May 30, 2019, 9:08 am
Last edit by: bhrubin
Expert Review (posted to Luxury Forum) from May 2018:
https://www.flyertalk.com/hotel-revi...g-service-2621
https://www.flyertalk.com/hotel-revi...g-service-2621
Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto, Japan [Master Thread]
Dec 18, 2018, 2:25 am
#181
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,050
Yeah we're a bit worried with how far removed Arashiyama is from a lot of the destinations in Kyoto, that adding 1hr+ of transit time each way would be a bit of a hassle. We might just split it 2&3 west/east instead of staying 5 at Suiran. Sad about the free night but probably a better idea in general.
Dec 18, 2018, 3:46 am
#182
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: La Jolla, CA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Lifetime Titanium, Delta Plat, Hilton Diamond , Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,615
We stayed 8 nights at Suiran and loved being based there. On several nights we took taxis to dinner. The taxis are great in Kyoto- by far the best we’ve ever encountered and the hotel makes it easy despite the language barrier.
There is so much to do In Arashiyama between the Bamboo Forest, the MonkeyPark, the Romantic Train and all the lovely shrines and temples. We hired a guide to take us to the iconic sites in Kyoto and that worked out great because we wouldn’t have wanted to miss them. I highly recommend Taka btw:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...i.html?m=19907
We will definitely stay at Suiran on our next visit. Our son and his wife will be there for 5 nights next fall and we are so jealous. Suiran is one of our favorite hotel visits ever.
Dec 20, 2018, 10:04 am
#183
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 211
I have a LNF approved booking in late Jan. The booking was made in September and I have SNA requested to the next level room.
Since the reservation system got migrated to Marriott on Dec 12, it seems that the property no longer have rooms for SNA. Below is what I see when click SNA->Modify Request. Sounds like the inventory is messed up after the migration?
Unfortunately, availability has changed since your last request. The good news is that we still have great rooms for you. Please select your favorite ones below.
We’re temporarily unable to display the information you requested.Please try again later.
We’re temporarily unable to display the information you requested.Please try again later.
Since the reservation system got migrated to Marriott on Dec 12, it seems that the property no longer have rooms for SNA. Below is what I see when click SNA->Modify Request. Sounds like the inventory is messed up after the migration?
Unfortunately, availability has changed since your last request. The good news is that we still have great rooms for you. Please select your favorite ones below.
We’re temporarily unable to display the information you requested.Please try again later.We’re temporarily unable to display the information you requested.Please try again later.
Dec 20, 2018, 10:14 am
#184
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
I have a LNF approved booking in late Jan. The booking was made in September and I have SNA requested to the next level room.
Since the reservation system got migrated to Marriott on Dec 12, it seems that the property no longer have rooms for SNA. Below is what I see when click SNA->Modify Request. Sounds like the inventory is messed up after the migration?
Unfortunately, availability has changed since your last request. The good news is that we still have great rooms for you. Please select your favorite ones below.
We’re temporarily unable to display the information you requested.Please try again later.
We’re temporarily unable to display the information you requested.Please try again later.
Since the reservation system got migrated to Marriott on Dec 12, it seems that the property no longer have rooms for SNA. Below is what I see when click SNA->Modify Request. Sounds like the inventory is messed up after the migration?
Unfortunately, availability has changed since your last request. The good news is that we still have great rooms for you. Please select your favorite ones below.
We’re temporarily unable to display the information you requested.Please try again later.We’re temporarily unable to display the information you requested.Please try again later.Hotels have to now manually load into the new Marriott system their SNA categories as well as their award inventories for the coming year. It takes time. Be patient and the options for applying SNAs will return.
Of course, I can’t say for sure that the Marriott system will automatically reinstate your old SNAs. So I’d wait until the SNA functionality is restored in a week or two (or however long that takes) and then email the hotel or call the customer service line to reapply the SNAs.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30551534-post721.html
Dec 25, 2018, 12:27 pm
#185
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 297
Managed to find a single night award open so I changed a two night stay at RC Kyoto using 60k certs to one night at RC and one night Suiran. Confirmed with two double beds, but they were so good about upgrades last time even when their database still had me as a pre merger SPG gold instead of a post merger platinum, so I'm sure they'll do what they can to upgrade us and get us a single bed room if inventory permits.
Going to lurk every day and hope someone cancels their stay on the other day so I can switch it too.
Going to lurk every day and hope someone cancels their stay on the other day so I can switch it too.
Dec 25, 2018, 12:29 pm
#186
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,459
I would not generally bet on an upgrade at this property. It has under 40 rooms. It really depends on how busy the area is at that time of year. I'm betting on one for February because I know tourism is at a low during the extreme high/low temps in Kyoto.
Dec 25, 2018, 12:30 pm
#187
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 297
Dec 25, 2018, 12:32 pm
#188
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
All Luxury Collection properties offer a free breakfast benefit to Plats. It was a full breakfast benefit for us this past May 2018 at Suiran. (We also got the full breakfast benefit at the RC Kyoto.)
Dec 25, 2018, 12:32 pm
#189
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,459
Dec 25, 2018, 7:39 pm
#190
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: NGS
Programs: UA Silver, ANA MC, HH Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Bonvoy Plat, IHG Plat, Shangri-La GC, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,229
I stayed here one night in March 2018. I used 36,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book the stay, but normally it's around 55,000 UR points per night. With the new Marriott Rewards chart it will cost 85,000 points as a tier 8 property. At some point, I hope to write a review. A couple things that people may not be aware of because they are not heavily advertised, is that your reservation entitles you one of the following two options:
1. A free chauffeured car ride from Kyoto Station to the hotel, or
2. A free Rickshaw ride from Arashiyama Station to or from the hotel.
We took the the first option, which I think is a nice deal since the ride takes more than 30 minutes and there is some nice scenery along the way. The Rickshaw option doesn't last long, since it's a short ride from Arashiyama Station to the hotel, but it's a great photo opp. There is some information about the above on the hotel website, but it is hidden away.
Another nice perk is the welcome champagne reception you get on your first night. This is held in a building along the river close to the main entrance. For about 1 1/2 to 2 hours you sit at a private table with a nice river view and get a steady stream of free-flowing champagne.. There are also small side dishes you can order at no extra charge. We really enjoyed this. We had made a dinner reservation, but after this we were too full and had to cancel the reservation.
If you stay here, be sure you take advantage of these nice benefits.
1. A free chauffeured car ride from Kyoto Station to the hotel, or
2. A free Rickshaw ride from Arashiyama Station to or from the hotel.
We took the the first option, which I think is a nice deal since the ride takes more than 30 minutes and there is some nice scenery along the way. The Rickshaw option doesn't last long, since it's a short ride from Arashiyama Station to the hotel, but it's a great photo opp. There is some information about the above on the hotel website, but it is hidden away.
Another nice perk is the welcome champagne reception you get on your first night. This is held in a building along the river close to the main entrance. For about 1 1/2 to 2 hours you sit at a private table with a nice river view and get a steady stream of free-flowing champagne.. There are also small side dishes you can order at no extra charge. We really enjoyed this. We had made a dinner reservation, but after this we were too full and had to cancel the reservation.
If you stay here, be sure you take advantage of these nice benefits.
Last edited by Nagasaki Joe; Dec 25, 2018 at 7:43 pm Reason: To correct spelling mistakes.
Dec 25, 2018, 8:21 pm
#191
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: La Jolla, CA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Lifetime Titanium, Delta Plat, Hilton Diamond , Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,615
I stayed here one night in March 2018. I used 36,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book the stay, but normally it's around 55,000 UR points per night. With the new Marriott Rewards chart it will cost 85,000 points as a tier 8 property. At some point, I hope to write a review. A couple things that people may not be aware of because they are not heavily advertised, is that your reservation entitles you one of the following two options:
1. A free chauffeured car ride from Kyoto Station to the hotel, or
2. A free Rickshaw ride from Arashiyama Station to or from the hotel.
We took the the first option, which I think is a nice deal since the ride takes more than 30 minutes and there is some nice scenery along the way. The Rickshaw option doesn't last long, since it's a short ride from Arashiyama Station to the hotel, but it's a great photo opp. There is some information about the above on the hotel website, but it is hidden away.
Another nice perk is the welcome champagne reception you get on your first night. This is held in a building along the river close to the main entrance. For about 1 1/2 to 2 hours you sit at a private table with a nice river view and get a steady stream of free-flowing champagne.. There are also small side dishes you can order at no extra charge. We really enjoyed this. We had made a dinner reservation, but after this we were too full and had to cancel the reservation.
If you stay here, be sure you take advantage of these nice benefits.
1. A free chauffeured car ride from Kyoto Station to the hotel, or
2. A free Rickshaw ride from Arashiyama Station to or from the hotel.
We took the the first option, which I think is a nice deal since the ride takes more than 30 minutes and there is some nice scenery along the way. The Rickshaw option doesn't last long, since it's a short ride from Arashiyama Station to the hotel, but it's a great photo opp. There is some information about the above on the hotel website, but it is hidden away.
Another nice perk is the welcome champagne reception you get on your first night. This is held in a building along the river close to the main entrance. For about 1 1/2 to 2 hours you sit at a private table with a nice river view and get a steady stream of free-flowing champagne.. There are also small side dishes you can order at no extra charge. We really enjoyed this. We had made a dinner reservation, but after this we were too full and had to cancel the reservation.
If you stay here, be sure you take advantage of these nice benefits.
I see that you were there for 1 night. The wonderful champagne by the river is not just to welcome but daily 4:30-6:30 —We were there 8 nights and took advantage of this peaceful respite every afternoon before dinner- we loved it. And it was very good champagne from Reims!
Also IIRC the free ride is either when you arrive or when you depart.
Last edited by damon88; Dec 25, 2018 at 8:40 pm
Dec 25, 2018, 9:10 pm
#192
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: NGS
Programs: UA Silver, ANA MC, HH Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Bonvoy Plat, IHG Plat, Shangri-La GC, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,229
I see that you were there for 1 night. The wonderful champagne by the river is not just to welcome but daily 4:30-6:30 —We were there 8 nights and took advantage of this peaceful respite every afternoon before dinner- we loved it. And it was very good champagne from Reims!
Also IIRC the free ride is either when you arrive or when you depart.
I did mention that the Rickshaw ride was "to or from the hotel," but thanks for the further clarification. The free car ride I thought was only from Kyoto Station, but that too may also be the guest's choice, on arrival or departure. After reading your post, I checked the SPG website and found that they no longer list the availability of this amenity, so now I'm wondering if it's offered at all anymore. Below is the link where I believe they used to post this information, but no longer: If anyone plans to stay, best call the hotel to confirm.https://www.marriott.com/hotels/maps...n-hotel-kyoto/
Dec 26, 2018, 9:00 am
#193
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,265
Just checked out two days ago - the complimentary transfer is available to Kyoto Station as well as from the station.
Upgrade - the hotel is frequently full so that will be the biggest determinant of your upgrade. It was fully booked on this 1-night stay due to public holidays in Japan, but I was nevertheless upgraded one category to a room with a balcony.
Upgrade - the hotel is frequently full so that will be the biggest determinant of your upgrade. It was fully booked on this 1-night stay due to public holidays in Japan, but I was nevertheless upgraded one category to a room with a balcony.
Dec 26, 2018, 12:50 pm
#194
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,804
Do they still offer that rickshaw ride as well?
Would love to return to Suiran ... last time I was there I book their Kyo Tsukikoto room .... it was amazing
Would love to return to Suiran ... last time I was there I book their Kyo Tsukikoto room .... it was amazing
Feb 8, 2019, 5:25 pm
#195
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 50
currently seeing TSUKINONE available for cash booking. However it’s not available for points booking on Marriott website. if I understand correctly, TSUKINONE is considered to be standard room, and luxury collection does comply to no blackout policy. I called hotel directly tried to ask about this, they said they do not handle points bookings.. anyone have any idea what’s going on