The busy streets and cherry blossom-lined parks of Tokyo were calling us, but affordable luxury seemed too far from reach – until we found Hotel Allamanda Aoyama.
Whenever I start planning a holiday, I know I’m in for many sleepless nights, spreadsheets and tough decisions. For us, finding the right balance of affordability and luxury was our main priority. Especially once we discovered that 5-star hotels were more expensive than those in South East Asia.
Additionally, since Tokyo was just one part of our holiday, this made our hotel criteria for a balance of affordability and having key amenities: a king-size bed, a gym, a separate shower and proximity to attractions we wanted to visit even more important.
LOCATION
After hours of research, we chose Hotel Allamanda Aoyama, which is a 4-star hotel in the trendy Aoyama district known for its fashion boutiques, restaurants and cafés. We weren’t sure about the location, but it suited us perfectly, as we loved exploring the area on foot.
Gaiemmae Station is just a minutes walk from the hotel which was very convenient. It was daunting at first, but people are patient and once you get a hang of how to travel around Tokyo by subway it becomes much easier to explore the city quickly.
BOOKING
Booking through the hotel’s website was seamless and went through without any issues or complications. We booked the room but paid on arrival. Comparing the hotel’s website to other websites, we found that the hotel had a much better early bird rate than anywhere else.
The hotels website can be found here.
ARRIVAL
The staff were warm and welcoming and also proficient in English. We arrived early and, unfortunately, weren’t able to check in early. Although they couldn’t get our room any earlier, the staff offered to store our bags so we could explore the surrounding area.
Our floor was the same as the lobby; initially, we worried this might make our room a little noisy, but this certainly wasn’t the case.
ROOM AMENITIES
The room we stayed in was a Modern Superior Double Room, and the first thing that struck us was its spaciousness- there was plenty of room for luggage and stretching out on the floor.
One of the first things I usually do is check the cleanliness of the room; the bed sheets, bath towels, toilet, shower, kettle and carpet are typically at the top of my list and were all impeccably clean.
Our room view was a little lacklustre, but we knew there would have to be somewhat of a trade-off for all of the other positive features of the hotel and room.
The bed is super wide, 240 X 210cm, which is what the hotel quotes; I think this was due to it being two double beds pushed close together (we didn’t notice while in it); they were medium to firm but comfortable.
Despite cold, wet and windy weather outside, the room was quiet, warm and cosy, we were even starting to wonder if the hotel had any other guests. We barely noticed the other guests or any road noise, which meant we were able to get in lots of extra sleep.
They have the usual amenities you would expect in most 5-star hotels, but the best part was that our criteria for a big bed, fitness centre, and separate shower were also met.
The complimentary WIFI was fast and reliable, which made up for the fact that there was not really anything worth watching on TV.
There was a kettle and Keurig machine with complimentary tea and coffee, a stocked fridge, and a minibar.
BATHROOM AND TOILETRIES
The bathroom is enormous; there’s an area to get ready, storage for clothes or a small suitcase, a wet area with a large bath, a separate shower, and a separate toilet. If you’re wondering, yes, the toilet was really cool; LED lighting, auto lid lift, auto flush…the list goes on, but we will miss the warm and toasty seat in winter back home.
The drawers were also well stocked with Molten Brown toiletries, combs, brushes, and a few other things like combs, razors, and bath salts. If I were picky, my only wish would be a more luxurious bathrobe.
HOTEL FACILITIES:
Hotel Allamanda Aoyama gym is excellent, the equipment is well maintained and the entire facility is spotless. There’s enough equipment for a full-body workout.
Although they don’t have a power rack, they do have machines for squat alternatives. They even have a virtual golf range. I intended to visit their pool, but I ran out of time. It did look inviting in the photos.
DINING AND DRINKING OPTIONS
We didn’t dine in any of the hotel restaurants, as we were too busy trying the food around the area.
DEPARTURE
Checking out was fast and friendly; staff helped organise a taxi to Shibuya station and loaded our bags into the car.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, Hotel Allamanda Aoyama exceeded our expectations. The location, spacious rooms, and hotel amenities made our stay unforgettable. We will definitely stay at Hotel Allamanda Aoyama again soon.
Thanks for the detailed review. the hotel will sure be in my consideration when I next travel to Tokyo