LivingSocial Japan Travel Deal

Lukulele on 27/08/2014 - 13:14

I have done a quick search, and reviews regarding livingsocial deals has been mostly positive. Anyone care to share their experience with a travel deal from Livingsocial/Groupon or similar? I have used those sites for lower dollar deals for restaurants with mostly positive outcomes/experiences but never for a travel deal because their terms and conditions have usually been too onerous.

Just wondering what everyone thinks of this: https://www.livingsocial.com/escapes/1249054-japan-from-599
The price for me would be 749 as I am thinking of going in January.

I am not sure where livingsocial got their value total of 1204?
I had a look at the accommodation website and did some sums:
1 night pension accom during peak = 15200 yen (price per person twin share)
2 day adult lift ticket to hakuba norikura ski field = 5000 yen

total = 86000yen @ 96.91 approx 885/890aud
there is also the guided backcountry tour at 10k yen = 103AUD and the bus from hakuba station which i don't think would add up to the total.

the 15% off livingsocial which ends tomorrow does make the deal all the more enticing though, the five day grace period livingsocial offer is also good, just in case the accom is booked out or there is undisclosed black out dates.

In addition to above, has anyone ridden the hakuba valley before? Thoughts?

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Comments

  • tanoshiiki on 27/08/2014 - 13:39

    Part of the pricing may depend on the exchange rate Living Social have used. Looks like included meals are part of lodgings, so don't need to include that. How did you find out the value of half-day excursion? They have also probably included the $25 voucher to use at www.discountsnowboards.com.au in the value as well.

    From the Pension Folktale site

    Local transfers:
    Arrival and departure transfers between the Pension and Minami-Otari Station / Hakuba Station/ Hakuba Bus Terminal are available. 3000yen per person each way.

    5 x Y15,200 + 2 * Y5,000 + Y10,000 + 2* Y3,000 = Y102,000
    Y102,000 @ 95 = AUD$1074 (FX rate has been hovering around 95 the past 6 months, but was as low as 88 in Feb)
    $1,074 + $25 = $1,099. This still comes under the stated $1,204 value, so maybe living social are also charging an administrative fee in terms of booking everything for you in one package?

    Never been to Hakuba before.

    Edit: Just found this from the Pension Folktale site

    Prices for his backcountry tours start at just 15,000yen.

    Note the "start at" and that adds at least another Y5,000/AUD53 to the above costs and brings you much closer to $1,204, but still not $1,204 exactly.

    • ukulele on 27/08/2014 - 14:19

      Hey tanoshiiki, thanks for the reply. On their front page it has 10k yen for guided backcountry tour (i assume that's a summer price), but then when you click the link you see it starts at 15k yen in the specific paragraph. I am unsure of the backcountry tour anyway as I am a boarder not telemark skiier, unless this guy uses snowmobiles (which i don't think is the case). Thanks for adding the transfer prices it does add a bit.

      Regardless of the back country portion of the package I think it's still an "ok" deal as i'll get 50 bucks off with the livingsocial offer. I guess I just have to get over my stigma of buying (what I consider) a big ticket item from livingsocial.

  • Shadow54 on 28/08/2014 - 10:33
    +1

    Watch out for Living Social!!!!!!
    Some of their deals are absolute rubbish and when their suppliers do not honour the deal, they take no action.
    I am still owed product from last December on a Living Social deal.
    Be careful…………………

    • ukulele on 28/08/2014 - 14:08

      Hi Shadow, unfortunately I already bought the deal 3x, one for me, gf and mum. I'm really hoping my experience is different to yours.

      As soon as we got the vouchers I emailed the accommodation in Japan and still haven't heard anything today. If I don't hear anything today by end of business I'll email L.S. for clarification.

      Can you care to elaborate on your grievance from last December? All up if this goes sour it's approx 2100 bucks which is a pretty decent amount and this was supposed to celebrate my 30th and mums 60th!

      • Shadow54 on 28/08/2014 - 17:02

        Living Social will refer you back to the provider/supplier…..
        I bought some bandlooms from a company called ePacific who advertised their stuff on Living Social.
        Living Social kept referring me to ePacific and would not take any action to enforce the deal. ePacific at various times - lost my order, despatched my order, forgot to ship, remembered to ship - and so on. I even asked for my money back because I've bought a similar product elsewhere. No refund. No product. The value was small but that's besides the point. Eight months have gone by and ……zilch.
        I hope yours is a better experience. Good luck.

  • adante on 28/08/2014 - 14:18

    Probably too late now but my 1.95c.

    Been to Hakuba twice. As long as you're not a snob it's a great place to ride. Go there expecting Canada/Niseko megadump experience and you might have a bad time.

    The main resorts in Hakuba are Happo-One and Goryu/47. If the livingsocial map location is correct you are some distance away from them. A free shuttle bus does run during the season but I'm not entirely sure if it services your area, so it would be worth checking this.

    As to transfers, chuo taxi is worth checking out as it runs from Narita and Tokyo and will typically take you direct to your accommodation doorstop.

    The only backcountry places I know of are mountainlife and evergreen - probably worth checking them as their prices are competitive.

    If you're hoping to use trains to get around - they are quiet infrequent to be prepared to plan your trips.

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