Us, Saving On Accommodation

Our ways to save a bit of cash on accommodation helped us to lower down our expenses.

The money saved on accommodation can be used for more important stuff like eating good food and shopping. Don't you agree? *^-^*

Memberships do pay its worth, and for us that meant having:

Frequent Flyer Membership even if we don't travel all that much

I enrolled the three of us to Japan Airline's JAL Family Club (JAL FC)  for a mere 3,150yen a year membership.

As JAL FC members, we can pool our mileage and redeem the mileage for vouchers that can be used for shopping, dining and hotel stays in Japan at their JAL Hotel.

A night's stay at Nikko Hotel Nagasaki-Huis Ten Bosch, Nikko Hotel  Ginza and Nikko Hotel Kawasaki were all paid using JAL vouchers. A return trip for three to Tokyo can give me enough mileage to redeem for a 20,000yen worth of vouchers.

Even if we don't have any vouchers, there are good deals on room rates to be found with the JAL Mileage Bank Membership (JMB) which is considerably cheaper than reserving without one.

Hotel Membership

When we were regulars to Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel, and Zaini being a Marriott Rewards member; we raked up enough nights and points to redeem for a night or two at Marriott Hotel in Japan. That's usually translated to a savings of between 16,000 - 30,000 yen per night.

Toyoko-Inn is a good option for a cheap yet comfortable stay. Rooms are clean and they are pretty much standard at any locations in Japan. With rooms that cost less than 10,000yen per night for us, free breakfast, laundry option and the hotels' close vicinity to train stations - this chain is our favourite.

Zaini enrolled for a Toyoko-Inn Club Card International Membership and the few privileges the membership accords him are - 30% discount on quoted room rates for check-in on Sundays and public holidays, 6 months' advance reservation (instead of 3 months for general public), early check-in at 3.00pm instead of the normal 4.00pm and for every 10 nights' stay, we get a free single room night.

Membership only cost us a one time fee of 1,500yen and Zaini got his card immediately upon signing up with all the privileges accorded immediately too. You have to be physically at one of the Toyoko-Inn hotel to sign-up though.

Last year, we were in Japan during the Silver Week holiday and raked huge savings because quite a number of nights' stay were discounted. An 8,000yen room cost only 5,000yen for us after discount and that's a double room fit for the three of us. With free breakfast thrown in (and dinner at some branches) that can translate into a pretty good savings.

Other ways of savings for us:

Overnight trips on a sleeper train/bus

 Express Noto

When we were traipsing around Japan using their exceptional train service, fully utilising our JR Pass, we took the Express Noto Midnight Train to/fro Tokyo/Kanazawa and spent the night in the train. Another planned overnight train ride on the Sunrise Izumo didn't pan put because there were not enough seats available. :(

Express Noto Midnight trains has a ladies only compartment, and the compartment even has blankets available for commuters to use. Noto only have seats available and no private berths.

Sleeping on the train by just reserving a seat is of no extra cost to JR Pass holders unless you go for the berth/sleeping compartments. If you need to sleep lying down, the extra fares incurred to use the berth/couchettes on the night trains will be pretty much the same as spending a night in a hotel.

How about you? Any tips you can add to save on accommodation during your trips overseas?