Travel Agent - May 26, 2008 - (Page 28)

DESTINATIONS CONNECTING YOU For more information on traveling to Japan, visit www.travelagentcentral.com/video A Superior Twin Room at Kyoto Hotel Okura CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 The Kyoto Hotel Okura has seven restaurants that offer a variety of world cuisines, including Chinese, Japanese and Italian. The hotel’s signature restaurant is Pittoresque Sky Restaurant, serving French cuisine. Seating ranges from an intimate setting for two to small groups and private rooms. The restaurant is on the top floor of the hotel, providing views of Kyoto and the Higashiyama Mountains. The 18-room Yoshi-ima Ryokan (www. yoshi-ima.co.jp) has an ideal location in the heart of the Gion District. The country inn-style accommodations come complete with wooden bathtubs, futons and low tables. Guests are given a yukata, a traditional Japanese robe, to wear. The rooms’ floors are covered with tatami reed mats, the walls are paper screens and a low, black table sits in the center. Dinner is served in the rooms; it is a multicourse meal consisting of artfully arranged dishes of tempura, salmon, miso soup, sashimi, pickled vegetables, white rice, green tea and strawberries. After dinner, guests are invited to a complimentary tea ceremony in the ryokan’s teahouse, where they also hear a presentation about the history of the property and some of the lore associated with the tea ceremony. Dinner and breakfast is included in the price. Check-in is 4 p.m. and checkout is 10 a.m. During the slow season (winter and summer), a room at Yoshi-ima goes for approximately $190, double occupancy ($250 during the spring and autumn). I Riding the Rails of Kyoto THE MOST CONVENIENT WAY OF TRAVELING from Tokyo to Kyoto is by high-speed rail on the Shinkansen bullet train, or on the JR Limited Express “Haruka,” which can be boarded at Tokyo Station. If your clients are considering a fair amount of rail travel, advise them to purchase a Japan Rail Pass. There are two types of passes: Green for superior-class Green Cars and Ordinary for coach class. Each can be purchased as a seven-day, 14-day or 21-day pass. The rail pass has to be purchased prior to traveling to Japan. There are six agencies in the U.S. selling the exchange order for a pass; go to www.japanrailpass.net for more information. Once your clients are in Japan, they’ll have to turn in the exchange order to receive the actual pass. The easiest way to do this is by going to the Japan Rail Pass office in Tokyo’s Narita Airport on arrival. The pass can be activated on the day of your clients’ arrival. Purchasing a rail pass allows a traveler to reserve seats on certain classes of trains, according to the pass they have. Strongly advise your clients to do this. It will save a lot of stress when it comes time to board. Reserved seats cost a bit more, but the cars will be less crowded. The ticket shows the seat number and car number, but not the track number. Advise your clients The JR Limited Express “Haruka” is a convenient way to travel between Tokyo and Kyoto to ask the ticket clerk for track information. There’s plenty of leg room on the train, although the width of the seats is narrow. There’s a pull-down tray similar to those on an airplane, and a hook next to the window where you can hang a jacket. As for luggage, I had room for a small suitcase (the size of a carry-on bag) in the rack above my seat. While there is no meal service (at least not on the coachclass train I traveled), an attendant regularly comes down the aisle pushing a cart with beverages and snacks. On the Tokyo/Kyoto route, the waiting areas on the tracks had small convenience stores selling bento box meals and other items. 28 | TravelAgent May 26, 2008 http://www.travelagentcentral.com/video http://www.yoshi-ima.co.jp http://www.yoshi-ima.co.jp http://www.japanrailpass.net

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - May 26, 2008

Travel Agent - May 26, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor Las Vegas: New Luxury Lounges and Gourmet Restaurants Lure Non-Gambling Vacationers Europe: Bettoja Hotels Provide a Personal Touch in Italy Pacific/Asia: Kyoto Blends History and Culture in a Serene City Pacific/Asia News and Notes Mexico: Food and Service Entice at Four All-Inclusive Riviera Maya Hotels Special Supplement: The Best of Portugal with Pestana and Pousadas Mexico Deals Caribbean: Region Makes Great Strides in the Ecotour Niche Caribbean News and Notes Cruises: A look at the Swiss Sapphire River Cruiser from its Christening and Inaugural Sailing Norwegian Cruise Lines offers something new Cover Story: Selling Golf Hotels: Golf Resorts with the Budget Golfer in Mind Resorts on Florida’s Gulf Coast Offer Getaway Deals for Summer and Fall Going for Gold: Hertz Incentive Program Encourages Agents to Book Car Rentals Tours: Summer Tour Packages Make the World Affordable for Your Clients Agent Profile: Connie Majors Goes the Extra Mile Members Know: American Express Joins the Networking Bandwagon Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar What Makes a Professional Agent? Hawaii Tourism Adjusts to Changes Asia is the Hot New Cruise Destination The Latest Caribbean Trends In the Spotlight Classified Marketplace Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - May 26, 2008

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