Success!

[rkold]

It's done! I've finally booked my airfare (just managing to get a slightly lower sale fare before it ended), rail pass, and cell phone for Japan. Because of the locations of events I want to attend, I needed a 3 week pass. ~.~ So frustrating! I wish I could have gotten away with just 2 week.

I will be in Japan 10/5-10/22. Anyone who wants to meet up with me there, let me know and we can see if something is possible. I am going to be traveling around a lot. I still need to book a few more nights reservation and then I am set.

I'm a little stressed because I only have 1 hour between my flight arriving in SFO and my flight to Nagoya. If I flew to Osaka I'd only gain 30 minutes more (as well as need to pay $300 more) and going through LA to Tokyo doesn't help much and involves then getting from NRT to Kyoto, which even with a rail pass sucks vs. Nagoya which is much closer.

I know even with stops for food I can get from my gate to the Nagoya gate in 15 or so minutes, it's more... I am nervous about my flight being late. I guess if worse comes to worse, I can then waitlist for Osaka or Tokyo since both flights are later cause forcing me to spend 24 hours stuck in the SFO airport would be miserable and United is selling this booking knowing that anyone from NY has no choice but to take my flight. I'm hoping the fact it is one of the first flights of the day from JFK helps.

Wheeeeeee Japan!!!!!

Much love to twotone!!!! I got the possets I will send you a small package before you get back and I hope all is well and you had a safe flight!!!

Happy belated birthday to seaster, I hope you get your boy!

Comments

[angelbase.livejournal.com]

So, *so* envious!!! Have much fun on your trip! (And I hope your flights are all on time! That's been rare with me, lately. ^^; )

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping since my flight is one of the earliest from JFK (6:20 am *GULP*) I make my connection in SFO. I know the airport pretty well so if the shuttle is not backed up I can make it to the correct gate in about 15-20 minutes easily. Since the Nagoya flight is pretty early it should work out...

You so need to go to Japan!! The airfare has definitely increased over the years, but I've found so many new hotel options! I'm hoping to give a joint presentation with Aimee about traveling to Japan at Dollectable in 2008! :D

[angelbase.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's mainly the airlines I've been flying (USAir and Delta) but I've had so many flights canceled lately due to "technical problems" (when it was pretty obvious that the technical problem was that they didn't sell enough seats so combined the flight with a later one.) Fortunately, they've usually made an honest effort to get you to your final destination as near as they can to your original time.

I'd love to go back to Japan! Maybe next year. Would be wonderful to see friends there! *^_^*

Have so much fun and be safe!!!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Yeah I think they do that here as well, but generally the flights to SFO are pretty full. It's a relatively popular destination and prob most of the people flying with me are either make connections or going on business.

This is the only flight from NY that gets you in time to make it to NGO and KIX.

The prob is there is only one flight a day to NGO, but there are two later flights to Japan which is good enough since I have the pass.

You should try for GW. It's a great time to go!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Yeap, I remember the 5th is your birthday, I thought you might want to spend it with your husband. ^^;;

Also, I am spending the night of the 5th in Kyoto cause Cassiel confirmed that there is some sort of Sato event on the 6th. ^^;;; Early afternoon I hope to leave for Tokyo though and will be there a few days. If you're going to be in Tokyo for a while you're welcome to come to Spark with me and becroberts. We're meeting there after it opens since she doesn't want to go as early as I do. Are you available for dinner on the 7th or 8th? Also, when are you leaving Japan?

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I'm not going to be there that long cause I want to get into Tokyo by a reasonable time. (Also I like Tokyo much much better for dinner than Kyoto >>; ) Though of course you might still want to go to the event. I just hope to catch the 14:10 from Saga Arashiyama so I can then catch the 416 Hikari at 14:35 pm.

Perhaps we can meet for dinner the 6th in Tokyo then? I have semi-plans with someone but I can ask them if they can change to the 7th or 8th. :)

If you're going to be Tokyo most of October perhaps we can meet for dinner on the 21st?

[rkold.livejournal.com]

We can try :) I just will prob book my shikansen, the 14:35, when I get my pass cause I like having a seat! If you need to be back in Tokyo you can take the same shinkansen as me, unless you have plans to spend longer in Kyoto. I just find Kyoto a difficult place to eat, it's why I generally stay in Osaka.

That and if you are not doing dinner with me I have those tentative plans in Tokyo.

There is nothing for me to eat around Sato other than cake and ice cream and there are soooooo many places I love in Tokyo.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Okies please do!

But I really do need to take a mid afternoon train, just to warn you now.

[ad-exia.livejournal.com]

Have fun on your trip! And best of luck making that connection - hopefully if it is early in the day, you should be all right. ^_^

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm very very anxious but it seems I don't have a choice and anyone trying to make the flight to KIX has to take the same morning flight cause that is it lol

[ad-exia.livejournal.com]

Yeah, if that's the only choice, hopefully they'll realize that!

[jougetsu.livejournal.com]

Enjoy your trip, Rachel! Have fun and take lots of pictures! Good luck with the connections, though I'm sure you'll do fine.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I hope the connections work you, it's my one big concern. I pretty much completely my reservations last night. :D

I'll try to get a lot of pictures!!!!

[kellyhime.livejournal.com]

Yay! Congratulations!!! I so wish that we were going, but it's looking less likely. Ugh! And I just check tickets on JTB and they're really expensive now ($500 before tax as opposed to the usual $300). What happened?

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I wish you were going too.

The airfares have all gone up, I think it's from a combination of airline industry woes, consolidating flights, and oil prices. I usually can get around 550/600 pre-tax (heck, there use to be a time I got $550 total!) Mine was more than yours, but I'm coming from NY and have to get to CA first. The nice thing is I will hopefully make my goal of 50,000 miles this year XD;

BTW I might be coming to San Fran in December with my mom if you want to meet! :D

[kellyhime.livejournal.com]

That would be great! Keep me posted about when you will be here.^_^