The Jason Boull Travel Podcast

Discover Japan Episode 6 Part 2 - Return visitors and Small Group Tours

The best Japan trips aren't the cheapest, the biggest, or the most scripted — they're the ones where someone who actually lives there is quietly making everything better in the background. In Part 2 of the Discover Japan finale, Jason and Charlie Orr of Inside Japan get into the practical side of small group tours: when to book, what package protection really means, and how to match the right itinerary to the right traveller. They cover why solo travellers have quietly become one of the biggest audiences for these tours, how families with teenagers fit in (and when younger families need something different), and what's actually on offer across the 11 Inside Japan itineraries — from Hidden Japan through Shikoku to autumn in Tohoku and winter highlights in Hokkaido. Jason also pulls back the curtain on the boring-but-essential stuff most travellers only think about when it's too late: why booking your tour before flights is the right order of operations, what you lose when you book flights separately, and why travel insurance is the next podcast on his list. Key Highlights: * Why solo travellers consistently rate small group tours highest — and how single supplements work * Booking order: lock in the tour first, add flights when they release ~11.5 months out * The real meaning of package protection — and why splitting flights from the tour is a risk * Matching travellers to itineraries: Hidden Japan, Tohoku in autumn, Kinosaki Onsen, and classic routes * Why families with teenagers thrive on these trips — and when younger families need a tailor-made option instead * How insiders build camaraderie fast (and the real story of a solo traveller absorbed into a Gibraltar family mid-tour) * Charlie's one must-do for return visitors — a Gion and Pontocho food tour Who It's For: Anyone weighing up a small group tour for Japan, solo travellers who want the experience without the isolation, and families trying to work out whether their group fits a tour or needs something fully tailor-made. This episode closes out the Japan mini-series — but if it's inspired a trip, this is exactly the kind of planning conversation we have with clients every day. ⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome back: Part 2 of the Japan finale 00:18 – Why small group tours feel different from large group tours 01:01 – Who these tours suit: solo, families, newlyweds, retirees 01:40 – Small group tours with teenagers vs younger families 02:35 – Essential, luxury and extravagant ranges explained 03:16 – When to book: locking in the tour before flights release 04:26 – Package protection vs booking flights separately 05:06 – Why travel insurance still matters (plus a future episode tease) 05:56 – Matching itineraries to travellers: Hidden Japan, Tohoku, Hokkaido 07:00 – Traditional routes with an off-the-beaten-path twist 07:40 – Kinosaki Onsen and the 11 itinerary options 08:24 – How solo travellers fit into small group tours 08:40 – Single supplements explained 09:30 – Why shared experiences lower the cost of premium activities 10:26 – A personal story: getting Jason's mum travelling solo 11:24 – The camaraderie of small group tours (the Gibraltar family story) 12:43 – Charlie's one must-do for a returning traveller 14:15 – Of course it was food 14:22 – Closing thoughts and how to start planning your Japan trip

Why P&O Launch Day Is a Game-Changer: Insider Secrets From 28 Years in Cruise | Summer 2028 Launch (Part 2)

On launch morning, the shop floor opens at 7am. Breakfast, brews, and a list of customers already waiting. Within 90 minutes, the best cabins on the best ships for the entire 2028 summer season will be gone. Core insight: The benefit of launch day isn't just the price — it's the access. Access to accessible cabins that vanish first. Access to interconnecting rooms for big families. Access to sought-after itineraries like the Norwegian Fjords on Iona and the Greek Isles on Azura. Danielle Dry shares exactly what happens on launch morning, why her own 60-strong family group books this way every single year, and how paying £30 a month over 24 months turns a dream holiday into an everyday affordability. What you'll learn in Part 2: * What launch morning actually looks like from inside a travel agency — the 7am starts, the waiting lists, the real-time cabin grabs * Why Danielle's £800pp Norwegian Fjords cruise on Iona worked out at just £30 a month through the direct debit plan * The cabin types that disappear first — and why accessibility cabins, interconnecting rooms and family groupings need launch-day priority * Why P&O's onboard pricing is closer to high street than most cruise lines (one listener's £280 first-night bar bill story says it all) * Drinks package strategy: when to book, what's included, and why the all-inclusive option is worth running the numbers on * The two itineraries Danielle recommends above all others — Norwegian Fjords on Iona and Malta-to-Greek Isles on Azura — and why they sell out first * How P&O's free coach transfers from cities like Liverpool turn "I can't get to Southampton" into a non-issue * The exact launch timeline: what happens on 21, 27, 28, 29 and 30 April — and what you need to do before each of those dates Who this episode is for: Anyone planning a summer 2028 cruise, group organisers coordinating multi-generational holidays, people with accessibility requirements, nervous first-time cruisers, and anyone who's ever wondered if launch-day urgency is real or just marketing. If you've been thinking about a 2028 cruise, the booking window is now. The conversations need to happen this week. ⏱ Chapters (YouTube / Spotify timestamps) 00:00 — Welcome back to Part 2 00:07 — What launch morning is really like on the shop floor 02:20 — Why repeat cruisers never miss a launch 03:00 — How Danielle pays £30 a month for her P&O cruise 05:13 — Cabins explained: why the right one changes your whole holiday 06:56 — Accessibility cabins, interconnecting rooms & why agents see more 08:13 — P&O onboard pricing: why it beats other cruise lines 09:01 — Drinks packages, the new all-inclusive, and when to book 11:25 — A £280 cautionary tale from a non-P&O sailing 14:27 — Danielle's favourite itinerary: Norwegian Fjords on Iona 17:19 — Close second: Malta & Greek Isles on Azura 18:16 — Why Fjords sailings are cost-effective AND sought-after 19:44 — P&O's free coach service from UK cities 21:27 — The 60-strong family group (and how it keeps growing) 23:45 — Not sure if P&O is right for you? Start here 26:37 — The exact launch timeline: 21st to 30th April explained 30:43 — How to get in touch with Jason before launch morning

Why P&O Launch Day Is a Game-Changer: Insider Secrets From 28 Years in Cruise | Summer 2028 Launch (Part 1)

Tomorrow morning at 8:30am, P&O Cruises opens pre-registration for the Summer 2028 collection — and the people who know the industry best will already be logged in, ready to book. Here's why. Booking at launch isn't just about saving money — it's about getting the best version of the holiday before anyone else can touch it. Danielle Dry has spent 28 years in travel, personally sells P&O launches every single year, and is about to take her eighth P&O cruise. In this episode, she pulls back the curtain on what really happens on launch day and why waiting costs you more than you think. What you'll learn in Part 1: * Why P&O is one of the only cruise lines in the world that gives agents early access — and what that means for you * The real difference between launch-day pricing and "fluid pricing" (with a live example of a couple who missed out on over £1,000) * Why early birds don't just get the cheaper cabin — they get the better holiday * How multi-generational families use launch day to lock in accessible cabins, connecting rooms and prime locations before they vanish * What makes P&O uniquely suited to the British market — from the food and entertainment down to the plug sockets * The hidden value of booking through a personal travel agent at launch (spoiler: you pay exactly the same price) Who this episode is for: Anyone planning a 2028 holiday, repeat P&O guests wondering whether launch-day hype is real, first-time cruisers weighing up their options, and multi-generational family organisers who need to get the logistics right. This is Part 1 of a two-part special. Part 2 goes deeper into the Summer 2028 itineraries, the payment window strategy, and exactly what to do in the next 24 hours if you want in. ⏱ Chapters (YouTube / Spotify timestamps) 00:00 — Welcome & why this episode matters 00:34 — Meet Danielle Dry: 28 years in travel, 8 P&O cruises and counting 02:36 — What is P&O pre-registration, and why should you care? 04:43 — Why P&O gives agents early access (and no other cruise line does it this way) 06:30 — The hype around launch day: is it actually justified? 07:39 — Real example: how one couple missed out on £1,000+ by waiting 08:58 — Early birds get the better cruise, not just the cheaper one 10:15 — What makes P&O the perfect cruise line for the British market 13:17 — The little things that matter: British plugs, British humour, British hospitality 13:59 — "Why not just book direct?" — the honest answer 15:55 — When things go wrong: why a travel agent matters most in a crisis 18:52 — Coming up in Part 2

Discover Japan Episode 6 Part 1 - Return visitors and Small Group Tours

Japan gets under your skin. Almost every first-time visitor comes home already planning the next trip — and there's a reason for that. In the final instalment of the Discover Japan mini-series, Jason sits down again with Charlie Orr from Inside Japan to tackle what most travel content ignores: what to actually do on your second, third or fourth visit. They dig into Hokkaido's summer wilderness, the rarely-visited southern islands of Shikoku and Kyushu, why renting a car unlocks a completely different Japan, and how returning travellers become braver, hungrier and far more willing to push past the tourist trail. Charlie also pulls back the curtain on small group tours — explaining the real difference between a 14-person insider-led trip and a 30-person coach tour, and sharing two unforgettable examples of what a local insider adds: a hidden izakaya district tucked under Tokyo's train arches, and a Kyoto temple with a ceiling made from samurai-stained floorboards. Key Highlights: * Why Japan is rarely a "one and done" destination — and what keeps pulling travellers back * The case for Hokkaido in summer vs winter (and why most people get the timing wrong) * Shikoku & Kyushu: the southern islands missed by 80% of visitors to Japan * When to add a rental car to your itinerary — and what paperwork you need before flying * The real value of an Inside Japan "insider" — with two stories you won't hear elsewhere * Small group vs large group tours: why 14 is the magic number * How returning travellers unlock a deeper, bolder version of Japan Who It's For: Travellers who've already ticked off Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima and want to know where to go next — plus anyone considering a small group tour and wondering what they're actually paying for. If you've been to Japan once, you already know it won't be your last visit. This episode is the roadmap for everything that comes after. ⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to the Japan mini-series finale 00:39 – Why Japan inspires so many repeat visits 03:15 – Retiring in rural Japan & the countryside house market 05:50 – Where to go on a second or third trip 06:50 – Exploring the islands: Hokkaido in summer 07:50 – Shikoku & Kyushu — the Japan most tourists miss 09:00 – Adding a rental car to your itinerary 10:11 – Driving in Japan: the paperwork you need 11:09 – How returning travellers experience Japan differently 14:07 – Self-guided vs small group vs large group tours explained 15:00 – What an "insider" actually is at Inside Japan 15:30 – Tokyo hidden gem: the Yurakucho izakaya arches 16:30 – The Kyoto temple with a ceiling made of samurai history 18:30 – Why 14 is the magic number for group size 19:30 – Flexibility in action: adapting the itinerary on the fly 20:24 – Wrap-up and what's coming in Part 2

Discover Japan Episode 5 Pt 2: Autumn Colours, Winter Snow Festivals & How to Plan the Perfect Season

In Part 2 of Episode 5, Jason and Charlie from Inside Japan continue their deep dive into Japan's seasons, turning their attention to the breathtaking autumn colours and the magic of winter. Charlie explains why November is the sweet spot for koyo — Japan's autumn foliage — and why he personally rates it above cherry blossom season. From the Japanese Alps to the valleys of Shikoku, he paints a picture of a country transformed by reds, golds and yellows stretching for miles across mountainous terrain. The conversation then moves to winter, covering Japan's legendary ski powder in Hokkaido and Niseko, the extraordinary Sapporo Snow Festival with its towering ice sculptures (including a life-sized Darth Vader), and why a bowl of nabe hot pot with hot sake is the ultimate winter warmer after a day on the slopes. Charlie also flags why winter travel in Hokkaido requires expert guidance due to road closures — a perfect example of where a travel professional makes all the difference. The episode closes with essential practical advice: how to choose the right season based on your priorities, why you should start planning 12–18 months in advance, and why AI itinerary tools still fall well short of the personalised, specialist knowledge that makes a Japan trip truly unforgettable. Episode Chapters: * 00:00 – Recap & intro to Part 2 * 00:08 – Autumn in Japan: koyo and why it rivals cherry blossoms * 02:46 – Best regions for autumn leaves: Alps, Shikoku & beyond * 04:11 – Winter in Japan: skiing, powder snow & Hokkaido * 07:45 – The Sapporo Snow Festival: ice sculptures & Darth Vader * 09:30 – Why Hokkaido in winter needs expert planning * 10:26 – The perfect winter meal: nabe hot pot & hot sake * 11:06 – How to choose the right season for your trip * 14:37 – How far in advance should you book Japan? * 17:34 – Why personalised Japan travel beats AI itinerary tools * 21:15 – Wrap up & preview of Episode 6: revisits & small group tours