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For those stuck in Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi government will underwrite all accommodation costs.

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Virgin also flies direct LHR-MLE

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Tabélog app/website is actually the best and better than Japan Guide one.

https://s.tabelog.com/en/

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@redlilly I hate to break it to you, but this won’t clear by Wednesday and you should look at alternatives today not on Monday if you still want to go. It’s not just people stranded in the Middle East/Asia/Australia, but people in Europe who never departed and they are already looking and booking alternatives.

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That HfP article is largely not relevant because it’s Malaysian Airlines flying to Doha. The OP didn’t specify if it’s all on one ticket, but regardless the UK261 wouldn’t apply on the KUL-DOH leg.

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@BadOmens I’m curious, when you booked how did you plan to arrive to the hotel, did the confirmation email say anything? Did you do any research or you just assumed there is public transport to the island?

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@LD27 Thanks for pointing out Seoul with Virgin Points. Some dates for 15k return in economy, 31k return in PE and J for 140k return. Surcharges are substantial though even in economy and PE. You’re only saving about 50% compared to cash. I am also a bit worried about booking on Virgin as they don’t have a good track record of maintaining the routes, although maybe there is nothing to fear here as if I remember correctly they need to maintain the slot or otherwise they lose it?

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I’ve also flown ANA with Virgin Points, Lufty via Aegean miles, Emirates with Qantas miles (that one was long time ago). Plenty of options outside Avios even at peak times.

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QR has tickets for cca £750 return this November which is peak period for autumn foliage and with some promo codes I am sure you can bring it down by £50-70. If you don’t mind traveling with Chinese airlines than this can be even less than £600. I think using 380k Avios is a waste for such a long flight even for peak periods. Economy tickets to Japan (unless you have to fly at specific dates and/or direct) are gradually decreasing.

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Mid-March is good for Nikko. It might be snowing like last year, but still nice. For that long, I’d consider going to Kyushu/Okinawa (neither will be busy yet, but pleasant, from 1 April pools/beaches in Okinawa are open) or if you want snow Aomori prefecture has some nice spots.

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nd97 wrote:

meta wrote:

@nd97 It’s not impossible to get five or more tickets on JAL, they usually dumped a lot of reward seats closer to departure. I just booked two J seats for end of March from London.

Not sure about the dumping lots of seats closer to departure – how did you catch the 2 Js at end of March? For a specific day or just looking out randomly for seats? I ask since F close in from London to Tokyo has just been non existent for over 10 weeks now – J may be different.

I didn’t advise JAL as OP needs 3 pax – I haven’t ever seen 3 Js or Fs released at once and OP was also looking for next year, so I assume at EOS which means booking likely 1 F seat at T-355 if it’s still available and not taken by someone with JMB 5 days earlier. Provided OP secures that then he still has 2 more seats to go, and he has to chance that on 2 Js opening up closer to departure which isn’t guaranteed – hence my reasoning.

I monitor almost daily as I travel to Japan often. They are also not always released at midnight, it can be at random times of the day. For this particular day 24th March there were 3 F tickets and 2 J tickets released at 4pm GMT and gone by 6pm. I haven’t seen more than 3 F from London, but from Paris and Helsinki there are often 5+ seats available.

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@nd97 It’s not impossible to get five or more tickets on JAL, they usually dumped a lot of reward seats closer to departure. I just booked two J seats for end of March from London.

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You can use companion voucher on Iberia.

I would also suggest Finnair as alternative as stated on numerous threads. 125k return per person + cca £220+ on Finnair vs BA + companion voucher – 110k per person (off peak) and 121k (peak) plus loads in taxes (£500+ per person?). There is a cost of getting to Helsinki. For me it does not make sense paying for inferior product.

There is Qatar as well via Doha. Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong (though the route from Hong Kong to Japan is volatile due to China-Japan spat).

BA only flies to Tokyo whereas Finnair and Qatar also fly to Osaka and Nagoya (and to both Narita and Haneda which opens more possibilities). If you planning to visit Kansai region, it makes more sense not to backtrack to Tokyo and save the costs for shinkansen/plane.

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@LD27 Nikko is still good, especially if you avoid April-May or November. But even then it’s not too crowded as some other places in Japan.

@Rosalita Have you checked with Imperial that they can send the luggage to HND without you being present because I haven’t heard that hotels do that with such a gap. This is Japan we are talking about everything is realiable unless there is some kind of huge disaster (even then they’ll try and do it on time). Normally you need to send luggage to the airport a day before anyway and before 10am in the morning. Yamato (Kuro Neko) can store bags up to two days.

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Booking on Chinese airlines to Japan at the moment is risky as the flights have been reduced by 70% until further notice due to Sino-Japanese political situation at the moment.

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They are usually now available from anything from 10 days before to a few days before. I’d suggest checking daily and beware that what you see on United or other SA airlines search engines does not necessarily match Virgin.

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@LD27 Look at Kinosaki and Hyogo prefecture (but northern parts). You’ll need a car if you want to tour the area, otherwise you can base yourself in Kinosaki. Kanazawa is the new Kyoto. I also would think seriously about Kyushu or even Okinawa where the weather will be more pleasant.

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They run spend offer three times a year if I am not mistaken, spring, summer, winter.

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@redlilly That’s a very packed schedule with 6-month old baby and too much packing/unpacking. What you are essentially trying to do and which might be a problem work is give your husband the usual tourist trail and do things as second-time visitor.

I’d base myself in Osaka and do a few day trips to Kyoto and Nara is also a must for first time. W

Mid-March it’s still likely to be cold and gloomy on many days so Wakayama/Izu will not be as pretty as in pictures though you never know with the weather. Wakayama is close to Osaka and can be done as an extended day trip so you may consider seeing what’s the weather like and deciding on the spot.

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It will be busy everywhere during golden week. How far north do you want to go?

There’s Nikko national park (nice RC there), but it’s likely going to be crowded. I would also look at Sendai and Matsushima. Like walking? You could do Michinoku coastal trail. Aomori region has some nice spots. Area around Lake Towada has lots of things to do. Lake Ogawara is also nice and it’s close to Misawa US air base, the only US base outside Okinawa.

Then there is Hokkaido with plenty options.

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T&C state ENCs will be credited on or before 31 March each year.

“You will receive 15 Elite Night Credits credited to Your Marriott Bonvoy Member Account within 60 days from when Your first Annual Fee has been collected.

Each year thereafter, You will receive 15 Elite Night Credits with Your Subscription on or before 31 March; provided that, the Card is active and in good standing.”

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The offer is valid till 16 March, so why take the gamble? Just book a flexible rate and you can pay on checkout. That way you can also re-book if price drops.

There will be significant reduction in hotel prices after New Years as there will be mass cancellations from Chinese tourist agencies following the new announcement by the Chinese government.

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Biki wrote:

Name: Radisson Blu Hotel, Cebu, Philippines
Upgraded? Yes – from standard double to suite
Lounge Access: yes
Breakfast: Yes
Welcome gift: plate of macarons and voucher for 2 drinks at bar.
Notes: lounge currently being refurbished, so area set up in foyer. Only allows VIP member free entry, charge for second guest. Afternoon is a few cakes and soft drinks, evening is supposed to be cocktails and more food.

I got an upgrade to top suite (one below Presidential) in 2024 as a mere Premium. Can’t comment on the second guest charge for the lounge as I was alone but I was also given free buffet dinner voucher worth 2000php plus two drinks vouchers.

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Bohol, or Panglao to be exact, has become a bit like Bali and Phuket but not as bad. It’s also very much tailored to Korean tourists (half of the shops are with Korean frontage). If you go to Anda region of the island, it’s still very much unspoilt.

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It’s banned, so can’t be done.