best. Thanks!
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Yeah that's a good point, for accommodation.....especially early, the places on here will be happy to deal with you.
Also....Sapporo is an ace destination for snow....lots of hotels of all ranges, lots of snow, near the airport and easy daily access to 4 or 5 ski hills that range from an easy 20-30 minute shuttle bus from downtown to a free 2hr bus to Rusutsu. My local hill is Sapporo Teine and between the Olympia area and Highland area, there is enough to keep all skill levels happy. It's 30 mins by shuttle bus from the downtown hotels, you could go up n ski all day, return and eat in some of the thousands of great restaurants and bars in the city. Different to staying in resort
That's great stuff, I'll be sure to check it out (foreign and local booking). It sounds great. Thanks very much!
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Thank you, I did see that page. It's a springboard, I'll admit. But still a daunting task ahead. Thanks again!
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Yeah, you are using foreign sites and they do give the impression of things being full up BUT Japanese agencies won't have their winter brochure/packages ready.....they'll prob only have just organised their summer ones!! In my experience they hold back a lot of rooms for the domestic market, it's unusual for locals to book a year in advance which is why you can't find cheap flights more than 3 months before the date. Also ANA and JAL have very competitive package deals, flight + accommodation, but again they won't be available until autumn at the earliest. If you have people over here who could check and or book for you in Japanese from a Japanese website you may find it's not as full as you were lead to believe
Wow. Yeah this is all an eye opener for me. Thank so much for all those tips!
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How are you trying to book? I seriously doubt "all" Niseko and Rusutsu is booked. Are u using an agent? Or doing it yourself? The reason I query it is that I didn't usually try and book my new year break (when I lived down near Yokohama) until late autumn and I was easily able to get a place.....Rusutsu, Hakuba, Shiga Kogen....I had no problem. I was using Japanese agents online and they had plenty including return airfare for when I went to Rusutsu. That said I have no kids so perhaps the size of room makes it more difficult
I'm doing all of the legwork, or fingerwork, via booking.com/agoda/trip advisor. Seems you've had more luck than me. Last hotel I checked was something called Appi Grand and it was booked solid. And you're right, it's different with kids. Best I got, so far, was ANA Crown at Kobe which is near Mt. Rokko, but that's a Plan B if I can't get any other deals. I'll try your advice about asking friends in Japan to check with local agents, thanks!
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Hahaha, thank you sir!
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Why don't you go to all of the places we have suggested?
Oh trust me, I'd love to. But my kids' Christmas break, and my budget, both have a finite number attached to it. Not to mention hotel rooms are being gobbled up like crazy! Rusutzu, Granview and Niseko are all but full, save for the Hilton which costs an arm and a leg. As one poster pointed out, I still have to buy, or rent, snow gear. Then there's international and local airfare, Christmas presents, food, etc.
Where's that "facepalm" emoticon...
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Thanks for the input, guys. I really appreciate it. This is more daunting a task than I realized.
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The Book Now thing is a bit of a joke on here hence the
Though in really popular places they will get booked quickly
Actually it's true, because a lot of the hotels at Rosutsu, Mt. Granview and Niseko are already fully booked for the Christmas season! Still searching, but worst case I'll have to get a hotel a bit ways off and find transportation to the slopes. It was suggested Mt. Rokko for late December, I'll try there.
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Did someone mention to expect higher accommodation charges over New Year and less availability ( .... in fact, Book Now!
)They did mention, but I had no idea I had to book this early. Thanks for the tip!
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I hope you added a "0" in there.
Sorry, my first time in Scotland and I was kinda placed on the spot.
This is one big reason that makes it so horribly smelly and despicable.
They are taking advantage of their customers; their customers are faffing about worring about "unknown/undefined costs" during/after meal and put in uncomfortable situations.
Put the charges on the menu;
I will choose what I want from said menu;
Bill me for the total cost of what I chose;
I pay for it.
Japan has it spot on - with mostly excellent service to boot.
Please don't change.
Hear, hear!
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I hope you added a "0" in there.
Sorry, my first time in Scotland and I was kinda placed on the spot. Not to mention nobody told me tipping isn't the norm in that part of the world. Thanks again for that.
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Though sadly and very annoyingly, this outrageously bad concept is being encouraged more and more by scumbag business owners in the UK (who need to be is censed and apologise issue.)
I hate it more than I can begin to explain in words.
I won't even go to restaurants that have some absurd "service charge added to the bill later on and you need to write a number in the machine" kind of irritating nonsense bollocks going on.
What you mentioned about the machine I'm familiar with. I recall being dumbfounded about it in Edinburgh until my guide enlightened me.
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Are you American, Brian? Most Brits don't tip.....its not expected in the UK. That's why we struggle when we go to the US
I did not know that! No wonder I get surprised looks when I was leaving tips at pubs in London and Liverpool. Learn something new every day, thanks!
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You stand by your principles, have to respect that.
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Might as well buy her a ring at Daiso, propose to her at a nearby Muji store and tell her to splurge at the local Uniqlo.
That was a truly fabulous joke.
Well done!, Sir!
You're most welcome, sir. I'll be here all week, don't forget to tip the waitress.
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Might as well buy her a ring at Daiso, propose to her at a nearby Muji store and tell her to splurge at the local Uniqlo.
there ya go!!
Thank you!
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Geez, it was a joke guys lighten up. And like I said in my OP, the snow is the first priority.
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Might as well buy her a ring at Daiso, propose to her at a nearby Muji store and tell her to splurge at the local Uniqlo.
No clue for New Year or place to propose
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Posted
Noted, many thanks.