Originally Posted by nicolas75

What is your IHG One Rewards status?
Diamond Royal Ambassador Inner Circle

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay ?
I was not impressed by the hotel.

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked cheapest rate and received 1 King Premium Additional Living Area on high floor

How are the rooms?
Around 36sqm.

Seating area.
Table

Large smart TV with very basic selection of international channels.
No Chromecast. Netflix/YouTube/Amazon Prime apps.
Bluetooth speaker.

Nespresso machine. Kettle..
Desk.

Bedroom with very comfortable bed.
Usb and electrical sockets next to the bed.The bathroom opens onto the bedroom but can be closed off with sliding panels. It features a walk-in shower and a separate bathtub.
Atelier Bloem toiletries.
Toto washlets.

Very efficient air conditioning system.
Given how recently the hotel was built, the soundproofing is surprisingly poor — outside noise is clearly audible, even from a high floor.

Open closet.

View over the city.
Free PressReader.

How is the exec. lounge?
N/A.


What was good and what was bad?
Good

• The design of the common areas is pleasant, with a lively and contemporary atmosphere throughout the hotel.
• The staff are attentive and welcoming — special mention to the restaurant manager, who is French-Japanese, and the head of accommodations, originally from Switzerland. Both were particularly thoughtful.
• High-quality bicycles are available for guests, which makes exploring the area especially enjoyable.
• Nice welcome gifts, including Perrier-Jouët champagne.

Bad

• The rooms are quite small and fairly spartan — even the Premium category, which is supposed to offer more space, feels limited. I can only imagine what the more basic rooms must be like.
  The design isn’t unpleasant, but it walks a fine line between minimalist and simply uninspired.
• Soundproofing is unexpectedly poor. From the seating area by the window, street noise is clearly audible, even on the top floor. While it didn’t affect my sleep, I do wonder how much worse it gets one or two floors below.
• Breakfast is particularly disappointing. There’s no buffet. Breakfast includes one appetiser and a main. The hummus was served with a lonely stick of carrot: uninviting both visually and in taste. Beef was available only as a paid extra, which took 25 minutes to arrive and was sadly overcooked.
• Another surprise: the restaurant closes very early, at 9.30pm. When I checked in around 8.40pm, no one thought to mention this — had I known, I would’ve gone straight there. By the time I arrived, it was closed. I ended up eating at the rooftop bar, which was pleasant, with a small terrace and a nice view. The food and service there were both good.
• That said, for a hotel that presents itself as international and contemporary, the absence of Chromecast is disappointing — all the more so given the extremely limited TV channels available.
• The hotel is about 15 minutes from Shinjuku Station. You’ll likely want to take a taxi or a bus, especially with luggage. Tochomae Station is 5 minutes walk from the hotel..
• Finally, a minor point, but one that reflects some inconsistency: when I checked in, I asked what was the chef’s taste for Inner Circle members, and was told there wasn’t one. Later, when speaking with the head of accommodations,, I learned that there was indeed a Chef’s taste. A small but avoidable oversight.

Value for $ or IHG One Rewards Points? Would you return?
Not quite sure.
I found the product disappointing — all the more so given that prices aren’t exactly competitive.

And while that’s subjective, I’m not particularly fond of Shinjuku; it’s far from my favourite part of Tokyo.

To be honest, I can’t help but think a Kimpton would make more sense in a neighbourhood like Shibuya — a location that feels better aligned with the brand’s spirit.