I've done tour guides for TDR in the past but absolutely do not recommend it if your main reason to go to Japan is Disney. They'll usually arrive late and leave early. The advantage is that you can get transport to harder to reach places such as parts of Hakone and Mt. Fuji.
There really isn't a good reason to book airfare right now. Flights to Japan aren't cheap right now. Pre-panedemic, I'd try to get under $900 for San Francisco to Tokyo round trip and would even occasionally see under $700. Now, it's over $1K and flights on ANA which is what I usually fly are often close to $2K.
Paris and Hawaii are actually good options. Right now, hotels and rental cars can be hit or miss for Hawaii but hopefully that'll sort itself out by next year. I think we're soon approaching another period of good deals for airfare to these two destinations as revenge travel burns itself out and recession fears lead to cancelled vacations.
I find Seoul kinda boring so I mostly recommend Korea as a stopover on the way to another Asian country if flying from the US. Historically, Bangkok, Manila and Hong Kong were the sweet spots for airfare with stopovers in Seoul. But hotels in Korea are becoming cheaper for Americans due to the strengthening dollar so this could be a good time for international trips.
Hi Gelatoni,
I finally found all my old notes on Japan...
Our original plans went something like this...
Arrival day travel to Hilton hotel at TDL... sleep, and try to get rid of the jet lag..
Total 3 nights at TDL - We had planned to use a private car service because after a 14 hour flight easy peasy is the way to go...
Spend 2 days- 1 in each park...
Then move to Tokyo for 5 or 6 nights...
Staying at the Hilton Odaiba --- we are Hilton members... we must have a king size bed... my DH is 6'4" and big guy...
We planned on using the concierge at the hotel for some private tours and such..
Day trip to Kyoto by bullet train... Our friends used a private guide who met them in Tokyo, and rode with them, spent the day with them showed them sights, then got them back on the train to Tokyo at the end of the day... I managed contacting the woman who did the tour.. and she said she is undecided on whether she is going continue, and is waiting to see when they open up individual vacationers... So that's kinda up in the air...
I have written down... Rail Pass, hop on hop off buses.. with a bunch of question marks...
I have a Giant question mark -
? phones and electronic usage with more question marks...
I can not find the list of restaurants and other sites we had decided on we wanted to try in Tokyo... So here I guess I will have to start over...
Yet all this is just wait and see, due to the fact we don't know or have any hint of when Japan will allow individual travelers in...
So I am planning 3 trips at once we are going to decided in October were we are going... I really really am hoping for Japan...
Suggestions, thoughts, and info is always appreciated...