An 8-day trip to Japan for £1,000

The World Congress for 2004 is taking place in Fukuoka, Japan from Sunday 21st November to Saturday 27th November.

With the conference fee at under £200, flights for £550 and 7 nights accommodation for under £300, you can now travel to Japan, all inclusive, for just over £1,000 which represents tremendous value for money. Book now as the conference fee goes up after 30th September

If you click on the link on the right hand side of the JCI UK website (www.jciuk.org.uk) it will take you through to the World Congress website (http://www.2004fukuoka.jp) where you can quickly and easily register on-line. The fee, of 350 US dollars, covers all the training, seminars, keynote speakers, lunches and whatever food and drink is on offer by the various countries hosting parties in the evenings.

Given the exchange rate at the moment, this will probably cost you less than £200 which is tremendous value for money. After September 30th it rises to 400 dollars so book before then to save some money.

Flights.

As some JCI UK members are going out for a longer period of time, and from different airports, it is suggested that everyone makes their own travel arrangements but that you let JCI UK’s international director have details of your flights (Simon.Bower@jciuk.org.uk).

The Congress starts at about 6 pm on Sunday 21st November with the Opening Ceremony and finishes on Friday 26th November with the Gala Dinner.

A number of airlines fly to Fukuoka and some JCI UK members have already booked flights with a travel company called Dial a Flight (Tel 020 7204 6634 and ask for Toby). At least 10 people are already going with Cathay Pacific, leaving Heathrow on Friday 19th November at 18.05 hours via Hong Kong, arriving Fukuoka at 20.40 on Saturday 20th November. Returning on Sunday 28th November, departing Fukuoka at 10.45 am and arriving in Heathrow at 06.20 on Monday 29th November.

Costs vary but are approximately £600-700 per person. Other members have got a good deal by logging onto Opodo or Expedia. There is a further option to fly to Osaka and get the bullet train to Fukuoka (c £80 each way).

Hotels.

The suggestion is that all JCI UK delegates stay at the same hotel once in Fukuoka. The only way to currently reserve a room is via the Fukuoka website and the Japan Tourist board who will not confirm allocations until the end of September. JCI UK has, therefore, reserved 12 twin rooms from Saturday 20th November until Saturday 27th November inclusive.

We have selected 3 hotels – Mitsui Urban, Hotel Chisan and Skycourt and have asked for all rooms to be in the same hotel (see www.planetholiday.com for details of hotels). The cost of rooms in the above hotels varies from 6,000 yen per person per night to 8,000 yen per person per night i.e. £30-£40 per person per night.

If you are coming to Japan and would like to book one of these rooms please contact Tim Lomas on tim@tlomas.freeserve.co.uk who has kindly offered to deal with the hotel accommodation.