Originally Posted by
mphall
So I looked at AA vacations. So, you didn't stay at the hotel that they offered?
No. The key is to price it with at least 3 nights at the lowest priced hotel. Then use your points to stay where you really want.
You 'can' get a better price than if you booked the airfare alone directly through AA. There is a thread on AA on the plusses and minuses in point earning using this method. But I found a great fare and it worked perfectly fine for me.
Also, if you decide to go, read the thread on the Japan message board on info for first time visitors to Japan. It was extremely helpful in planning my trip and using transportation. It is a wealth of information.