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Originally Posted by zoneflyer
(Post 33739244)
I read somewhere PHK only has 2 Park Suites in the entire hotel. For our Nov 22 stay I just decided to shell out 48k points per night and booked the Park suites before the peak season rates applied. Now counting the chances to get upgrade to the Ninenzaka or Higashiyama house.
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I am planning a trip in March, but I am just a lowly Hyatt discovering-I taken I get nothing and like it I stay at the PHK? No free breakfast, nothing? I am a Hilton diamond, so I am thinking instead staying at the Osaka Conrad. Very different vibes I am sure.
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Originally Posted by WasKnown
(Post 33738916)
That's our plan too. Are you doing PH Kyoto first or Aman Kyoto first? From the photos, the Aman Kyoto looks like it's a few levels better than the Park Hyatt Kyoto but I'm not sure if that's actually the case. I would want to end on whatever is stronger. Is 3 nights at both Aman and Park Hyatt (6 nights total) an appropriate amount of time?
Originally Posted by Aventine
(Post 33739143)
Aman is probably a better ending to a Kyoto trip. They're not limiting or upcharging for Japanese breakfast for starters.
Originally Posted by Raddoc2010
(Post 33748744)
I am planning a trip in March, but I am just a lowly Hyatt discovering-I taken I get nothing and like it I stay at the PHK? No free breakfast, nothing? I am a Hilton diamond, so I am thinking instead staying at the Osaka Conrad. Very different vibes I am sure.
(Until this year) Globalist is harder to obtain, and as a result the benefits accrued were (more times than not) considerable. As WOH low tier you will very likely have earned nothing extra at PHK and it's your choice to be unhappy about that. Alternatively you can earn your way (so easily) to the top of the WOH program, earn some suite upgrade certs, earn some points, and apply them when the window is open to lock in your room upgrade. As I did when I booked the base PHK room for three nights May 2022 for 30,000 points/nt and used my cert to confirmed-lock a Park Suite. At least spend some money on your WOH credit card if you can't spend nights, how easy is that to earn your Globalist tier with associated bennies? Onward upward! :tu: |
Originally Posted by LoungeLizardHugo
(Post 33748905)
Cool! I am doing the Aman second, I think only because those are the dates that the rates/availability worked out best for both properties. I've had awesome stays at both Amans and PH's so have high hopes both stays will be awesome on their own individual merits. The locations have completely opposite vibes from the look of it. I'm doing 3/3 myself just to test the waters, always prefer shorter stays at new properties just to protect from bad surprises, and sometimes properties just don't personally click, you know?
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Originally Posted by WasKnown
(Post 33749260)
Please post a trip report when you come back. When is your trip? From online reviews and pictures, the Aman seems significantly better than the Park Hyatt so I am still deciding if we do 3 PH/3 Aman or just 6 Aman.
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Wow! Returned from a two night award stay here two weekends ago (apologies for the delayed report). I was absolutely blown away by this property - definitely my favorite of all the Park Hyatt properties I've visited and likely the best non-ryokan hotel I've stayed at in Japan. The style, design, and attention to detail here are absolutely world class and left me speechless at times. Already looking forward to a return visit next spring! Without a doubt, my new favorite hotel in Japan.
Highlights: - Design: Simply stunning, but this is the exact kind of style that I love. I would be perfectly content just staying here and sitting in the tea lounge overlooking the Kyoyamato Garden for hours on end, but that would be a monumental waste if visiting Kyoto (one of my favorite cities). Nonetheless, I'm still thinking about the design elements here two weeks later and can't wait to return. - Room: Initially I was expecting to be disappointed on my arrival... I had long reserved a Park Suite (one of only two in the property) using a Suite Upgrade Award, but I needed to change my reservation date by one day roughly a week before arrival, which resulted in the loss of the suite upgrade. I was hoping to get the Park Suite upgrade back, but it was instantly booked/blocked. The rooms manager offered a "special discount upgrade" to the Ninenzaka House (which is identical in size to the Park Suite), but I really didn't feel like spending the extra $600/night for the upgrade. Oddly, the Ninenzaka House wasn't showing available so using points to confirm it as a premium suite wasn't even an option. To the property's credit, I was pre-assigned a lovely King Bed Deluxe View (the highest non-suite room category). On the taxi ride into Kyoto I noticed the Hyatt app was showing a King Garden Terrace available (which is several categories below the Deluxe View). As I love Japanese gardens and the idea of having a private terrace overlooking one, I emailed the Rooms Manager and he almost instantly replied that he'd be more than happy to show me both rooms and let me decide. The Deluxe View Room was lovely with a stunning view overlooking Kyoto and Yasaka Pagoda, but I immediately fell in love with the Garden Terrace Room. Not all the garden rooms are created equal (some have a very small rock garden section), but the one I received was a corner room with floor-to-ceiling windows of the private rock garden. While the room itself was only about 500sqft, the private garden was probably another 1000sqft of space making the room feel much larger. Absolutely amazing design with an ethereal ambiance when the garden was illuminated at night. I loved this room so much that I already asked if my next stay (with suite upgrade confirmed) could just be assigned into this room instead. Seeing my delight in the room, I was offered the opportunity for a private 30 minute tour of Kyoyamato Garden, which I quickly accepted. - Location: The Higashiyama location is unbeatable for what I like to do in Kyoto and the Park Hyatt perfectly blends in with the historic surroundings. Perfectly located within walking distance for several of the November evening temple illuminations. The concierge provided a daily updated map of the current foliage locations and colors around Kyoto. - Japanese Breakfast: this month the hotel started charging Globalists ¥3000 ($30) to reserve the Japanese breakfast (cooked by Kyoyamato). Initially I thought this was pretty cheap of the property - especially since the up-charge is 2x the menu price difference between the western and Japanese breakfasts - but I have to say the Japanese breakfast was absolutely worth it in the end. Likely the best non-ryokan Japanese breakfast that I've ever had, and I'll gladly reserve it again on my next stay. The western breakfast menu at Kyoto Bistro was also excellent and Globalists could order whatever they wanted off the western menu. - Kyoyamato "bento" lunch: Kyoyamato is the 144 year old independent restaurant which the rest of the Park Hyatt Kyoto is built around. Very traditional experience and one of the best lunch experiences I've had in Japan. Very reasonably priced considering the presentation and amount of courses - it was far more than just a bento box. I definitely look forward to returning on my next stay. - Kohaku: rooftop bar overlooking Kyoto and Yasaka Pagoda. Reservations are necessary, but I had no issues getting them around sunset. Fantastic ambiance and service. For gin aficionados, KI NO BI bottles it's own gin just for the Park Hyatt Kyoto. Makes for a fantastic "Kohaku G&T" with hinoki flavor added. I asked the bartender to create an off-menu matcha gimlet, and it was probably the best gimlet I've ever tasted. Hard to believe I'm saying this, but I like the ambiance here even more than New York Bar (previously my favorite Hyatt bar). - Bathhouse: I haven't seen too many positive comments about the bathhouse posted here, but I enjoyed it. It's no onsen experience - and it's a very small dark space - but I thought it was perfectly equipped with a hot tub, cold pool, dry sauna, steam sauna, and two showers. Right now you need to make a reservation ahead of time for 1.5hr blocks and it's limited to two people at a time (although I was the only one using the bathhouse both days). Cons (very minor): - A few minor issues with the concierge (booking the Japanese breakfast on the wrong day and confirming the Kyoyamato lunch reservation at the wrong time). Quickly corrected when pointed out, but shouldn't have been necessary to correct. - Slightly underwhelmed by dinner at Yasaka (teppanyaki). Everything was good and I cannot fault a single course or the service itself, but you're really just paying for the view here (which, admittedly, is incredible). Set menu with wine pairing was about $500/person and besides the "Yasaka Pancake" amuse (with caviar, shrimp, and uni) nothing really stood out as truly exceptional. A very good meal nonetheless, but I'll probably skip and just enjoy the same view at Kohaku next time. Already looking forward to my return next year! Happy to answer any questions about the Park Hyatt Kyoto. I'll try to post some photo highlights below. -FlyerBeek |
Originally Posted by FlyerBeek
(Post 33749556)
Wow! Returned from a two night award stay here two weekends ago (apologies for the delayed report). I was absolutely blown away by this property - definitely my favorite of all the Park Hyatt properties I've visited and likely the best non-ryokan hotel I've stayed at in Japan.
Already looking forward to my return next year! Happy to answer any questions about the Park Hyatt Kyoto. I'll try to post some photo highlights below. -FlyerBeek |
Originally Posted by LoungeLizardHugo
(Post 33749599)
Wow, now I'm more stoked than ever. Thanks for the detailed and personalized write-up! Going to be so good to get back to Japan if this health theatre gets dropped and they reopen :(
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Originally Posted by FlyerBeek
(Post 33749556)
Wow! Returned from a two night award stay here two weekends ago (apologies for the delayed report). I was absolutely blown away by this property - definitely my favorite of all the Park Hyatt properties I've visited and likely the best non-ryokan hotel I've stayed at in Japan. The style, design, and attention to detail here are absolutely world class and left me speechless at times. Already looking forward to a return visit next spring! Without a doubt, my new favorite hotel in Japan.
-FlyerBeek |
Originally Posted by Nagasaki Joe
(Post 33751084)
My interest in the PH Kyoto had dropped significantly due to all the new and interesting hotels recently opening in Kyoto, hence, I booked my next stay at the Hilton LXR Kyoto. However, your photos definitely rekindled my interest in staying here. Parts of the hotel look like you're inside a Buddhist monastery and I love the view from the bar. Your room garden is very nice too. Based on your photos, I think the PH Kyoto integrates Japanese and Western design elements better than Suiran in Arashiyama does and looks higher class too. The attention to detail is very nice.
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Speaking of the Aman, all the rooms (other than the two large suites) appear to be the same, other than the views, but the web site doesn't actually illustrate the views. Is there somewhere else that does a good job of showing the views? How does one decide among the possibilities?
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Originally Posted by richarddd
(Post 33751131)
Speaking of the Aman, all the rooms (other than the two large suites) appear to be the same, other than the views, but the web site doesn't actually illustrate the views. Is there somewhere else that does a good job of showing the views? How does one decide among the possibilities?
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Originally Posted by WasKnown
(Post 33751114)
What made you choose the Kyoto LXR over the Park Hyatt? Why not Aman (which looks better than both of them)?
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Originally Posted by WasKnown
(Post 33751224)
https://www.lartisien.com/hotel/aman-kyoto This site does a pretty good job.
Originally Posted by Nagasaki Joe
(Post 33751350)
The initial reviews of the PH Kyoto that I read were mixed
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