Conrad Tokyo

Address: 1 Chome-9-1 Higashishinbashi, Minato, Tokyo 105-7337, Japan

Telephone: +81 3-6388-8000

http://conradhotels3.hilton.com/en/hotels/japan/conrad-tokyo-TYOCICI/index.html

My Rating: 80%

Price Rating: $$$$$

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Summary of Stay: The Conrad Tokyo is a beautiful modern hotel just a short walk from world-class shopping on the Ginza. The hotel begins on the 30th floor and affords guests stunning views of the city and Tokyo bay.

When I checked in, the front-desk agent had a few issues pulling up my reservation even though I had the confirmation numbers with me. Within 5 minutes, it was all sorted out and I was shown up to my room. While checking in, the concierge came over and introduced himself. He also retrieved print-outs regarding a dining reservation that they had made on my behalf for that night.

The room itself was comfortable, spacious, modern and forgettable. Beyond the cute branded rubber ducky and the 'twig in a vase' that I originally mistook for a Bonsai tree, the room was nothing out of the ordinary. There is a large difference between a luxury hotel and a high-end business hotel. The Conrad Tokyo leans closer to the high-end business side. The room did have a nice view of Tokyo bay and the window seating, though awkward to sit, was a nice touch. The bed was very comfortable and the sheets were high quality. The furniture had some signs of wear but overall, nicely appointed. The closets were decent size but not functional. While they did hold my luggage, there was no room to hang any of my clothes.

The hotel does have a gorgeous pool that sported a panoramic view of Tokyo. The fitness facilities also include a full gym and the Mizuki spa. The attendants were friendly and very professional.

I had booked an executive room which gave access to a private lounge that served breakfast, cocktails, etc. When I arrived, I was informed that the lounge was being renovated and they had turned a meeting room into a temporary lounge. There was no notice of this on their website at the time of my booking. This was disappointing but it only got worse. The service was subpar, unwelcoming and impersonal. The offerings of food were alright but the atmosphere was clearly not that of an executive lounge. Also, there were too many children there for my liking. I guess I assumed that most executive lounges would be 18+. Dear child - can I please see your business card and credentials? MBA at Harvard Pre-School? Overall, booking a room for the lounge access seemed like poor value in my opinion.

Highlight of the Hotel: One perk of this hotel is that they share an airport shuttle service. This isn't a common feature in Tokyo and often forces travellers to take trains or expensive taxis to the airport. For approximately $25 US, I had a one-way transfer to Narita airport. The shuttle was air-conditioned and very clean and comfortable. We were given bottles of water for the hour long journey. Considering my taxi from the airport into Tokyo was approximately $120, this was a great deal.

Highlight of my Stay: The service that I received from the concierge desk was superb. They arranged (on short notice) dinner at a 2 Michelin Star restaurant. Their communication was quick, professional and precise. They also had tremendous follow up upon check-in. They clearly mapped out locations of stores that I wanted to visit on or near the Ginza to save me time.

Drawbacks: Overall, the hotel lacked any personality or charm. It is a well kept property and it is fine for a stay in Tokyo. I was disappointed in the executive floors and wouldn't pay to upgrade again. If you go in expecting a top-notch business hotel and not a luxury hotel, you won't be disappointed.