beachfan

Were you in a regular or garden view room? If so, was the view much nicer?
It’s about $10 difference per night. If no TSUs, I’d probably book that .

fmkgb

not sure if they consider my room (337) a garden view. It faced a slim very tall tree which was lovely. Originally I booked a standard king with only shower but upon checkin I asked for upgrade and they offered me a twin with bath, shower and couch. I think for $10 I’d opt for that and then they might upgrade you further if you requested. particularly if you are two people. I was one person and room was fine but for 2 might be tight. I was told this room a bit larger than standard king.

beachfan

Unfortunately king premier sold out, as is the slightly larger king deluxe.

don’t understand why TSUs aren’t good here, but my concierge said no.

OsakaWino

For a rate difference of US$80 I would go with the HR, probably on a Prive or Virtuoso rate to get the food credit, etc.

beachfan

thanks. Turns out it’s more like $100. Problem is that is still a smallish room (300 sq ft); to get a larger one is another $40 for only another 30-60 sq ft,

I’m also considering the Westin, where the point nights are reasonable given cash rates (63k:night, 5 night free). Room is 400 sq ft.. I stayed there 25 years ago and while the location isn’t central, it is pleasant and near some attractions,

Any thoughts on Westin vs HR? I’m both globalist and titanium, but it’s Sakura do I don’t expect upgrades.

OsakaWino

It has been years since we stayed at the Westin, but the club room we had was cramped and overcrowded with furniture, the bathroom was minuscule with an absolutely terrible shower, and the breakfast in the restaurant was mediocre in quality and dismal in ambience. On the other hand, if it is sakura season, the Westin is in close walking distance to some of the nicest sakura in Kyoto.

Fly Me To The Moon

Similar experience...I checked in for two nights this past weekend. Here was the initial interaction with the check-in agent (this is almost word-for-word):

Me: I am checking in for two nights. Last name is XXX (hand over my passport).
Agent: Mr. XXX, I see you are Globalist. Please note that we do not offer upgrades, even for Globalists.
Me: Whatever room is fine (shrug my shoulders).
Agent: However, since this is your first stay, we have assigned you a deluxe room this time (bolded because the Agent heavily emphasized "this time"). Is this ok? (I guess this is an upgraded room?)
Me: Yes, even the base room s fine (shrug my shoulders again).

Since the hotel has apparently upgraded me on this first stay (to induce me to stay again in the future?), it seems very counter-intuitive to me to indicate that the upgrade would be given only on my first visit and not thereafter, and then expect me to stay at the hotel again?????

One strange "design" about my room (not sure if it is like this for every room, since I have not seen this in any photo) is that the floor of the room seems to be raised, EXCEPT for an approx. 1.2m x 0.8m section right at the entrance and to which the door opens. Thus, when you open the door and walk into the room, you immediately have to step up. Is this for heated floors (I doubt it)? Is this a Japanese design? It seems very dangerous to me to have this sunken "well" right at the door, near the washroom, and also near luggage cabinet. It could be a disaster for tripping oneself or getting sprained ankles. I had to be careful to avoid this well, especially during washroom trips at night.

As mentioned in other posts, the breakfast spread is great.

The School Bus Coffee Bakers shop next to the hotel (and to which there is an adjoining door from the hotel lobby) has some good bread, pastries, and coffee.

SawBo

So weird that a Hyatt Place of all property types doesn't proactively upgrade globalist like they're an Andaz Tokyo. I did book for May for 4 nights due to the New Year's sale of buy 3 nights get the 4th free, hoping for an upgrade but not going to freet if it doesn't come. Location is the most important thing IMO in Japan.

wilywombat

I haven't been to the HP Kyoto myself, but this sounds like a pretty standard feature in many Asian homes... the "shoe zone" where you leave your outside shoes, and then step up into the residence itself.

cruisingmickey

Fly_Me_To_The_Moon That area is for shoes. In a lot of Asian homes with this area, when you walk in, people leave their outside shoes in that area. It's not specific to Japan. You'll see this all over Korea for example. This is the first time I'm hearing a hotel have this feature so that's interesting.

Fly Me To The Moon

In all my years and years of travel in Japan and Korea, I have never seen this shoe area in a hotel. Indeed, interesting. I wonder if the entire room floor was indeed raised, just for the purpose of having this shoe area.

Aventine

It doesn't happen at 5* properties in Korea but I have seen it at 3 and 4* ones in areas outside or Seoul.

sfvoyage

I emailed the hotel twice with a couple of questions about their breakfast spread and never got a reply, so I thought I'd ask on here:

Are soy milk and yogurt available?

Fly Me To The Moon

I had a yogurt; do not remember the brand.

Not sure about availability of soy milk.

Aventine

Yogurt is homemade in a small glass jar. Don't think it's made by Meiji or some other conglomerate.




Only seen normal cow's milk.