Business responded on 6/4/2015
We do not inform our cutomers the maxmim size of 12 to 14 people as we do not know until we finalize tour about 10days before departure date. It is possible that the size of group was 12 to 14 when she called us however its does not mean we run tour with the number quoted in couple months before their departure date.
All our tour guides are professional licensed guide, and the tour guides knew the our tour itinerary in detaie as they are contracted with us for meny years.
He announced the tour itinerary one day prior at evening, also in the morning of the tour.
This particular group tour was out time due to the traffic jam and missed the the rope-way /lake cruise in Hakone however it is cleary noted on their tour hand book or our website " tour itineray can be changed due to the traffic jam or unforseen circumstances." and we always to try to make up with something they missed with complimentaly meals or some extras during tours. On this case we rather skip two attractyion ( $15.00 values) to catch the bullet train departs 5:12pm ($100 value) from Shin-Fuji station. We state " *Tour schedule may change without prior notice. " in our website.
Q3.Hotel in Osaka with “dinner on your own” & recommended restaurant was closed.
After Kyoto tour, due to spring holiday high season, the tour bus arrive later than usual.The guide announced the restaurants next to the hotel opens until 9:00pm and 10pm.
Q4.One night we moved different group, be ready 7:30am, but waiting hotel until 9:30am could not have breakfast
The breakfast start from 6:30am, if she try to eat around 7:00am, due to high spring holiday season the buffet breakfast was very busy, so that she run out of time.
Also guide announced the group to have breakfast as early as possible.
Original departure time was 7:45am, meeting time was 7:30am. While bus was waiting for everyone, the bus was pushed out the parking area due to big school group bus=8 buses and need to drive around hotel for 45min. Estimate departure time was 7:45am, actual departure time was 8:30am. The bus try to catch time, so actual driving time to next stop, Himeji, was shorter than usual.
Q5.The guide wanted to skip the Nagasaki Peace Park
In our itinerary, Nagasaki Peace Park is always just a photo stop in front of Peace statue.
One of the tour member got sick in the bus, and the guide was told to arrive at the hotel ASAP from a Medical Doctor who was a member of the same group, just happened to be in the same bus. Due to a strong request from some member of the tour, we did not skip the Nagasaki Peace Park.
Q6. Airport transfer ( NH 2176, depart 7:50, only bus coupon provided, told to take taxi ) Japanes Airline system is not same as USA, the airline require to check-in 30min. prior to departure at airline counter.
All of our NH 2176 passenger take 6:10am airport limousine bus which arrive 6:40am, one hour and 10 min. prior to departure, never had any problem.
The tour guide told the passenger to take a taxi, if they want to arrive 2 hours prior to departure.
If the passenger purchased air ticket from us, I announced Japanese Airline system in advance, but since they purchased the air ticket on their own, they should check the information with the airline.
Same time, we understand American passenger's US common sense, we will re-inverse the taxi cost between Osaka Sheraton Hotel and Itami Airport.