Hello everybody.
We (= me,her and our three year old kid) are headed for
Japan between the end of march till the end off april.
Do you know:
1. Will they charge our kid as an extra person in
Hostels/inns?
2. How good is the medic care in Japan?
3. ANy kind of tips/ideas of places to go to with a kid?
Thanks!
[There are 8 posts - the latest was added on Mon 22 Feb, 4:46]
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Try contacting JNTO (Japan National Tourist Org) -they have
offices in most major cities. Medical care is a bit
backwards, but I think the main problem, esp outside Tokyo,
is finding a doc who can speak English. I suggest looking
for a bilingual phrase book with a good health section so
you just point at the appropriate phrase. Also, medicine is
very expensive, so take the basics with you. For minor
ailments, you can ak a pharmacist just like anywhere else
(if the yspeak English!)
If your child is blond, be prepared to be stared at!!!
There's Tokyo Disneyland....never travelled with a kid, so I
can't advise where to go... enjoy though! It's a safe and
comfortable place to travel.
Try contacting JNTO (Japan National Tourist Org) -they have
offices in most major cities. Medical care is a bit
backwards, but I think the main problem, esp outside Tokyo,
is finding a doc who can speak English. I suggest looking
for a bilingual phrase book with a good health section so
you just point at the appropriate phrase. Also, medicine is
very expensive, so take the basics with you. For minor
ailments, you can ask a pharmacist just like anywhere else
(if the yspeak English!)
If your child is blond, be prepared to be stared at!!!
There's Tokyo Disneyland....never travelled with a kid, so I
can't advise where to go... enjoy though! It's a safe and
comfortable place to travel.
Nathan
I posted a message re: Middle east with a kid and you responded promptly - thanks for your reply. I sent an email directly to you asking questions - was wondering did you get it? If not here is what I wrote. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.
We are planning the trip for maybe Sept-Oct to stay out of the seering summer heat (though on the down side of this Zach will then be over 2 and more expensive to fly). Anyway we thought of flying into and out of Cairo purely as its the cheapest destination by far from London and were hoping to do a 3 week loop from Cairo across to Suez - Eliat onto Wadi Rum, Petra, Amman, Jerusalem-Tel Aviv, Dead Sea and back to Cairo via Port Said and Alexandria.
We found whenever we go somewhere that taking a 32 pack on nappies (supplemented by the cheap local brands is the best way to go) and by the end of the trip you have room to stash all those gooides you baught. We took 2 packs to Africa and managed to fill the space left at the end of the holiday with a drum, mask, heaps of clothes for relies, and various bits of woodwork (as we had just bought a new place and this was decorating ofn the cheap!)
The biggest thing we are concerned about is accommodation - we want privacy and some quite but not really boring away from everything type place, obviously so the nipper can play and sleep well - so either good family friendly hostels or cheap hotels as we obviously want to keep the costs down. Zach is fine to sleep in a double bed with us but is this cool over there? Another concern is how child friendly places to eat are, and whether pubs allow kids in in early afternoon hours. We found this no problem in Africa but in London we are often told to piss off as we have a kid with us! I ask about pubs as hey ypou know what its like on holidays and they are often the cheapest decent place to eat! Can you give some advice in this respect.
Finally what would you recommend as a child friendly 1 week itinery of Israel and best method of transport. Finally what could we expect to pay for reasonable but budget everything along the way?
Many thanks in advance
Crispin
Nathan
sent you an email re your resposne to my post below about 3 weeks in Middle east with a kid - did you get it? If not here it is again. Any help/suggestions would be great.
We are planning the trip for maybe Sept-Oct to stay out of the seering summer heat (though on the down side of this Zach will then be over 2 and more expensive to fly). Anyway we thought of flying into and out of Cairo purely as its the cheapest destination by far from London and were hoping to do a 3 week loop from Cairo across to Suez - Eliat onto Wadi Rum, Petra, Amman, Jerusalem-Tel Aviv, Dead Sea and back to Cairo via Port Said and Alexandria.
We found whenever we go somewhere that taking a 32 pack on nappies (supplemented by the cheap local brands is the best way to go) and by the end of the trip you have room to stash all those gooides you baught. We took 2 packs to Africa and managed to fill the space left at the end of the holiday with a drum, mask, heaps of clothes for relies, and various bits of woodwork (as we had just bought a new place and this was decorating ofn the cheap!)
The biggest thing we are concerned about is accommodation - we want privacy and some quite but not really boring away from everything type place, obviously so the nipper can play and sleep well - so either good family friendly hostels or cheap hotels as we obviously want to keep the costs down. Zach is fine to sleep in a double bed with us but is this cool over there? Another concern is how child friendly places to eat are, and whether pubs allow kids in in early afternoon hours. We found this no problem in Africa but in London we are often told to piss off as we have a kid with us! I ask about pubs as hey ypou know what its like on holidays and they are often the cheapest decent place to eat! Can you give some advice in this respect.
Finally what would you recommend as a child friendly 1 week itinery of Israel and best method of transport. Finally what could we expect to pay for reasonable but budget everything along the way?
Many thanks in advance
Crispin
nathan
I sent an email direct re your reply to my post about baby travels in Middle east. Did you get it? If not here tis again
We are planning the trip for maybe Sept-Oct to stay out of the seering summer heat (though on the down side of this Zach will then be over 2 and more expensive to fly). Anyway we thought of flying into and out of Cairo purely as its the cheapest destination by far from London and were hoping to do a 3 week loop from Cairo across to Suez - Eliat onto Wadi Rum, Petra, Amman, Jerusalem-Tel Aviv, Dead Sea and back to Cairo via Port Said and Alexandria.
We found whenever we go somewhere that taking a 32 pack on nappies (supplemented by the cheap local brands is the best way to go) and by the end of the trip you have room to stash all those gooides you baught. We took 2 packs to Africa and managed to fill the space left at the end of the holiday with a drum, mask, heaps of clothes for relies, and various bits of woodwork (as we had just bought a new place and this was decorating ofn the cheap!)
The biggest thing we are concerned about is accommodation - we want privacy and some quite but not really boring away from everything type place, obviously so the nipper can play and sleep well - so either good family friendly hostels or cheap hotels as we obviously want to keep the costs down. Zach is fine to sleep in a double bed with us but is this cool over there? Another concern is how child friendly places to eat are, and whether pubs allow kids in in early afternoon hours. We found this no problem in Africa but in London we are often told to piss off as we have a kid with us! I ask about pubs as hey ypou know what its like on holidays and they are often the cheapest decent place to eat! Can you give some advice in this respect.
Finally what would you recommend as a child friendly 1 week itinery of Israel and best method of transport. Finally what could we expect to pay for reasonable but budget everything along the way?
Many thanks in advance
Crispin
One of my closest friends lives in Nagoya, and has for about 10 years. She has 4 kids - 18 mos, 4, 7 and 9, with all the accidents and diseases that come with kids. She says medical care in Japan is acutally better than in the United States, but more clinical and less family-friendly.
Well my daughters and I just got back, they are 8&14. I think 3 yrs old would actually be easier to travel with. They had some trouble adjusting to the food and at one point when I truly felt like I was losing my 8 yr old a McD's appeared outside the Toyko subway. It's amazing what a
buger and fries will do. The toilets were very different than
what they were used too and thank the gods I had packed
toilet paper in everyones backpack. The 8 yr old decided
she would not "go" until we were headed for home and
she got pretty sick. Worst thing your child can tell you after
they have rectum rockets is: "Don't worry Mom I only used two pieces of toilet paper." Their priorities change real fast
on the road. The people in Japan were great!! We voted on the way home and all decided we would return, hands
down.
We were there the first two weeks in Feb. and none of
our rooms were heated. We stayed in Youth Hostels the
entire time. We ate out of markets and noodle houses
and just had a wonderful time.
Aspirin was over $8.00 abottle and we used the Childrens Tylenol more than once but I must say it saved the trip and I would have paid 3X the amount to save a trip.
Have a great time. My kids made great friendships and
it was a trip that will last them a life time.
The youth hostels in Kyoto, Nikko, Yokahama and Toyko
all charge by the head, so the three of us paid anywhere
from 6,190 to 7,200 Yen a night. Someplaces charged the
14 yr old as an adult and some didn't. We also took the
dream bus from Kyoto to Tokyo and wouldn't do it again with kids.
The kids thought Nikko was the best for the Monkeys.
It's just an hour North of Toyko. Toyko was very kid friendly. We were there off season and people were truly
amazed to see a woman backpacking alone with 2 kids,
we had lots of conversation and questions. At one point
a whole group of school children surrounded us, took our
pictures and just wanted to talk with my kids. The 8 year
old observed, "is this what it's like to be a rock star?"
Best tip for surviving the nights in the hostels, wear a
hat to bed.
Frommer's guide had a kid friendly section I used. Skip
the joyopolis in Kyoto, there are so many other things to do.
Off season was great, the monks at several temples were so pleased to see children. In one case we got a guided tour. He showed the kids how and why you light
incense and bang the gong for a 100 yen. Anyway have
a wonderful time...