Sunday, April 7, 2013

What are some affordable ryokan in Nikko?

Q. Our trip to Japan in November is being adjusted a bit to include one night in Nikko at the beginning of the trip, and we're on the hunt for an affordable ryokan... Somewhere around 4-5,000JPY preferably. Something along the cost-lines of the Turtle Inn and Annex but with better reviews...

Have you stayed there and have a place to recommend?

A. Unfortunately since most visitors to Nikko are day trippers from Tokyo, accommodations in Nikko tend to run from the elegant and expensive to the cheap and shabby. In the price range you're looking at, you're not going to find anything luxurious.

Having stayed at the Turtle Inn Annex in Oct. 2007, I found it to be an extremely comfortable, well run little ryokan hotel that has some nice nice touches. It's a bit off the beaten path, down a rural street and nestled against the banks of the Daiyagawa river, which makes it a very quiet and restful location and it's only a pleasant walk away from the Shinkyo bridge (going past that brings you towards the town center) and the Toshogu Shrine and the Rinnoji Temple. The family that runs the both the annex and the Turtle Inn down the road were extremely friendly and helpful and were happy to give you tips on all the things to see. Their English was excellent and while I had to go to the Turtle Inn for dinner and to use the communal computer, the Annex was a really lovely place to stay. And the bath downstairs (which you can use privately) was first rate.

Having stayed at a few places in Japan that got bad reviews on some of the tourist websites and found them to be wonderful, I tend to take traveler reviews with a big grain of salt. I've seen people write bad reviews when they learned that the inns they were staying at had curfews (which is nearly universal with ryokans), or complaining about steep staircases when staying at inns over 100 years old. Since you are only staying for one night, I wouldn't sweat trying to find the perfect place - you want quiet, clean, safe and comfortable. I can assure you from personal experience that the Turtle Inn Annex provides all of that.

Where in Jakarta can I find a super clean 3-4 star hotel?
Q. I plan to travel with my husband and five year old daughter to jakarta in around April-May 2008. Because of a young child I'm super concious of cleanliness and I would like to reserve a good 3-4 star hotel for around $60-70 /night. I plan to move ahead to bali from there.
Can you please give me some suggestions?

A. I think with USD 60-70 you could get 5-star standard hotel in Jakarta. Note: the classes are 5-star standard, 5-star diamond, 5-star boutique hotels.

To encounter the previous answer above:
I assume you are foreigner who doesn't have Limited Stay Permit Card (KITAS), so the rate usually applied to non-KITAS holder is in USD, not in IDR.

Not all location of the hotels offered by 'economist' above are that "strategic". If you want to be nearer to the city center, I suggest the below 5-star standard hotels that located on the road-side of the main avenue:
In Jalan Sudirman: Hotel Le Meridien, Hotel Sahid Jaya, Hotel Sultan (previously Hotel Hilton).
In Jalan Thamrin: Hotel Nikko, Hotel Sari Pan Pacific.

5-star diamond:
In Jalan Sudirman: Hotel Inter-continental.
In Jalan Thamrin: Hotel Grand Hyatt.

For 3-star hotel, the good one is Hotel Cemara in Jalan Cemara, near Jalan Wahid Hasyim and Jalan Thamrin.

Have a nice visit to Indonesia :)

Best hotels in Bali for honeymooners which love beaches, watersport, relaxing and sightseeing?
Q. Hi all,
We are thinking to go to Bali on our short honeymoon this december. We both love crowds, party and gigs also fine dining.
Please advise us which hotels in Bali which has a beautifull beach to relax and do some watersports? We both also love travelling and sightseeing, heard that Bali is really beautifull with lovely people.
What else we could do in Bali other than those things above?

A. Plenty of hotels there depend on your budget. Try this hotel for honeymooners and partygoers :
1. Nikko Hotel at Nusa Dua, Bali (http://www.nikkobali.com/)
great locations.
2. Bali Intercontinental
Apart from that, a lot of private bungalows, three stars hotels there. Stay in Kuta area for beach and night life.
Try Jogja in Central java, a 45 minutes flight from Bali and see Borobudur the largest Budhist temple in the world and many many attractions. You won't regret my advice.
Have a great honeymoon!




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