May 30, 2019, 9:14 am
Last edit by: bhrubin
Expert Review (posted to Luxury Forum) from May 2018:
https://www.flyertalk.com/hotel-revi...-recovery-2624
https://www.flyertalk.com/hotel-revi...-recovery-2624
Ritz Carlton Kyoto, Japan [Master Thread]
Jun 13, 2018, 8:44 pm
#136
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 297
We felt the same when visited Kyoto in late December 2017. However not as bad as it can be in some parts of London including sadly outside our front door which is in front of junction on a one way road. Lots of cyclist come at speed down the pavement.
Anyway going on topic we can't decide to if to go 5 star in Kyoto or Osaka at the end of this year early next and the RC does look a option if a more palatable rate comes along.
Anyway going on topic we can't decide to if to go 5 star in Kyoto or Osaka at the end of this year early next and the RC does look a option if a more palatable rate comes along.
We spent 7 nights at Osaka Marriott last Dec for Christmas and loved it. We will be going back for a few nights there THEN 7 nights at Ritz Kyoto for end of March next year for cherry blossom all on points.
Jun 14, 2018, 2:56 pm
#137
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London
Posts: 132
If I understand you right and you’re trying to decide between Kyoto and Osaka, there is no question: stay in Kyoto.
I’m not much of a city fan, but Kyoto is spectacular; Osaka is merely pleasant. Kyoto has urban and suburban and surrounding remote areas in the mountains to offer whatever one might prefer. Kyoto has far more sights to see than most of the world’s major cities—spectacularly beautiful temples, shrines, and gardens that will take your breath away each time. Not to mention incredible dining! We stayed 7 nights in Kyoto, and we’ve stayed 5 nights in any city only twice before—both in Cape Town where we were married! We could have stayed longer in Kyoto and not have lacked things to still see and do. We spent 3 nights in Osaka and feel we saw what we wanted to see.
If you can, collect Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Marriott/SPG points en masse to stay at the Ritz Carlton or Suiran properties in Kyoto. Or consider paying less cash by choosing an advanced stay rate and/or staying at our favorite between the two, Suiran (Marriott/SPG Luxury Collection). We vastly preferred the more sedate Suiran location of Arashiyama on the outskirts of Kyoto over the more “central” and more touristy/busy RC location. We also preferred the more boutique, more authentic Japanese hybrid ryokan feeling that Suiran offered—while still being a Western style hotel.
That being said, we did love the RC—but we would return in a second to Suiran.
You also can consider saving money by using Ultimate Rewards/Hyatt points or spending cash for the Hyatt Regency Kyoto—what many consider to be the nicest Hyatt Regency in the world.
We also stayed at the StR Osaka and highly recommend it if service and food/beverage (especially lunch/dinner) are your top priorities—but the RC Kyoto is better. I’d also recommend the Conrad Osaka for the design and views, but the service and food/beverage are not 5 star. The IC Osaka is a good deal but lacks the pomp of the Conrad and the luxury service and 5 star levels of the StR.
Jun 14, 2018, 3:04 pm
#138
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
We will be in Tokyo 5 nights and then Kyoto/Osaka area for 5 nights and as a final couple of nights stay considering which 5 star to stay hence considering both locations. The first 3 nights of our 5 night stay will be a more basic apartment hotel but certainly in Kyoto just up to and over New Year. I think Surian is certainly up there I have to admit as a option. I wish we could do all 5 nights but as a mear UK civil servant funds won't stretch. ;-)
You can save money by staying in Osaka...but the sights are far better and more prevalent in Kyoto. It isn’t even close. So I’d recommend just staying in Kyoto if your budget allows.
Jun 14, 2018, 4:11 pm
#139
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,472
Understood. If Suiran is much cheaper than the RC Kyoto, I highly recommend it. We’d pay full price to stay again at Suiran. (That being said, we also really liked the RC. We just loved the Suiran more...and the Suiran boutique atmosphere and Arashiyama location a lot more.)
You can save money by staying in Osaka...but the sights are far better and more prevalent in Kyoto. It isn’t even close. So I’d recommend just staying in Kyoto if your budget allows.
Jun 14, 2018, 5:29 pm
#140
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
We definitely liked Suiran more—but if the RC ends up being less points due to the current exchange rates between SPG and MR, the RC may be a better value for more people, I might guess. If you prefer more boutique or more of a “small town” vibe, you may prefer Suiran. But for 20K more points, and you don’t have a ton of points, the “cheaper” option will serve you fine, I’d say. Both hotels are wonderful.
Jun 15, 2018, 10:17 pm
#141
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: West Palm Beach, FL, USA
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Gold, Marriott Platinum, ALL Gold
Posts: 206
Jun 15, 2018, 10:42 pm
#142
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
Nara is an obvious day trip if you want more temples, and also to enjoy the wild but unafraid deer that roam the park near the major temples. I also highly recommend lunch at 3* Wayamamura—for about $56. Cheapest 3* meal we’ve ever enjoyed. It was fantastic.
You also can hit Osaka very easily...as well as many of the mountain and other small towns within an hour or two of Kyoto-Osaka. You can go further afield to Himeji or Hiroshima too.
Aug 2, 2018, 3:50 am
#143
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 319
Do they block dates for award redemptions here? Some nights in November I'm getting a message ""We’re sorry. This property is not taking redemption bookings at this time. You can either book a cash reservation or search for another property" despite there being base-level rooms available.
Cheers!
Cheers!
Aug 2, 2018, 4:20 am
#144
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,026
Do they block dates for award redemptions here? Some nights in November I'm getting a message ""We’re sorry. This property is not taking redemption bookings at this time. You can either book a cash reservation or search for another property" despite there being base-level rooms available.
Cheers!
Cheers!
Aug 2, 2018, 7:26 am
#145
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 319
Thanks!
Will this restriction be taken away under the upcoming SPG-Marriott merger?
From the new Marriott website: "Our new Free Night Award Chart will offer you 6,500 participating hotels across all 29 participating brands — all with no blackout dates."
Will this restriction be taken away under the upcoming SPG-Marriott merger?
From the new Marriott website: "Our new Free Night Award Chart will offer you 6,500 participating hotels across all 29 participating brands — all with no blackout dates."
Aug 2, 2018, 1:56 pm
#147
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 157
Aug 2, 2018, 1:59 pm
#148
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
I just completed a 2 night award stay in May. You're in error. Also, the new Marriott Loyalty Program does not have blackout periods (though that doesn't preclude properties from limiting the number/category of rooms available for awards).
Aug 3, 2018, 2:40 am
#149
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,026
I was monitoring 'ultra peak' dates for last week of march to 1st week april for sakura. didnt seem to have any rooms come up. I managed to snag 20-25th march and 6-10th of april. that was the earliest april dates i could get.
RC tokyo, should not be a problem
RC tokyo, should not be a problem
Aug 6, 2018, 7:26 pm
#150
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 297
I was able to find reward rooms until March 31 2019 but I couldn't stay until then so I booked two rooms with points for March 21-28. The room rate for March 25 - 28 were showing at $1700 a night for me and it's higher than March 21-25.