Where to Stay - Tokyo - page 89

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Tips for Saving on Your Hotel Room

Although Japanese hotels have traditionally remained pretty loyal to their
published rack rates, which are always available at the front desk, the reces-
sion has opened possibilities for bargains.
• Check the Internet. If the hotel has a website, check to see whether dis-
counts or special promotions are offered. Some hotels offer discounts
exclusively through the Internet. In addition, check hotel booking sites such
as Expedia and Rakuten Travel (see “Surfing for Hotels,” above).
• Always ask politely whether a room less expensive than the first one
mentioned is available. Because there are usually many categories, ask
what the difference is, say, between a standard twin and a superior twin.
If there are two of you, ask whether a double or a twin room is cheaper.
Ask whether there are corporate discounts. Find out the hotel's policy on
children—do children stay free in the room or is there a special rate?
• Contact the hotel directly. In addition to calling a hotel's toll-free number,
call the hotel directly to see where you can get the best deal.
• Ask about promotions and special plans. Hotels frequently offer special
“plans,” including “Spring Plans,” “Ladies' Plans,” and even “Shopping Plans,”
which provide cheaper rates and services.
• Remember the law of supply and demand. Resort hotels are more
crowded and therefore more expensive on weekends and during peak
travel periods such as Golden Week. Discounts, therefore, are often available
for midweek and off-season stays.
• Ask about hotel membership plans. Some chain business hotels offer
hotel memberships with discounts on meals and free stays after a certain
number of nights. Others, such as the New Otani, Okura, and the Imperial
in Tokyo, allow free use of the hotel swimming pool simply if you become
a member at no extra charge. Ask the concierge or front desk for a mem-
bership application.

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city, on the 10th floor of the Kotsu Kaikan Building (2-10-1 Yurakucho; & 03/3201-
3331 ). Reservations are accepted at the Narita TIC daily from 8am to 7:30pm; and at
the Tokyo TIC daily from 9 to 11:30am and 1 to 4:30pm.
SURFING FOR HOTELS In addition to the online travel booking sites Travelocity,
Expedia, Orbitz, and Priceline, other good sites to check include Hotels.com, Asia
travel.com, and Asia-hotels.com. In any case, be sure to compare rates at several book-
ing sites, as well as with individual hotel websites to make sure you're getting a good deal.
For Japan-specific websites, government-approved moderate and higher-priced hotels
that are members of the Japan Hotel Association are listed at www.j-hotel.or.jp . Like-
wise, high-priced, government-registered members of the Japan Ryokan Association can
be found at www.ryokan.or.jp . Budget-priced Japanese inns—which do not offer the
service or the class of high-priced inns, but do offer the experience of sleeping Japanese-
style—who are members of the Japanese Inn Group (see above for details)—are listed at