Our President's Day-Spring Break getaway from Vail was to Japan to ski and eat in 2024. When we left Vail, snow was forecast but our B-Line Express ($630) drive to Denver was dry. We had arranged that we could stop at Super Star for takeaway food for dinner that night and we did. We were able to heat it up in the microwave at the Westin Airport Starbucks and eat at a table in their cafe. That was better than the Westin restaurant or the A-Line train to Union Station for dinner. Our room at the Westin was an upgrade to a handicapped suite ($454.90) and we hated it. There was no more furniture than a standard room and so there was lots of empty space. The view was worse and the climate control system at the far end of the hall sucked.
We booked ANA business class (US$20338 for the two of us) to Narita. Then we booked an ANA affiliate, ANA Wings (US$222 for the two of us) to CTS (New Chitose Airport) in economy (because it was impossible to book business online on the horrible ANA website). CTS was near Sapporo in Hokkaido. We had breakfast in the United Lounge (because United operates for ANA out of Denver) instead of the awful restaurant at the Westin.
The flight to Narita was 12 hours-ish and the usual United standard of mediocrity. We weren't thrilled with the configuration of our seats (we were in the second row; the first row middle would have been better). Our seats did recline to flat and we did sleep. That was good because the entertainment system did not work. This was our third United flight to Narita when the entertainment system did not work (April 2016 and November 2023). When we complained to United we were awarded a big deal of 5000 United points. Those points would get us what?
After we found noodles for dinner at the airport we went to the hotel at the CTS airport called the Portom Hotel Bibi (Shin Chitose Airport International Terminal Bldg, Chitose-shi, Hokkaido 066-0012) for one night. We booked a suite with their breakfast and the total charge was US $860.15.
The hotel, with its modern, black and grey, minimalistic décor was pleasing, once we arrived after our miles-long walk from the domestic terminal. Our suite was large, comfortable, and well-equipped. The Onsen was very pleasant, although gender separated. The bed was comfortable, it was quiet and the temperature in the room was good. The breakfast was excellent; there was an extensive buffet with a menu selection too. Audre ordered eggs Benedict without knowing that there was a $8.41 extra charge for that item. They were good but Dimitri loved his poached eggs with red wine reduction more (and there was no extra charge for his).
Our car-and-driver to the Rusutsu ski resort (US $198.28) was at the hotel entrance at the agreed time of 11 am in a van (not the booked sedan) and the 1 ½ hour drive was nice. The roads were cleared of snow, there was very little traffic and there were nice mountain vistas.
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