Westin Miyako, Kyoto, Japan [Master Thread]
#46
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NJ/NYC
Programs: AA EXP/LT Plat, SPG Plat/LT Plat, HHonors Gold, Hyatt Plat, IHG Plat, MR Silver
Posts: 2,786
I can't be more angry about the shuttle. It's been full twice and they made us wait 30 minutes for the next one without so much as a real apology (IMO, they should have paid for a cab for us). We've missed the last shuttle twice by a few minutes (the last one runs at 6:30 PM from Kyoto Station, even though other hotels have shuttles running much later) and they will drop you off at two places in between the Westin and Kyoto Station but will NOT pick you back up there due to some silly Japanese law enacted as of June 1, 2008 (or something). Today, we quite literally missed the last shuttle by two minutes. $17 cab ride back or subway (that's twice now), and we didn't beat the shuttle
#47
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Here there everywhere
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, BA Silver, Aegean Gold, Aeroplan 25k, AA EXP
Posts: 2,823
You got robbed. Sorry m8.
Indeed, except for the old lady in the kimono (sp?), avoid her at all expense - I spoek with another FT'er while here (I'm still here) and he said he would report her to the GM - she makes you feel like awful for asking any question (we joked that she must have some dirt on the GM, lolz).
Indeed, except for the old lady in the kimono (sp?), avoid her at all expense - I spoek with another FT'er while here (I'm still here) and he said he would report her to the GM - she makes you feel like awful for asking any question (we joked that she must have some dirt on the GM, lolz).
I apologize, I should have mentioned that your exec lounge cert also gives you buffet breakfast privileges on the secon dfloor in Aqua Blue, which I also informed (too late) to the other FT'er here who enjoyed that on his last two mornings. Night and day difference. The mango juice yesterday was incredible, and the apple juice (they rotate out a few juices daily) was also quite good and seemed fresh-pressed.
I concur. This could be an incredible property, but they just fall short on a few. I used extra points and additional points upon arrival to get a Luxury sweet (kids in tow) and it has a single shower head, another FT'er with a JR suite has a better bathroom setup, there are only 14 channels on the TV and only 1 subtitled in English (CNN international), and the bed is hard as a rock - I asked for some down pillows to sleep on, they would only give me regular ones. I asked for two fans yesterday for some white noise for us, I only got one (put it in the living room to keep the kids asleep - it worked! I got an hour and a half extra sleep!!) heh)..
I can't be more angry about the shuttle. It's been full twice and they made us wait 30 minutes for the next one without so much as a real apology (IMO, they should have paid for a cab for us). We've missed the last shuttle twice by a few minutes (the last one runs at 6:30 PM from Kyoto Station, even though other hotels have shuttles running much later) and they will drop you off at two places in between the Westin and Kyoto Station but will NOT pick you back up there due to some silly Japanese law enacted as of June 1, 2008 (or something). Today, we quite literally missed the last shuttle by two minutes. $17 cab ride back or subway (that's twice now), and we didn't beat the shuttle
GVA: sorry I missed you, it would have been nice to meet you.
GVA: sorry I missed you, it would have been nice to meet you.
The subway is actually a nice way to get around the city. We took it today to get to Nijojo castle then spent 45 minutes on the 12 bus to Kinkakuji temple. On our return from Ryoanji temple, we were lucky to have a JR bus just show up there and took that to Nijo station. What a difference that made, the bus took about 15 minutes and the subway was about a 10-15 minute ride and about 200yards away from the hotel.
Too bad we missed each other.
#48
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Programs: AS MVPG, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 983
Here are some additions to add, checked out earlier today.
No 4pm checkout.
Outdoor pool is not open, no water in it.
Asked for an additional coffee or "exchange" the decaf for leaded and was told it would be 440 Yen.
SPG Gold / Platinum check in line was slower than regular line. 3 agents working the regular line and 1 working the Gold / Platinum line.
Room 8002 is exceptionally musty / full of mildew. Complaints and request to move did no good since the hotel was full. Thank goodness we could open the window.
Maid service is great. Shuttle worked out well for us. The bird trail is a great hike and beautiful views. ^
The restaurant grill about 400 meters west of the hotel on the south side is excellent and busy with locals although very small, I think about 8 seats. Items range from 600 to 1000 Yen.
No 4pm checkout.
Outdoor pool is not open, no water in it.
Asked for an additional coffee or "exchange" the decaf for leaded and was told it would be 440 Yen.
SPG Gold / Platinum check in line was slower than regular line. 3 agents working the regular line and 1 working the Gold / Platinum line.
Room 8002 is exceptionally musty / full of mildew. Complaints and request to move did no good since the hotel was full. Thank goodness we could open the window.
Maid service is great. Shuttle worked out well for us. The bird trail is a great hike and beautiful views. ^
The restaurant grill about 400 meters west of the hotel on the south side is excellent and busy with locals although very small, I think about 8 seats. Items range from 600 to 1000 Yen.
#49
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SXSW
Programs: DL Plat; HH Diamond; SPG & Hyatt Plat
Posts: 996
Today we bought a subway pass for Ą600 and went all over. We went back to Mushashi in Kyoto station (right accross from McDonald's on the taxi side of the station, same side the Westin shuttle bus comes to), a kaizen-sushi (rotating conveyor belt) place that has another location on Shijo street and elsewhere and is inexpensive and good quality, known by locals... and all plates are only Ą137. The kids love the "Shaka Shaka Chicken" on the McDonald's Ą100 menu - the quality is actually decent, it's not meat product but actual chicken like chicken tenders, although likely not so healthy as it is fried.
#50
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Mid-Levels, Hong Kong
Programs: AA EXP, CX MPC GLD, MR PLT, SPG PLT, National Exec.
Posts: 686
Just returned from two night at the Kyoto Westin Miyako. Nice property went in with mixed opinion after reading some of the reports on here but came out feeling I would return. Breakfast buffet on the 2nd floor wasn't bad a little steep in price for the hot items versus continental style. The older lady in the kimono at the concierge desk was in fact useless. Had requested she make use reservations for an event and she did not do it as request resulting in unfavorable booking time. Our room on the 8th floor 8043 was your average Westin room no complaints clean and no smell of mildew. If you walk around the 8th floor there is a large area of glass windows with spectacular views of the city. The subway stop just up the street from the hotel also made for some easy and cheap travel with the 1-day pass for 600 yen.
#52
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: UA: 1K MM, Marriott Ambassador, Platinum IHG. Diamond: Hilton. Silver: Delta & Hyatt
Posts: 1,366
Stayed here in December 2006 and really enjoyed it. My girlfriend and I even got in room massages at the time which were great.
-UFFA
-UFFA
#53
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NJ/NYC
Programs: AA EXP/LT Plat, SPG Plat/LT Plat, HHonors Gold, Hyatt Plat, IHG Plat, MR Silver
Posts: 2,786
Stayed here last week. Hotel is fine, clean, nothing special - which is reflected in the availability of pretty low rates - 11,900 JPY was what I saw.
The club lounge was ok for drinks, but very small. In fact it was full when we went, but they promised to reserve the next open table for us and followed through on that, which was nice.
The club lounge was ok for drinks, but very small. In fact it was full when we went, but they promised to reserve the next open table for us and followed through on that, which was nice.
#54
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Plat, AA 1MM LT Gold, *wood Plat
Posts: 144
Stayed at the hotel for two nights last week. First got a room facing the back moutain (no view) so asked for a different room. They put me in a very nice room with a view of the city and it was pretty nice.
For the rates, it was pretty good service. The conceirge and front desk staff went out of their way to help me when I needed them to ship something to another hotel.
The breakfast in the resturant that came with the room was very decent and quite good. No complaints and would definately stay here again.
For the rates, it was pretty good service. The conceirge and front desk staff went out of their way to help me when I needed them to ship something to another hotel.
The breakfast in the resturant that came with the room was very decent and quite good. No complaints and would definately stay here again.
#55
Join Date: Jul 2005
Programs: Starwood Gold née Platinum; AA Plat.
Posts: 476
Odd that rates not loaded for Mar. 2009
Despite some recent poor reviews (or really in the absence of having read some of those poor reviews) I just booked two nights in March 2009 using cash and points. The odd thing is that Starwood's website still doesn't have cash rates ("Book Our Best Rate") loaded. I looked at Expedia, and with respect to the Westin for my dates, it says no rooms are available. But there definitely are cash and points rooms available (even after I booked my rooms with cash and points). It just seemed odd that only people with points can stay at this hotel during my dates (at least if they book it over the Internet). Makes me feel like I'm part of some exclusive club...
#56
Join Date: Jul 2005
Programs: Starwood Gold née Platinum; AA Plat.
Posts: 476
Despite some recent poor reviews (or really in the absence of having read some of those poor reviews) I just booked two nights in March 2009 using cash and points. The odd thing is that Starwood's website still doesn't have cash rates ("Book Our Best Rate") loaded. I looked at Expedia, and with respect to the Westin for my dates, it says no rooms are available. But there definitely are cash and points rooms available (even after I booked my rooms with cash and points). It just seemed odd that only people with points can stay at this hotel during my dates (at least if they book it over the Internet). Makes me feel like I'm part of some exclusive club...
#57
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Mid-Levels, Hong Kong
Programs: AA EXP, CX MPC GLD, MR PLT, SPG PLT, National Exec.
Posts: 686
I am here now. Terrible experience already. After two nights at the Westin Nagoya, were the staff goes out of their way to be friendly and helpful, I find myself let down here.
Check-in took over 45 minutes, then were given two rooms in what the receptionist called the "Old Wing." We requested rooms in the new wing and were told these were reserved for guests visiting Kyoto for the New Year. I read this to mean Japanese guests, not American's visiting Kyoto for New Year. After telling her this would not work and we would go to the Hyatt she consulted with her peer and then offered free breakfast. Our rate included breakfast so I pointed this out and was then offered coffee or afternoon tea in the cafe. I told her this would not be acceptable and I would like a room in one of the refurbished wings. Again she insisted these rooms were for guests visiting Kyoto for the New Year. I pushed again and we were offered two rooms in the "New Wing," but we were told now we could not request a late check out. We were told to have a seat and we would be shown to our room. After 15 minutes, I asked where the key was and we were told that we had to wait to be shown our room. I said we were capable of walking to our rooms alone but were told it is policy to be walked to the room. I am confused at this point. We are show are rooms which are online with what we had in a previous stay and all is well.
I am just confused with the whole line of these rooms are for guests visiting Kyoto for the New Year?
Check-in took over 45 minutes, then were given two rooms in what the receptionist called the "Old Wing." We requested rooms in the new wing and were told these were reserved for guests visiting Kyoto for the New Year. I read this to mean Japanese guests, not American's visiting Kyoto for New Year. After telling her this would not work and we would go to the Hyatt she consulted with her peer and then offered free breakfast. Our rate included breakfast so I pointed this out and was then offered coffee or afternoon tea in the cafe. I told her this would not be acceptable and I would like a room in one of the refurbished wings. Again she insisted these rooms were for guests visiting Kyoto for the New Year. I pushed again and we were offered two rooms in the "New Wing," but we were told now we could not request a late check out. We were told to have a seat and we would be shown to our room. After 15 minutes, I asked where the key was and we were told that we had to wait to be shown our room. I said we were capable of walking to our rooms alone but were told it is policy to be walked to the room. I am confused at this point. We are show are rooms which are online with what we had in a previous stay and all is well.
I am just confused with the whole line of these rooms are for guests visiting Kyoto for the New Year?
#58
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: West Coast USA
Programs: UA GS/4 MM, AA Exec Plat, Lifetime Hilton D, Hyatt G, Marriott Titanium earned Ambassador
Posts: 7,553
I say this with total respect. My wife is from Japan and I know the "routine". It is very very very common for the Japanese to reserve rooms in advance. That means some of those rooms were reserved when the guests checked out last New Year. They (Japanese consumers) are also willing to pay to rooms in the new wing. I believe this Hotel does all it can to make guests comfortable. I hope you will enjoy Kyoto. Please do not let this experience get you down. That city is way too beautiful. I will be there soon and just can not wait. Regards
#60
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Hawaii
Programs: Delta Platinum, Marriott Silver, Hilton Silver, Avis First
Posts: 394
I stayed for 3 nights at this hotel in October and I thought the place was terrible. Concierge was worthless, check-in was slow, and the rooms had paper thin walls. The bell staff was very friendly and helpful. Also, the location of the hotel is weak. I would not recommend staying in this hotel.
I was in Japan for 5 months so I have plenty of other hotels to compare it to. The best (i.e. my favorite) Starwood hotel I stayed in was the Sapporo Sheraton. It was a very clean hotel and the staff was tremendous.
I was in Japan for 5 months so I have plenty of other hotels to compare it to. The best (i.e. my favorite) Starwood hotel I stayed in was the Sapporo Sheraton. It was a very clean hotel and the staff was tremendous.