Hi, hoping that some people here can share their experience with Apple Holiday and their Japan tours. At first opting for Japanican/JTB but now considering Apple Holiday.

My main concern is language. I'm a "banana" and am worried that Apple Holiday's tour guide will end up not being able to speak in English. On Apple Holiday's brochure, they mention the tour being bilingual (English and Chinese). However in another brochure, they state that the tour will be mainly conducted in Mandarin.

Hence, now I have my doubts. I had a bad experience during my trip to Singapore many years ago when the tour company promised to be bilingual but my family ended up getting a tour guide who could barely speak English.

This post has been edited by mikasaackerman: Dec 30 2015, 09:20 AM

My initial plan with a friend was to go for Japanican, which is a 6-day trip but the last two and a half-days are free and easy, which is ideal for me...

Now kena FFK and my friend wants to go for the Apple Holiday Japan package instead... leading me to make this post to ask about Apple Holiday. lol. Now I'm stuck in limbo in making a decision. Either find another partner to go to Japan with next time (but dunno when is that) or just go with Apple Holiday. I'm just afraid I'll regret taking the Apple Holiday package.

This post has been edited by mikasaackerman: Dec 29 2015, 11:17 PM

I would really LOVE to DIY the trip actually. I have absolutely no problems with that. Problem is the friend that i'm suppose to go with wants to follow an agent because her parents do not approve on her backpacking and going without and agent. At first, we wanted to go with Japanican, which at least gives us the option of free and easy on the last few days. Now, my friend changed her mind and is opting for Apple Holiday.

Tried goggling around for reviews on Apple Holiday but none of them mentioned language, which is the main concern of mine.

This post has been edited by mikasaackerman: Dec 29 2015, 11:41 PM

Had a similar experience with another tour company when i went to Singapore with my family many years ago (now looking back.. idk why my family chose to go to singapore with a tour.. lol). The tour guide could barely speak English though. He can speak English for a bit but not enough to give explanations about the places we visited. Nasib baik we weren't the only ones complaining cuz we had a middle eastern family who also was very unhappy with the tour guide.

If I'm gonna pay Apple Holiday for a tour guide, I might as well make sure that i get the benefit from it. Takutx2 promise to be bilingual but later never keep their promise. Hope someone can share their experience with Apple Holiday, even if it's not with their Japan tours...

This post has been edited by mikasaackerman: Dec 30 2015, 09:33 AM