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In Osaka stay close to Shin-Osaka station as you’ll be doing day trips. Hi&Suites Shin Osaka or Courtyard are good, but there are a few Japanese chains too. Tokyo it really depends on what you want to do, but for first timers I suggest near Ginza (also good for Akihabara or the likes) or Shinjuku/Shibuya. Conrad, Hilton are good options as well as new Indigo Shibuya. Kimpton a bit further away from stations, so not good for first time. IC The Strings and ANA IC too far from main things. For me Marriott has least attractive options. I’d possibly look also at renting an apartment for 6 nights.
@Boi, before you seek hotel recommendations you must first choose areas!
Phuket: if you’re looking for Benidorm choose Patong Beach, if you’re looking for Alicante choose Surin Beach. (Personally, I will mo longer recommend anybody visit Phuket).
Bangkok: Four principal choices 1. Lumpini Park and Silom, 2. Central World, 3. Sukhumvit (Asoke), or 4. Riverside.
Osaka: since you are best to travel by Shinkansen given your plans then you would be best to stay near Sin-Osaka Station. Here Holiday Inn & Suites Shin-Osaka is recommended.
Tokyo: if you still plan to make day tripto Fuji/Hakone then stay in Shinjuku to use Romance Car train from that station or near Tokyo Station/Ginza to use Shinkansen via Odawara. Both areas are excellent Tokyo bases in their own right.Thanks @Meta and BJ.
Interesting comment about Phuket. So which island would you recommend? I have only booked the international flights so I can change the beach option!
Ps, in Bangkok I was thinking of the new IC to use our weekend night (ambassador). Is it in good location?
Sorry, I keep remembering things after I send my reply.
Osaka: will go with HI/courtyard.Tokyo: kids want anime, Disney (though we were in Orlando for Xmas), hello kitty land. Any hotel suggestions with that?
Bangkok: temples, shopping and more shopping for me!
Phuket: this is meant to be beach relaxation part. Happy to swap for a more family friendly island. Not Benidorm/Alicante type: actually I have never been to either so don’t know what they offer 😂
Our beach holidays have been: Caribbean, Malta, Cyprus, Seychelles, Mauritius, Hawaii etc.What is a price guideline for a midrange hotel in Tokyo in April?
I’m seeing about £150 to £200pn. Does that sound right?
Tiny studio apartments (25 SQM) on Airbnb are £90 to £100 pn.
What are the recommended Japanese chains?
Thanks.@Aston. What dates?
@Boi, I think you’re sorted on HI and Suites Shin-Osaka. Given prominence of shopping for Bangkok you want CentralWorld/Siam. That means you can walk via skytrain bridges to Central World, Paragon, Siam Central, Discovery and MBK. Hotel-wise this means old IC not new one if you want to use tour voucher. Old IC is very close to the malls and was refurbished last year. If you want no more than one day at Disney in Tokyo then I’d still plan on staying in Ginza but if you do then I’d stay Tokyo Bay near Disney. Regards Phuket or other Islands it depends if you want quiet versus activity, real Thailand versus tourist Thailand. You’d need to answer that before anybody can properly advise, and oresumably your point of arrival is BKK not Phuket?
(FWIW, Alicante is a lovely town)
Thanks again @BJ.
Flights booked so far are: YVR-BKK//NRT-YVR. So I am hoping to finalise the rest of the itinerary.
Islands: is there a midway where I can get a bit of real Thailand and a bit touristy? I kind of like upmarket holiday. We are not party animals. But I don’t want too quiet. Somewhere with things to do for 12-16 year olds and for adults. I like experiencing local culture and food while the others like doing the “touristy” stuff
Ps, I think one day at Disney will be enough.
@Boi just to point out that Chatuchak market in Bangkok (which you CANNOT miss if you like shopping…or
even if you don’t) is only on Sat./Sun.Thanks @Michael C.
Indeed I made sure we are in Bangkok for the weekend just for the market.I am still waiting for island recommendations @BJ or anyone?
I am still waiting for island recommendations @BJ or anyone?
There are islands which are more authentic, but they wouldn’t be easily accessible or might not have some good resorts (with all creature comforts).
If going as a family with just a few days, stick to Phuket. Every place has some bits more touristy than others.The Phuket experience can vary depending on where on the island you stay. Take a look at Kata and Nai Harn as places that may suit you. A lot of people really enjoy holidays in Phuket.
@Aston. What dates?
Final week of April. Before Golden week (I think).
Are those prices normal?What is a price guideline for a midrange hotel in Tokyo in April?
I’m seeing about £150 to £200pn. Does that sound right?
Tiny studio apartments (25 SQM) on Airbnb are £90 to £100 pn.
What are the recommended Japanese chains?
Thanks.I think this is the average price. £150-200pp is actually quite good. Best time to book is 8-9 months ahead.
25sqm is big for Japan! Most hotel rooms are less than that as are apartments. If you need more space you’ll need to fork out more than base rooms or stay at the Western chain.
Japanese chains: Mitsui Garden, Daiwa Roynet, JR (Japan Rail’s properties). Tokyu Stay properties are also nice. Higher end stayed also at the New Otani in Tokyo and their properties elsewhere. (I’d say average for my liking, but the gardens are impressive and service top notch as always) and I also stayed at Hoshino /KAI Resorts in Kyushu (beautiful, but expensive.)
The Phuket experience can vary depending on where on the island you stay. Take a look at Kata and Nai Harn as places that may suit you. A lot of people really enjoy holidays in Phuket.
I enjoy Phuket. Rent a car, go to places with less crowds (zoom in on Google Maps). Stay in a private villa with a pool that no-one overlooks or stay in a hotel with private beach (there are a few that are only accessible if you pass through the reception or by boat, so pretty secluded). Or just sleep in Phuket and do day beach trips to nearby islands.
What is a price guideline for a midrange hotel in Tokyo in April?
I’m seeing about £150 to £200pn. Does that sound right?
Tiny studio apartments (25 SQM) on Airbnb are £90 to £100 pn.
What are the recommended Japanese chains?
Thanks.I think this is the average price. £150-200pp is actually quite good. Best time to book is 8-9 months ahead.
25sqm is big for Japan! Most hotel rooms are less than that as are apartments. If you need more space you’ll need to fork out more than base rooms or stay at the Western chain.
Japanese chains: Mitsui Garden, Daiwa Roynet, JR (Japan Rail’s properties). Tokyu Stay properties are also nice. Higher end stayed also at the New Otani in Tokyo and their properties elsewhere. (I’d say average for my liking, but the gardens are impressive and service top notch as always) and I also stayed at Hoshino /KAI Resorts in Kyushu (beautiful, but expensive.)
Thanks Meta. Appreciate the detailed response.
@Boi, to keep travel simple and to keep your whole party on board I think you best stick with Phuket. The standard of hotels you require are .ore common around Surin Beach. Surin is still yoirisyy but mot the party town that is Patong. so maybe just enough to to keep you all happy. You can hire car/van with driver to explore the coast and beaches of island and mainland on one of your days. The kids might like to see the Fantasea show one evening if that’s still going on. Be carefyl where you choose to eat, many of the restaurants on popular tourist streets are staffed by migrant workers and the food itself often morecresembles UK Chinese takeaway than authentic Thai. If you want authentic and good Thai foodthen go deeper into the sois away from popular tourist streets. High end resorts and hotels in Thailand thankfully also usually have decent more authentic Thai food.
@Aston. What dates?
Final week of April. Before Golden week (I think).
Are those prices normal?Have a look at The Knot, Shinjuku. A 20sq m twin room averages £166 a night. That is fully refundable up to the day before you arrive. Go through TopCashback for 10% back on the basic rate, and one free night for every 10 that you stay.
I’ve stayed there a couple of times, and will be using it again in May.
On previous trips to Japan I’ve found prices have dropped between booking and staying. If this happens, cancel and rebook.
20 sq m is large by Japanese standards, but there is little storage and you will be living out of your suitcase.
I know you wanted shopping in Bangkok but please don’t miss out the river, a lot of the attraction of the place for me is taking the local boat to wherever we want to go. Grand Palace, Wat Arun, IconSiam(shopping) or even a simple trip on the hotel boat (they’ve all got them) to Saphan Taksin to catch the train to Chatuchak market.
An alternative to Phuket could be Khao Lak which is not too far from HKT airport.
@Boi, I also pondered recommending Khao Lak as Hbommie has done. I think it’s worth a look along with Krabi so do spend a little time on research to see what you think. I agree that no trip to Bangkok is completed without spending a day on and around the river even if you don’t stay there.
@Aston?, following comments from meta and Alex I strongly recommend in Japan that you opt for twin rooms. These are often about 5sqm larger and when spave is tight you can use surface of one bed to help move bags and stuff around. My guestimate on average double room size is 14-18sqm and twin 19-23sqm. Beds are smaller too. Just consider ot all part of the experience 🙂
Thanks again, I will take a look.
Will definitely do the boat trip in Bangkok- that’s my kind of thing.
What does twin room actually mean? 2 single beds??? I saw that while browsing hotels, but then they say the room sleeps 4 which got me confused.
I like booking king room for us and a separate 2 queen/double room for kids and I couldn’t see a hotel with such configurationWill definitely do the boat trip in Bangkok- that’s my kind of thing.
Highly recommend the Manohra rice barge cruise offered by the Anantara.
Prices start from around £65pp if I recall correctly.@Aston?, following comments from meta and Alex I strongly recommend in Japan that you opt for twin rooms. These are often about 5sqm larger and when spave is tight you can use surface of one bed to help move bags and stuff around. My guestimate on average double room size is 14-18sqm and twin 19-23sqm. Beds are smaller too. Just consider ot all part of the experience 🙂
Thanks for that.
I’ve seen those twin rooms on hotel sites and agree that they were a bit larger.
I suppose we could push the beds together for (in)appropriate moments.
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