Traveling to Japan eventually - Would like some advice.

[Tony Galiani]

Expedia is fine - as long as you have no travel issues.  If, for example, a flight gets cancelled, then you may have to work with Expedia to get rebooked - the airline may not be as helpful as you might like but instead direct you to where you purchased the tickets to get assistance.

 

I used them to book one hotel in Japan as it did not have a functional English web site and that did work okay.  Except for the deluge of unsolicited emails Expedia kept sending me after I used them once.

 

You may want to do a search on some of the travel forums for further input and reviews of Expedia.  Also, review the travel details carefully when purchasing flight tickets as there may often be extra charges for seat selection, baggage and so on.  Personally, I may use them again for a hotel but I will always purchase my airline tickets directly from the airline.

 

Tony

Edited 12 hours ago by Tony Galiani
additional info

[Kingmeow]

In our last trip Oct/Nov for three weeks, we did all our 7 hotel bookings via Expedia with no issues at all.  I was hesitant as we typically don't use Expedia, let alone now for hotels in a different country.  Download and install their app.  It makes it much easier AFTER booking on their website.  I prefer their website when booking and exploring as I have a big screen to navigate and digest the ancillary information.  But once booked I find all that info superfluous and that's when I decided to install the app and it was wonderful.

 

Now for airfare we went on United's website and did not use Expedia.  There are only a limited number of airlines that flies from Newark (EWR) to Japan so I don't need the "million" choices that Expedia offers.  Also, like Tony said, any flight issues you deal with Expedia.  You may not get a customer service friendly response if you call the airline direct.

 

Now for the previous journey two trips ago in Aug/Sep in 2023 we had 4 hotel bookings.  Three of the hotels were Intergate and they have a great English website laid our very well and easy to navigate so we did those ourselves.  The other one is an Onsen hotel in Kyoto and we went through Expedia for that one.  I think they either didn't have a website or one that was Japanese only.

 

Note: Some, like Toyoko Inn, has a Japanese website and initially I thought my browser would translate everything for me.  Nope.  They translate everything alright but many were literal and didn't make sense at all.  Ended up giving up and went with Expeida (Oct/Nov trip).  Last thing I need is show up half way around the world and there's no place to sleep because of my incompetence in working a Japanese website!  😲

[bc6]

Thanks, Tony and Kingmeow for the advice, I've been exploring airlines outside of Expedia and can now see why some people chose to book directly with either the hotel or airlines. One problem I had with flights and Expedia was they didn't offer personal bags on JAL but when I call JAL directly they allow personal bags. I know airlines can do different things depending on their agreement with a third-party company. It was strange on all of their flights to Japan. I'm going to do more searches directly with airlines and hotels and see if I can find something that I like. 

[cteno4]

I’ve used Expedia off and on for us travel and now usually I just shop for prices there and then see about booking directly with airlines and hotels. Sometimes Expedia has good deals on hotels you can’t get directly so that’s where I generally use them. But beware on hotel information as they sometimes leave things out like the front desk closes at midnight, or parking fees may not be correct (I’ve had free parking listing on Expedia turn out to be $20+ and hotel staff just rolls their eyes as the fee has always been there). I’ve never had to redo airline flights with any Expedia bookings, but I could see how the airlines could use Expedia booking as a way to try to get you to go away during major rebooking event.

 

jeff

[SL-san]

2 hours ago, bc6 said:

can now see why some people chose to book directly with either the hotel

 

6 hours ago, Kingmeow said:

Some, like Toyoko Inn, has a Japanese website and initially I thought my browser would translate everything for me.  Nope.

bc6

I have used Toyoko Inn almost exclusively for my last six trips to Japan and found their English language web site https://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/index easy to use.  To get the best rate you need to book with their website NOT a third party.  The other cost saving measure is to join their Toyoko Inn Club when you arrive at your first booking.  I can't recall the fee but the discounts and benefits (one night free after 10?) soon pay for it.  I presume the Club is still open to foreigners  as it was when I joined in 2017.

Toyoko Inn is a businessmen's hotel with mainly single rooms but it does have double rooms at the end of each floor.  Rooms are small (as are most in Japan) but had everything we needed and the en-suite bathroom is a marvel of compact design.  Japanese breakfast is included in the room cost and Toyoko Inns are located close to railway or metro stations.  Staff do not speak much (sometimes no) english but are always willing (this is Japan) to help or find someone who can.

Hope this helps,

Graeme

[SL-san]

1 minute ago, SL-san said:

I joined in 2017.

Can't even get that right ...I joined in 2013

[bill937ca]

I usually book directly with hotels. For a trip I am planning this year, I booked the hotel directly and later noticed a third party site with a rate $300 more for the same one night stay.

Edited 4 hours ago by bill937ca

[chadbag]

11 hours ago, bc6 said:

Thanks Yugamu that helps me very much, I'll keep looking on Expedia.

If Expedia works then it works.   There are some advantages to booking directly with the airline.  If there are issues they will help you and not refer you to your travel agent.  That sort of thing.  Once your on the flight if issues arrive they'll help you anyway but if you have questions about seats or anything before hand the airline will push you back to the agent in my experience.

 

Also, most hotels don't give points if you book through a third partt (there are some exceptions) so if you plan on staying in a hotel chain that you are a points earning member of there is that to consider.

[chadbag]

4 hours ago, bc6 said:

Thanks, Tony and Kingmeow for the advice, I've been exploring airlines outside of Expedia and can now see why some people chose to book directly with either the hotel or airlines. One problem I had with flights and Expedia was they didn't offer personal bags on JAL but when I call JAL directly they allow personal bags. I know airlines can do different things depending on their agreement with a third-party company. It was strange on all of their flights to Japan. I'm going to do more searches directly with airlines and hotels and see if I can find something that I like. 

 

That with the bags is probably just an issue of matching the actual policy with Exoedias disclaiming text.  I've never had an airline have different bag policies depending on where I bought it (ticketed on that airline -- not codeshare).   I did have the issue with a AA codeshare flight on a JAL plane.  Despite it being a JAP plane we had to abide by AA baggage policies.

 

Most of the websites like Expedia and stuff just link you to the airlines baggage policies pages anyway.  They may say some stuff on the itinerary but when you click a details link that will take you to a page that jumps to each airlines baggage policy so don't worry. If you buy a real JAL ticket on Expedia (not a codeshare from AA or Air Canada or something that is on a JAL plane) you'll get the same baggage allowance as buying directly from JAL *FOR THE SAME TICKET CLASS*.  Some airlines have basic fares that don't have luggage included so make sure you're comparing apples to apples.