Pre-tour hotel: can I stay at the same hotel the tour starts at?

Trip Planning Tips
1

We’re arriving 2 days before our Japan tour starts because of jet lag. The tour starts at a hotel in Tokyo but they won’t tell us which hotel until 2 weeks before departure.

Can I just book 2 extra nights at that same hotel so we don’t have to move? Has anyone done this through the tour operator vs booking it themselves once the hotel name is announced? Is it cheaper one way vs the other? Seems silly to stay at one hotel, check out, and check into the tour hotel across the street.

2

I’ve done it both ways in the past- through the operator, who adds on the extra days, and can even make sure you’re in the same room so you don’t have to move.

I’ve also done it directly with the hotel, once I knew what hotel was being used on tour. This has given me a better rate a few times, but you will want to reach out to the hotel ahead of time to explain you are booked with a tour, and they can hopefully keep you in the same room.