Which Intercontinental in Tokyo?
Oct 15, 2016, 1:02 am
#91
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You can't be any more centrally located than at the ANA IC (Akasaka with its museums, galleries and clubs, and Roppongi, are areas where Tokyo goes out at night).
The hotel is very conveniently located just next the subway Exit 13 at Tameike-sanno Station.
Nov 27, 2016, 9:43 am
#92
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 165
IHG Gold here. Stayed at IC String last night with points. It was very full this weekend in Tokyo, and very lucky for me to grab this last minute point room. (All Hyatt fully booked, same case for Hilton, Marriott Shinagawa was available but the rate was, well, extraordinary)
Arrived late at 11pm something. No expectation actually. They put me in probably the smallest room at the end of a very long corridor. They bell boy helped carrying my luggage dropped my bags immediately after getting out of the elevator and slipped away. Very interesting indeed, and not up to Japanese standard. As suggested by others, the view is not inspiring at all.
Clean, cozy and well served the purpose if you want somewhere just for sleep. Nothing else.
Arrived late at 11pm something. No expectation actually. They put me in probably the smallest room at the end of a very long corridor. They bell boy helped carrying my luggage dropped my bags immediately after getting out of the elevator and slipped away. Very interesting indeed, and not up to Japanese standard. As suggested by others, the view is not inspiring at all.
Clean, cozy and well served the purpose if you want somewhere just for sleep. Nothing else.
Nov 28, 2016, 11:53 pm
#93
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
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Yes, I think they got 11 or so of these very small rooms and I have managed to avoid them so far as a more regular guest.
They like to assign those for points redemptions and if there are 2 people one should request and argue for a Double bed room (as per IHG Rewards T&CS). If alone and you can cope only needing a well located place to sleep and refresh then, this room does the job though.
They like to assign those for points redemptions and if there are 2 people one should request and argue for a Double bed room (as per IHG Rewards T&CS). If alone and you can cope only needing a well located place to sleep and refresh then, this room does the job though.
Dec 3, 2016, 3:48 am
#94
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,671
Yes, I think they got 11 or so of these very small rooms and I have managed to avoid them so far as a more regular guest.
They like to assign those for points redemptions and if there are 2 people one should request and argue for a Double bed room (as per IHG Rewards T&CS). If alone and you can cope only needing a well located place to sleep and refresh then, this room does the job though.
They like to assign those for points redemptions and if there are 2 people one should request and argue for a Double bed room (as per IHG Rewards T&CS). If alone and you can cope only needing a well located place to sleep and refresh then, this room does the job though.
HTB.
Dec 3, 2016, 5:52 am
#95
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,739
Interesting thought. I think I'd argue for a 50% point refund based on the fact that only a single room was assigned contrary to the T&Cs even if I had stayed there alone. Having spent many nights in tiny business hotel rooms in Japan over the years I've come to dislike tiny rooms and expect more when staying at an expensive IC.
HTB.
HTB.
Not everyone is that keen to make stand though, so if alone and if a smallish room isn't an issue for someone, they may decide not o fight it.
For what it is worth, even the double room isn't huge, but you know, it's Japan after all.
Jan 3, 2017, 12:51 pm
#99
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 28
Stayed at The Strings last week on points as a Plat Amb. The location is very convenient, just a few minutes walk from the JR Shinagawa station. The bullet train stops at Shinagawa, so it was an easy arrival from Nagoya.
In Japan, I think it's more important to be near transportation than being in an "active" area. I'm going to be out exploring more than staying at my home base, so this was a good location that was centrally located within Tokyo. Tokyo station and Shinjuku are only a few minutes away by train. Tokyo Bay is a 12 minute walk to the JR station. ANA is 8-12 minute walk to get to a subway station which usually requires transferring to other lines. The Strings is a 5 minute walk and the JR loop line took us to where we wanted to go without any transfers. At the end of a long day, that extra few minutes of walking back to the hotel make a big difference.
As for places to eat, there's the famous Kura (or Kula) conveyor belt sushi place a few minutes away. Each plate is 100 yen and very tasty. There's also the Shinatatsu ramen street nearby. It's supposed to be similar to the Tokyo station ramen street.
In Japan, I think it's more important to be near transportation than being in an "active" area. I'm going to be out exploring more than staying at my home base, so this was a good location that was centrally located within Tokyo. Tokyo station and Shinjuku are only a few minutes away by train. Tokyo Bay is a 12 minute walk to the JR station. ANA is 8-12 minute walk to get to a subway station which usually requires transferring to other lines. The Strings is a 5 minute walk and the JR loop line took us to where we wanted to go without any transfers. At the end of a long day, that extra few minutes of walking back to the hotel make a big difference.
As for places to eat, there's the famous Kura (or Kula) conveyor belt sushi place a few minutes away. Each plate is 100 yen and very tasty. There's also the Shinatatsu ramen street nearby. It's supposed to be similar to the Tokyo station ramen street.
Jan 3, 2017, 2:01 pm
#100
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Join Date: Aug 2007
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And ANA has a GREAT club lounge, which definitely makes the difference if you have club access!
Jan 9, 2017, 5:10 am
#102
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Dubai
Programs: Bonvoy Gold, QRPC Gold
Posts: 144
IC Spire here and I booked a stay in early March using points + cash at ANA.
We will be a group of 3 adults (did the booking for 3 adults) and I e-mailed the hotel asking about the charge for an extra bed. They responded saying that they can add a bed provided its a twin room type ("Classic" or "Executive Deluxe"). The booking shows the room as "Two single beds classic" so it should be eligible I guess.
Is there any way to ensure that I will get the extra bed on arrival or do I just request it upon check-in?
Ro
We will be a group of 3 adults (did the booking for 3 adults) and I e-mailed the hotel asking about the charge for an extra bed. They responded saying that they can add a bed provided its a twin room type ("Classic" or "Executive Deluxe"). The booking shows the room as "Two single beds classic" so it should be eligible I guess.
Is there any way to ensure that I will get the extra bed on arrival or do I just request it upon check-in?
Ro
Jan 9, 2017, 5:26 am
#103
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,739
Stayed at The Strings last week on points as a Plat Amb. The location is very convenient, just a few minutes walk from the JR Shinagawa station. The bullet train stops at Shinagawa, so it was an easy arrival from Nagoya.
In Japan, I think it's more important to be near transportation than being in an "active" area. I'm going to be out exploring more than staying at my home base, so this was a good location that was centrally located within Tokyo. Tokyo station and Shinjuku are only a few minutes away by train. Tokyo Bay is a 12 minute walk to the JR station. ANA is 8-12 minute walk to get to a subway station which usually requires transferring to other lines. The Strings is a 5 minute walk and the JR loop line took us to where we wanted to go without any transfers. At the end of a long day, that extra few minutes of walking back to the hotel make a big difference.
As for places to eat, there's the famous Kura (or Kula) conveyor belt sushi place a few minutes away. Each plate is 100 yen and very tasty. There's also the Shinatatsu ramen street nearby. It's supposed to be similar to the Tokyo station ramen street.
In Japan, I think it's more important to be near transportation than being in an "active" area. I'm going to be out exploring more than staying at my home base, so this was a good location that was centrally located within Tokyo. Tokyo station and Shinjuku are only a few minutes away by train. Tokyo Bay is a 12 minute walk to the JR station. ANA is 8-12 minute walk to get to a subway station which usually requires transferring to other lines. The Strings is a 5 minute walk and the JR loop line took us to where we wanted to go without any transfers. At the end of a long day, that extra few minutes of walking back to the hotel make a big difference.
As for places to eat, there's the famous Kura (or Kula) conveyor belt sushi place a few minutes away. Each plate is 100 yen and very tasty. There's also the Shinatatsu ramen street nearby. It's supposed to be similar to the Tokyo station ramen street.