Harlan Vaughn's Blog, page 50
June 18, 2016
Is Citi Planning Changes to the Prestige Card?
I got an email from Citi asking me to take a survey put together by ISG Research (Insight Strategy Group).
Citi’s rather vague email
The subject was, “We want your feedback on the best credit card rewards programs.”
But once I got into it, I realized they were asking about the Citi Prestige card.
The email even said, “Cardmember since 2015,” which was the year I got my Citi Prestige card.
In the survey, they ask the respondent to consider several mash-ups of card features and select the best option.
They throw around current Citi Prestige features like the 4th night free, annual fee, transfer partners, and ancillary benefits like the 3 free rounds of golf.
What is Citi considering?
Citi asks about an adjustment to the 4th night free perk, including:
Reimbursing actual room cost, but not taxes or fees
Limiting the perk to 2 times per year
Giving a straight 25% percent off instead of the 4th night free(to balance an expensive 4th night)
There’s some play about the travel perks, notably the $250 annual airline credit. They ask you to balance:
A $200 annual credit
Free checked bags
$100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
Free in-flight wifi
They even ask about the points-earning structure and mention an increased value when transferring points to Hilton, specifically.
Most alarming is they seem hyper-focused on raising the annual fee. Or cutting benefits for the sake of a lower annual fee.
The changes result in a fee somewhere between $400 and $550 per year. I guess it would depend on what exactly gets added or taken away.
Finally, they ask you to rank your top 3 choices for an ideal travel card.
Here are some snaps from the survey:
Citi survey #1
Citi survey #2
Citi survey #3
Rank the top 3
A few more thoughts
I really, really, really don’t want Citi to change the Prestige card. I love it as-is.
In fact, it’s perhaps my favorite credit card right now. It’s saved me over $2,000 since I’ve had it!
My favorite credit card rn
If they change anything at all, I’d like them to expand the 3X travel category to include gas and other travel-related purchases instead of just airfare and hotel stays. That, in my opinion, would bury the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
They also asked about the possibility of including Hilton Gold status with the card, which would put it in line with the AMEX Platinum Card. And about various ways to access airline lounges.
Another cool question was about combining ThankYou points and the 4th night free benefit. And receiving the 4th night free credit upfront instead of waiting for it to post as a statement credit within 1-2 billing cycles.
However, I’d rather have the card as-is for $450 a year than pay more for it. Unless the perks are really good.
Bottom line
Something is afoot at Citi. It seems they are taking a hard look at the Citi Prestige card in particular.
These changes, if they happen, are hopefully a while away. My main takeaway from this survey is to enjoy the perks while they’re still around. Because they won’t last forever.
I’ve long worried Citi Prestige benefits have been, to date, a little too generous. Perhaps Citi agrees and is considering a raise in the annual fee. Or cutting the benefits in exchange for a lower annual fee.
What do you make of this survey? Which features would you want to see added (or removed and replaced with others)?
* If you liked this post, consider signing up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 per day!) or in an RSS reader and you’ll never miss an update! And thanks for using my link to apply for new card offers!
Hotel Review: ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka
Also see:
Osaka: Bullet Train, Food, Nightlife, Aquarium, & Wanderings
Tokyo: Cherry Blossoms, Microbars, Amazing Food, Views, & Wanderings
Hotel Review: Hilton Tokyo Shinjuku
Review: American Airlines First Class 777-200 Dallas to Tokyo-NRT
I should say up front: I really wanted to stay at the Hilton Osaka, but there wasn’t availability – paid or with points – for my dates.
And the Hyatt Regency Osaka wasn’t available, either. (Even if it was, it’s pretty far from most attractions, unless you want to be near Universal Studios Japan, which I hear is incredible.)
Lobby of the ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka
The only thing available as far as chain hotels was the ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka, an IHG hotel. It was between this and an Airbnb.
In the end, I opted to pay 50,000 IHG points for 2 nights here because:
It was free
I randomly earned IHG Spire Elite status and wanted to see if it made a difference
IHG Spire Elite status comes with 25,000 bonus IHG points, so one of the nights was a total freebie
I have a ton of IHG points and wanted to burn some of them
The Chase IHG card gives you 10% of your redeemed miles back in your account
The stay at the Hilton Tokyo was paid and I wanted to decrease the overall price of the trip
Arrival and check-in
We took the Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka, with a stop in Kyoto. It was drizzly that day, so we only caught the vaguest glimpse of Mount Fuji’s outline. But it looked incredible. I bet on a clear day, it’s awe-inspiring (when traveling east-bound, it’ll be on the right side of the train).
We toyed with the idea of getting out at Kyoto, stowing our bags, and wandering to a few temples. But the rain got persistently worse, so we high-tailed it to Osaka instead.
Short jaunt to the ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka
After arrival at the Osaka train station, we took the subway a few stops to Yodoyabashi and walked the few blocks to the hotel.
Outside the ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka
Check-in was easy. The desk agent noted my IHG Spire Elite status, and gave me a rundown of the benefits.
IHG Spire Elite Benefits
She also let me know we’d been upgraded to a “superior” room, which was a nice gesture.
This particular hotel has a club lounge and club floors, whose rooms include free breakfast, tea service, afternoon snacks, and evening cocktails. I asked if the room was on one of these floors and the desk agent told me no, it wasn’t. Access the lounge? Nope.
“Is breakfast included?” No, she said. That would be an extra charge.
Soooo… IHG Spire Elite status is essentially worthless. The room was nice, but not exactly the upgrade I was hoping for. Still, for 2 free nights in Osaka at the height of cherry blossom season, I couldn’t really complain.
Hallways of the ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka
On to the room.
Room 717
The room
A little dated. Charge to use the minibar. Not the most thrilling city view. And the beds were very low to the ground.
View upon walking in
But overall, a very clean space with fast wifi. I think the “upgrade” here was the room’s location – it was at the very end of the hall, in its own little “wing.” So it was very private and quiet.
Entry room
Coffee, tea, snacks
Minibar
Bathroom
Robes, ironing board
There were a lot of products and stuff in the bathroom.
Hand soap, bar bar, shampoo, conditioner, hair dryer
Closer view of the many products
Then, there was even more stuff in the shower.
Shower products
They definitely didn’t skimp on the toiletries, which was nice. They also smelled really good – each product had its own scent which was noted on the labels.
Bidet
And again, I just love that bidet lol.
Desk
Sitting area
Beds
See what I mean about the beds being low to the ground?
View of Osaka from the window – looking south toward the bridges
View upon turning around
All-in-all, a quaint room.
The hotel
The location is quite good. It’s easy walking distance to the Midosuji and Yotsubashi subway lines – a few blocks to each. In fact, most of the places we wanted to go were within a few stops on either line.
Even better, there was a great strip of restaurants within walking distance.
The hotel itself has a few restaurants, which were closed between lunch and dinner (1pm to 5pm) when we arrived. So we didn’t get a chance to try any of them – there was so much outside the hotel to explore.
I particularly loved getting brunch at Eggs ‘n Things.
And I couldn’t help but notice the Hilton Osaka was only a few blocks north, closer to the Kita neighborhood.
Inside the hotel bar
We did, however, get some fantastic drinks at the hotel bar the night before we left.
It was largely empty as I suspect peeps were out enjoying the Osaka nightlife. The bartender was friendly and kind, and poured us up some Moscow mules that were the perfect nightcap. I charged them to the room and paid with the Chase IHG card to get 5X IHG points (and got my 10% discount for being IHG Spire Elite).
It really is the little things.
Bottom line
There was something about this place I can’t quite put my finger on.
The rooms were clean, the service was great, and everyone I encountered was more than friendly.
I think I’m irked by the shortcomings of the IHG loyalty program and not being able to get a room at other nearby hotels. Next time, I’ll shoot to stay at the Hilton Osaka or even an Airbnb in one of the fun neighborhoods we explored.
It would’ve been great to get an upgrade to a club floor, or at least free breakfast, considering I have the “highest” elite status with IHG.
In another way, I wanted to see for myself, materially, what that would mean for an award stay. And the answer, disappointingly, is: not much.
I have reviews coming up from stays at Hilton, Hyatt, and Starwood hotels. And this one is obviously IHG.
As a free agent, it’s been interesting to see the little nuances in each chain’s company culture and loyalty program offerings. Something about IHG screams “missed opportunity.” A few more perks would’ve pushed this stay into whole-heartedly fantastic.
But as it stands, I’m left with a bit of “meh.”
All that to say, the 2-night stay was completely free – so I really can’t complain. And Osaka is such a vibrant, fun, and fantastic city that you’re bound to have a great time no matter where you land.
If you’ve stayed here, let me know how your experience compares!
* If you liked this post, consider signing up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 per day!) or in an RSS reader and you’ll never miss an update! And thanks for using my link to apply for new card offers!
May 17, 2016
App-O-Rama: 4 New Cards and ~200,000 Points
Also see:
My First App-O-Rama 2.22.13
Oh man, looking back on my first AOR 3 years ago is such a stroll down memory lane.
Still the best high I’ve found
I was still newish to points and miles, new to blogging, still finding my voice and figuring out my travel goals.
I mentioned them at the time:
My travel goals for this round of apps are Toronto, Montreal, Boston, Dublin, Seattle, Alaska, and eventually, Australia. I’d also LOVE to fit in Vienna/Prague sometime this summer.
I made it to all of those places with the exception of Prague (which I mentioned recently as a possibility with Hilton points, so it’s still on my radar):
Trip Report: Riding On Amtrak Business Class NYP-BOS
Hotel Review: Radisson Blu Royal, Dublin
Off to Seattle & My First FTU!
Hotel Review: Dome Home B&B, Healy, Alaska
Hotel Review: InterContinental Sydney, Australia
It goes to show the power of setting a goal.
But I should take a little wisdom “Three Years Ago Harlan” because my recent round of applications were rather scattershot. After I get settled in Dallas, I’m gonna need to plan a lot of trips with all the points and miles I’ll earn from this newest AOR.
4 new cards!
This is my biggest AOR yet. I briefly considered going for 5, but then I thought… nah…
Slash what’s your biggest number for an AOR?
And also, I thought AORs were kinda dead but apparently they rage on.
Here’s what I picked up:
Amex Mercedes-Benz Platinum Card (75,000 Amex Membership Rewards points through June 22nd, 2016)
Another Bank of America Alaska Airlines Visa (25,000 Alaska Airlines miles and $100 statement credit)
Chase United Explorer (50,000 United miles)
Citi ThankYou Premier (40,000 Citi ThankYou points)
In total, I’ll net nearly 200K points/miles after meeting the minimum spending requirements.
Not a bad haul.
The applications
I got nice n schwasted on too much Tito’s vodka and had a thought to apply for the Chase United Explorer card. Chase sent me a targeted mailer – twice – and I heard co-branded cards were exempt from the 5/24 rule.
You want me, Chase?
After being brutally straight-up denied for the Chase Freedom Unlimited, I figured I’d grovel my way back.
Offer landing page
Considering the public offer is for 30K miles right now, it was worth a spin.
Yay!
And take me back they did. I got a nice limit, higher than my other Chase cards. I’ll probably add an authorized user for those 5,000 bonus United miles.
Now that I’m heavily into the United Mileage Plus X app, I might as well score some extra miles, increased award availability, and 2 free United Club passes per year. Plus it’s free the 1st year anyway, so why not?
With that squared away, on to Citi.
I went for the Citi ThankYou Premier with a 40K sign-up bonus. To me, that’s worth $640 toward American Airlines flights because I also have the Citi Prestige card.
Although the bonus has been higher, $640 for a hard pull is still worth it to me. I can make use of the expanded 3X travel category which includes gas (now that I’ll be driving again) instead of Citi Prestige’s limited airfare and hotel direct-from-merchant 3X category.
Call required
The app went to a pending state. But I called right away and they pushed it through for me within 5 minutes.
Yay!
Next, another Bank of America Alaska Airlines Visa.
Easy, fast, 25K Alaska miles
Quickest app ever. Immediately approved. 25,000 more Alaska Airlines miles in the ol’ Mileage Plan account.
Then, I decided to push my luck with AMEX again with the Mercedes-Benz Platinum Card.
Grrrr
They needed further review. I used my new Dallas address, and apparently it triggered a fraud alert.
They said they needed a few more days to process the application, but I’m confident I’ll get it.
I’m not worried about the annual fee because I’ll immediately get $200 back in Amazon gift cards, which I’ll use to furnish my new place.
And I’ll cancel my other AMEX Platinum Card (regular version) and keep this one for Centurion Lounge access when I fly out of DFW. And to keep my existing Membership Rewards points alive.
Quick word about gas
About… what? Um, OK.
So this is unrelated, but…
$50 for my gas to Dallas (or groceries, restaurants, and drugstores)
I got targeted to get a $50 Alaska Airlines flight credit after spending $250 on my Bank of America Alaska Airlines Visa.
That’s a pretty good return on spending (that I will have to make anyway).
Perfect
A fuel estimator let me know I’m looking at around that price in gas from NYC to Dallas. Plus, I figure, snacks and coffee to make $250.
Now, I could earn 750 Citi ThankYou points with my new Citi ThankYou Premier. But that’s worth $12 (750 x 1.6 toward American Airlines flights thanks to Citi Prestige).
So I come out way ahead with the $50 flight credit. And, I’ll actually use it.
I’m not worried about making the $3,000 minimum spending requirement on the Citi ThankYou Premier because the move will have all sorts of other costs to cover.
Just wanted to include this nugget to show that sometimes targeted offers can be extremely worthwhile.
Bottom line
Pretty soon, I’ll be 190,000 points/miles richer. And I can’t wait to put them to good use.
In fact, I value that many points at $3,800 – an excellent deal in exchange for a drunken AOR!
I’m reaching a point where I have more points and miles than time to spend them. So I need to get my travel goals together. Having the points is more than enough motivation/temptation for me.
I didn’t think AORs (app-o-ramas) were still a “thing,” but they very much are, apparently. And it felt so good to get those approvals in, one after the other.
I’m also keeping more things in mind. Using points and miles for a trip you wouldn’t have taken anyway doesn’t really mean you’re “saving” money. It means you’re going out and spending on food/taxis/incidentals were you otherwise wouldn’t have.
You’re only saving if you were going to take those trips anyway.
I’m mixing personal finance with my travel bug here. It’s an intriguing place to be. I know I’d travel regardless of points and miles. But having them lets me do it in more comfort.
It’s important to constantly question what you’re really “saving.” And 4 new cards in one night – sheesh. That’s more than some peeps have altogether.
We really do have an extremely niche little hobby, and there’s a certain temperament you need to make it worthwhile. Just please, whatever, you do, never pay a dime of interest. Unless it’s really, really worth it.
All that to say, this newest AOR felt so good. (Also, “bottom line” longer than any section. Hell yes, I’ll be a pro blogger soon!)
What about you guys? Any new cards planned?
* If you liked this post, consider signing up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 per day!) or in an RSS reader and you’ll never miss an update! And thanks for using my link to apply for new card offers!
May 10, 2016
Earn Points for Rent and Mortgage Payments With Plastiq (2% Fee With MasterCards)
Also see:
Bye to RadPad, Hello to Plastiq for 2% Bill Payment Fees With MasterCard (Including Mortgages and Utilities)
I’ve long enjoyed using RadPad despite its 2% fee because I’ve been earning 3X Citi ThankYou points per $1 spent on rent with my Citi AT&T Access More card, which far outweighs it, especially when paired with Citi Prestige.
But on June 1st, 2016, RadPad is increasing its rent bill payment fee to 3.49%, which makes the service much less appealing.
Byeee
But, Plastiq easily takes its place – and charges a 2% fee on MasterCard payments. Even better, you can earn 3X Citi ThankYou points with the Citi AT&T Access More card. And, it works on mortgage payments, too.
Plastiq is the new sheriff in town
Link: Plastiq
Link: Citi AT&T Access More card
I did test payments during my last billing cycle and just got the statement.
Plastiq proved worthwhile for my rent and mortgage payments
I paid rent and a mortgage payment to see how they’d code and if I’d earn 3X Citi ThankYou points. And I paid a utility bill to see how that would go.
I also wanted to see how fast they’d make the payments.
This month’s payments with Citi AT&T Access More
I paid:
Mortgage payment on 4/18 (ACH)
Utility bill on 4/21 (ACH)
Rent on 5/3 (check)
Here’s how fast they posted:
Mortgage payment received 4/22 (4 business days)
Utility bill received 4/28 (5 business days)
Rent check sent 5/5, received 5/9 (5 business days)
These times are totally acceptable. And, they were pretty fast with sending out the rent check – it took the same amount of time as an ACH payment.
The utility payment only earned 1X Citi ThankYou point per $1, which is in-line with Citi’s official policy:
You won’t earn 3X Points for purchases of and payments for medical services, insurance, taxes and government services, education, charities, and utilities.
Many ThankYous
But, I got 3X on the rent and mortgage payment, which is awesome.
I’d heard a few complaints about slow payments with Plastiq, and was nervous about relying on them. So I left plenty of margin for error – but was pleased with the payment speeds.
Is it worth the 2% fee?
Plastiq charges a 2% bill payment fee for a MasterCard payment. And a 2.5% payment for Visa and Amex.
Paying the fee can be worth it in certain situations
Times you might consider paying the fee:
When you know you’ll get more than 2 cents of value per point/mile
To quickly meet a minimum spending requirement
To hit a threshold bonus for status/elite qualifying miles/bonus miles
To float a charge for a couple extra weeks
When the points’ value outweigh the service fee
In the case of the Citi AT&T Access More/Citi Prestige combo, you get 3X Citi Thank You points on rent and mortgage payments with the former card. And can use them at a rate of 1.6 cents each toward American Airlines flights for having the latter card.
It’s a powerful combo that puts you nearly 3% ahead even after paying Plastiq’s 2% fee (3 * 1.6 = 4.8% – 2% fee = 2.8%).
For a $1,000 payment, for example, you’d earn 3,060 Citi ThankYou points and pay a $20 fee. But those points are worth ~$49 toward American Airlines flights, putting you ~$29 ahead even after the fee.
After 12 $1,000 payments, you’d be ahead by ~$348.
You could do even better by transferring the points to an airline partner, like Etihad or Singapore (which has better award flight rates in some cases) – especially for Business Class or First Class award tickets.
If you use a 2% cashback card, the fee is obviously canceled out – and you can use Plastiq’s service to float your payment instead of pulling it out of your bank account right away.
Bottom line
Plastiq is the only service I know of that lets you earn points or miles for paying mortgage payments with a credit card. And it’s a handy service for paying rent, too.
Even better, those payments earn 3X Citi ThankYou points with the Citi AT&T Access More card, which I highly recommend for this – or if you shop online or at Costco a lot.
It also works nicely with the Mileage Plus X app to earn 5X points in total at Amazon.
I’m pleased with how quickly Plastiq processed my mortgage payment and will continue to use them for as long as the rate stays around 2%. Housing is the biggest monthly expense for most peeps – it’s nice to earn extra points or miles for it.
Let me know if you’ve had an experience with Plastiq!
* If you liked this post, consider signing up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 per day!) or in an RSS reader and you’ll never miss an update! And thanks for using my link to apply for new card offers!
May 6, 2016
Targeted Citi Hilton Visa Promo for 7,500 Points (Stack It to ~44 Hilton Points per Dollar)
Also see:
Taking Another Look at Hilton, Hyatt, and Diamond Elite Status
7 Hilton Hotels Where 120,000 Hilton Points Are Worth $700+
I noticed an offer in my Citi account – it can totally be a good one if you were targeted, and have paid Hilton stays coming up.
Earn 10X Hilton points on up to $750 – total of 7,500 Hilton points
When you enroll and spend $750 at Hilton hotels through July 31st, 2016, you’ll get 7,500 bonus Hilton points AKA 10 extra points per dollar.
That’s a good deal if you A) have this card and B) have paid Hilton stays coming up.
You can also stack the heck out of this!
Combine promos to get a boatload of Hilton points
Link: View Additional Hotel Credit Card offers here!
The Citi Hilton Visa also has a great sweet built-in perk:
10K Hilton points after $1k spend annually
You get 10,000 Hilton points if you spend $1,000 at Hilton hotels in a year.
And, you’ll earn 6X Hilton points per $1 spent with the Citi Hilton Visa.
Plus, you get 10X Hilton points per $1 you spend on your room rate (AKA not taxes and fees) as a basic HHonors member benefit.
Say you spend $1,000 at Hilton hotels before the end of July.
You’d earn ~34,000 Hilton points, or 34 Hilton points per dollar. (6X * 1,000 = 6,000 from Citi Hilton Visa + 10,000 from Citi Hilton Visa loyalty bonus + 7,500 from targeted promo + 10,000 for being an HHonors member.)
That’s pretty good! Already a quadruple dip.
Push it farther with status and Summer Promo
Link: Double Your HHonors Summer Promo
You’ll also earn more points if you have Hilton status:
15% bonus with Silver elite
25% bonus with Gold elite
50% bonus with Diamond elite
You’d automatically have Silver elite status with the Citi Hilton Visa. But I didn’t include the bonus in the example above to accommodate for taxes (which are probably around 15%, depending on where you stay).
Keep stacking to earn even more points
Be sure to sign-up in advance for Hilton’s summer promo. Based on the $1,000 example above, you’d earn an extra 10,000 Hilton points, for a total of 44 Hilton points per $1 spent.
You’d earn even more with Hilton elite status (noted above).
That could turn this into a sextuple dip:
Targeted Citi Hilton Visa promo
Citi Hilton Visa annual loyalty bonus
6X points with Citi Hilton Visa
10X base points for being an HHonors member
More bonus points for having Hilton elite status (comes with Hilton cards)
More bonus points for signing-up for summer promo
In short, you can do well with the Citi Hilton Visa card’s targeted promo and annual loyalty bonus if you stack it right for stays through July 31st, 2016.
And even if you weren’t targeted, you can strategically earn the 10,000 bonus points per year for spending $1,000 on the Citi Hilton Visa alongside the summer promo to earn a nice chunk of Hilton points, too.
Depending on how you play it, you could get 20% to 100%+ back when you redeem the 40K+ Hilton points you’d earn in total:
40,000 Hilton points is enough for a 5-night award stay at a Hilton Category 2 hotel
It’s also enough for a night at several pricey hotels around the world – here are my faves
Really, not bad for a card with no annual fee. Here’s my link if you decide to apply for a new card offer:
View Additional Hotel Credit Card offers here!
Bottom line
I’m always looking for ways to stack – and thought I’d share this one. Because it’s particularly good if you got the 7,500 Hilton points targeted offer with the Citi Hilton Visa.
Even if you don’t have that particular card, or weren’t targeted, you can still stack your card’s points-earning with the other dips to do nicely on Hilton stays this summer. It’s also a nice reminder to be on the lookout for opportunities – and to sign-up for promotions just in case.
I will definitely be using this stack for any upcoming paid Hilton stays – especially with my newly minted Hilton fanboy status.
If you have a Citi Hilton card, were you targeted for this offer?
* If you liked this post, consider signing up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 per day!) or in an RSS reader and you’ll never miss an update! And thanks for using my link to apply for new card offers!
Get FoundersCard for $295 Through May 13th, 2016
Also see:
18 FoundersCard Travel Benefits (Status, Discounts, and Freebies)
Assessing the Benefits of FoundersCard
Yup, FoundersCard Still Offers Caesars Total Rewards Diamond Status Through 2017
My FoundersCard Membership Just Paid for Itself This Year
Thought I’d post this promo and how to get it as a few readers have contacted me about the specifics.
Through May 13th, 2016, you can get FoundersCard for $295 a year – for life. The rate will never go up, so you can lock it in for $100 less than the usual $395 a year.
It sounds steep, but my FoundersCard has already paid for itself this year – and I just renewed (at the higher rate) in March 2016.
There are a ton of benefits that come with the card (including Total Rewards Diamond status).
I’ll show you how to get the lower rate because it’s not as straightforward as it should be.
How to get the $295 deal
Link: Sign up for FoundersCard
Huge thanks to Out and Out reader Rob for shooting me an email about his experience locking in the $295 rate.
Apparently when you click my referral link, you get to this page:
Nowhere to enter the embedded promo code
My promo code is supposed to show up there. But, it doesn’t. Instead, they just ask you “How you heard about FoundersCard.”
Rob got this email from them after filling out the form via my link:
You have to pre-pay for 2 years
They want you to prepay for 2 years with a different promo code, which understandably is not cool if you don’t want to commit for that long.
However, once you get the application link, you’ll see a $395 rate.
$395 a year
But when you get to the next page, you have the opportunity to enter other promo codes, which changes the offer.
Promo code roulette
The first promo code gets you $395 a year and $0 initiation fee:
$395
The second promo code gets you $295 a year, but you have to pay for 2 years upfront:
$590 total
The last promo code gets you $295 a year with a $95 initiation fee:
$295 and $95 one-time initiation fee
If you’re sure you want to commit for 2 years, the second one is better – “FCVIP295.”
If you want to lock-in the $295 rate, pay less upfront, or try out the service for a year, the last one is better – “FCHARLAN818“.
I’d personally rather pay $390 upfront than $590 upfront, but of course do what’s best for you.
However, if you choose the last option, you only have until May 13th, 2016 to lock in the lower price.
The bennies
Link: Preview FoundersCard benefits
FoundersCard comes with a slew of bennies. So many that most peeps will find something that will more than cover the yearly cost.
Here’s an overview. I’ve highlighted a few of my personal faves in yellow. (Click to enlarge.)
Travel benefits
Lifestyle benefits
Business benefits
And here’s the preview link if you want to poke around the website and preview any of the benefits in more detail.
From the preview page
You can apply for membership via that link too. But be sure to use one of the promotion codes above to lock in the $295 rate.
Bottom line
FoundersCard is running a promotion where you can lock in a $295 yearly rate for life through May 13th, 2016.
You can use two promotion codes to accomplish this:
FCVIP295 – pay 2 years upfront ($590 total)
FCHARLAN818 – pay 1st year and $95 initiation fee ($390 total)
Both of them work equally well to lock in the rate – it just depends on how comfortable you feel digging in for 2 years.
Here’s my analysis of the benefits that make it worth getting. Mine has already paid for itself this year – and I paid $395 for it.
Here’s the preview website if you’re interested – or just plain curious. And of course you can always contact me for help or to ask questions.
HT to readers Rob and William for pointing out the specifics!
* If you liked this post, consider signing up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 per day!) or in an RSS reader and you’ll never miss an update! And thanks for using my link to apply for new card offers!
May 5, 2016
Review: American Airlines First Class 777-200 Dallas to Tokyo-NRT
Also see:
Just Booked: Tokyo and Osaka, Japan in April for Cherry Blossoms
Tokyo: Cherry Blossoms, Microbars, Amazing Food, Views, & Wanderings
Osaka: Bullet Train, Food, Nightlife, Aquarium, & Wanderings
Hotel Review: Hilton Tokyo Shinjuku
Back in January, American released a whole bunch of First and Business Class award seats on routes to Asia. It was pre-devaluation, and I was starting to think of ways to burn some AA miles before the late March deadline. Awards to Asia in particular went up quite a bit.
It reminded me a lot of when I booked Lufthansa First Class to Frankfurt for Oktoberfest before the United devaluation – similar timing and concept.
Our bird from Dallas to Tokyo
I saw routes were open from Dallas (where my new condo is) to Tokyo – a place I’ve always wanted to visit. Dates were open in early April – prime cherry blossom time!
Even more serendipitously, I had to be in Texas around that time anyway for a week-long work meeting.
Of course, booking flights to catch the cherry blossoms is always a bit of a crapshoot. But, I’m happy to report, we arrived just in time to see the beautiful blooms.
This flight was an excellent pre-cursor to a lovely stay at the the Hilton Tokyo in Shinjuku.
I’ve been meaning to post about it for a while, so let’s hop to it.
Grabbing the space
We flew over in First Class – not because we wanted to. In fact, I was hoping to snag a Business Class seat, and then change over to the JAL DFW-NRT flight instead of this one, because American lets you change flights as long as the dates & routes stay the same.
My seat in American Airlines First Class on the 777 – 3G
But, “unfortunately,” only First Class seats were available. I know, wah-wah, right?
I tried to convince a couple of AAgents to let me switch to the JAL Business Class seat – on the basis that 3 cabins aren’t offered so it’s essentially the same – but they weren’t having it.
In the end, my desire to visit Japan far outweighed whatever seat I’d be flying there on. So I left good enough alone – but the flight ended up being surprisingly pleasant, especially for an old product.
The seat
This old bird has held up nicely.
Plenty of leg room
The seats are in a 1-2-1 configuration. And the two seats in the middle have a partition between them.
If you’ve traveling as a pair, you can put the partition down. The seats swivel at the touch of a button to face one another. And you can fold out the tray to dine together. I thought that was a sweet touch.
In fact, you have to swivel the seat to make it into a lie-flat bed.
Seat controls
A single seater
The single seats would be a great option for solo travelers. If I had to pick one, I’d pick one near the middle or back because the ones near the front are really close to the galley and bathrooms, so you’d probably get a lot of light, noise, and traffic – not the best for a long trans-Pacific flight.
Speaking of which, the flight was about 13 hours altogether.
American does offer a turn-down service for the seats. But I ended up making up the bed myself.
Seat folded into a lie-flat bed
Note you can also lower the armrest nearest the aisle so the bed isn’t so confining.
About the footrest/jump seat
This footrest doubles as a jump seat if you want to invite your traveling companion into your lil cube
You can see in the pic above where it comes to an angle right at the end. To turn the seat into a bed, you swivel your seat to line up with the footrest, then the seat fills in the gap. Your feet go into that corner that’s formed.
If you’re short, it’s not a worry. But taller peeps might have to squeeze in a more tightly – or try a side fetal position to sleep comfortably.
It didn’t bother me, but it’s something to note.
Jay in the jump seat
As a jump seat, it’s so cute. You can fold down the tray in the middle to dine with your seat mate. Or you can both swivel your seats toward each other. I liked how there were a couple of options to interact with your companion built into the seat design – it was super charming.
The service
We got a great gaggle of FAs on this route.
Long-haul flights tend to get the older, “career” flight attendants in my experience. They came around often to refill water bottles, pick up trays, and generally make themselves available.
In the past, I’ve felt like the FAs go to the back for hours on end – forcing you to push the call button if you want anything. I guess some crews prefer that, but I like when they walk by so you can wave them over.
This crew was also super personable and easy to talk to. FAs can add a lot to a flight – and this was a case where that was especially true. It made up quite a bit for the age of the plane.
Right when we took our seats, they began with warm service right away with a beverage.
Pre-departure mimosa and drink menu
Soon after, they distributed menus, amenity kits, Bose headphones, and pajamas.
Bose headphones and Cole Haan amenity kit
Contents of amenity kit
The Cole Haan amenity kit contained mouthwash, a pen, dental kit, socks, eyeshade, tissues, and hand sanitizer.
It also had a trio of 3Lab products: lip, hand, and face moisturizer. They were very nice products. I used them all on the flight over – definitely a nice touch.
In the American Airlines PJs
Forgive the obnoxious bathroom selfie, but I wanted to show the PJs they handed out. They were black with blue trim. It’s always nice to get out of blue jeans/button-ups before you sleep in your seat-bed.
I’ve also lounged about in this getup a time or two since the flight.
The food
Link: AA DFW-NRT food menus
I scanned the food menus (to Evernote, of course) so you can read them if you want to – and don’t have to scroll by them if you don’t.
We swiveled in our seats to get ready for lunch. Can you tell I really loved this feature? 
May 3, 2016
Osaka: Bullet Train, Food, Nightlife, Aquarium, & Wanderings
Also see:
Tokyo: Cherry Blossoms, Microbars, Amazing Food, Views, & Wanderings
After exploring Tokyo, it was time to head to Osaka, the Japan’s second-largest city.
Bullet train
We left Tokyo via bullet train (Shinkansen) for the journey of about 500 kilometers. It took a little over 3 hours, not including getting to and from the train stations on either side. One-way tickets were ~$145 for the fare and seat reservation.
Because we departed from the Shinjuku station near where we stayed at the Hilton Tokyo, travel time was minimal (~20 minutes, if that).
2016-04-12 15.38.46
We had reserved seats, though the midday train was only at about half capacity. An attendant came through every so often to offer snacks and coffee, but I noticed savvier riders unwrapping their pre-packaged meals on board.
The train was clean, the seats were comfy, and the overall experience was positive. Watching the scenery flying by was hypnotic.
On this day, the clouds gathered low to the ground. For that reason, we only got the faintest glimpse of Mount Fuji in the distance. But I bet on a clear day, the views would be incredible!
From Tokyo to Osaka, you’ll see Mount Fuji from the right side of the train. It’s huge. You literally can’t miss it.
The bullet train was awesome! Calming, actually. No squealing metal and sparks of fire shooting out from the wheels *cough* New York City MTA *cough*
Eating Osaka
We got to Osaka around 3 or 4pm, and headed to the hotel to check-in.
After we set our things down, we turned right back around in pursuit of a late lunch.
TOMATO RAMEN WHAT
Pro tip: Osaka is super super cash-y and ATMs that accept foreign debit cards are hard to come by. Bring cash from Tokyo or the airport if you can!
We ended up at this ramen restaurant where they had… TOMATO ramen. I’d never heard of that before, and I love tomatoes, so that was a huge hell yeah. It was dee-lish!
Afterward, we headed to the Amerikamura neighborhood, kinda near Dotonbori – which is insane. So many shops, cafes, and a huge selection of the street food Osaka is known for.
Osaka street food – octopus tentacle, anyone?
We tried melon pan ice cream from a food trailer.
Outside the melon pan food trailer
It was the second most delicious melon pan ice cream in the world, lol.
We wandered some more and wound up at this totally random restaurant with hot pots. But I got a little of this ‘n’ that, including a fresh sushi roll, a couple of skewers, and a soup.
To find it, look for the gigantic blowfish next to the disembodied hand holding a piece of sushi.
It’s upstairs
Dotonbori is jam-packed full of more restaurants than you’ll ever be able to try. Have a loose idea of what you want, and be open to trying a new place. The prices were all very reasonable.
I passed a craft beer cafe along the way and made a mental note to return to it. But when we headed back to the train, I couldn’t find it again… this area is so dense you may have a hard time navigating. Google Maps is a lifesaver here!
Nightlife
Link: Osaka gay bars
We were in Osaka during the week. Even still, peeps were out and (ab)out.
Same deal as Tokyo, with the microbars on the upper floors of lit-up buildings. But, more commonly, we found small bars on a ground floor.
Out and Out in Osaka
We ended up hanging out at Frenz-Frenzy for a while – to take in the psychedelic decor and incredibly strong, cheap drinks. 
Most of the gay bars are concentrated in the Kita Ward.
Most bars are within a few blocks of each other
Regardless of if you want gay bars or not, you’ll most likely end up here if you want any type of nightlife or shopping. Because everything is all mixed together. Like Dotonbori, it’s incredibly dense. But the focus here is on bars and shops instead of restaurants – although you can find a little of everything here.
It was so bright, it looked like day even well into the evening. I imagine on the weekends it turns into quite the scene.
Kita is a must-visit area.
Wanderings
Wanted to share a few other photos, to show more of Osaka.
Pop art as big as a building.
There was a huge Roy Lichtenstein image on the side of an entire building. We passed it on the way to America Mura,
The street lamps shaped like people holding lights
Even the street lamps were whimsical. There are also huge sections devoted to street art and graffiti. Be on the lookout for several murals around town, if you’re into that.
Shopping in America Mura
Osaka nights
On the whole, I found Osaka to be grittier, and in a lot of ways, more chill, than Tokyo. I loved the vibe there. I dare say I liked it more!
Leaving Dotonbori
One of Osaka’s many bridges
It’s very much a city of neighborhoods. Each ‘hood has its speciality or thing it’s known for.
It’s also a mish-mash of admittedly bland architecture with totally unexpected flourishes. Osaka is a city of details. Like Tokyo, you’ll be aptly rewarded if you pay attention to how the experience all comes together.
Aquarium
Link: Osaka Aquarium
It rained all during our last day in Osaka, so we wanted something that was fun but inside. We hopped on the train and went to the Osaka Aquarium – the #2 thing to do in Osaka, according to TripAdvisor.
A ticket cost about ~$23 – and was well worth it.
There were hammer sharks, penguins, dolphins, jellyfish, and lots of other sea creatures throughout the aquarium.
Jellyfish
The design is set so you start at the top and wind your way down, including around the large centerpiece aquarium with the sharks inside.
I appreciated the design once I figured out its thoughtfulness. Aside from the center, there were many small hallways that led to tanks of smaller fish, so you could study them more closely.
Penguins
The visit was surprisingly interesting. Before I knew it, nearly 4 hours had passed. During that time, we didn’t feel rushed, the crowds weren’t that bad in the middle of the week, and I loved the overall setup of the place.
There was a very mixed crowd there. Infants to the elderly, and everyone in between.
It’s one of those things you should see once, especially if you want a fun rainy day activity.
Bottom line
Now that I’m back, I find my memories of Osaka are just as vivid and sentimental as my time in Tokyo.
Osaka has a totally different vibe – a little more down-to-earth, a bit rough around the edges – whereas Tokyo is a thoroughly scrubbed and polished metropolis. There’s really no comparing the two. I loved them both!
Tokyo got the lion’s share of my time in Japan, so I’ll be sure to spend more time in Osaka next time – and venture to Kyoto, too. And it can’t come fast enough!
If you’ve been to Osaka, feel free to share your favorite things to do there!
* If you liked this post, consider signing up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 per day!) or in an RSS reader and you’ll never miss an update! And thanks for using my link to apply for new card offers!
April 30, 2016
Hotel Review: Hilton Tokyo Shinjuku
Also see:
Just Booked: Tokyo and Osaka, Japan in April for Cherry Blossoms
Tokyo: Cherry Blossoms, Microbars, Amazing Food, Views, & Wanderings
7 Hilton Hotels Where 120,000 Hilton Points Are Worth $700+
To start, I wanna say, I loved this hotel! The location, ambiance, and staff were all wonderful. Getting out at the Shinjuku station and walking to the Hilton Tokyo with the lit-up neon lights is an experience I’ll never forget.
Entrance of the Hilton Tokyo
But first things first.
Landing at NRT
I’ll do a review of the flight over soon.
I was nervous about flying into NRT because it’s a solid 90 minutes from Tokyo no matter which method you choose to get to the city: train, bus, or taxi.
We landed around 5pm, so I figured the train was best to avoid rush hour traffic. The airport is incredibly well-signed. But once you get to the trains, you’re bombarded with a zillion options and routes. I looked at the JR lines, the Tokyo metro, and rapid transit to another station.
To sort through it all, we entered the options into the individual machines until we found the best routing and price. All told, it took 15 minutes to price out 3 or 4 train tickets. We paid a little more to get there a little faster. From NRT, the faster you go, the more it’ll cost. But even the most expensive ticket was only ~$40.
Arrival and check-in
Link: Hilton Tokyo
I’m sure I looked a fright after a 13-hour trans-Pacific flight and a 90-minute train ride.
My first thought was, here we go with the language barrier.
The desk agent waved me over immediately and spoke in perfect, fluent English. She acknowledged my Diamond status and told me there were no upgrades available because the hotel was completely booked. I’d already looked online to confirm this.
But it was nice to have the upgrade benefit acknowledged. And honestly, I was just happy to be in Tokyo and didn’t plan on hanging out in the room much anyway.
I was assigned to room 3006, on the 30th floor.
My room, 3006
She gave me a letter explaining the amenities. I could have free breakfast at my pick of three restaurants, and access to the Executive Lounge with free snacks all day, and cocktails in the evening (yes!).
Hallways of the Hilton Tokyo
I got the wifi info, and headed up up up to the 30th floor.
The room
First impression was “yeah, about what I expected.” The room wasn’t huge, but it had a king bed, a little desk and chair, and a few surfaces to set things down. In short: the usual.
View upon walking in
Bed
Desk
Chair
Though not huge, it was very clean and quiet. The wifi was fast. I say this often, but that’s really all I ever want in a hotel room.
View from the window
Bathroom
Peter Thomas Roth toiletries
Shower
Bidet!
Harro!
I particularly liked the bidet in the bathroom.
Also of note, I can’t stand when a shower has some slick minimalist design and water ends up pooling all over the floor.
This shower had a sparse design, which reeked of splashiness, but there was a drain in the floor. The floor was a little wet post-shower, but no big puddle. #thankgods
View from the window
Minibar
Hangers, slippers, iron, hair dryer, safe, extra pillow
PJs
The pajamas and slippers were a nice touch.
It would’ve been nice if there was more fridge space for non-minibar stuff. Like, what if I wanted to put my own bottles of water in there?
But what really made me love this hotel was everything else. So let’s get to it.
The hotel
There are lots of restaurants within the hotel, including a traditional Japanese restaurant, a Chinese restaurant, and your typical grill. There was also an English-style bar called St. George’s. And a lounge on the 2nd floor with live piano in the evenings.
Having a bevvie
As I finished my drink, I noticed all the details of the lounge. It was put together so well, with so many special touches. Afterward, I walked around and looked into each restaurant, walked down the grand spiral staircase, and took it all in.
There was an attendant hailing cabs. The front desk agents checking peeps in and out.
The staircase was polished perfectly. The carpets swept and clean.
No lucky 13
That should be the norm of course, but, I got the feeling this hotel was particularly well-managed. The bartenders and servers were attentive. And the overall ambiance felt very upscale.
View from the 2nd floor lounge
There’s also a subway station attached to the hotel via an underground passageway. You don’t even have to walk outside to get on the train.
I loved the hotel’s location, just away from the bustling main streets of Shinjuku, but easy walking distance to tons of restaurants and shops.
In fact, we walked from the hotel down to Shibuya and back through Harajuku (yes, my feet were killing me).
Breakfast and snacks
My favorite part!
Because we had our pick of 3 restaurants for free breakfast, and access to the Executive Lounge, we started off each day with full tummies, and started the evenings with sangria and cocktails.
Here’s breaky on the 2nd floor:
Second floor breakfast spread – breads and pastries
Cold cuts, cheese, fruits and veggies, juices and smoothies
Traditional Japanese breakfast spread, including fish cakes, miso soup, and salmon
Breaky on the 1st floor was much the same, except with an omelette station and a few extra items.
But the real ticket was in the Executive Lounge.
They had a nice spread up there, too. All the trimmings. They really went all-out.
And again, with the extreme attention to detail.
The food selection there was great. And most importantly, they had…
Executive Lounge breakfast spread – fruits, salad, apples
Cereal, muesli, bananas
Eggs, sausage, muffins, pastries
My breakfast selections
…mimosas! (Thanks for scrolling down through 4 pics to finish reading that sentence. Mimosas, though! #gamechanger)
Afternoon snacks
Executive Lounge seating
The Executive Lounge was never overly crowded, even during breakfast.
For the cocktail hour, they had a decent selection of self-pour liquors, wine, and sake.
A good Executive Lounge really is a huge perk. To have snacks throughout the day, drinks in the evening, not to mention a full daily breakfast, adds a LOT of value to the room rate.
Strawberry Brunch
They also had this INSANE “Strawberry Brunch” each day I was there. Everything was strawberries: strawberry lattes, strawberry Madeleines, strawberry pastries… so many strawberries.
Bottom line
I booked this hotel through Citi Travel Concierge and paid for the stay with my Citi Prestige card. Because I booked 4 nights, I’ll get the 4th night free as a statement credit. When I do, I’ll be sure to add it to the Citi Prestige by the Numbers page.
Coming back to the Hilton Tokyo each evening was a delight. The location is perfect. And I quickly grew to love the special touches I found everywhere. The staff were always on point. And the room was just enough for my visit.
The Executive Lounge and free breakfast were especially great value-added perks. I’d stay here again in a second.
I must say, this is one of my favorite hotels I’ve ever stayed at.
If you’ve stayed here, let me know how your experience compares!
* If you liked this post, consider signing up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 per day!) or in an RSS reader and you’ll never miss an update! And thanks for using my link to apply for new card offers!
Hotel Review: Hilton Tokyo
Also see:
Just Booked: Tokyo and Osaka, Japan in April for Cherry Blossoms
Tokyo: Cherry Blossoms, Microbars, Amazing Food, Views, & Wanderings
7 Hilton Hotels Where 120,000 Hilton Points Are Worth $700+
To start, I wanna say, I loved this hotel! The location, ambiance, and staff were all wonderful. Getting out at the Shinjuku station and walking to the Hilton Tokyo with the lit-up neon lights is an experience I’ll never forget.
Entrance of the Hilton Tokyo
But first things first.
Landing at NRT
I’ll do a review of the flight over soon.
I was nervous about flying into NRT because it’s a solid 90 minutes from Tokyo no matter which method you choose to get to the city: train, bus, or taxi.
We landed around 5pm, so I figured the train was best to avoid rush hour traffic. The airport is incredibly well-signed. But once you get to the trains, you’re bombarded with a zillion options and routes. I looked at the JR lines, the Tokyo metro, and rapid transit to another station.
To sort through it all, we entered the options into the individual machines until we found the best routing and price. All told, it took 15 minutes to price out 3 or 4 train tickets. We paid a little more to get there a little faster. From NRT, the faster you go, the more it’ll cost. But even the most expensive ticket was only ~$40.
Arrival and check-in
Link: Hilton Tokyo
I’m sure I looked a fright after a 13-hour trans-Pacific flight and a 90-minute train ride.
My first thought was, here we go with the language barrier.
The desk agent waved me over immediately and spoke in perfect, fluent English. She acknowledged my Diamond status and told me there were no upgrades available because the hotel was completely booked. I’d already looked online to confirm this.
But it was nice to have the upgrade benefit acknowledged. And honestly, I was just happy to be in Tokyo and didn’t plan on hanging out in the room much anyway.
I was assigned to room 3006, on the 30th floor.
My room, 3006
She gave me a letter explaining the amenities. I could have free breakfast at my pick of three restaurants, and access to the Executive Lounge with free snacks all day, and cocktails in the evening (yes!).
Hallways of the Hilton Tokyo
I got the wifi info, and headed up up up to the 30th floor.
The room
First impression was “yeah, about what I expected.” The room wasn’t huge, but it had a king bed, a little desk and chair, and a few surfaces to set things down. In short: the usual.
View upon walking in
Bed
Desk
Chair
Though not huge, it was very clean and quiet. The wifi was fast. I say this often, but that’s really all I ever want in a hotel room.
View from the window
Bathroom
Peter Thomas Roth toiletries
Shower
Bidet!
Harro!
I particularly liked the bidet in the bathroom.
Also of note, I can’t stand when a shower has some slick minimalist design and water ends up pooling all over the floor.
This shower had a sparse design, which reeked of splashiness, but there was a drain in the floor. The floor was a little wet post-shower, but no big puddle. #thankgods
View from the window
Minibar
Hangers, slippers, iron, hair dryer, safe, extra pillow
PJs
The pajamas and slippers were a nice touch.
It would’ve been nice if there was more fridge space for non-minibar stuff. Like, what if I wanted to put my own bottles of water in there?
But what really made me love this hotel was everything else. So let’s get to it.
The hotel
There are lots of restaurants within the hotel, including a traditional Japanese restaurant, a Chinese restaurant, and your typical grill. There was also an English-style bar called St. George’s. And a lounge on the 2nd floor with live piano in the evenings.
Having a bevvie
As I finished my drink, I noticed all the details of the lounge. It was put together so well, with so many special touches. Afterward, I walked around and looked into each restaurant, walked down the grand spiral staircase, and took it all in.
There was an attendant hailing cabs. The front desk agents checking peeps in and out.
The staircase was polished perfectly. The carpets swept and clean.
No lucky 13
That should be the norm of course, but, I got the feeling this hotel was particularly well-managed. The bartenders and servers were attentive. And the overall ambiance felt very upscale.
View from the 2nd floor lounge
There’s also a subway station attached to the hotel via an underground passageway. You don’t even have to walk outside to get on the train.
I loved the hotel’s location, just away from the bustling main streets of Shinjuku, but easy walking distance to tons of restaurants and shops.
In fact, we walked from the hotel down to Shibuya and back through Harajuku (yes, my feet were killing me).
Breakfast and snacks
My favorite part!
Because we had our pick of 3 restaurants for free breakfast, and access to the Executive Lounge, we started off each day with full tummies, and started the evenings with sangria and cocktails.
Here’s breaky on the 2nd floor:
Second floor breakfast spread – breads and pastries
Cold cuts, cheese, fruits and veggies, juices and smoothies
Traditional Japanese breakfast spread, including fish cakes, miso soup, and salmon
Breaky on the 1st floor was much the same, except with an omelette station and a few extra items.
But the real ticket was in the Executive Lounge.
They had a nice spread up there, too. All the trimmings. They really went all-out.
And again, with the extreme attention to detail.
The food selection there was great. And most importantly, they had…
Executive Lounge breakfast spread – fruits, salad, apples
Cereal, muesli, bananas
Eggs, sausage, muffins, pastries
My breakfast selections
…mimosas! (Thanks for scrolling down through 4 pics to finish reading that sentence. Mimosas, though! #gamechanger)
Afternoon snacks
Executive Lounge seating
The Executive Lounge was never overly crowded, even during breakfast.
For the cocktail hour, they had a decent selection of self-pour liquors, wine, and sake.
A good Executive Lounge really is a huge perk. To have snacks throughout the day, drinks in the evening, not to mention a full daily breakfast, adds a LOT of value to the room rate.
Strawberry Brunch
They also had this INSANE “Strawberry Brunch” each day I was there. Everything was strawberries: strawberry lattes, strawberry Madeleines, strawberry pastries… so many strawberries.
Bottom line
I booked this hotel through Citi Travel Concierge and paid for the stay with my Citi Prestige card. Because I booked 4 nights, I’ll get the 4th night free as a statement credit. When I do, I’ll be sure to add it to the Citi Prestige by the Numbers page.
Coming back to the Hilton Tokyo each evening was a delight. The location is perfect. And I quickly grew to love the special touches I found everywhere. The staff were always on point. And the room was just enough for my visit.
The Executive Lounge and free breakfast were especially great value-added perks. I’d stay here again in a second.
I must say, this is one of my favorite hotels I’ve ever stayed at.
If you’ve stayed here, let me know how your experience compares!
* If you liked this post, consider signing up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 per day!) or in an RSS reader and you’ll never miss an update! And thanks for using my link to apply for new card offers!
