Black Friday deals: Avios-earning Finnair flights plus Opodo, Virgin, Uber, Radisson and more

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• MarkZ says:

  27 Nov27 November 05:21

  Not sure if this is Black Friday-related, but early yesterday morning, one of the embedded advert frames on the HfP pages was showing a promotion for London to New York for £247 return, on Iberia. Haven’t seen it this morning though.

• Benilyn says:

  27 Nov27 November 05:33

  Posted this a bit late yesterday so bumping, OT: First time going Japan

  1) 13 night itinerary recommendation for which cities to stay? Landing in Osaka, leaving from Tokyo. Going in mar/Apr

  2) any good Hilton hotels going during this 50% sale? Hilton Tokyo Odaiba any good, c£150

  • Genghis says:

    27 Nov27 November 05:40

    1. Spend more time in Kansai than Kantou. Eg. Night at Koyasan in temple then base prob in Osaka to see Osaka, Nara, Himeji, then go to Kyoto. Miyajima and Hiroshima v pleasant. For onsen, perhaps for simplicity one of the ones in Hakone. Enjoy.
    2. Local hotels are way cheaper than international ones.

  • TokyoFan says:

    27 Nov27 November 07:11

    Kagoshima is amazing if you get the chance to go down to the South West – a trip around Sakurajima is well worth it and likelihood of witnessing an eruption pretty high 🙂

    Nagano is also worth a visit, the Zenkoji Temple is spectacular, and you can easily get to Matsumoto for a day trip too if you fancy. We stayed at Matsuya Ryokan right next to the temple, and it was our favourite place to stay!

    • Genghis says:

      27 Nov27 November 07:20

      To add to these points if OP is interested:
      – Ibusuki sand onsen is a novel experience
      – Yakushima (really need to fly) is spectacular
      (Let me know if you’re interested in Kyushu as I could recommend stuff all day. Any future holiday in Japan for my family would prob spend most of time in Kyushu).
      – the monkey onsen not far from Nagano is v cool.
      Depends what kind of experience you want from a first trip to Japan.

      • Benilyn says:

        27 Nov27 November 07:42

        Thanks guys, as for onsen, me and wife won’t be too comfortable with the whole naked thing, is there such thing as a private one? I’m guessing it will come at a massive premium?

        How many nights for Tokyo? As that’s my departing location, could book that now already.

        • TokyoFan says:

          27 Nov27 November 07:51

          Some onsen will allow you to book a private bath for the both of you. But I would argue that’s not the real experience 🙂 Nobody there will bat an eyelid.

        • Genghis says:

          27 Nov27 November 08:04

          Many will. Ask for “kazokuburo”

        • Genghis says:

          27 Nov27 November 08:08

          Oh – and as for getting around the JR rail pass will likely save you a lot of money though run the numbers. Not valid on private lines (e.g. Kintetsu line to Nara). I’d plan your whole trip before booking. What you want to get out of Tokyo (and therefore number of nights) is not what I like. I prefer the “natural” side of Japan more than city life.

        • Rob says:

          27 Nov27 November 08:45

          You can’t avoid it. I was in a jacuzzi in Japan once, on my own and trunk wearing, when a group of naked guys suddenly appeared out of nowhere and jumped in with me, Alan Partridge style.

  • Mr. AC says:

    27 Nov27 November 09:42

    Both JAL and ANA have special “fixed price” tourist fares (around 100$ per longest possible segment including Okinawa). Low cost airlines cheaper, but, well, low cost. https://www.ana.co.jp/en/ch/promotions/share/experience_jp/

  • Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:

    27 Nov27 November 10:25

    My preference would be a slightly slower pace:

    3 nights Osaka, day trip or one night Nara, 4 nights Kyoto, 2 nights Takayama, 3 nights Tokyo.

    Working your way down south west from Osaka is great but I’d recommend that more for a three week trip.

  • Cath says:

    27 Nov27 November 10:32

    Hiroshima not worth it?!?

    Whoah. Did you visit the Peace Museum? Did you take the time to witness the horror of 1945?

    In my opinion everyone should be obliged to visit.

    Thereafter, Tokyo is just for shopping?!?

    • bsuije says:

      27 Nov27 November 14:01

      No, didn’t visit the Peace Museum, but did spend some time around the atomic bomb dome. Yes, it was poignant (also because on that particular day there was a human chain around the site with peace messages on banners) but I don’t need to be staring at it in real life to reflect on the horrors that humankind can inflict on itself. It’s personal preference, but when I only have a short amount of time, I would choose other activities.

      As for Tokyo – yes! It was a total let down. It may have been because we didn’t plan ahead too much and relied on just one guide book (which was supposed to be Best of Japan…) but I didn’t see anything in Tokyo that I hadn’t seen already elsewhere in Japan. Temples? Kyoto. Neon lights? Osaka. Crowds? Everywhere. Sumo wrestling? Aw shucks – they are all down south for a tournament!

      • TokyoFan says:

        27 Nov27 November 17:08

        The nightlife in Tokyo is superb and not to be missed – even if it means missing a day or two with a stonking hangover.
        Hiroshima is a remarkable place and well worth it in my view – only a one-nighter though (and good for a stop-off en route to somewhere else).
        Bamboo grove not worth it (Arashiyama) but the monkey park nearby is good fun.
        Most important thing is try to do as the locals do – especially when it comes to food and drink. It can be difficult with no Japanese but that’s all part of the fun, and in my experience the Japanese are incredibly polite and keen to help!
        Sumo is quite a spectacle and well worth it if it fits with your itinerary, but it’s by no means the be-all and end-all.

  • Jon says:

    27 Nov27 November 12:06

    I did a fortnight in Japan earlier this year. Mostly based in Kyoto and Tokyo, with a couple of nights in Kanazawa in between, and day trips to some of the other places already mentioned (Nara sticks in the mind, and do seek out a lovely little cafe / kaleidoscope shop there called Shiloamu, a short walk from the castle down a little lane – amazing, quirky little treasure trove…).

    I’ve done two trips to Japan in the last few years, and both times Kyoto was definitely my favourite city. Worth a good 4-6 days, especially if you’ll spend a few of those on day trips. JR Pass is invaluable (Green Car is worth the extra in my view). Stayed at a serviced apartment place called Four Sisters Residence – highly recommended.

    I wasn’t enamoured with Tokyo on the first trip – but only spent a couple of days there, at the Hilton Tokyo (nice hotel, but I didn’t like the area much). Second time was much better – spent four nights at the Conrad Tokyo (excellent hotel and nice area, lovely park opposite) followed by three nights in Asakusa (Hotel B:Conte I think it was called – perfectly decent, one of the many smallish hotels located around the temple area, rooms quite large by Japan standards). Crowds aside, I liked that area a lot, and found it a good base for exploring further afield (mostly on foot in my case – my preferred way to see cities 😉

    Kanazawa was worth a couple of days of walking around. Not sure I’d go out of my way to visit if time was tight, but as a way of taking a different route back to Tokyo from Kyoto (the usual route being along the south coast past Mount Fuji) it was a pleasant train ride and a nice stopover.

    My overriding impression from both trips was “I wish I had more time (and money!) to explore Japan properly.” It’s an amazing country, and I’m not sure that even a month would be enough… Not cheap though 😉

    Probably worth getting a Suica card along with your JR Pass also, if you plan to use busses and subways much.

    • Jon says:

      27 Nov27 November 12:44

      PS. You say you’re going March/April, i.e. cherry blossom season – I haven’t checked for next year, but based on my experience of my two trips, I’d get your hotels booked in asap. The good ones seem to sell out fast well in advance, and prices can be astronomical if you leave it too late. Possibly a good time to use points… 😉

  • ankomonkey says:

    27 Nov27 November 14:52

    Adding my 2 yen:

    1. Kamakura day trip.
    2. Fuji should still have snow at the top so good views from nearby. FujiKyuu Highlands theme park was amazing when I went – if you like thrill rides.
    3. Nagasaki is more interesting for atomic bomb experiences.
    4. Plan some time for food experiences. From Buddhist multi-course sets to taiyaki, green tea ice cream, anko dango and sushi/sashimi cut to order. Then to an izakaya for beer, octopus balls, chicken cartilage and pig trotters. Then karaoke.

    • TokyoFan says:

      27 Nov27 November 17:17

      Fuji-Q Highland theme park (mentioned above) is well worth it – I’m not a rollercoaster fan, but was persuaded and loved it. The view of Fuji from the top of the ferris wheel is unbeatable – especially on a cold and crisp day!
      Finally, someone mentioned Takayama – I wasn’t a fan really (a little fake feeling) but if you do go, two tips – a) everything closes on one day of the week (I can’t remember which) but there is literally nothing to do when this happens! b) I thoroughly recommend the ‘Green Cooking Studio’ if you want a Japanese cookery demo/lesson. Two wonderful women taking you through traditional food, including buying ingredients from the market etc. A superb way to spend a morning!

      • Chabuddy geezy says:

        27 Nov27 November 19:38

        Takayama wasn’t amazing but I loved the Hida beef there.

  • Nick_C says:

    28 Nov28 November 15:20

    Personally, I wouldn’t stay in Kyoto at all. It’s less than 30 minutes from Osaka and easy to do on day trips. Osaka hotels are much cheaper.

    Flying into Osaka and home from Tokyo, the JR pass probably won’t be good value. Consider flying from Osaka to Tokyo; 6000 Avios plus £4 redemption fee. Download the Navitime Japan app to price up journeys.

    Look at Japanese hotels. I looked at the Tokyo Hilton for next week but its just not worth $280 a night to me when I get a good Japanese 3* for less than £80 a night. (Take a look at The Knot in Shinjuku (Tokyo) and Monterey Le Frere in Osaka. Clean and comfortable, their largest rooms are 20 Sq metres, but storage space is limited so you need to be prepared to live out of a suitcase).

• Rob mc says:

  27 Nov27 November 06:29

  OT amex referral, anyone else still waiting ? A friend took out a card two weeks ago. If I chase they will say wait 8 weeks so no point in asking.

  • Amit says:

    27 Nov27 November 06:44

    Still waiting from 2 referrals, 5 and 3 weeks ago. Called amex, and online chat and told nothing they could do and would have to wait

  • Dave S says:

    27 Nov27 November 06:56

    Still waiting for my bonus 4 months down the line. Have contacted Amex 5 times. They are going to ring me tomorrow to sort out. Not got high hopes.

  • Mike says:

    27 Nov27 November 07:19

    Yes – seems to be a huge wait currently for referral bonus . Which is most annoying as that is how I now generate most (85 %) of my AVIOS for my annual Club/First trip (with BA 241). It is bad enough that churning is now 24 monthly and the Plat referral bonus has dropped from 18,000 MR.

    • Rob says:

      27 Nov27 November 08:49

      It is not delays, it is tracking issues. You will realise this when your friend hits the spend target and does not get the higher bonus.

  • Jon says:

    27 Nov27 November 07:48

    Nope- referred wife and points came before card and that was after Amex wanted to confirm address as was for business card. Yes, 25,000 lovely jubbly points + 9000 for me with no 2 year wait.

    • Anna says:

      27 Nov27 November 09:02

      I had 2 sets of referral points post within a week in October – plus an unexpected bonus courtesy of SPG…

      • Harry T says:

        27 Nov27 November 13:58

        You’ve been favoured by the IT Gods, Anna?

• Sandgrounder says:

  27 Nov27 November 06:33

  Manchester have 30% off the new private terminal service today. Might give it a go.

  • Anna says:

    27 Nov27 November 09:03

    Thanks for this, I will have a look. OH’s 50th in July shortly before we fly to AGP so might treat us as otherwise no lounge access.

• Ben says:

  27 Nov27 November 06:44

  Ebookers has 15% off hotels this week using code CYBER15. Probably non chain hotels only, though i noticed it seems to be working with Ibis. This stacks with the 5% rebate you get for booking using the app.

• SG says:

  27 Nov27 November 06:49

  Hilton has emailed me with a new 5000 points after two stay now through 31Decembe 2020(2000 first stay +3000 second).If it stashes with the 7500 points for 2 stays until the end of January(60 days from registration) makes it a good deal.My partner could not register so seems targeted!

• Shoestring says:

  27 Nov27 November 07:13

  pop up
  Unlock secret prices and see them change on selected properties when you enter your email address
  Unlock Secret Prices now
  No thanks, I want to pay full price
  By giving us your email address you agree to receive great deals and sale alerts via email. You can unsubscribe at any time.
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• Cat says:

  27 Nov27 November 07:22

  Rocketmiles sent me a teaser for a bonus 5000 points with any “eligible” hotel stay booked on Friday, but said details (presumably of how many nights would make it an eligible stay) would follow on Friday…

  • Rob says:

    27 Nov27 November 08:48

    You’re not a new customer presumably? Another 5k Heathrow Rewards points could be handy ….

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