Hong Kong and Tokyo Help Please

[smilingmouse]

Hi everyone! I could use any help/advice that anyone has re: visiting Tokyo and Hong Kong. My Dsecond mom and I are planning a trip to Tokyo and Hong Kong in early 2007. I'm hoping to find a TA who is familiar with the area to help us plan our trip. Does anyone know of a good TA? Any good trip planning web sites? Has anyone ever visited DLT or DLH? If so, what did you think?

TIA!

 

[smilingmouse]

Anyone?

 

[wasabi girl]

My DH is Japanese and we do use a Japanese TA for reservations to Tokyo. No experience with Hong Kong. I don't have the name with me, but I'll check with him and post it tomorrow AM. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

 

[wasabi girl]

Here is one of the Japanese travel services...it is their english page. My Dh deals with them (I speak practically no Japanese). Hope it helps!
http://www.jtbusa.com/enhome/

 

[smilingmouse]

Thanks guys!

 

[RadioNate]

I've been to Tokyo Disneyland. It was cool!

Unfortunatley I didn't do any of the bookings so I can't really help. Our friends that our going to Hong Kong are Chinese and have family there so I'm sure that is helping them plan.

I think Mary at mousesavers did a Tokyo trip, you may want to check out her site.

 

[smilingmouse]

I've read Mary's report, but she did everything herself. I would rather plan things that way, but DMon2 would like to use a TA....I'm not sure which option is best....

 

[ChibiJones]

We're hoping to go to Japan in 2007 as well. Right now, the plan is 2 weeks split between Kyoto and Tokyo. I've been skimming through the Lonley Planet guide. I think they also have message boards, but I haven't checked them out yet.

My mom has invited herself and my dad along & she's a teacher so we're looking at the summer. Given my dad's history of getting lost in the "best" neighborhoods on trips, I'm sure we'll have an interesting trip report.

DH is 1/2 Japanese and has been studying the language for a few years now. After I finish up law school in May, I want to start learning a bit as well. I'm going in to this with the expectation that there will be little or no English on menus, signs, etc. I better make sure I memorize the kanji for ladies room.

 

[RadioNate]

DH is 1/2 Japanese and has been studying the language for a few years now. After I finish up law school in May, I want to start learning a bit as well. I'm going in to this with the expectation that there will be little or no English on menus, signs, etc. I better make sure I memorize the kanji for ladies room.

In Tokyo pretty much everything was in English. But even in some of the more traditional neighborhoods it was surprisingly easy to get around.

People were amazingly helpful and most spoke a little English and would want to talk to you so they could pratice.

 

[ChibiJones]

In Tokyo pretty much everything was in English. But even in some of the more traditional neighborhoods it was surprisingly easy to get around.

People were amazingly helpful and most spoke a little English and would want to talk to you so they could pratice.

I'm not too worried about Tokyo and Kyoto. On future trips we probably will venture to less touristy areas where we would need to speak at least some Japanese.

I have heard that people may approach foreigners to practice their English. I joke that my dad can get anybody's life story in about 30 minutes. I think I should start a family pool to see how long it takes him with a language barrier.

 

[smilingmouse]

. I've been skimming through the Lonley Planet guide. I think they also have message boards, but I haven't checked them out yet.

QUOTE]

Do you happen to have the web address for these boards?

 

[ChibiJones]

http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/

I haven't been to them though so I don't know how helpful it will be. You might want to check the websites for other major travel publishers, like Fodor's, too.

 

[julyn]

We're planning a trip to TDL in May 2007 ... looks like that's the year to go, huh?

My husband loves Hakone - it's good for at least a day trip; we're spending 2 nights there. He LOVES the spas there! The Hakone Open Air Museum is also incredible and worth visiting.

My DCousin & her DD/DS just returned from HKDL. They enjoyed the park very much - the kids were quite young: 4 & 7, so the lack of many thrill rides didn't bother them. They did comment that many of the park guests were quite rude and did not wait their turn in many of the lines. But all in all, they did have a good trip.