Andaz Tokyo - REVIEW - MASTER THREAD
Aug 9, 2018, 4:44 pm
#1291
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 1,212
Toranomon Osakaya Sunaba! You probably passed it many times on the way to and from the metro station. Wonderful historical building, too—an island among the skyscrapers that now define the district. World class soba, has English menu.
Aug 10, 2018, 8:38 am
#1295
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 227
Came back to this thread for the first time in a while and just want to air grievances. Scanned the posts for the past few months and mostly compliments and minor negatives. Maybe others can chime in or object; both responses are welcome.
The pancake off the breakfast menu is terrible. Both its taste and texture are poor. (In contrast, the pancake from the breakfast menu at Conrad Tokyo is divine. It has become a minor personal factor in choosing Tokyo hotels) More generally, I'm not sure what this six-item menu adds to what was available before. If I wanted an average-tasting waffle or eggs Benedict, the Andaz Tokyo is not the first or second place I'd choose to have it at. How about upgrading some of the existing buffet options or adding more options that are available in less-than-one-plate portions? I seem to recollect there was a definite downgrade in some of the variety and presentation of the existing, familiar options when the buffet was revamped last year (for example, the rice dish has moved into a counter-top rice cooker).
The seated check-in, once novel and fresh, has become aggravating. If there are questions, the host can end up walking back and forth between your table and theirs several times. These days, I silently rejoice when the host doesn't press me to sit down. It can save several minutes during the part of the day when you really want things to happen quickly.
I'm not sure how the training differs between here and the Grand Hyatt, but there definitely seems to be something lacking. While the seasoned hosts are better, the new faces always seem to ask if it's the first time I've stayed here. At least the GH staff can consistently muster a "Welcome back!" Perhaps those who stay more frequently at GH for business can vouch or not, but it seems the experience is at least consistent there.
There was a great and friendly host named N*** who became a front team leader, but departed soon after the promotion, I found out. Great loss to the front desk team, from my perspective.
Finally, I booked a single night on my birthday and was entirely unrecognized. I understand that there are likely multiple birthday bookings every week, but could not the "unscripted" experience marketed by this hotel differentiate between a one-off and a regular? I would have been more than delighted with a simple "happy birthday", as the more one travels, the more one values personal recognition over cheap freebies.
Now that the new WOH card offers night credit for credit card spend, I think my nights here will decline. While I love the secluded location (no sarcasm, really), the occasional upgrade to the large king, the pool, and - perhaps most of all - the familiarity, I think I've realized that there are better options at this price point. For me, the greatest benefit of Hyatt's program is the GOH reservation. I couldn't care less if I myself have fewer opportunities to take advantage of free breakfasts or 4pm check-outs next year. /rant
The pancake off the breakfast menu is terrible. Both its taste and texture are poor. (In contrast, the pancake from the breakfast menu at Conrad Tokyo is divine. It has become a minor personal factor in choosing Tokyo hotels) More generally, I'm not sure what this six-item menu adds to what was available before. If I wanted an average-tasting waffle or eggs Benedict, the Andaz Tokyo is not the first or second place I'd choose to have it at. How about upgrading some of the existing buffet options or adding more options that are available in less-than-one-plate portions? I seem to recollect there was a definite downgrade in some of the variety and presentation of the existing, familiar options when the buffet was revamped last year (for example, the rice dish has moved into a counter-top rice cooker).
The seated check-in, once novel and fresh, has become aggravating. If there are questions, the host can end up walking back and forth between your table and theirs several times. These days, I silently rejoice when the host doesn't press me to sit down. It can save several minutes during the part of the day when you really want things to happen quickly.
I'm not sure how the training differs between here and the Grand Hyatt, but there definitely seems to be something lacking. While the seasoned hosts are better, the new faces always seem to ask if it's the first time I've stayed here. At least the GH staff can consistently muster a "Welcome back!" Perhaps those who stay more frequently at GH for business can vouch or not, but it seems the experience is at least consistent there.
There was a great and friendly host named N*** who became a front team leader, but departed soon after the promotion, I found out. Great loss to the front desk team, from my perspective.
Finally, I booked a single night on my birthday and was entirely unrecognized. I understand that there are likely multiple birthday bookings every week, but could not the "unscripted" experience marketed by this hotel differentiate between a one-off and a regular? I would have been more than delighted with a simple "happy birthday", as the more one travels, the more one values personal recognition over cheap freebies.
Now that the new WOH card offers night credit for credit card spend, I think my nights here will decline. While I love the secluded location (no sarcasm, really), the occasional upgrade to the large king, the pool, and - perhaps most of all - the familiarity, I think I've realized that there are better options at this price point. For me, the greatest benefit of Hyatt's program is the GOH reservation. I couldn't care less if I myself have fewer opportunities to take advantage of free breakfasts or 4pm check-outs next year. /rant
Aug 10, 2018, 5:30 pm
#1296
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 1,212
Came back to this thread for the first time in a while and just want to air grievances. Scanned the posts for the past few months and mostly compliments and minor negatives. Maybe others can chime in or object; both responses are welcome.
The pancake off the breakfast menu is terrible. Both its taste and texture are poor. (In contrast, the pancake from the breakfast menu at Conrad Tokyo is divine. It has become a minor personal factor in choosing Tokyo hotels) More generally, I'm not sure what this six-item menu adds to what was available before. If I wanted an average-tasting waffle or eggs Benedict, the Andaz Tokyo is not the first or second place I'd choose to have it at. How about upgrading some of the existing buffet options or adding more options that are available in less-than-one-plate portions? I seem to recollect there was a definite downgrade in some of the variety and presentation of the existing, familiar options when the buffet was revamped last year (for example, the rice dish has moved into a counter-top rice cooker).
The seated check-in, once novel and fresh, has become aggravating. If there are questions, the host can end up walking back and forth between your table and theirs several times. These days, I silently rejoice when the host doesn't press me to sit down. It can save several minutes during the part of the day when you really want things to happen quickly.
I'm not sure how the training differs between here and the Grand Hyatt, but there definitely seems to be something lacking. While the seasoned hosts are better, the new faces always seem to ask if it's the first time I've stayed here. At least the GH staff can consistently muster a "Welcome back!" Perhaps those who stay more frequently at GH for business can vouch or not, but it seems the experience is at least consistent there.
There was a great and friendly host named N*** who became a front team leader, but departed soon after the promotion, I found out. Great loss to the front desk team, from my perspective.
Finally, I booked a single night on my birthday and was entirely unrecognized. I understand that there are likely multiple birthday bookings every week, but could not the "unscripted" experience marketed by this hotel differentiate between a one-off and a regular? I would have been more than delighted with a simple "happy birthday", as the more one travels, the more one values personal recognition over cheap freebies.
Now that the new WOH card offers night credit for credit card spend, I think my nights here will decline. While I love the secluded location (no sarcasm, really), the occasional upgrade to the large king, the pool, and - perhaps most of all - the familiarity, I think I've realized that there are better options at this price point. For me, the greatest benefit of Hyatt's program is the GOH reservation. I couldn't care less if I myself have fewer opportunities to take advantage of free breakfasts or 4pm check-outs next year. /rant
The pancake off the breakfast menu is terrible. Both its taste and texture are poor. (In contrast, the pancake from the breakfast menu at Conrad Tokyo is divine. It has become a minor personal factor in choosing Tokyo hotels) More generally, I'm not sure what this six-item menu adds to what was available before. If I wanted an average-tasting waffle or eggs Benedict, the Andaz Tokyo is not the first or second place I'd choose to have it at. How about upgrading some of the existing buffet options or adding more options that are available in less-than-one-plate portions? I seem to recollect there was a definite downgrade in some of the variety and presentation of the existing, familiar options when the buffet was revamped last year (for example, the rice dish has moved into a counter-top rice cooker).
The seated check-in, once novel and fresh, has become aggravating. If there are questions, the host can end up walking back and forth between your table and theirs several times. These days, I silently rejoice when the host doesn't press me to sit down. It can save several minutes during the part of the day when you really want things to happen quickly.
I'm not sure how the training differs between here and the Grand Hyatt, but there definitely seems to be something lacking. While the seasoned hosts are better, the new faces always seem to ask if it's the first time I've stayed here. At least the GH staff can consistently muster a "Welcome back!" Perhaps those who stay more frequently at GH for business can vouch or not, but it seems the experience is at least consistent there.
There was a great and friendly host named N*** who became a front team leader, but departed soon after the promotion, I found out. Great loss to the front desk team, from my perspective.
Finally, I booked a single night on my birthday and was entirely unrecognized. I understand that there are likely multiple birthday bookings every week, but could not the "unscripted" experience marketed by this hotel differentiate between a one-off and a regular? I would have been more than delighted with a simple "happy birthday", as the more one travels, the more one values personal recognition over cheap freebies.
Now that the new WOH card offers night credit for credit card spend, I think my nights here will decline. While I love the secluded location (no sarcasm, really), the occasional upgrade to the large king, the pool, and - perhaps most of all - the familiarity, I think I've realized that there are better options at this price point. For me, the greatest benefit of Hyatt's program is the GOH reservation. I couldn't care less if I myself have fewer opportunities to take advantage of free breakfasts or 4pm check-outs next year. /rant
Aug 10, 2018, 6:50 pm
#1297
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,426
Aug 10, 2018, 8:49 pm
#1298
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,560
I will say, i know hotels have access to extra info but it's not consistent when they use it. Once in Milan, I got an amenity sent up of organic juices and my mother's room got a bottle of wine, which is pretty typical. I called down and asked why they sent me juice, and they said, don't you not drink alcohol sir? I was floored that they knew that and obviously somewhere it got noted, but no other hotel ever has done that before or since. So I think they COULD know your birthday etc but might not bother.
Aug 10, 2018, 9:06 pm
#1299
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Osaka
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, UA
Posts: 3,157
I will say, i know hotels have access to extra info but it's not consistent when they use it. Once in Milan, I got an amenity sent up of organic juices and my mother's room got a bottle of wine, which is pretty typical. I called down and asked why they sent me juice, and they said, don't you not drink alcohol sir? I was floored that they knew that and obviously somewhere it got noted, but no other hotel ever has done that before or since. So I think they COULD know your birthday etc but might not bother.
However, if you've never mentioned your birthday, how would anyone expect them to know it?
Aug 10, 2018, 9:59 pm
#1301
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,426
I would find it creepy to get a happy birthday wish from someone that I've not expressly given that information to, even if they have access to that information somehow. It's not like I'm a famous person, and that information is publicly available on Wikipedia.
Aug 10, 2018, 11:32 pm
#1302
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 547
As much as I like this Andaz a lot and speak highly of it, I think they have definitely dropped the ball here by not noticing your birthday and acting on it. Any respectable 5 star hotel should endeavor to surprise the guest by paying attention to the minute details reasonably within reach such as birthdays that are omnipresent on passports and IDs. Even if birthday information is not available to the hotel from WOH, the check in agent should have noticed it from the passport and at least said a simple "Happy Birthday" or something to that effect.
@hailstorm - I personally wouldn't find it creepy for a hotel with access to your passport/ ID at check in to drop a simple birthday card in your room without explicitly tell them so. I would, however, be creeped out if they knew anniversary dates or major personal milestones I have not previously disclosed to them.
@hailstorm - I personally wouldn't find it creepy for a hotel with access to your passport/ ID at check in to drop a simple birthday card in your room without explicitly tell them so. I would, however, be creeped out if they knew anniversary dates or major personal milestones I have not previously disclosed to them.
Aug 11, 2018, 12:04 am
#1303
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Osaka
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, UA
Posts: 3,157
As much as I like this Andaz a lot and speak highly of it, I think they have definitely dropped the ball here by not noticing your birthday and acting on it. Any respectable 5 star hotel should endeavor to surprise the guest by paying attention to the minute details reasonably within reach such as birthdays that are omnipresent on passports and IDs. Even if birthday information is not available to the hotel from WOH, the check in agent should have noticed it from the passport and at least said a simple "Happy Birthday" or something to that effect.
@hailstorm - I personally wouldn't find it creepy for a hotel with access to your passport/ ID at check in to drop a simple birthday card in your room without explicitly tell them so. I would, however, be creeped out if they knew anniversary dates or major personal milestones I have not previously disclosed to them.
@hailstorm - I personally wouldn't find it creepy for a hotel with access to your passport/ ID at check in to drop a simple birthday card in your room without explicitly tell them so. I would, however, be creeped out if they knew anniversary dates or major personal milestones I have not previously disclosed to them.
I'd think that 5-star hotels try to be a bit more consistent than that.
Aug 11, 2018, 1:00 am
#1304
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 547
That said, since I am not Japanese, I was not aware Japanese/ local guests staying in hotels do not need to produce any sort of IDs or passports when checking in. So if I call myself Japanese/ a local and enter a Japanese address for my booking, they wouldn't ask for any government-issued identifications?
Aug 11, 2018, 1:30 am
#1305
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Osaka
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, UA
Posts: 3,157
It wouldn't be a well managed hotel if they give up on placing birthday cards in rooms just because they couldn't find out the birthdays of a certain segment of their guests. One additional satisfied guest receiving a birthday surprise would be better than one less.
That said, since I am not Japanese, I was not aware Japanese/ local guests staying in hotels do not need to produce any sort of IDs or passports when checking in. So if I call myself Japanese/ a local and enter a Japanese address for my booking, they wouldn't ask for any government-issued identifications?
That said, since I am not Japanese, I was not aware Japanese/ local guests staying in hotels do not need to produce any sort of IDs or passports when checking in. So if I call myself Japanese/ a local and enter a Japanese address for my booking, they wouldn't ask for any government-issued identifications?
So yes, if you are asked for a passport at check-in in Japan and you say "I'm a Japanese citizen", the clerk might shrug a bit, but I cannot imagine them calling you a liar, so no ID would be required.
Most Japanese who do not have a driver's license (and that is a large percentage of the adult population) do not carry ID on a day-to-day basis, and many do not possess any photo ID, since one of the most commonly used forms of ID is a health insurance card, which has no photo. A new personal number card has been introduced and is required for salary tax deduction and various financial transactions and the government wants to expand its use, but it comes in both photo and non-photo versions and the photo version is very unpopular.
While we do not travel to the US anymore and it has been 7 yr since we were last there, I do not recall ever being asked for ID at a hotel in 100+ stays, nor at at least half the places we've stayed in Europe and Asia.
Last edited by OsakaWino; Aug 11, 2018 at 1:38 am
