In 2019 we stayed at a few Marriott properties, burning up points and requalifying for next year (though this may the last time we try for that).

And it had the added highlight that my daughter came to agree with me that Tokyo DisneySea is the best of all the parks.

So with that said...


An Amazing Time
* Shangri-La Tokyo. — The proximity to Tokyo Station is a plus for us, as is the platform service when navigating with a kid. Loved the huge fresh persimmons as a welcome amenity, and our daughter loved the teddy bear with its own miniature teddy (!). Very high quality breakfast, especially the pastries. What sealed things for us was, when we told them my wife was feeling very ill and asked about having a doctor visit, they advised the local emergency room was a better choice and sent a team member to help us navigate the Japanese medical system. (My wife ended up having a very, very bad cold but the symptoms were severe.) We truly appreciated the kindness they showed us.

Excellent Places
* Gritti Palace. — Adored having breakfast overlooking the canal and loved the quality, though wished they started service before 7:30AM. Loved the classic feel throughout the public spaces. The cooking class was a highlight, and we didn’t object it ran a little long since it gave us more time to linger over food and enjoy the six wine pairings.
* Ritz Carlton Kyoto. — Loved the wonderful, huge soaking tub (appreciated when you’re 6’3”), and discovered wooden slats in a shower can be a pleasant thing. Excellent concierge service, calling around immediately after I asked about tripods being permitted at various night-illuminated temples to find the answer. Fantastic breakfast, and loved they asked how many pieces of French toast I’d like with my order. The morning bike tour was great.

Solidly Good
* Prince de Galles. — Loved the Mosaic suite upgrade we got, though I had to specifically request it after seeing availability online. Loved the breakfast. Loved the proximity to FS George V.
* St. Regis Osaka. — Great location for strolling around, and loved that my welcome amenity included a free Bloody Mary. Good breakfast, made all the more surreal when the extended jazz version of the ‘Sanford and Son’ TV theme song came on during service.
* San Francisco Palace. — Still our favorite staycation hotel, though with their GM moving we only got a junior suite upgrade instead of the bigger Palace suite. The buffet breakfast remains good, and our daughter loves the pool.

Merely Fine
* Ritz Carlton Cancun. — It feels big. Very, very big. And the grounds are a bit sterile. Insufficient # of outlets near the bed. F&B was very good throughout. They graciously accommodated our daughter at the Club Grille, with a special amuse-bouche and mocktail. At Fantino they also treated her wonderfully, and we inadvertently discovered she can handle a fine-dining meal when we realized dinner took 2.5 hours. Good kids’ club, though I prefer it being “free” at FS. Our daughter loved the cooking class, and was eager to share the churros she made. The massages we got at the spa were merely OK.
* Four Seasons Tokyo at Marunouchi. — We’d had good stays here years ago, but the room felt tired this time and the buffet breakfast felt weak. F&B never really excited at all, and I ended up leaving unspent FSPP F&B money and ate at Tokyo Station instead. I can’t imagine returning, and instead would revisit Shangri-La (though am interested in reviews of the new FS near the Imperial Palace).
* Four Seasons San Francisco. — We decided to try a new local place, but I don’t think we’ll return; the “value” just doesn’t feel there. Very comfortable room, but lack of a pool our daughter can use is unfortunate. She enjoyed the cookie-decorating, and the showing of “The Grinch.”

Special Mention
* Le Cinq (Four Seasons George V). — Our multi-hour dinner at RC Cancun gave us the confidence to bring our daughter to Le Cinq for lunch, and they were fantastic with her. We appreciated they had a kids’ menu, and pleasantly surprised it included most amuse-bouche too. Fantastic food. Fantastic cocktails. Fantastic mocktails. They had the best vanilla ice cream we’ve ever tasted, with such a strong intensity. I dream about returning for another meal, and hope we can stay here some day.