Originally Posted by
arlflyer
Really? What Hilton airport properties do you have in mind? I certainly can't think of any in the US that provide amenities in line with the pool, fitness center, or breakfast offering of the Hilton NRT, not to speak of Japanese service (and toilets, for that matter). I'm thinking of ORD/BOS/JFK where the price can be $300/400/to-the-Moon depending on how bad the IRROPS are that night and how many DYKWIAs are opening up their clients' wallets.
I get what you're saying - there are cheaper nice hotels on the NRT shuttle bus loop, got it - but in the realm of overpriced/underdelivering airport Hiltons I don't think it's in the top tier, even at the $200 price point.
The pool/onsen is nice and breakfast is nice (though I think $40+ normal rate is on the ridiculous side without the gold benefits). You get past that and what about where you actually spend most of the time - the room? You get a room that isn't as nice as most Hamptons where the decor is almost as old as I am (and in my case, the last one smelled bad). Without those other amenities, most of us wouldn't even stay there if it weren't well priced.
Toilets? Big deal - those fancy tech ones are all over Japan and Korea. While they're cool, I'm certainly not going to pay extra for them.
Yes, the staff provide the wonderful Japanese hospitality, but again, that's also an intangible that any other hotel in the area would likely provide.
The Hilton NRT has generally been an acceptable hotel due to its low cost and being an easy way to get Hilton stays. If it wants to charge a good bit more, then they need a serious renovation IMO.
And not everyone stays at hotels near JFK/ORD/BOS where hotels are already on the expensive side to begin with. I've stayed at plenty of airport Hiltons and Hilton family properties near airports that have been more than adequate and haven't broken the bank. I've found the Hilton SLC airport and Hilton IAD to be good values for the money. Hell, even the HGI at LAX I stayed at last night is nicer.
Bottom line, Hilton NRT is not a $200 a night hotel - even with the pool and breakfast, IMO.
YMMV.