By Lakshmi:

As someone who can think of travel any time of the day or night, it should come as no surprise that I can devour travel magazines cover to cover, read about hotels and journeys non stop and of course drool at all the beautiful properties that the most creative architects and designers keep conceiving and delivering.   It is this innate desire that led to my discovery of Tablet, a website whose purpose is “to put the ease, the romance, the glamour back in travel, from inspiration to confirmation”.

For a while, I kept browsing their one of a kind hotel finds and when points could be redeemed for air tickets to Tokyo last Christmas, Tablet  was the first stop to uncover hotels and it delivered better than we thought possible.  We read about the Park Hotel, a property located in the heart of Tokyo, above the Shidome station and a few minutes walk from Shimbashi.

This description bowled us over…the core of the building has been hollowed out, so that its 274 rooms all face outward. The result is a sun-drenched ten-story atrium, extending 120 feet straight up to the skyscraper’s glass ceiling — far more refreshing than the enclosed lobby floor of some Tokyo tower hotels.

Our first exposure to the outstanding service we would receive over the week was when we could not find our way from the train station to the hotel.  We called the concierge and when despite her instructions, we were looping around the building, she sent someone to fetch us who of course after many an apology, led us over to the beautiful property.  “Zen Like” were the first words that came to mind as we walked into the lobby.  A discreet friendly staff, a view of Mount Fuji and very modern surroundings.

Here are all the ways in which the staff delighted us.  We asked for a breakfast recommendation and the staff said there was a Starbucks in the basement and walked us over.  We wanted to get tickets for Tokyo Disney and a staff member said we could get it at a vending machine downstairs, but since it was in Japanese, he walked over to do the transaction for us.  When we asked if we could use a gym close by, a reservation was made immediately, a taxi arranged and when we returned, the manager hurriedly walked over to make sure everything was to our satisfaction.  We asked for walking paths and were given multiple maps and follow ups at the end of the day on whether we were successful in our endeavors.

We go in expecting so little in terms of support that when we encounter this kind of service we are both a bit embarrassed and bowled over.  Besides the people, the infrastructure provided was excellent.  We had a lovely room, free hi-fi access, just some amazing toiletries, a laundry down the hall and of course the most comfortable robes and slippers.

You could read a million reviews of a hotel and still be disappointed or pick one as we did based on a curator’s recommendation and come out completely delighted on every front.

To look at some truly drool worthy hotels around the globe, please visit.

http://www.tablethotels.com/

To learn more about the Park Hotel Tokyo, click here:

http://www.tablethotels.com/Park-Hotel-Tokyo/Tokyo-Hotels-Japan/4335