Could use some help with my trip. (June '08)

[Nao]

According to the link you posted, the only cheap fare is for the dormitory beds. I don't want to get stuck with other people in my room, sorry.

I've heard good things about Sakura House. Can anyone share their experiences?

Thanks.

-Nao

[GhostBlade]

Originally Posted by Nao

Just bought my plane tickets. Locked and loaded, so to speak. Almost definitely going, now.

If it's not too personal, where did you buy it and how much was the final price? I'm still waiting to buy my tickets to depart in late-May or so. I'm really flexible with my time during the summer so it can all change. If you don't prefer to answer than that's ok.

[Nao]

Used Orbitz. Price was $1,035 before taxes. Departure date May 31.

Searched around, and aside from special student things (most of which I was ineligible for or are too much of a hassle to be bothered with, or sound shady) this was the lowest price I could arrive at.

Originally Posted by Nao

Saturday, May 31, 2008
United Airlines # 1556 Operated by: /UNITED FOR TED - Please check in with the operating carrier

Orlando International (MCO) to Washington Dulles Intl (IAD)
Departure (MCO): May 31, 9:10 AM EDT (morning)
Arrival (IAD): May 31, 11:17 AM EDT (morning)
Class: Economy

Seat request: 21F view/change seats
View real-time airport conditions and traveler updates at MCO | IAD
Saturday, May 31, 2008
All Nippon Airways # 1

Washington Dulles Intl (IAD) to Tokyo Narita (NRT)
Departure (IAD): May 31, 12:20 PM EDT (afternoon)
Arrival (NRT): June 1, 3:25 PM JST (afternoon)

This is an overnight flight.

Class: Economy


View real-time airport conditions and traveler updates at IAD
--------------------------------

Tuesday, July 1, 2008
All Nippon Airways # 12

Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)
Departure (NRT): July 1, 10:45 AM JST (morning)
Arrival (ORD): July 1, 8:20 AM CDT (morning)
Class: Economy


| ORD
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
All Nippon Airways # 7462 Operated by: UNITED FOR TED -- UA 1530 - Please check in with the operating carrier

Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) to Orlando International (MCO)
Departure (ORD): July 1, 10:55 AM CDT (morning)
Arrival (MCO): July 1, 2:28 PM EDT (afternoon)


Class: Economy

Seat request: 21A view/change seats
View real-time airport conditions and traveler updates at ORD | MCO
Have your travel plans changed? Many tickets can be exchanged or cancelled online by visiting "My trips" and clicking the Change/cancel airline ticket option.

Originally Posted by Nao

Total airfare: $1,346.46 (including taxes)
Total trip cost: $1,357.45 USD

If you're closer to the west coast it'll probably cost you less. I'm East coast USA, Florida.

[Omaki]

^ wow I'm flying out of NYC and it's only costing me $900.

[Nao]

Just to keep you all updated, my trip is still on the calendar. I've already booked my plane tickets, as you have seen above, and I have reserved my room. I'll be living out of Ueno in Taito-ku, on the Ameyoko.

My departure date is a little over a month away. I won't say things have been going smoothly here at home, however. Due to the fact that I'm my little sister's primary caregiver during certain parts of certain days, there is a little worry about my being gone. I've offered to cancel my trip if things should become too dire, but so far my mother has maintained that I shouldn't worry about it too much and just to go. She seems to be supporting my doing this to a great degree, which I find rather surprising.

I'm a little nervous, of course, but it's not exactly because I'm going to be in another country. First, I'm worried about the planes. I like to fly, so it's not a fear issue, but I haven't flown for ten years, since I was nine years of age. I hear that problems in the airport have grown drastically since that time, with delayed flights and lost baggage becoming fairly commonplace. To make things even worse, I'll have those two stopovers you see in the itinerary above. On my way there, I'll be stopping for bit in Washington D.C. to change planes. On the way back, it's Chicago, Illinois.

Next, even though I've run the numbers time and time again, I'm still worried about my budgeting. Everything should be fine, but if I made any critical mistakes (which I don't think I have, but can't stop myself from thinking about it) then problems could certainly mount. For instance, every travel insurance company I've consulted has told me that it can take two to four weeks to collect on a claim. That's a pretty long period of time, considering this is a one-month outing. I know the odds are against my getting hurt, falling critically ill, losing everything I have, or otherwise, but it still worries me. Some people tell me I shouldn't even bother getting traveler's insurance. What do you think, JF travel vets?

This week is my finals for this semester of college. Come Friday's end, I have nothing but free time to prepare for this trip. I have an entire month to hammer this stuff out, unless some other vastly time consuming activity comes into play that I am not yet aware of. I'll have a lot more time to worry about this stuff then, so I would appreciate any food for thought you all may have to give me.

I plan to continue updating here on major changes, as it may help those who have questions similar to mine, or those in a similar situation. I may even continue to update while on my trip, should the opportunity present itself (not daily, but perhaps periodically... possibly even weekly, while I'm keeping tabs on a few matters online). Looking over this thread, I think there is a respectable amount of information condensed into one location. If I do continue this, it will have gone from the planning phase, to the execution, to the conclusion. Most of what I've seen otherwise were just conclusions or preparations.

This is turning/turned into a project for me fast, JF. When I first suggested this trip, long before ever coming here, it was more of a passing joke. Then I thought about it, and figured... "you know what, I might actually be able to do that." I was amazed when I ran the numbers (with a little help from some friends who frequent... asking about tourist pitfalls, cheaper lodging, etc.) after a little research and found out that with my current funding it was more than possible... not for just two weeks like I tossed in initially, but for a month or possibly longer if I really stretched my money. That was this past fall. Long before Thanksgiving, though I cannot coin any specific date or even a narrowed range.

A thanks goes out to those who have helped thus-far. This trip has given me something to look forward to in the past few months, which have been nothing short of teeth-grinding. Quite a lot has gone on that I'm not willing to speak of here (not that anyone would be interested in hearing, anyway), so I'm going to do my best to enjoy the hell out of this.

-Nao

[odonata]

I am staying in Ueno and have been for almost a month. I have a good idea of the local area as I walk it most days finding new places. If you need help with anything then give me a mail dirtyroboto@gmail.com I can even offer to meet you at the station and help you get to your place as I know that when you first hit Tokyo it is a big buzz to know that you a really here. I went with Oakhouse and they sent someone to the station to meet me which was a great help, so I know what matters.

Again, I am here until June 25 so if I can help you then just ask. BTW I am on a 3 month tour made on a instant decision. Shall I go to Japan or not? Sod it, I'm going. No regrets.
Marc

Super sidenote. I know where all of the 105 yen shops are along with great places to pick up houshold items and food. Believe me that I had no assistance, so finding these places was like a great help to my survival here.

[sujuncai]

Originally Posted by Nao

I'm planning on being in Tokyo for the entirety of June (one month). There are a few areas I could really use some advice and comments on.

Location

I'm planning on renting a guest house from Sakura-House. The current room I'm looking at is in Ueno, on Ameyoko, and will run me about JPY74,000. However I've also been looking at other locations and see significantly lesser prices in areas like Asakusa. Why is that? Are they close? I was really looking forward to staying on the Ameyoko, but if I can get there quickly and easily from Asakusa, then I may stay there instead...

Can anyone make a good recommendation, or give input on the situation?

Funding

My total funds for this trip is roughly $5,400.

As far as plane costs go, I've found as low as (after tax) ~$1300.

That brings my funding down to $4,100.

If I rent the room on Ameyoko in Ueno, it'll be a $300 deposit, then around $700 for rent. That takes us down to $3,100.

If I spend $30 a day on food (unlikely, but I like to overestimate just in case), that'll be $900 in a month for food. That brings us down to $2,200.

Train fares... won't be too bad. If I spend $60 between trips to the airport, and then say $10 a day, that'd be $360 total for a month. That brings us down to $1,840.

Now here's something I haven't quite figured out completely. A phone. It would probably be a good idea for me to have a phone, and I've heard that prepaid phones out of Japan now require Japanese residency to acquire. The only solution I've seen for foreigners on temporary visitor visas now is rental phones. I've found a company called "RentAFone Japan", but the prices are kind of steep. They want a $300 deposit before they sent the phone, $10 for shipping to me, the first week is $35, the next 13 days is $36, and the last 10 will be $10, which brings the total cost to $391 for the phone, which is kind of ridiculous. If anyone has a better solution, please, PLEASE let me know. Assuming I went with this plan, I'd be down to $1,449 to last me for a month of fun and any unexpected costs... which, I think will do fairly well, but please give me your input on it.

General Information

I'm not getting a travel guide or anything of that sort, and I'm not planning on any huge trips. I want this to be fairly casual. One of my main issues right now though is finding places I might want to go to (I say might because, as I previously mentioned, I want this to be casual - I'm not setting destinations in stone).

I can read and write hiragana, katakana, and a number of kanji. I can understand and speak the language to some degree, but I am by no means anywhere near fluent. I have a rather basic grasp of the grammar (I'm a bit shaky on some of my particles and conjugations), and a comparitively large vocabulary (compared to my grasp of the grammar).

I am nineteen years of age, and will be traveling alone. I've never lived alone before, been away from my family for an extended period of time, or been in a foreign country (I am a United States citizen).

Conclusion

Any ideas, helps, comments, or constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated. I definitely need the input. I've been looking forward to & planning this trip for months, so I'm hoping everything will pan out as I plan for it to.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

-Nao

Go to my blog and download my Tokyo itinerary - 3 Really Cool Dudes In Tokyo :-D !!!

[Nao]

odonata - You know, I just might take you up on that offer. I probably won't have any problems getting around - I read/speak/write some of the language and a lot of signs are in English as well, but just getting off the plane I'll probably be a bit tired and could probably use the help. Knowing someone who knows the area a better degree than I do is also good. I'll most likely start e-mailing you soon, when I have more time to dedicate to planning (I have finals this week). Of course, I won't bug too much, because discovering some things myself is a large portion of the fun. ;P

(Note: I'll be getting off the plane, heading straight to Shinjuku, signing a lease agreement and getting my keys, getting back on the train, heading to my room in Ueno, and probably crashing there for a few hours.)


sujuncal - I'll certainly take a look at that. Thanks.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Nao

Next, even though I've run the numbers time and time again, I'm still worried about my budgeting. Everything should be fine, but if I made any critical mistakes (which I don't think I have, but can't stop myself from thinking about it) then problems could certainly mount. For instance, every travel insurance company I've consulted has told me that it can take two to four weeks to collect on a claim. That's a pretty long period of time, considering this is a one-month outing. I know the odds are against my getting hurt, falling critically ill, losing everything I have, or otherwise, but it still worries me. Some people tell me I shouldn't even bother getting traveler's insurance. What do you think, JF travel vets?

This week is my finals for this semester of college. Come Friday's end, I have nothing but free time to prepare for this trip. I have an entire month to hammer this stuff out, unless some other vastly time consuming activity comes into play that I am not yet aware of. I'll have a lot more time to worry about this stuff then, so I would appreciate any food for thought you all may have to give me.


-Nao

What are you buying when you buy traveller's insurance? Peace of mind.

But if you are worried buying traveller's insurance is going to throw your budget off, it is having the opposite effect.

Grab a black pen and X-out traveller's insurance from your budget, because you don't need it.

If you are sick or hurt no hospital will reject you. No one is going to leave bleeding and dying in the street because you don't have insurance.

Traveller's insurance is one of the biggest scams in the insurance biz (after additional insurance on rental cars). Cross it off.

Take a deep breath, congradulate your self on finishing finals and look forward to the trip. If you have hotels booked and plane tickets bought, that's 90% of what you need to worry about done. After that it's just picking out what you want to see. That's the fun part.

No offence, but you sound a little like a worry-wart, so be prepared to have your perfectly laid out plans go out the window once your foot hits the floor in Tokyo. It's an adventure, so you need to prepare YOURSELF not YOUR TRIP to be an adventurer.

[Nao]

Sorry that you seem to misunderstand, but I don't have much in the way of laid out plans. I'm a relatively laid back individual. I'm only worrying about a few things - getting there, getting back, having a place to crash, and having nothing go wrong financially/physically while I'm there. Other than that, I'm just taking some essential information along (Embassy locations, bank locations, transportation information, etc). The rest I'm leaving up to chance. I have no carefully planned itinerary; I don't like that sort of thing. I can't have fun if I have to get up to meet some goal every day. I'm just going to chill and go with the flow. However, it's hard reality that I will have to watch my budget carefully. If I overspend too much it could mean my going without meals, etc, which would really suck.

I wasn't worried about traveler's insurance throwing off my finances. It's not that expensive. I was just worried about the amount of time it takes to collect on any claims.