Never thought I'd ever be asking this kind of question - however, I have a dilemna

Excellence Package at the Sofitel (late check out, wine on arrival, breakfast and room upgrade) 25,000 yen

or

Westin Nagoya Castle: Late check out, Executive Floor: Continental Brkfst: Exec Lounge Benefits (ie some soft drinks) : Free Access To Fitness for 18,500 yen (may or may not include taxes - roughly 3,000 yen)

Major investment for me - any thoughts? This will probably be my only stay in a 'top' hotel in Japan, I'm just trying to avoid the 'if only I'd stayed at the other one' kind of disappointment.

Thanks!

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Subsequent Trip report: – Nagoya Sofitel “The Cypress” (nobody will know what you mean if you ask for Sofitel. Take a map with you, it's not far from the station, but it can be a bugger to find).

This is going to be a tedious trip report, my stay wasn’t particularly inspiring.

Rooms: small, even with an upgrade. Pleasant avocado décor, REALLY hard bed (just ‘slightly’ softer than a single futon) white sheets. Black tile covering to the usual modular bathroom, decent water pressure on shower – properly plumbed bidet/toilet combi was interesting. Thin metal pipes led to the back of the seat and the controls were reassuringly basic – you turned a knob on either the behind or ‘lady’ spray to activate and alter the pressure (just like a tap). I’m sure maintenance on this one is relatively straightforward – seemed very easy to clean. I want one! L'Occitane amenities were a great touch - shampoo, conditioner and shower gel, alas, no moisturiser.

Window was small and could only be opened a fraction. View of the coca-cola sign from the room (like how I imagine staying in Atlanta to be… urm…great!). Cocktail vouchers handed to us on arrival – woke up just in time to go down and claim it – bar closes at around 11pm. Nice bar, nice cocktails. Breakfast was disappointing – huge smorgasbord of meat and a rather paltry Japanese selection. Would have preferred an ‘either/or’ as it did neither well. Bread and pastries were on a par with what you’d get in a cheap French Motel, so that was reassuringly French. No cheese. And no honey! Thankfully I’m rather partial to ume boshis (I don't eat land meat). Nice décor – even though the lounge/breakfast space is completely dependant on the light fittings to ‘work’ architecturally.

The reception staff were absolutely first class though. They managed to make me feel REALLY special as if I was one of only a handful of guests (the hotel was completely full). I’ve never given much weight to the pleasures of good hotel service before, but the manners and grace of the staff here were better than what I’ve received at some five star establishments (even when I’ve been with VIPs). So much so, that I’d happily consider staying here again – if I HAD to stay in Nagoya that is.

The Cypress ended up being the perfect choice as the proximity to the rail station meant that we could arrive from Inuyama, collect some things sent to the hotel by Takkyubin, hand them to my parents and send them off to Kurashiki within half an hour. This wasn’t something I foresaw, and staying at the Westin would have overly complicated matters. No regrets about my stay here and my partner and I had a truly wonderful evening – despite being in Nagoya.