rdchen

Thanks.

Happy

KIX has direct train service to the JR station next to the Mall next to IC Osaka.

It is quicker and cheaper than the airport bus.

ITM has only the airport bus.

We arrived at ITM and left at KIX last year and preferred KIX train connection as it is not subject to traffic. That said, if there is no traffic you arrive JR station from ITM in about 30 min.

HOWEVER - here is the rub - the bus "station" where it drops off passenger (near Hilton), is a looong walk to navigate a few street crossing to reach JR station versus with the train, you dont even walk outside - therefore not at risk of any elements if weather is not ideal (hot, cold, rain).

Personally I value the all INDOOR connection between JR station and the hotel, plus the fixed schedule of the train, more than the proximity of ITM to Osaka proper because the time difference is no more than an extra 30 min but the walk between hotel and JR station is just so much nicer and easier.

demue

Haha, oh well, the definition of "looong" is subjective I guess. In reality walking outside and not going back through the JR station is approx. 500-600m (sorry I use meters but call it 0.3-0.4mls).

Agreed on the weather part of course as one would not be keen to walk outside in pouring rain or so. Then it becomes a bit farther from the bus drop versus the train. Unless you are arriving / leaving during rush hour the bus is quite timely, but again I have to agree that the train eliminates the traffic jam worry when heading in / out of KIX.

IIRC, from ITM you can also go via public transport in about 30 mins taking the Monorail first (one stop) to Hotarugaike Station and then switching over to Hankyu Takarazuka Line to Umeda Station. It is definitely the cheapest way from ITM though not quite as convenient as the bus and only recommended if you got no or little luggage and are okay to navigate public transport.

Kongpetch

I WASTED so much time with the online staff. In short, I'm planning my trip to Osaka with my friends and one of them will have his wife and daughter traveling with him too...

So I was requesting a room which allows the third person (a four years old girl). The online staff said none of the room with king bed at this hotel allows third person... even a 'one bedroom premium suite' or 'one bedroom residence'. The hotel allows extra bed in some of the room type but not the third person DUE TO THE FIRE CODE RULES which does not make much sense to me...

So I called InterCon Osaka directly (not the IHG reservation free line) to ask. The staff solved my problem in a minute. She said the hotel allows third person in any room... so now i'm ready to book my room.

I booked a '2 Bedroom Superior Residence' at hotel official website IHG.com for 2 nights at total rate of 137,700JPY, non-refundable, without breakfast. the hotel website offer 'BEST RARE GUARANTEE'

I also paid extra 200USD to upgrade member status to Ambassador.

Then, 20 minute later, my friend called and ask if I already book with IHG because she just find a lower rate of 130,000JPY at booking.com, same number of guests, length of stay, same date, same conditions of non-refundable, Not only 7,700JPY cheaper but also with breakfast included.

Then I go to hotel website to fill the claim of the best guarantee rate. I also send the link of that lower rate booking page. A few hours later, they replied that the room is no longer available to compare the rate in both website.

I replied with the screen cap of the lower rate. Now they said screen cap not acceptable because they cannot make sure whether it is modified or not.

I understand their reasons. Without this conditions, there might be some tricky people trying to cheat the hotel... Anyway, I paid 137,700yen to book one the most expensive room in osaka... Just 7,700yen different is really not a big deal... But this is TRUE STORY... I want to share to everyone NOT TO TRUST IHG best guarantee program or any of their promise... It is just a MARKETING TRICK... There is NO SINCERITY...

Evidences upon requested.

Mauibaby2008

Unfortunately IHG BRGs are very tricky if you're not experienced in them. Sorry for your bad experience !

TravelLawyer

Why are you blaming the hotel for FOLLOWING the IHG BRG rules??? If you read the extensive BRG thread on FT, you will see that the rate and room category have to be IDENTICAL in order to get the BRG to apply. You booked a nonrefundable rate with no breakfast. You found a lower nonrefundable rate that includes breakfast. That is not an identical rate category - one includes breakfast and one does not. While the benefit would be in the hotel's favor in this instance, it could very well be the opposite in a different situation and they won't want to open a can of worms by judging which rates include tangential benefits that should or should not be considered.

htb

IHG BRGs are not "tricky". I feel they are past the line of just borderline cheating and have entered the region of complete dishonesty.

HTB.

Raynyan

IC Osaka slightly changed the upgrade policy. Big change point is upgrade will be within same category. (Standard, Club, and Residence) Upgrade will not across the categories. If you want Residence Room, you must book at least One Bed Room Superior Residence.

Note:This is just a principle.

[Rewards Club Members]
Club Member/Gold: No upgrade
Platinum/Spire: One level upgrade depends on availability (Basically same to non-RA Ambassadors)

[Non-RA Ambassadors]
#At least guaranteed as below, Club is not given for Non-Club category booking
Superior to Deluxe
Deluxe to Deluxe View
Deluxe View to Suite
Suite to Corner Suite
Corner Suite to same room with Suite rate

Club Room (Club Deluxe) to Club Deluxe View
Club Deluxe View to Club Suite
Club Suite to Club Corner Suite
Club Corner Suite to Executive Suite
Executive Suite to Deluxe Suite
Deluxe Suite to same room with Executive Suite rate

One Bed Room Superior Residence to One Bed Room Deluxe Residence (NEW)
One Bed Room Deluxe Residence to Two Bed Room Superior Residence (NEW)
Two Bed Room Superior Residence to Two Bed Room Deluxe Residence
Two Bed Room Deluxe Residence to Two Bed Room Premium Residence
Two Bed Room Premium Residence to same room with Two Bed Room Deluxe Residence rate (NEW)

[RA]
Superior to Club Superior or Club Deluxe (Depends on Availability which room you will receive)
Deluxe to Club Deluxe or Club Deluxe View (Depends on Availability which room you will receive)
Deluxe View to Club Deluxe View
Suite to Club Suite
Corner Suite to Club Corner Suite
Club Room (Club Deluxe) to Club Deluxe View
Club Deluxe View to Club Suite
Club Suite to Club Corner Suite
Club Corner Suite to Executive Suite
Executive Suite to Deluxe Suite
Deluxe Suite to same room with Executive Suite rate

RA will be given Club access for all of Residence Room with one level upgrade.
No upgrade to Three Bed Room Residence.

Hope this information will help you.

demue

Thanks, that's very helpful info.

rdchen

Stayed at the IC Osaka for 2 nights last week. Currently the hotel is offering complimentary taxi to and from the New Hankyu hotel airport bus station. All you need to do is call the concierge or guest services from the airport to inform them your shuttle bus schedule and they will send someone to meet you at the New Hankyu bus station.

Mauibaby2008

I've stayed at IC Times Square, IC Barclays, IC San Fran, IC Mark Hopkins, IC Rome... All BRGs. You just have to have a little bit of skill with them. No qualms here

htb

I'm sorry, but I don't follow. Looking at the kind of denials reported in this thread, a number of positive examples will not change my assessment of BRGs being past just borderline cheating and having entered the region of complete dishonesty.

HTB.

frankflieslots

i will be heading to osaka next month. any thoughts on the IC osaka vs crowne plaza osaka? which one is more convenient and centrally located?

broadwayboy

On my recent award stay I was given a corner room ending in -10. Due to its position in the building, the room feels much more cramped and tight. Yes, there are more windows, but the views are not particularly inspiring and you lose the walk-in closet and the spacious feel of the standard room.

Note to self to refuse this room again if assigned in the future.

PS: The comped taxi to limousine bus station going to KIX is nice. But the walk to the bus stop, once you've figured it out, is actually not bad at all. 5 min walk outdoors - doable with a carry on. But then again, if cab is comped, why not?

TravelLawyer

I don't know where the crowne plaza is, but I LOVED the location of the intercontinental. It is attached to several major shopping complexes and access to the train station through those malls.