Money concern: going to Japan

Fabrice

Ok, my partner doesn't give up that easily, i'm telling you.

So she wrote a polite email to Hyatt (main site), requesting that in light of recent events, and on the Foreign Office advice not to travel to Tokyo if it's not necessary they should consider a policy of good will and recompense accordingly and charge a cancellation fee rather than the full amount.
She received no answer. She was fuming.

She then contacted American Express (card used for the booking) and explained the facts again and got told the they might go into a dispute with Hyatt and to leave it with them.

The day after, or 2 days after, she got an email from the Hyatt Tokyo hotel with an apology and they will refund her the full amount of the booking.
She obviously replied back with a thank you. She said that when we do go to Japan next year (or the year after, depends) we'll book the same Hyatt because, "apparently" she told me that it was a very sincere and genuine apology message (i haven't actually read the email from the japanese hotel manager yet)

Which reinforce what i thought all along. And how i've been feeling about the japanese people, their simple and unpretentious approach.
Versus the giant Hyatt group whatever, that is most probably running the online booking systems and that never reply to emails or complaints.
[/rant over]

Anyway, Fukushima crisis is far from over. Even though we have cancelled our trip i am still following the AFP bulletins.
I've donated generously to the British Red Cross who is my preferred charity in the absence of the DEC

geoffky

Having spent two years living and working in Japan i had never enjoyed myself so much but at the same time had real homesickness as i was in the sticks liaising on a ship being built for shell and it took me two hours on the train just to find a decant meal and i was the only European for miles around...strange place,, but i have never felt safer anywhere in the world..used to love the brollys in the shop doorways for when it rained..pick up and drop off..or the hot drink vending machines in the streets not vandalised..