This will be my 4th time in Tokyo, I'll spend 5-6 days in tokyo and 2-3 days in Izu to enjoy onsen ryokans.

I've always stayed at the Roppongi GH with the wonderful FFN, but sadly, I don't have any right now. And I can't pay $500+ for a hotel stay.

I have about 35000 points with starwoods. (I'm only gold) So my options are: 3 free nites at Westin, then pay out of pocket elsewhere (tokyo dome, Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel )
or use cash and points to stay at Le Meridien Grand in Odaiba , but isn't the location quite inconvenient?

Top priority for me is the bed, I really need it to be very comfortable. Large rooms would be nice.

Any suggestions of what to do?

Did you consider Sheraton Miyako Tokyo in Shirokanedai?

Your *wood points would probably last a little longer there than at the Westin - and it should be cheaper to stay on there when the points dry up. Location is not terrific - but more convenient than Odaiba (and really no worse than the Westin IMHO). You should find several reviews of the hotel if you search FT.

The Le Meridien you mentioned is leaving Starwood at the end of May this year.

I, personally, see little difference between the location of the Westin and the Sheraton Miyako in Tokyo for convenience.

Whilst I won't argue that the Westin is better, there's a law of diminishing returns at work here. IMO, the Sheraton Miyako offers excellent value with points (especially with cash & points).

Sheraton Miyako has the same Sweet Sleeper beds you'd find elsewhere - but it's likely you'd get twins with an award.

Hi everyone,

I checked online, I think they recently upgraded the Sheraton Miyako to a different category, it requires 10,000 points per nite stay and the Westin is 12,000. I am not sure if the extra 2000 points per nite is worth it or not?

In terms of how the rooms are, how does the Westin compare to Le Meridien Grand in Odaiba? If I stay in Odaiba, I will be able to do the cash and points (4000 points and $60 per nite), none of the other *wood hotel has the cash and points option during my stay period (mid may).

I will be staying at Izu ryokans for 2 nites (any recommendations?), and the last nite I have enough points to stay at Park Hyatt. It is the first 5 nites in Tokyo that is causing me a headache.

So my options:

1. Stay at Westin for 3 nites, 2 nites at Le Meridian Grand with cash and points)

2. Stay at Le Meridian Grand for 5 nites with cash and points

Thoughts?
2.

Darn!!!

You are absolutely right!

I'm not so sure not paying the extra 2,000 is worth it. The Westin is usually twice the price of of the Sheraton Miyako.

Now I feel really gutted. I had a chance to stay at the Westin Valencia but passed it up so we'd potentially have 3 cash + points nights at the Miyako....

Still, as rooms at the Miyako are often available from 15,000yen a night, you might sill want to consider it as an option along with the other hotels you mentioned.

I notice that the Le Meridien Hotels seem to be accepting award bookings (although the 'special conditions might apply' link does warn you that you are supposed to contact them directly). This might be a query for the SPG forum. There are lots of reports there about staying at the Odaiba location, a lot of people have enjoyed it and made it work for them. I'd recommend against it if you intend staying up past the last trains (midnight). The taxi fares will rack up.

There's a Sheraton in Yokohama right next to the station that might work if available, it's 7,000 points per night. Not exactly Tokyo but not so far away either.

I'll look into all the options, but i think the cheapest option for me would be blowing all my point on a combination of Westin and LM Grand, and hang out in Odaiba for a day. (I don't really go out at nite, passed the clubbing age!)

But I will certainly go have a drink at the Park Hyatt!