On my recent trip to Japan, I had to decide where to stay in my three destination cities: Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima. The first thing I did was start looking through my hotel points, with the thought of “treating myself.” Having far more IHG points than any other hotel currency, they were my first stop. Upon first glance, three InterContinental brand hotels in Tokyo had ample availability for my desired nights:
I thought long and hard about staying for free in the lap of luxury in one of the world’s most iconic cities, but ultimately decided against it. Why? Because, as I discuss in the “Hotels” chapter of The Ultimate Guide to Free Travel, often it can be prudent to save points for flights. This is because there are many alternatives to hotels which often are far more affordable. In this case, I decided to go with an AirBnB, and ended up with my very own private apartment just 10 minutes on foot from Tokyo’s famed Shibuya Crossing. The total price I paid for 6 nights, including all AirBnB commissions and cleaning fees, was $433, or just over $70 per night:
The total I paid for 6 nights was nearly identical to what I would have paid for one of the “points + cash” options through IHG! Not only did I get the chance to save my IHG Rewards Club and Chase Ultimate Rewards points for a more exclusive or expensive destination, but I also got to live like a local. In a city like Tokyo, all you really need is a bed, shower, and internet, so living like a local was an appealing option for me.
AirBnB is certainly not for everyone, and many people would prefer the creature comforts of a high-end hotel. But for me and for this stay, I happily eschewed the InterContinental in favor of the AirBnB alternative. That’s why I didn’t want to stay at the InterContinental Tokyo
Have any of you made similar choices lately?
The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
7 comments
Michael,
For travelers interested in staying in Tokyo, would you be able to provide a link to the Airbnb you stayed at? And would you recommend staying there?
Sure JC, here’s the link at the bottom. It’s small (maybe 200sqft total), but centrally located, super easy check-in and out procedure (lockbox on the mailbox), and comes with a “pocket wifi” so you can be connected throughout your stay in Tokyo. I would definitely recommend this place for a solo traveler, or for a couple traveling without kids.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/9174196?eluid=0&euid=ba0289af-c084-58a9-6cde-6a642b1b8d2c
Thanks so much Michael!
I stayed at the IC Tokyo Bay with points last year. Nice hotel and happy to stay there again.
On the other hand I usually do what you do and choose AirBnb first if I can find one that I like.
Depending on the facility and location, I normally choose AirBnb over using my hotel points.
[…] I wrote about why I didn’t want to stay at the Intercontinental Tokyo. Well, before I could make that decision, I had to get to Japan. I was ecstatic to find saver […]
[…] reason, I often look at Airbnb apartments and houses when I’m planning a trip, and it can represent significant savings compared to hotels before. Sometimes you can find unique accommodations on AirBnb, which might […]
[…] can bring significant savings, but also unique lodging options that have more of a local flare. For example, you can stay […]