op487062

The "value" of a room in Tokyo has decreased dramatically with these increases. If price is a primary factor with luxury in mind, consider Conrad and Park Hyatt (base level room plus 6,000 points upgrade to a suite).

Kagehitokiri

some rate increases probably due to exchange rate
for example even SL uses USD in their financials
speaking of SL - SL, MO, Pen own their tokyo hotels (MO and SL lease)
re FS and SL, train escorts and FS airport greeting are unique services

detailed example of extremely high rates at RC a year ago >
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...l#post23807403
i later saw ¥140K for base room at RC (same high as aman)

at one point i saw MO base room run ¥85K to ¥100K+
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...l#post25352414

some current examples >

PH ~¥150K (around same holidays as others below) ¥111K (etc)
RC ¥120K (dec 29, mar 19 - apr 16) ¥95K (saturdays, feb 7-12)
MO ¥120K (n mar/apr) ¥90K (around NYE, may 3)
FS ¥120K (apr 9, around NYE, other similar dates)
SL ¥115K (around NYE) ¥89K (other other dates)
Pen ¥96K (dec 30, jan 2, feb 5-13, mar 25 - apr 9)

aman
¥100K (most saturdays, mar 19-24 28-31)
¥120K (peak saturdays, mar 25-27, apr 1 3-16)
¥130K? (apr 2)

conrad
¥116K? (jan 1, may 16-19) ¥103K/¥106K (dec 1 5, may 9)
¥93K/¥95K (dec 22-24 dec 29-30, jan 2, feb 3-14, may 3-4)

dewidewi

Would love some feedback/suggestions, have read the last few pages, but would still really appreciate it if anyone can answer my questions!

First time to Japan (and not just transiting!) I'm looking at a 8 night stay in Spring at either:

Shangri-la Tokyo - Horizon Club level rooms
MO
RC - Club level
... and possibly Peninsula

Breakfast/Lounge Offerings are important to my partner and me.

Shangri
- Feeling conflicted, especially about the reports of breakfast at Shangri-la becoming severely limited. What, if any, are the offerings throughout the day aside from nightly canapes/breakfast?

RC
- How out-of-the-way is the RC? Is it really a pain to get to sights from there?
- Does the club offerings here compare to the club offerings at Ritz Millenina SG?

Peninsula
- How is the breakfast at Peninsula? I have dietary requirements, so I usually really appreciate buffet set-ups.

Aventine

Fruit and cookies throughout the day at the Horizon club. Very high quality fruit though. They'll bring you whatever beverages you like.

Tokyo Midtown itself is a major destination in Tokyo.
I've heard RC has one of the top breakfasts in the city. Top Lounge too. MikeFromTokyo can give more details. MO excels at fulfilling dietary restrictions and also does a fine breakfast spread.

grumbler

If breakfast buffet is important criterion, you would avoid Peninsula. Other hotels that you could consider from that perspective would be Andaz or Palace. Or, club level at Grand Hyatt, but that is not quite as elaborate as the others for morning offerings.

RichardInSF

Unlike as was mentioned above, I don't regard Tokyo Midtown (where the RC is) as a "major" destination. It's a shopping center with restaurants. However, there are two subway lines there and that is enough to put you within 30 minutes or less of wherever you want to go in Central Tokyo.

Generally speaking, if you are near a subway or train station, you can get around Tokyo in a reasonable time, So if you're willing to use public transit, location need not be a deciding factor for any of the hotels you list.

grumbler

Tokyo Midtown is not a neighbourhood, but the development has revitalized that part of Akasaka in the same way that Roppongi Hills had an impact on Roppongi. For sure a tourist would not look at it as a draw in itself, but there are aspects of that complex that keep it hopping. Perhaps this is what Aventine meant.

Aventine

It actually has a lot of cultural and art spaces too. I didn't mean it as a tourist draw but definitely as somewhere busy and lively. Retail, very good eating, and offices. It's definitely more lively than the Toranomon, Andaz Tokyo area.

Arrow29

For those that recommended waiting until the new year and looking to see if any hotel offers / cheaper prices came out, would there be any risk of waiting that long for travel in Mid May (May 10th/11th arrival)? From what I understand it's after Golden Week and the peak of the cherry blossom season, but wouldn't want to miss out on a room..

I just got my leave approved with work so will probably be booking flights shortly. Just deciding whether to contact my virtuoso agent now to make a reservation or hold off!

Also, we are now leaning away from Ritz Carlton Tokyo because of the location, since we'll be traveling with our (then) 10month old and probably doing a lot of walking / subway with the baby carrier or travel pram. Seems like Peninsula or MO have more suitable locations from that point of view? Or for those that know Tokyo, would that not be a problem with the subway nearby?

The Peninsula is quite a bit cheaper than MO for the dates we are looking at, but from what I've been reading here things have gone down hill a little there and so we are tempted to pay the extra for the MO..

hailstorm

From a breakfast buffet perspective, my top ten:

10. Intercontinental The Strings
9. Hyatt Regency Tokyo
8. Grand Hyatt Tokyo
7. Conrad Tokyo
6. Hotel Okura
5. Ritz Carlton Tokyo
4. Mandarin Oriental
3. Park Hyatt Tokyo
2. Palace Hotel
1. Andaz Tokyo

MikeFromTokyo

You can make a reservation that is cancellable without penalty, and then continually monitor various hotels for better rates or promotions that will likely become available. That way you'll have at least locked in the current best rate, just in case rates go up or availability is limited.

I see no reason to avoid Ritz-Carlton due to traveling with a baby. The property is adjacent to a park, is family friendly, and the convenience of dining and shopping at the Midtown complex could minimize the amount of unnecessary schlepping around you have to do with a baby in a stroller.

My top choices are R-C (club level), MO, and Andaz. But you will be fine at ANY of the top hotels in town.

Aventine

I actually think RC would be great with a child. Never seen many children at Andaz. They could definitely support kids but I think the hotel is more geared to singles and childless couples.

Arrow29, I'd definitely be in touch with the hotel about a crib if you'll be needing one. I remember one poster had his child sleep on a futon at Aman Tokyo. Hotel just didn't have a crib or couldn't be bothered to get one for a child.

Arrow29

Thanks Mike and Aventine,

Useful info to know. Will be in touch with my agent this weekend to enquire about the Ritz and MO - having a quick look, it appears that whilst the non-club rooms are cheaper at the Ritz, but he club rooms are more expensive compared to MO. Will discuss with the wife, she's had her eyes on the MO for quite some time now so we may end up there - like you said, I'm sure we'll be over the moon with either option!

Aventine - being a first time parent and attempting to plan as much as possible, I've already contacted MO Tokyo who said that they will have a crib available for our use. I will be sure to check with the Ritz if we end up going there.

vuittonsofstyle

If food is important, then MO Tokyo is easily your best option.

MikeFromTokyo

I agree that MO has some of the best overall F&B in the city, but I would argue that the Ritz-Carlton's restaurants, especially the Japanese dining venues at Hinokizaka and Frech restaurant Azure 45, could give Mandarin Oriental a run for its money.

Considering that you will be traveling with an infant, if possible, I would suggest looking at entry level suites as opposed to rooms (or possibility of upgrade into such suites). Club access may be less important if traveling with a baby. I can imagine it would be nicer and more relaxing to order room seevice and stay in one's own suite, in which case you would not need to have club access at R-C.

It's also not impossible to find yourself upgraded to club level if booking a suite at R-C, alghough that is certainly not guaranteed. A good TA could possibly work out a great deal (e.g. confirmed upgrade, club access, etc...) for you under the right circumstances.