Hiya from Japan, as our winter ski journey to Niseko is coming to an finish. We spent most of our time on the unbelievable Park Hyatt Niseko, the place we had a stunning keep. To complete off our time in Hokkaido, we determined to spend a few nights at the 50-room Ritz-Carlton Reserve Niseko. Whereas I’ll have a full assessment quickly, I wish to share some preliminary ideas, and primarily simply sound the alarm — for most individuals, this property ought to be averted.
Truthfully, if I had gone to Niseko and had simply stayed on the Ritz-Carlton Reserve, I’d’ve been so disenchanted, and would’ve had a completely completely different impression than I did staying on the Park Hyatt Niseko. Let me acknowledge that a number of readers warned me about how underwhelming this property is, so I got here in with low expectations. Nonetheless, I determine it’s my obligation to report again, which is why we booked a brief keep right here.
I wish to be balanced, and never be too excessive. For instance, the newest TripAdvisor assessment of this resort calls it a Motel 6, and the company had been ready to throw away the $14K they spent simply to depart and keep elsewhere, however there was no availability on the Park Hyatt. The motel comparability is likely to be a bit a lot, however I don’t disagree with the overall sentiment of disappointment…
The Ritz-Carlton Reserve Niseko is a branding atrocity
A part of the problem with the Ritz-Carlton Reserve Niseko is its branding. Ritz-Carlton Reserve is the very, very prime of Marriott’s resort portfolio. It’s alleged to be much more premium than the Ritz-Carlton model, described as “a group of uncommon estates, set aside from the world, the place heartfelt care and craftsmanship is felt at each flip.”
If this resort had been only a “normal” Marriott, or perhaps a Luxurious Assortment property, I won’t have been so disenchanted. However this property has completely no place being a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Arriving on the resort actually units the tone. Does this seem like a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, or a Courtyard by Marriott?
I’d like to know the backstory of this property. I’m satisfied past an inexpensive doubt that this property wasn’t initially meant to be as a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and that effectively into the development course of, they determined they might cost increased charges by branding it in a extra premium method.
Right here’s the factor — the room furnishings are literally luxurious and tasteful.
However then there are such a lot of little indicators that prices had been minimize. For instance, there’s no “don’t disturb” button, however as an alternative, it’s important to hold an indication exterior your door. The sinks had been low-cost. The sliding doorways between the bed room and loo felt plastic-like. The in-room protected was previous and small. These are all belongings you wouldn’t count on for a newly constructed luxurious resort.
The Ritz-Carlton Niseko has superb views
Let me attempt to be constructive for a second. The Ritz-Carlton Niseko does have beautiful views, even nicer than from the Park Hyatt. I may simply sit there all day gazing out the window. We had a room with a view of Mount Yotei, in order that’s powerful to beat. Whereas it is a ski-in, ski-out property, I like that it doesn’t instantly overlook the ski slopes.
The entire resort’s facilities are on the primary flooring, and are all positioned to maximise views. So yeah, the resort will get 10/10 for views.
The Ritz-Carlton Reserve is so poorly thought out, boring
The Park Hyatt Niseko is a vacation spot in and of itself. We had been there for 5 nights, and will’ve stayed one other 5 nights with out losing interest. In the meantime the Ritz-Carlton Reserve is sort of the other. We had been bored right here after a day. Admittedly most individuals come right here to ski, however the concept is that you just nonetheless need facilities on the property earlier than and after snowboarding.
The resort’s foyer has a lovely design, however that doesn’t precisely entertain you for very lengthy.
So, what had been the problems? For instance, the gymnasium was completely tiny, and at most one particular person can do weights at a time. That’s actually unlucky for a ski resort, particularly since skiers are typically fairly match individuals who additionally like figuring out, so gyms typically get busy at ski resorts.
Then the resort has a spa, the place the design looks like a complete afterthought. You’d assume that you just’re strolling down the hallway of an workplace constructing, fairly than a spa at a prime, five-star resort. There’s no rest space, and the extent of the spa seating is 2 chairs proper by reception, which isn’t stress-free in any respect, particularly since that is additionally the identical space because the onsen (so there’s a very good quantity of visitors).
We truly obtained spa remedies, however it’s not doable for a pair to get the identical therapy. They’ve one therapist who does dry therapeutic massage and one therapist who does oil therapeutic massage, with no flexibility on that. I simply don’t get it. On the plus aspect, the remedies had been superb.
Additionally to the resort’s credit score, the onsen is sort of good, with each an indoor and outside area, plus a sauna. Nudity is required.
The resort additionally has zero vibe. There’s no reside music, and there’s no vigorous bar space. As an alternative, the one factor to entertain us was the absurd company who seen your complete journey as a photograph session.
One woman spent about an hour posing together with her afternoon tea. She’d take transient gaps from yelling at her husband (the photographer) to stare out into the snow with a giant smile holding a cup of tea, in an effort to be photographed and videoed. We requested one of many employees members if this was regular, and we had been informed this was nothing, and that in peak season, individuals “drape” themselves throughout the bar for photoshoots. Good.
The Ritz-Carlton Reserve Niseko eating isn’t nice
On the Park Hyatt Niseko, you’ve gotten so many eating choices that you just couldn’t presumably go to all of them. On the Ritz-Carlton Reserve Niseko, you simply have a single eating “compound” on the bottom flooring. There’s a restaurant and bar space, plus a sushi counter that’s open sure nights. It’s an excellent good area, there’s simply not a lot to it.
I can’t say the meals high quality was very spectacular. The presentation was good, however the high quality left lots to be desired. We ate on the sushi counter one night time, which was fairly good, however apart from that, we we had been disenchanted. For instance, Ford ordered a rooster dish for dinner. It was actually all bones and cartilage, to the purpose that he despatched it again. He loves rooster and we’ve been collectively for a decade, and that’s the primary time I’ve ever seen him ship again a rooster dish.
One afternoon I wished a break from Japanese meals, and was on the lookout for one thing wholesome, so I ordered what was described because the “Reserve Salad.” That is the resort’s signature salad, given the “Reserve” title. In actuality, it was simply bland, bland, bland. It had what tasted like some leftover smoked salmon rolls from the breakfast buffet, just a little avocado, a few cherry tomatoes, and quinoa. That was about it. It was simply so boring and unimaginative, which I feel sort of sums up this resort.
Worst of all, the pricing was so excessive. Simply to offer you an instance, that absolutely bland salad price greater than I paid on the Park Hyatt for his or her lunch set, which incorporates entry to a buffet with appetizers, plus a number of wonderful most important course choices, all increased high quality than this.
The Ritz-Carlton Reserve Niseko has pleasant employees, principally
Let me acknowledge that the restaurant employees had been uniformly pretty, and couldn’t have been kinder. Particularly, Vanessa and Sena did a tremendous job taking care of us, and actually made us really feel welcome. They’re each superstars, and I really feel unhealthy trashing the resort, given how pleasant {and professional} they had been. They’ve vibrant futures in hospitality.
The entrance desk employees, in the meantime, had been a combined bag. The one who checked us in was completely chaotic. It’s arduous to explain, however she was so frazzled and rushed that it set a very unlucky tone for the keep.
Even past that, the eye to element with service was simply missing. I don’t know if there’s a supervisor, but when so, they didn’t make a single look through the keep, or introduce themselves as soon as. That’s one thing you’d count on at a 50-room property. As some extent of comparability, on the a lot larger Park Hyatt Niseko, the overall supervisor checked on us twice throughout our keep, to see how the whole lot was.
Past that, the eye to element was simply missing for a resort that’s of this caliber (effectively, or alleged to be of a sure caliber):
- When our room was prepared, I used to be escorted to the room, as Ford was on the gymnasium; I used to be carrying my rolling bag plus two extra baggage and my coat, but the particular person escorting me to the room didn’t provide to assist me with baggage, which I discovered actually uncommon
- At check-in, we had been proactively requested if there’s something we don’t eat, and I defined I don’t eat pork; a few hours later we had afternoon tea, and go determine, we had been served sandwiches with pork (don’t ask for visitor preferences at check-in in case you’re not going to do something with that info!)
- I had requested to rearrange an airport switch, and after 24 hours I adopted up, they usually weren’t positive if it had been requested but; I’d count on a lot sooner service at a property like this
- Each time I had a query for the entrance desk, they only began fumbling by papers; I don’t know if this resort doesn’t use computer systems, or what’s occurring, however it was simply constant chaos
- On the morning of check-out, I attempted to no less than present some suggestions to the resort, however was knowledgeable that there was no supervisor on obligation till 9:30AM, which positive appears late
Keep away from the Ritz-Carlton Reserve Niseko*
I don’t wish to be excessive, and say everybody ought to keep away from this property in any respect prices. However my points come down to 2 factors:
- This property is lower than Ritz-Carlton Reserve requirements in any method, form, or type
- This property is definitely priced increased for the standard room than the Park Hyatt Niseko in peak season, and that’s borderline legal, in case you ask me
So please don’t come right here paying the inflated charges the resort is asking for in peak season. Now, in case you’re visiting within the off season and this resort is method cheaper than the alternate options, or if the Park Hyatt is offered out, then possibly it’s not so unhealthy, however simply handle your expectations.
Equally, the Park Hyatt Niseko typically doesn’t have factors availability, whereas this property does. What I discover fascinating is that in contrast to different Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties, this one is definitely pretty fairly priced on factors. It makes me assume that the resort is mainly making an attempt to skim the US market by hoping to deceive individuals into pondering it is a $3K per night time property, and is then filling the remainder of the rooms by both bundle holidays or consolidators (which was the vibe I obtained from a number of the different company).
Backside line
Should you’re making an attempt to resolve between the Park Hyatt Niseko and the Ritz-Carlton Reserve Niseko, there’s merely no competitors. The Park Hyatt is in a very completely different league, regardless of usually being priced decrease. Clearly this resort hopes that the Ritz-Carlton Reserve title will assist it command increased charges, however don’t be fooled.
There are some positives concerning the property, like pleasant service within the restaurant, superb views, and a pleasant onsen setup. However past that, it is a boring property, and I’m satisfied this wasn’t meant to be a Ritz-Carlton Reserve initially.
Truthfully, I don’t wish to give the individuals working right here a tough time, as they’re doing their greatest, with the disappointing product they’ve. As an alternative, the problems fall on the proprietor, and in the end on Marriott, for its lack of requirements with the way it permits motels to be branded.
What do you make of the Ritz-Carlton Reserve Niseko? Does anybody truly know the backstory of this resort, and the way it got here to be a Ritz-Carlton Reserve? I merely refuse to consider that that is what it was meant to be when the design course of began…
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