Park Hyatt Kyoto REVIEW - MASTER THREAD
Jan 14, 2020, 7:52 pm
#631
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TUS
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 552
Jan 14, 2020, 11:16 pm
#632
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,053
This really should change.
Jan 15, 2020, 1:40 am
#633
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 6
Edit: Quote didn't show on first try.
Jan 15, 2020, 2:59 am
#634
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,436
Not that it translated to any meaningful interaction. SO and I stayed over New Year's, crossed paths with the GM at least 5 times, but the only time we spoke was when he offered to help us with our bags on the first day (seems he was expecting a VVIP to arrive, but our taxi happened to reach first). There was a large family he seemed more preoccupied with. The most unfortunate part of our stay.
Jan 16, 2020, 4:15 am
#635
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,433
We just checked out after a seven day stay. We thought the hotel and staff were great.
We stayed in the Higashiyama suite on the third floor, which was a very nice room. Good size, decor, view.
The staff were very friendly and efficient. I can't remember any service issues. Staff we'd never met greeted us by name, thanked us and asked how they could help. Mark L introduced himself, due to our staying seven days. He is very aware Tripadvisor reviews and believes they will improve.
We really liked the meals in the Bistro, which was seldom crowded. Dinner in Yasaka was very nice. We had that restaurant to ourselves.
We'd have no problem staying there again.
We stayed in the Higashiyama suite on the third floor, which was a very nice room. Good size, decor, view.
The staff were very friendly and efficient. I can't remember any service issues. Staff we'd never met greeted us by name, thanked us and asked how they could help. Mark L introduced himself, due to our staying seven days. He is very aware Tripadvisor reviews and believes they will improve.
We really liked the meals in the Bistro, which was seldom crowded. Dinner in Yasaka was very nice. We had that restaurant to ourselves.
We'd have no problem staying there again.
Feb 27, 2020, 12:05 am
#639
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: NGS
Programs: UA Silver, ANA MC, HH Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Bonvoy Plat, IHG Plat, Shangri-La GC, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,233
To be fair, I don't recall women attendants at the spa and changing rooms of the GH Tokyo, the PH Tokyo, or the Andaz Tokyo. But I do recall seeing them at Gora Kadan and Asaba ryokans, which although not "Western chains" do have a fair bit of foreign guests. Not to mention onsens and sentos up and down the land, as recently as... 3 weeks ago. It is also extremely common to see women cleaners and attendants in men's public bathrooms all over the place, including fully "Western" areas such as Marunouchi. I even recall that at the public restroom in the lobby (behind the cigar shop) of the GH Tokyo, so there.
I don't know what kind of bubble life hailstorm and OsakaWino lead, but believing that somehow this is a dying retrograde practice is just digging a hole, as evidenced by the finer and finer contortions required so they don't yield an inch: "I'm talking about Western hotel chains, that should be obvious", "Dave Barry wrote his book in 1991", etc. Give it up, fellas, it's not a good look.
I don't know what kind of bubble life hailstorm and OsakaWino lead, but believing that somehow this is a dying retrograde practice is just digging a hole, as evidenced by the finer and finer contortions required so they don't yield an inch: "I'm talking about Western hotel chains, that should be obvious", "Dave Barry wrote his book in 1991", etc. Give it up, fellas, it's not a good look.
The staffing decision at the onsen may have been made by a facilities manager independently and without the knowledge of the Western GM, and the manager just did what he saw elsewhere in his experience. Or (in a very Japanese twist) assume that Westerners don't like onsen, so you won't be seeing them there, problem solved.
To underscore your point, I witnessed the most egregious example of a woman in a men's room I've ever seen at a rest stop near Yufuin (a popular onsen town in Oita Prefecture) on the highway home from Beppu after my recent stay there. As I entered the large men's room with its perhaps 2-dozen urinals, I saw a woman who appeared to be in her 40s working on her knees to fix two urinals while men were busy using the other urinals next to and around her. As typical, they paid her no attention. While you're probably not very likely to see this kind of extreme at a Western hotel in Japan, it doesn't hurt to remember that Japan is culturally unique.
Last edited by Nagasaki Joe; Mar 7, 2020 at 8:54 pm Reason: Add text
Feb 27, 2020, 8:25 am
#640
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Delta GM (Former PM)
Posts: 234
It is MUCH MUCH better than the breakfast. It was a pretty awesome experience. And we did the lowest level of the 3 price ranges.
Mar 1, 2020, 2:55 pm
#641
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,469
Just booked 2 nights with points at the end of March 2021. Betting on a week earlier than I usually target for cherry blossoms given the warmer climate driving early bloom in 2019 and the same predicted for this year.
Mar 1, 2020, 4:43 pm
#642
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,436
Recent predictions on TV have predicted cherry blossoms blooming two weeks earlier than normal
Mar 1, 2020, 9:57 pm
#643
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Osaka
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, UA
Posts: 3,158
Not sure why you think there was an early bloom in Kyoto in 2019. According to the Metrological Agency, first bloom in Kyoto in 2019 was 27 Mar vs a 10-year average of 28 Mar, with full bloom on 6 Apr vs a 10-year average of 5 Apr. 2018 was one of the earliest of the last decade, with first bloom on 22 Mar and full bloom on 28 Mar.
Mar 1, 2020, 10:32 pm
#644
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,469
Not sure why you think there was an early bloom in Kyoto in 2019. According to the Metrological Agency, first bloom in Kyoto in 2019 was 27 Mar vs a 10-year average of 28 Mar, with full bloom on 6 Apr vs a 10-year average of 5 Apr. 2018 was one of the earliest of the last decade, with first bloom on 22 Mar and full bloom on 28 Mar.
I mean heck, with betting on the time this far out I could end up missing the whole thing depending on how the climate goes.
Last edited by nexusCFX; Mar 1, 2020 at 10:38 pm
Jul 31, 2020, 5:24 am
#645
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 5
As Explorist (although I don’t think they cared), I emailed the hotel and was also offered cash upgrade on points booking. King to any of the rooms including Park Suite. The rates were
5k yen for King Garden Terrace
10k yen for King View
25k yen for Deluxe
35k yen for Deluxe View
50k yen for Park Suite
+ tax and service charge on all of the above
Pretty good deal! Took the King View as well. While Suite would be nice, it is a very long tour of Japan and already splashing out elsewhere where there are limited options.
5k yen for King Garden Terrace
10k yen for King View
25k yen for Deluxe
35k yen for Deluxe View
50k yen for Park Suite
+ tax and service charge on all of the above
Pretty good deal! Took the King View as well. While Suite would be nice, it is a very long tour of Japan and already splashing out elsewhere where there are limited options.
I've inquired via the main email address ([email protected]) about paid upgrade options but were told it's only available upon availability at check in time.
I've booked a 3-night points stay in early April which is peak cherry blossom so it could be due anticipated high occupancy rate.