anabolism

Thanks to the helpful information upthread, we purchased the N'EX round-trip plus SUICA pass packages at Narita.

The SUICA cards have a 500 yen deposit, and likely will have some residual value when we leave. On the next trip to Tokyo, is there a way to recapture this (e.g., by exchanging the old SUICA card when purchasing a new N'EX + SUICA package), or is it best to just purchase new packages and forget the old SUICA?

Given that the package is cheaper than just the N'EX, it's not a bad deal to do so, but would like to verify.

NickW

I'm sure there's some kind of misunderstanding here, because the hotel certainly has smoking rooms.

anabolism

I know the clerk told us that our floor was non-smoking (which implies other floors aren't), but the web site says all rooms are non-smokng:

anabolism

Minor drama in the lounge a couple days ago: at breakfast a man came in, put his bag down at a table, and went to the chef to order an omelet ("make it with egg-whites only; just the egg whites").

He returned to his table, omelet in hand, and loudly exclaimed that someone took his bag. He was very upset and spoke to the lounge attendant, and two other gentleman came forward and said they had seen a guy in a hat look around then take the bag and walk out.

I'd seen a kid in a knit cap standing at a window table, look around a few times, then walk out with a Conrad Tokyo bag, but not thought anything of it.

The attendant called security, and the man whose bag was taken and the other gentlemen were interviewed. When asked what was in the bag, the man just kept saying "things that are mine. Just things that are mine."

Meanwhile the man's wife or female companion came to the lounge to assess the situation. She was very outspoken and when the security employee told the couple they shouldn't leave their bag unattended, she seemed offended and loudly replied how she found it interesting that she sees people leave their bicycles unlocked on the street. I didn't hear the security staff's reply, but she repeated "So it's not a good idea" a few times.

A little later a lady came into the lounge with a Conrad Tokyo carrier bag and said someone must have lost it, her son found it and brought it to their room so she was returning it. The couple apparently didn't see this, because when the security employee brought it back to them and asked them to check that everything was inside, the lady asked how he got it back.

The next day we saw the couple in the lounge at breakfast with the bag again. On their last trip to the buffet, the woman brought had bread, what looked like cold cuts or salmon, and lettuce, wrapped in a napkin to the table and wrap it in plastic; the man brought a few bottles of water. They slip these into the carrier bag under a hat and items and leave the lounge. No wonder they were so upset when the bag went missing; they thought they'd have no way to sneak out their lunch!

anabolism

Answering my own query:

You can get a refund of the 500 yen deposit on the old SUICA card, but lose any residual value. Best thing is to find a convenience store to buy a treat with it, I think.

jerry a. laska

My memory is that you can refund residual value also for a fee of ¥210 or 220 at a JR East ticket office.

JDiver

The Hilton family of websites is frequently incorrect on smoking / non-smoking. E.g. I have seen US HGIs listed as offering smoking rooms when the hotel has signage out stating they are 100% non-smoking.

Frankly, it beggars the mind to imagine a large hotel in Japan being entirely non-smoking; not long ago even a majority of physicians smoked, and though smoking is at an ebb, smoking prevalence was 36.6% among men and 12.1% among women in 2010.

At the Conrad, there is often a very smoky atmosphere on the check-in floor due to smoking in the vicinity making it quite unwelcoming to those with allergies or merely wishing to avoid the smell and the carbon monoxide.

anabolism

At Tokyo Station, we were refunded the 500 yen deposit, but lost the 130 yen residual value (I had intended to buy stuff with it, but forgot). The text you quoted implies that any residual value up to 210 yen is lost, so the optimal course is to spend down the card first.

Good to know! I had figured they'd be the source of accurate information.

I'm still amazed at how health-concenious in general people tend to be in Japan, with smoking as a major, glaring, exception. Likewise, people in Japan are exceptionally polite but don't regard forcing someone else to smoke to be at all impolite.

Yeah, the one significant downside of the Conrad is the horrible smokiness of the lobby.

jspira

I wanted to report on an outstanding stay at the Conrad Tokyo.

I was only there for two days because I was heading off to the Hoshinoya Karuizawa resort afterwards but it was a blissful two days. I had arranged for a massage at the spa for a few hours after my arrival and that just started everything off on a perfect note.

My first morning I had breakfast in the restaurant, which was excellent and the second day I had breakfast in the Executive Lounge.

Now, prior to my stay, I had heard a lot about the lounge but, until you experience it, it's not quite real. I might consider flying over just for afternoon tea.

I only dined once in the hotel - China Blue - and it was excellent.

I have my duck and my bear to remind me of my stay. My next Conrad will be the New York one.

I wrote up a review with five virtual tours (on the last page) if anyone is interested. A few of my photos are below as well.

Conrad Tokyo – Hotel Review

b8b

Sounds like the best bet. I'll go this route.

Great advice. Thank you. Loved the visuals. I guess you second the Suica & N'Ex option?

colpuck

Have two nights here coming up in a couple of weeks, looking forward to it.

b8b

I received the following notice from the Conrad regarding a future booking:

"Please kindly be informed that there will be a temporary closure of the 37th Floor Executive Lounge due to Group reservation, the lounge will be closed from 14 June until 18 June. During the period of the Executive Lounge closure, there will be an alternative Hospitality room for our valued Executive Floor guests. "

Spock Seat

I edited many books in the Conrad Tokyo lounge....always sat in the right corner....and then it snowed one day! ^

Love that hotel. Just right 4 me.

Spock Seat

b8b

Forgive me, I'm a bit confused on the second and third sentence of your instructions: Do you just stay on the same platform you arrived from on the N'EX and take the Yokosuka line to Shimbashi from there? Or...?



Where can you get Suica refunds in Tokyo station? Can you do this at NRT somewhere as well?

MattEvan

How have Golds been making out recently wrt upgrades and exec lounge access?