wkawalek

Planning a trip to Japan and China at end of April/early May and would like advice. Prefer to fly to Honolulu for a few days then to Tokyo for a week or so then onward to Beijing then back to USA.

I'm originating in Cleveland and I know Midway in Chicago has a lot of flights to Narita.

Any way I can squeeze Honolulu in there for a few (4-5) days prior to flying to Tokyo? Any way that is not ridiculously expensive that is. Any route help would be greatly appreciated...I know there are particular routes that make this more of a viable option than others...

Thanks in advance FTers!

RichardInSF

Yes, I have some very straightforward advice for you: Do not go to Japan at the end of April/early May. Really. Don't go then. That is the time of the "Golden Week" holiday in Japan and everything, and I mean everything, will be very full and crowded. The same is true for Hawaii, as a good portion of Japan will be filling up all the hotels in Hawaii as well.

Pick some other time to go.

I also cannot imagine that Midway airport in Chicago has a lot of flights to Narita, as you state. I would expect that ALL flights to Japan leave and arrive at O'Hare.

It will almost certainly cost more to stopover in Hawaii, at any time. Hawaii - Japan flights tend to be expensive because Hawaii is very popular with Japanese tourists. There are regularly times when LAX/SFO-NRT can cost less than HNL-NRT.

You need to do your homework.

ksandness

Not only that, but visiting both China and Japan in two weeks will give you the "if it's Tuesday this must be the Great Wall" feeling.

This isn't like visiting two adjacent European countries. China alone is about the size of the U.S., and extremely varied. I spent five weeks there once, and every city we visited had different architecture, different food, different natural surroundings, and different dialects.

Pick either China or Japan. There will be plenty to see in either country, and given your timing, China would be the better choice this time around. (At least you weren't planning to visit Japan and China and India in two weeks, as a poor soul on another travel board was.)

If you want to go to Hawaii, go to Hawaii. If you want to go to Asia, go to Asia.

Oh, and don't plan on flying out of Midway on a non-stop to anywhere in Asia.

abmj-jr

What is it with all the Golden Week travel plans we have been seeing lately? Must be a full moon or something.

808 Flyer

Echoing the other comments, don't go to Japan if you can during Golden Week. I would pick China based on your schedule. As for your other question about going through Hawaii. Usually it is very expensive especially during any Japanese holiday periods. At other times, it is not that expensive if you buy a fare that allows a stopover on the return. From Japan-HI your choices are basically UA, NH, JL, DL, & CA. Also, HA from HND. I wouldn't suggest it. If you do, you will need to some homework though to a get reasonable fare.

wkawalek

Thanks all.

ninja138

There was a Delta and AA sale.