Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo (Autograph Collection), Japan [Master Thread]
#31
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,430
Considering a 5 night stay here vs Marriott Tokyo as Marriott Gold. Both at 160,000 MR points. But Prince rate is about JPY40,000 per night whereas Marriott is 19,000 per night. So intuition tells me I should go for the one with higher cash price. Any thoughts which is better in terms of lounge and breakfast?
#32
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA 1K | Marriott Ambassador (LT Plat) | National Exec Elite | Global Entry | HH Silver
Posts: 419
Considering a 5 night stay here vs Marriott Tokyo as Marriott Gold. Both at 160,000 MR points. But Prince rate is about JPY40,000 per night whereas Marriott is 19,000 per night. So intuition tells me I should go for the one with higher cash price. Any thoughts which is better in terms of lounge and breakfast?
#33
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,430
Thanks for noting that they have a lounge. Loss of the breakfast benefit at Autograph in the new program had me a bit worried.
#35
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,008
The rooms appear somewhat similar, although the Marriott is a larger property by far - however if breakfast at the hotel is important, note the Sakura restricts Elites to the lounge only, where the entry waits can be long, and the selection very limited, while the Marriott offers both a lounge and full breakfast in the restaurant. For that reason alone, which is more my opinion of the hotel's cheapness vs the importance of breakfast, I will not stay here and restrict my visits to the Marriott. Same reason I dumped the Sheraton Miyako - they used to have an amazing breakfast in the restaurant, which was their only real great benefit considering a 0% chance at room upgrades, then they restricted everyone to the lounge - so bye bye.
#36
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,027
The rooms appear somewhat similar, although the Marriott is a larger property by far - however if breakfast at the hotel is important, note the Sakura restricts Elites to the lounge only, where the entry waits can be long, and the selection very limited, while the Marriott offers both a lounge and full breakfast in the restaurant.
#37
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,110
Does this hotel have club rooms? We'll be staying after the Gold downgrade, and I'm wondering if there will be any chance to use points to upgrade to a room with Executive Lounge access.
#38
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: EZE
Programs: UA Gold,Delta Gold Bonvoy Titanium Elite, HH Diamond , AA Platinum, EENational, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,542
Does anyone have a concierge email for this hotel? Have a stay next week and wanted to at least try to get a Tokyo Tower view room
#39
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: EZE
Programs: UA Gold,Delta Gold Bonvoy Titanium Elite, HH Diamond , AA Platinum, EENational, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,542
Having a great stay here. Concierge is outstanding here and service is wonderful from everyone on the staff. Love the location right around the corner from Shinagawa station which makes getting around Tokyo very easy. It is peak travel season to Tokyo so as expected no upgrades but we were given a Tokyo Tower view room on the 9th floor. Rooms are spacious enough so no worries about space. The lounge offerings are good enough for me ( I am not to picky and plus your in Tokyo so why not enjoy the cuisine 😝 ). Will post pictures later but really enjoying the stay here.
#43
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 26
Recent stay with odd pre-stay exchange
I recently completed a 6 night stay at this property with my wife and son. One consideration for this stay was the availability for my 12 year old son to join us in the lounge as indicated by previous posters. For added peace of mind, I checked with the hotel at the time of the reservation that this would be the case. Here is their email in response to my clarification request:
Dear Mr. xxx
Thank you for your reply.
Yes, your son can use a free access to the club lounge.
But you are requested to be accompanied by a guardian.
Thank you.
*****************************************
The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo
Reservation Dept. Ms. XXX
However, when I received the check-in email the day before, they indicated that there now would be a charge for my son as there was a new policy in place as of August 1. After a referral back to the email above, they reverted back to their original position in this email:
●LOUNGE ACCESS
After careful consideration with our manager,
we decided that your son is allowed to access the Executive lounge for free this time only.
We ask you to understand and comply with the new regulation of Marriott membership benefits from next time.
For your information, please refer the Marriott website as below,
https://members.marriott.com/benefits/
While I was appreciative of this, I was a bit confused as I don't understand why I would have been subject to a change of policy after they had confirmed something else. Is this a risk that I take when I make a reservation? I had the exact same situation arise the week before at the Courtyard Marriott Taipei - they informed me upon arrival that their lounge policy had changed at the beginning of August.
We enjoyed our stay at this property and found the location to be very good (close to the Shinagawa station). I was not offered any upgrade at this property (MR platinum) nor received any explanation of amenities available to us. I knew of them primarily through this forum.
Dear Mr. xxx
Thank you for your reply.
Yes, your son can use a free access to the club lounge.
But you are requested to be accompanied by a guardian.
Thank you.
*****************************************
The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo
Reservation Dept. Ms. XXX
However, when I received the check-in email the day before, they indicated that there now would be a charge for my son as there was a new policy in place as of August 1. After a referral back to the email above, they reverted back to their original position in this email:
●LOUNGE ACCESS
After careful consideration with our manager,
we decided that your son is allowed to access the Executive lounge for free this time only.
We ask you to understand and comply with the new regulation of Marriott membership benefits from next time.
For your information, please refer the Marriott website as below,
https://members.marriott.com/benefits/
While I was appreciative of this, I was a bit confused as I don't understand why I would have been subject to a change of policy after they had confirmed something else. Is this a risk that I take when I make a reservation? I had the exact same situation arise the week before at the Courtyard Marriott Taipei - they informed me upon arrival that their lounge policy had changed at the beginning of August.
We enjoyed our stay at this property and found the location to be very good (close to the Shinagawa station). I was not offered any upgrade at this property (MR platinum) nor received any explanation of amenities available to us. I knew of them primarily through this forum.
#44
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,430
We enjoyed our stay at this property and found the location to be very good (close to the Shinagawa station). I was not offered any upgrade at this property (MR platinum) nor received any explanation of amenities available to us. I knew of them primarily through this forum.