Book hotels before the trip?

[Gnarf]

Hello everyone!

Me and my soon-to-be-wife is going to Japan for our honeymoon in November. We start in Tokyo but are going to spend most of our 16 days in the Kansai region. This is our first trip to Japan so I wonder about how far in beforehand you should book hotels? Do you have to book at all or is it easy to get a room by just dropping in? Even though we have been saving up for about a year we will probably try and stick to the cheaper hotels.

I am kind of little physical disabled and have a hard time walking long distances. So running around in a new town to find a suitable hotel who have vacancies is really not an option for me.

BTW, first post

 

[ArmandV]

Welcome aboard!

Yes, I book hotel rooms at least about two months in advance. For one thing, you would be more able to find the right room for the right price. For another, since you have a disability, booking early would help you to find something that would be more accomodating to your needs.

I don't consider it fun to run around a city or town that you're unfamiliar with looking for a room. They may be already booked up or they may be at a price that would bust your travel budget.

 

[Gnarf]

Thanks ArmandV!

I guess you are right, its better to take the safe road and book everything before getting there. We were just hoping that the trip could be a little flexible if we for an example want to stay one or two extra days in a city we like. I guess we just have to plan longer time at each "home base" so we have time to improvise

 

[ArmandV]

Thanks ArmandV!

I guess you are right, its better to take the safe road and book everything before getting there. We were just hoping that the trip could be a little flexible if we for an example want to stay one or two extra days in a city we like. I guess we just have to plan longer time at each "home base" so we have time to improvise

I know what you mean. I would have liked to have stayed in Nagasaki and Fukuoka an extra night each last April, but I was locked into my hotel reservations in Tokyo.

 

[Amos]

I totally agree with the man ArmandV, try to book it all before you go and then you don't have to worry about wasting your holiday time looking for a hotel when you arrive somewhere. Many places now have English websites so it's very easy to find out the details and make a booking.

Are you going to be travelling by train? If so there are always plenty of reasonably priced business hotels located near to the train stations. This way you won't hopefully have too far to travel if that's a problem for you.

Here are a few sites to give you an idea:

Nagano Snow Tours – Ski/Snowboard Vacations in the Northern Japan Alps
http://japanhotelsonline.net/jho/sys/
http://www.e-japanhotels.com/

also check the listings in lonely planet and rough guide

I hope you have a great time

 

[Gnarf]

Thanks for the links and the advice! We will now definitely book all hotels before the trip. I have received good answers fast, isnt this forum the best?

 

[hutchi]

hi all,
i have seen that you all say that you should book your accommodation before you get there. i was wondering if it would be possible to find accommodation in hostels by simply turning up on their door step as i do not wish to be restriced to a time frame while im over there as it is my last holiday before i finish uni and get a real job, i intend to be over there for a couple of months at the end of the year and am aware that i will have to book for the period from about the 25th of dec to the 5th or so due to the dosmestic holidays.

 

[ArmandV]

hi all,
i have seen that you all say that you should book your accommodation before you get there. i was wondering if it would be possible to find accommodation in hostels by simply turning up on their door step as i do not wish to be restriced to a time frame while im over there as it is my last holiday before i finish uni and get a real job, i intend to be over there for a couple of months at the end of the year and am aware that i will have to book for the period from about the 25th of dec to the 5th or so due to the dosmestic holidays.

Since I've never tried to stay at a hostel, I can't help you there. Just showing up anywhere without a reservation is a big gamble, in my view.