Originally Posted by
rebelx
Thank you both for your info. I started reading more about anticipated headaches regarding tourism during the olympics and what scared me most off was the inability to confirm whether I could get tickets to the opening ceremony (the cheap ones). I think I'll avoid going during the Olympics and either go before or after.
Nonetheless your comments about the Narita Hilton are a bit of a bummer, but welcome. 2 hours each way is not realistic--even 1 hour each way is pushing it, but that doesn't seem reasonable.
I see some properties going for 60k that are more "downtown'ish" and upon checking my account, I have 227k points--just 13k shy of 240k and getting that 5th night free.
Also planning on going to Italy, but I was reading some more flyertalk posts where someone said that all the Hiltons in Italy are also quite a trek away from each city's center. So that's disappointing too.
I did the 60Kx4 to get five nights at the Hilton Shinjuku and I thought it was an incredible deal.
The room rate at that time for 5 nights would have exceeded $2,000. Include a nicer room and free breakfast, and it was one of my nicest stays. It would be worth buying points to make that redemption.
I then spent 2 nights in a independent hotel which was very unique and plush (about $300 for 2 nights). My flight was leaving Thursday evening from Narita, so I took a limo bus to Narita from Tokyo on Wednesday afternoon, stayed at the Narita Hilton for 20K points. I was able to get a 2PM check out. Very nice stay. And I used that time to visit the temples and gardens in Narita which were much more accessible than the ones in Tokyo, much less crowded, and absolutely stunning.
Buy buying a few more points you could really max out your stay in Tokyo with 5 nights in Shinjuku and 1 night in Narita.
I think that would be a great redemption.