Saving $30K+ on the Perfect Spring Break Japan Trip with Amy Fox
All the Hacks: Money, Points & LifeShow Notes
#276: Learn how Chris and Amy booked four nonstop business class seats and a week at the Park Hyatt Tokyo almost entirely on points. They break down the strategy, key takeaways for traveling with kids, Chris' AI-powered trip planner, and more.
Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/50k-points-japan-trip
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Resources Mentioned
Flights & Award Booking
Japan Airlines
Finnair
Avios
American Airlines
Award Tool
Seats.aero
Hotels
Park Hyatt Tokyo
Hilton Tokyo Bay
Disney Ambassador Hotel
Airbnb
Activities
teamLab
KidZania
Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo DisneySea
Luggage & Transportation
Yamato Transport
RideSafer Travel Vest
Suica Card
Takuhaibin Delivery Services
Technology & Planning
Claude
Claude Code
Codex
Google Maps offline
Google Translate
T-Mobile
Credit Cards
Bank of America® Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Shopping
Muji
Don Quijote (Donki)
Loft
Takashimaya
ARC5 PALM-Sized 5-Blade Electric Luxury Razor
Keana Rice Pack face mask
Food & Dining
7-Eleven Japan
FamilyMart
Koffee Mameya
Afuri Ramen
Rokurinsha
Mos Burger
ATH Podcast
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Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected]
Full Show Notes
(00:00) Introduction
(01:59) Why Booking Business Class to Japan a Year Out Actually Works
(16:46) What Our Hyatt Points Are Worth Now — and After the Upcoming Devaluation
(20:37) Why We Stayed in Tokyo the Entire Trip (and Why We're Glad We Did)
(25:43) Why TeamLab Should Be on Every Asia Itinerary
(26:46) How to Save on Phone Data Abroad and the Rookie Mistake to Avoid
(27:31) How We Used AI to Build a Real-Time Trip Guide Before We Even Landed
(35:58) Japan Airlines Business Class Review
(38:56) Inside the Freshly Renovated Park Hyatt Tokyo
(45:37) Is the Park Hyatt Tokyo's Location Actually a Problem?
(51:03) Did the Cherry Blossoms Live Up to the Hype?
(53:57) Why Japan's Bathrooms, Vending Machines, and Convenience Stores Are a Revelation
(56:09) Cash, Cards, and Transit: How to Pay Your Way Through Japan
(57:45) What We Learned About Traveling Tokyo with Kids
(59:19) Why Food in Japan Is Just Better (Even at 7-Eleven)
(01:00:51) KidZania Tokyo: The Best Kid Experience You've Never Heard Of
(01:05:26) Why Japan's Bag-Forwarding Service Is a Game Changer for Families
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