A review of the 98-key Bulgari Hotel Tokyo, from its 40th-floor lobby and massive deluxe room to the spa, pool and gym, plus how to book it for extra perks.
Glad you loved it. This was one of my favorite hotel stays ever. The staff really were terrific and it was the little things that really stood out. Not sure about you but the "gifts" at turndown each night were different and so lovely and thoughtful. I'd also note that it's not just close to the train station - it's actually connected underground via the shopping center and they offer a complimentary meet and greet service (in either direction) for all guests. It poured our departure day and having someone walk us through (all the way to the train) was so helpful as it is quite a maze.
"I will say, the area immediately around the hotel isn’t necessarily that charming, but that’s often a reality of being in a really central location." This is true of most of the best hotels in Tokyo... There are a few in more fun areas, but I've acknowledged at this point that it's just a fact of staying there. Hope to go back one day!
Looks like a beautiful property BUT a no go for me. I am not spending over $1200 a night for a room without a comfortable sofa and a proper work area. I sometimes wonder if these designers actually ever stay in hotel rooms on a regular basis.
I am not spending over $1200 a night for a room to sit in a sofa and do work.
I sometimes wonder if these customers actually ever stay in hotel rooms on a regular basis.
@Ben
Bvlgari looks must nicer and better than Bulgari.
Instead I'm just reading about a luxurious marinated Korean beef hotel.
All Eskimo ever contributes is extra useless comments as he hides behind a computer screen.
Awww, did I offend your tiny snowflake brain, or the lack of?
This reply of yours here is even more extra useless.
But your lack of critical reasoning wouldn't make it obvious to you.
So here and extra brain to you the obvious again.
This reply of yours here is even more extra useless.
And the computer screen cliché?
Still doesn't change the fact you lack critical reasoning.
Using this cliche reinforces exactly why you lack critical reasoning, again for the 2nd time on a different statement.
“maybe it’s a hot take, but I think Aman Tokyo is sort of overrated at this point” Yowzers!
Bulgari Tokyo definitely looks nice and would like to stay there someday, but… the rooms don’t have an in-room personal onsen overlooking Tokyo, so… 😉
Um, think Ill stick to Park Hyatt when in Tokyo. Even if it was 75k points, at least you could use a suite upgrade. $1,200USD++ cash prices are ridiculous, especially given the current weakness of the yen.
@ Gene -- But if it's 75K points, there are also some properties you could book through The Edit by Chase that retail for $1,500 at that cost (since some redemptions allow up to two cents per point), so you have to frame it in that context. And regarding suite upgrades, have you actually looked at suite upgrade availability? Or are you booking the second the schedule opens?
Fabulous place, but the room decor/layout is a let down. Everything else, top-notch. Pricey though, lol.
I just left this hotel a couple of days ago. It was my fourth visit. I had been a regular (over 100 visits) at The Peninsula Tokyo, but that property has slid way downhill in the past 12 months. I want to point out a few things that Ben didn't mention. For the high rollers, the Deluxe Suites have a better layout and views than the Premium Suites and are about $1,000 less per night. Secondly, Hoseki, the sushi restaurant, is very disappointing and I would suggest that all guests have sushi elsewhere.
If Hoseki isn't good enough for you.
For sushi restaurant, try Ganso Zushi.
Only heard good things about that place.
Ben, I'm always curious of your stays at these uber-luxury hotels and cruises: If you never got the discount through Ford, would you pay out of pocket for a stay at this hotel or those in the same price point?
weekendsurfer, I'm always curious of your take on reviews at these uber-luxury hotels and cruises: If you never saw reviews through OMAAT, would you trust Sam Chui, Cahill, Layover Dan, Noel etc. reviews at this hotel or those in the same price point?
Not sure what the purpose of your comment is. I felt it had a valid question. Ben has been reviewing many uber-luxury properties and cruises of late, often at a discount through Ford. I’m just curious of his opinion on the relative value of these places for those of us who don’t have the same connections.
I get why you ask that question. But does it matter how much he will pay if A.) you're not getting his rates B.) you're not sharing his wallet.
He brings us interesting reviews.
He, at our best understanding, fully disclosed the circumstances of how he paid.
How much his relative value is doesn't determine how affordable it is to you nor should it influence you more than what you take away from his experiences. How you value Ben's fully disclosed experience and if it's worth it is entirely up to you and your finances.
Now if Sam Chui gets offloaded, or Layover Dan got stuck in economy, that's worth asking.
@ weekendsurfer -- It's a great question, let me answer it completely honestly.
In general, luxury hotel rates have skyrocketed post pandemic (admittedly largely reflecting higher costs for hotels as well), and I think it's hard to argue that there's much "value" in luxury travel nowadays, in absolute terms (in relative terms, some properties are absolutely a better value than others).
At the end of the day, luxury hotels charge what they're able to charge because they know their customer base has limited time, but wants the best experience possible when they travel.
I'm obviously unique, because I travel a ton, and I'm also able to work from anywhere. So would I splurge on some ultra-luxury hotels, given the high rates? Absolutely, because I think some experiences are truly worth it. Would I splurge on every stay? Of course not, because then it's not a splurge, and the cost adds up very quickly.
Let me give an example -- I've stayed at every Airelles hotel, they're outrageously expensive (and I paid the published rate for each), and I still find them to be a peak experience that's worth it, given how great the experience is.
In general, I believe more in splurging on resorts than city hotels, given that in cities, I don't actually spend that much time on property, prefer to dine out, etc. So I'm also more likely to redeem points for a good city hotel, rather than spend a ton of cash on an ultra-luxury hotel.
Admittedly a vast majority of people aren't in my situation in terms of their travel style. I still enjoy experiencing amazing city hotels, and feel like I can tell the good ones apart from the great ones. Hopefully that answers your question. 🙂
@Ben
I wish I had access to the same rates as you do. I don't think I have ever seen this hotel below 200K yen. Even looking at cheapest dates in January and February wich is as off peak as it gets, the lowest I get is 240K yen.
I have seen base rooms exceed 600K in peak periods.
It is a great review of the place, and a lovely hotel. But I think the price range indicated is overly optimistic.
@ CPH-Flyer -- Sorry, my rates weren't inclusive of taxes and fees, so I updated the post to make reference to that. The pricing I posed reflected the pricing range at the time I wrote this review, but you're right, the taxes and fees do make a big difference.
We were staying last week. Overall, agree with your review that everything was fantastic. Although at these prices, even with how perfect everything is, it still made us question if it was worth it
I love that the hand writing in the welcome card matches the elevated clarity of my writing.
I do agree that the level of design elements in the common areas are outstanding. I always feel that that sets a hotel apart, rather than just a nice room. I hope I will be able to stay there one day.
Ben wrote: The best way to book a stay at any Bulgari property is through a travel advisor affiliated with the Marriott STARS program, so you can receive extra perks, like complimentary breakfast, a room upgrade subject to availability, a hotel credit, and more.
@Ben There isn’t a need to use the word ‘extra’ as you previously wrote that these type of hotels do not participate in the Bonvoy program so thus do not receive any perks and cannot earn or redeem any points.
Like I said, Eskimo since no Bonvoy perks are provided in the first place it is not necessary to have the word extra and simply can just write ‘with the Marriott Stars Program, one can receive perks…..’
As for Eskimo, one most certainly can use the word extra in a sentence such as Eskimo’s presence on OMAAT is like an extra on a movie set. Someone you may see but offers no real significance or benefit to the movie as a whole.
LOL.
You need Ben's explanation to even concur.
To many other people with critical reasoning, it's obvious.
The way you defended yourself just reinforces your short comings.
I might be an extra on a movie set to you.
But you need an extra brain to tell you the obvious.
Ben might have the 'perks' of not telling readers they need an 'extra' brain.
I guess it depends on how one defines the word "perks."
@ Eskimo -- You're welcome to disagree with others, but can we please try to be polite and constructive? We don't need to insult other people and say they lack brain cells...
You're right Ben, my bad for hiding behind a computer screen.
Gotta be more constructive.
I'll also try to be less critical and more forgiving to people who are vulnerable or overwhelmed.
@ Stanley C -- Hah, I see where you're coming from, but "extra" isn't intended to refer to anything above and beyond Bonvoy. Instead, the idea is that a stay at a hotel already includes some perks just for being a guest, and these Marriott STARS are above and beyond that. I guess it depends on how one defines the word "perks."
Thanks Ben. What you said is fair enough. I concur with you on your last sentence as people would have various opinions on what is defined as a perk.
This looks utterly soulless and completely disconnected with the city it’s in. It could be anywhere. You couldn’t pay me to stay there.
I’ve just been through a bunch of photos and I am struck by how cheap the minibar stands in the rooms look, ikea makes better veneer on particleboard furniture than that.
It looks like a hotel for people who don’t want to be there.
And ‘green roibos’ wtf is that?
On the tea topic, I think that may just be a misspelling, because I’ve heard of the South African “Green Rooibos” (two ‘o’s, not one). Main difference between it and the ‘red’ kind, green is unfermented. Hope that helps.
The spelling is immaterial; why would you offer up something so utterly alien as ‘rooibos’ in a country with its own 1000+ year old tea culture. It’s just indicative of the lack of any sense of place in this hotel.