10/24/09

A locally-owned travel company that provides A+service!

by HauteShopper

Sho Dozono is a fabulous local business leader, whose always in-tune with his company's operations. The best tenured travel agents work here. He's not a fly-by-night travel agency that operates on a shoe-string at the expense of his staff and the public they serve.

From the top down, this company has a decades old reputation for treating both it's business and leisure travelers with exceptional care.

• Pros: They know their business!
• Cons: None

05/22/08

A 3% handling fee for ANY transaction? $25 service charge for a ticket?

by quench

I bought Japan Rail Passes from Azumano. I was told it had to be a CASH payment (and my bill was above $700) and if I paied with a credit card, they'd charge 3% fee, which, according to the person on the phone, was standard for any transaction you do with them. I called another Japanese travel agent in Seattle and San Francisco and they do not charge a $25 service charge or fee for credit card payments. I would have bought them at one of these agents, but I didn't have time for them to FedEx the Passes to my in Portland.

On the Japan Rail Pass web page, Gateway is listed the only authorized agent in the Portland area and my mistake is to wait until the last minutes to buy. If I had more time, I would have bought the passes from other Japanese travel agents (Navi-tour USA, HIS-usa, Kintetsu, JTB, etc.) and have the rail pass mailed to me. They won't charge an outrageous $25 charge or credit card fees --- you only have to pay for the postage for them to mail the Pass (or plane tickets), which is usually around $11~$20. If you are buying multiple passes, you will save a great deal.

Do not use Azumano. They will dime and nickel you. I never had such unpleasant experience with a travel agent.

• Pros: local
• Cons: they will dime and nickel you for non-service