The ACE/ECC trip to Japan!

[buttonman700]

$3,000 plus for this trip, for what?

A crowded coach, breakfast, ERT and maybe dinner.

If you read the application form for the trip Justin makes it seem as though if you go you're going to have an awful time. Some of the reasons not to go according to Justin are:

you'll never find westren food, your ATM cards wont be of much help as there are few ATMs to be found, if you are a vegetarian youi'll have a horrilbe time, it's going to rain all the time, the list is pretty funny actually, why would you wnat to go after reading the list of reasons not to go.

 

Oh, and the cost does not include air fare.

 

You two went and seemed to have a great time, you ate well, went to a zillion parks, did it cost you 3,000 each plus airfare? You don't need to tell me the cost, but $3,000 for the privallage of getting stuffed into a bus with a bunch of crabby travelers! no thanks.

 

What are yur thoughts.

 

Ed

[SharkTums]

Yeah, honestly, I think that the ECC and Justin are great but that trip is really screwed up.

 

Way too much money, not the right way of doing things, saying stuff that is a blatant lie (no western food?!?!?), and not the best schedule. I believe there is a thread around somewhere that goes more in detail so I won't go through it all again.

 

I'm sure the trip will be great fun! I just think that it could have been more fun for less money...but then again, that's why we have the link on the front of our page seeing who's interested in doing TPR organized trips!!!

 

Elissa "we'll be announcing our first organized trip soon!" Alvey

[robbalvey]

I agree with Elissa. I don't want to say anything too bad about ECC, I probably have already said too much already on WC. The trip is posted at $3,713 which does not include airfare (another $800 - $1000) most food, souveniers, etc. It's at LEAST a $5,000 trip for 10 park days. (I know some people who are going that are budgeting $7,000)

 

All I will say is this, while the trip looks good, we did our Japan trip which was 14 park days for about $4,500 total per person which included everything and our schedule wans't anywhere near as rushed.

 

But it's great if you don't want to plan your own trip to Japan. On a positive note for the ECC, out of all the trips I've seen them put together, this is the first one I wouldn't be interested in. Which is too bad because after our Japan trip, we really wanted to go back and we thought this might have been a good way to do it, but the trip is far too rushed for us tastes. And you all know we like to pack parks into a short amount of time!

 

--Robb

[Yeah 7]

Mind if i chip in here?

 

The price for these sort of trips is always very difficult. Firstly, the club is a non-profit organisation, so no one is profiting from the trip in any way. They have to account for significant changes in the exchange rate, on previous trips it has become very "tight" after fluctuations.

 

Secondly, everything has to be booked (and therefore paid, or at least deposits) well in advance (flights for those in Europe who are flying with the club), hotels, coaches, etc. I believe hotels are fairly expensive in Japan, so this is one of the reasons for the high cost of the trip.

 

Thirdly, this is the first time any large group is doing an organised trip to japan. It's very brave of them, they'll learn alot doing it, and maybe the ECC will do another Japan trip in the future if it goes well enough. The wording on the invite is very different to any trip invite in previous trips, simply because the club doesn't want people moaning about things that are out of their control. While the comments may not be "facts", I'm sure they were done with the best of intentions.

 

I really hope this trip goes well for them, Justin has been working on it for years now, and I hope his (and others) hard work is apreciated by those that go. To me, there is nothing worse than when people go on trips and moan (when they clearly saw the itinery before hand) or are ungrateful.

 

Taking this back "on topic", again, I think its really brave of Robb and Ellisa to consider doing organised tours, I have alot of respect for those that are willing to put in time and effort for others. If they decide to go ahead with their event, then I hope it goes well and is hastle/moan free

[buttonman700]

I didn't mean to come of too harsh when it comes to the club... I've known Justin for some time now and he's great guy.

 

I hope everyone that goes has a great time, and if any one has video of the trip when thwy get back, I for one would love to see it. I have 8 or nine hours of raw pootage from the euro-tip ACE did, (sent to me by my sources) there is some funny stuff there.

[robbalvey]

IMO, I would rather a trip be put on by someone that is making money off it because it's more of an incentive for that person's trip to really kick ass! If you're not making any money off it, what's the point of going the extra mile? This was evident by the ACE ECO trip in 2002.

 

I'm much more happy to support someone and their club knowing they make money off it and knowing they are putting the money back into the club. Everything I've seen about ECC is they seem to be a first class organization. I can't say the same with my personal dealing I've had with ACE.

 

--Robb "Finally getting around to reading the lastest issue of First Drop!" Alvey