Episode 31 The Travel Show

Want to save money in Tokyo?

Then get ready for some after-hours karaoke.

On this week's Travel Show, we'll tell you why.

On the programme this week, Ade heads to a world-famous

recording studio in the heart of Kingston,

we take a 60-second stopover in Johannesburg,

and our global guru Simon Calder's

got advice for the best time to visit Peru.

Hello, and welcome to the Travel Show,

which this week comes to you from Tokyo.

Now, it's no secret that this is one of the most expensive

cities in the world to live in and to visit.

This year, tourists might expect it to be slightly more affordable

because of a weakened yen, but can you really do Tokyo on a budget?

I took up the challenge.

More people are travelling to Japan than ever before,

but the total number is still a lot lower than other Asian countries.

Japan's government has announced a plan to catch up

and double the number of tourists to 20 million

by the time Tokyo hosts the Olympic Games in 2020.

Now the fight is on to prove

you can see the capital without breaking the bank.

They have just introduced half-price tickets for foreigners

from Narita Airport into Tokyo,

so if you show your passport at the airport,

you get a 50% discount.

That's a real saving, because getting around the city isn't cheap

and taxis, especially, are expensive.

Most foreign tourists know that they can get a discount

on a Japan Rail Pass if you're wanting to take a high-speed train.

But if you want to take the slow sightseeing route, you can

get a free ride on a traditional Japanese boat, or wasen,

at Yokojukkengawa Shinsui Park.

So, these boats are run by a tireless team of volunteers

keen to keep the tradition alive, and if you're really lucky,

they'll even let you have a go at trying to drive

one of these magnificent vessels.

-Will you show me how?

-Put your feet on here.

-OK. Left foot here?

-And take hold.

-OK. Here?

-Yes. Push...

-Push...and pull. OK.

-Push...

-Push...and pull.

-It's all in the wrist.

-It's all in the wrist.

-Good job, good job.

-Good job?

I got the thumbs-up. Good job.

In terms of sightseeing, you can choose to do the more

expensive thing, or you can choose a free option,

which is, for example,

going to the Metropolitan Government observatory decks.

There are two decks and you are on the 45th floor, amazing views.

Apparently, on a clear day, you can see Mount Fuji.

Wow!

There is, of course, the iconic Tokyo Tower.

And don't forget your passport...

Konichiwa.

..because if you can prove it's your birthday,

you get a discount on entry and a free cake.

SHE SPEAKS IN JAPANESE

To be honest, I've had better cakes,

but the view was well worth it.

Where this city really hits you in the hip pocket is its hotels.

Budget travellers have traditionally opted for a cramped capsule hotel.

But if you think creatively, you can have

a more unique Japanese experience for a very low price.

Many karaoke places here will offer a substantial discount after 11pm,

which means you can rent a box for the whole night

for as little as 1,800 yen,

that's less than 20 US dollars.

What a bargain.

Karaoke venues range from hole-in-the-wall bars

to spacious and luxurious rented rooms.

All-night packages from 11pm until 6am will vary from venue to venue,

and there are always competitive prices to be found.

So, this is my room for the night.

MUFFLED MUSIC AND SINGING

Well, it's a decent size,

although the decor does leave a lot to be desired.

My neighbours certainly are noisy,

but what do you expect for 18 US dollars a night?

Japan is also known for its manga cafes,

but it's safe to say that most people don't even touch

the local comics.

They come here to surf the net.

Konbanwa.

The cafes also offer overnight packages.

If you register before 9pm to 4am, you can get a private room

starting from just under 1,400 yen, that's roughly 14 US dollars.

Believe it or not, you even get free drinks

and free soft-serve ice cream.

Now, you don't get that at a capsule hotel, do you?

There are communal bathrooms,

including showers, tucked behind an array of vending machines.

My room this time was more of a wooden cubicle.

Well, at least you get a comfy pillow here

but there's not much privacy, as these booths are quite open.

You might want to bring a mask and some earplugs

just in case your neighbour's a bit of a snorer.

If you're planning a trip to Japan,

here are our Travel Show money-saving tips

for exploring the country beyond the capital.

Avoiding peak season is always a money-saver.

When the cherry blossoms bloom in spring,

and when the leaves turn in autumn,

it will be more expensive to travel, as people will be going there

to catch a glimpse of these colourful gardens.

Japan has some of the most expensive restaurants in the world,

but it is possible to eat cheaply.

You can buy a range of hot, cheap food from vending machines,

and some fast-food chains do bowls of noodles

for as little as 260 yen,

or roughly two US dollars.

And one way to experience Japanese culture on a budget is to

visit temples, shrines and traditional gardens.

Kyoto, the country's ancient capital,

has hundreds of these historic monuments.

Some are completely free to visit and others have low entrance fees

of around 500 yen - that's roughly five dollars.

Next up is this week's travel update.

The shark call introduced

by authorities in Western Australia earlier this year

has been blocked by the state's environment regulator,

who says it could threaten the endangered great white shark.

Protect the great white!

Thousands have protested against the practice,

which was introduced after a series of fatal shark attacks.

Three, two, one...

BIG BEN STRIKES

If you're coming to London for New Year's Eve,

you will now have to buy tickets to the city's fireworks celebrations.

London's mayor, Boris Johnson, insisted ticketing was essential

to slash crowd numbers

after half a million people attended last year.

It will cost you £10 to attend

and only 100,000 tickets will be made available to the public.

If you are a big Friends fan,

you can now sip coffee in a cafe modelled on Central Perk,

the coffee house regularly visited

by the main characters of the television series.

It's been opened in New York

to mark the 20th anniversary of the first episode

and includes a museum showcasing props such as costumes,

signed scripts, Phoebe's guitar and Joey's dog statue.

Still to come on this week's Travel Show...

..Ade heads to Jamaica for a musical adventure, reggae-style,

and Simon Calder has information on what you can

take in your luggage when flying to Turkey.

The Travel Show - destination inspiration, from the BBC.

Welcome to the slice of the show

that tries to make your travelling life easier.

Let's start with Daniel O'Keefe from Glasgow, who's looking well ahead.

He tweeted @BBCTravelShow to ask...

Daniel, I imagine you mean the northern spring of 2016,

which corresponds to autumn, or fall, in southern hemisphere Peru.

It's a tropical nation with a vast diversity of terrain.

For example, hot and humid year round in the Amazon rainforest,

and in the capital Lima, on the coast, there is a brief,

cool and damp spell between late May and mid-October.

The big draw for many of us, of course, is the Inca heartland,

the imperial capital Cuzco

and the Sacred Valley, that includes Machu Picchu.

Here, you should avoid the sometimes intense rains

between January and March.

May and June are ideal for tackling the Inca Trail, though it is

also very popular then, so get your permit organised well ahead.

The cost of travelling in Peru is low,

and while self-catering isn't popular,

there are plenty of cheap hotels

and when you're exploring the Andes,

you'll probably be camping.

Next, Jackie Soltan got in touch to ask...

A great choice of destination, Jackie.

I adore Puerto Vallarta and its surroundings.

Sure, it's a big tourist destination,

now with added non-stop flights from the UK,

but besides the usual beach and bar scene there's a lively town.

You can explore a fascinating hinterland,

where the pace of life takes a siesta.

Compared with many other locations in the tropics,

Mexico's Pacific Coast is relatively healthy territory.

For any tropical travel,

though, it's good to have up-to-date protection against...

I'm also fastidious about mosquitoes,

and cover up with clothing AND repellent.

While malaria isn't a risk,

mosquitoes can carry all manner of other nasties

and their bites can ruin a holiday.

Next, Gordon Bruce from Renfrewshire in Scotland asks...

Well, last time I was lucky enough to visit this beautiful country,

to explore the Rila Mountains south of the capital Sofia,

I did buy some Bulgarian currency in advance.

However, when I got here, I discovered that

some of the notes I'd been given were obsolete and effectively worthless.

In all the cities and resort areas of Bulgaria,

there are plenty of places to change money at good rates and,

in future, I'd simply take sterling and change it there.

Like other parts of the Balkans, the main hard currency is the euro,

so if you have some to hand, you could take them as a fallback,

but I certainly wouldn't bother to change pounds to euros in advance.

Finally, Emma-Louise Hanson from Monmouthshire in Wales asks...

Well, Emma-Louise, it proved tricky getting a response from either

the Turkish government or the tourist office here in London,

but one of the leading airlines to Turkey told me,

"We do not believe there's any restriction on entering Turkey

"with this item.

"Just ensure it's well protected in the suitcase to avoid any leakage."

That's all for now, but if you've got a travel question...

From me, Simon Calder, the global guru,

bye for now and see you next time.

Whoa! Who-oa-ah!

LAUGHTER

Next up, we meet the people who make our cities tick.

This week, we're in London's Covent Garden.

And...one eye!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Covent Garden is known as the mecca of street performing.

If you're ready...

WHISTLE BLOWS

OK, you could have built the tension a bit.

You've got traditional shows with unicycling and juggling.

You got straitjacket escapes.

And I perform a hula hoop street theatre show.

This is where I train with my hula hoops in the day.

# So delicious

# So delicious... #

I really want a really big, a much bigger grand finale.

Give it a go.

# Hula hoop, hula hoop

# Anyone can play the hula hoop... #

So this is my grand finale trick

that I'm working on to put in my street show,

where I will be even higher in the air.

Whoa! As you can see, it's quite hard.

I'm about to perform in roughly 20 minutes.

I'm sorry, it's really hot.

CHEERING

My rituals before a show are to get very freaked out,

sometimes cry a little bit,

'going to the loo a lot,

'but I know that as soon as I start the show, I'll enjoy myself.'

'The space is a double-edged sword. The space is amazing.'

Now, ladies and gentlemen...

'It really is like a theatre, which is wonderful,

'but it's very daunting because of that.'

'Probably at my happiest after a show and that's what makes it worthwhile.'

I think the more scary it is, the better the feeling at the end.

And to end this week, we head to the Caribbean island of Jamaica

and its musically rich capital Kingston.

The country is known globally for its reggae,

so it's not surprising that music is one of the country's

biggest industries after tourism, as Ade Adepitan discovered.

# One good thing about music when it hits you... #

If you're looking for a unique holiday experience in Jamaica,

then taking a musical tour of the capital

is a must for any music lover.

# ..Hit me with music

# Hit me with music now... #

Reggae music emerged here back in the '60s

and the sounds which originated on the streets of Kingston

fast became massive hits all over the world.

Music is now one of Jamaica's biggest exports.

# ..Trenchtown rock

# I'd never turn my back

# Trenchtown rock... #

There are many musical tours on offer here.

The one I have chosen is bespoke and run by Andrea Lewis,

a music veteran who's been taking

tourists around some of Kingston's iconic recording studios for years.

We offer customised tours in the music industry.

We target music business personnel,

um, people who come to Jamaica

seeking information on the foundation of the Jamaican music.

Our first stop on the music tour is 56 Hope Road, which is

the most famous address in Jamaica.

# Won't you help to sing... #

It's the former home of the late Bob Marley,

and it's been turned into a museum.

He was responsible for putting reggae music

on the international map way back in the '70s,

with his songs of freedom during a time of political upheaval here.

Now, we're not allowed to film inside the Bob Marley Museum,

or take pictures.

Instead, we're taken around the grounds, where, along the way,

I'm introduced to a man called Georgie

who actually lives at the museum.

It's where I cooked the porridge for him. Yeah.

The Georgie that Bob Marley refers to in No Woman No Cry,

when he says, "And, Georgie, keep the fire light,"

-the Georgie he's talking about is you?

-Yeah.

# And then Georgie would make the fire light... #

My next stop is a record shop in downtown Kingston, which was

the birthplace of rocksteady and lovers rock reggae music.

Back in the '60s, Orange Street was known as

the Hollywood of Jamaica due to the numbers of artists

who used to hang out here.

Now, you can't come to Jamaica without checking out the music,

and I have come to Rockers International Record Shop

and this place has tunes, any type of Jamaican tune you want -

rocksteady, ska, reggae, the whole lot.

Tell me about the history of this place.

The shop itself is the only one from that time till now

that still has that old, vintage look,

that still sells vinyls on a regular basis.

What type of music could I expect to get here?

You can get anything, basically, from ska, rocksteady, reggae,

roots, dub, even R'n'B.

This shop is truly vintage,

but our time is limited as we've got one more stop to make on the tour.

All I've been told is that we're about to visit

a studio on the other side of Kingston,

where Bob Marley and the Wailers recorded their first four albums.

We're up in Kingston, where we have Harry J Studio,

and this is going to be our next stop.

People like Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff,

Burning Spear have recorded, here, Grammy albums.

What can we see in the studio?

Well, I'm hoping there's a jam session going on today

and that we can maybe pass through and see...

if they'll allow us to hang out with them.

Wow! Serious?

Now, when I arrived, I'm treated to a live jamming session.

The guys are responsible for some of the country's

biggest ever reggae tracks, and it's here where I get the chance to

join in on my first ever jamming session, reggae style.

Ladies and gentlemen, sit back and relax

and enjoy a Travel Show version of the number one hit single

by Mr Ansel Collins, Double Barrel!

One, two...

Ade Adepitan, practising his tambourine skills there.

Well, that's it for this week.

If you've got any money-saving ideas whilst visiting Japan, then

drop us a line at our usual e-mail address, or why not send us

a tweet on Twitter, or write on our Facebook wall?

All those details are on the screen now. Coming up next week...

Trembling with one toe...

..Ade's back with some of the best Travel Show moments

from our recent adventures around the world,

including the time I travelled to China

to try my hand at graffiti

at one of the world's most famous heritage sites.

I hope you can join us for that, but until then, from me, Carmen Roberts,

and the rest of the Travel Show team here in Tokyo, it's goodbye.