Hilton Tokyo Narita, strategic location for sleeping near the airport and not missing the plane

The hotels located near airports are made for one reason only: not to make you miss your plane the next morning or not to make you travel too many miles in the night when you arrive in at your destination.

Hilton Narita is just that, a huge 11-story hemisphere 15 minutes from theTokyo Narita Airport, the second-largest airport in the Japanese capital, but Since there are few slots at Haneda Many carriers such as Emirates, with its A380, Lufthansa, Finnair and many others still land here.

Location

As mentioned, we are close to the airport and the Narita subway stop. Both of these points are served by the hotel shuttle. The service is free for guests who want to reach the airport or the nearest public transportation station.

Reservation

This is a classic case of how points can save your wallet. Sure it may seem un-fancy to use Hilton Honors points to stay a few hours in this hotel, but if the room cost is over 300€ then it may not be cool but it is definitely smart.

In the end I burned 25k points, but it seemed much better than paying the required amount. Japan has returned to pre covid prices, in fact more than doubled them.

The hotel

The hotel is huge, but it is not just a dormitory since there are several restaurants, conference rooms, and a couple of stores.

If 9 out of 10 guests are travelers or traveling staff, it is logical that the rooms can also serve people who for various reasons need to sleep in this area of Tokyo, because I explain to those who have never visited this city, moving from point A to point B can mean 2 hours, so better to choose carefully where to sleep.

Check-in

I arrived by cab from JR Narita subway station, less than 10 minutes and 2600 yen, about 15 euros, I could also have inquired about the free shuttle bus schedule, but I was tired and didn't feel like wasting time.

I had already done everything through the app and also requested the digital key (500 bonus points), but I still had to go through the front desk to check documents and leave a credit card as collateral.

They would have also offered me a drink, but the bar where to use the voucher closed at 10 p.m. and I was checking in at 10:02 p.m., and Japanese punctuality is sacred.

The room

From basic room, because when you book with points you always have to pay for a Standard Room, I was promoted to a deluxe room on the 10th floor of the hotel.

In the end it is a room on a high floor that is a little bit larger than the others, but that is enough to call it an upgrade.

The room is the classic 1980s Hilton product, quoting a well-known advertisement: these are not illusions, but solid certainties. Choosing Hilton also means this: a killer bed/mattress where you can sleep like a prince on a cloud.

Nothing was missing in the room, there was even a small welcome surprise (always appreciated). The classic two bottles of water and a mega TV.

Standard bathroom with unfailing Japanese tablet, not a basic model, but not a top of the line either.

Otherwise wifi more than performs and nothing else, but it is also true that I didn't need anything else.

For the more curious, the surprise was small chocolates.

The shuttle

Of course, schedules could change, but the basic information for taking the shuttle should always remain the same, especially regarding airport pickup and travel time.

No need to reserve a place, also because there are quite a few rides at all hours from 5 a.m. to the early hours of the day, basically all along the time the airport is open. In my case, the departure was at 6:50 a.m.

Breakfast

Breakfast starts at 6:30 a.m., I was hoping for 6 o'clock so I could do everything quietly to catch the shuttle, but I had to adjust and do everything quickly.

I arrived at the restaurant hall on the ground floor at 6:25 a.m. and of course it was still closed. Istaff were behind the rope in front of the entrance as several customers were ready to enter. The employees waited until the X hour struck to open, without even giving a second to the people waiting.

It's the classic Hilton buffet, certainly the one in the central Hilton Tokyo Shinjuku is definitely more refined, but they are two completely different hotels.

Egg station, where a queue of 10 people immediately formed.

Buffet with choices of everything from sweet to savory, from continental to local cuisine. In short, you don't get up hungry from this breakfast, certainly unless you have to catch a bus in less than 18 minutes.

In conclusion

Points are not just for memorable stays, but also and especially to save money. Hotel prices in Tokyo are at crazy levels, so being able to stay for free using points is a great reward for the serial hoarder.

Otherwise, it is a hotel that has only one purpose for us Italians: Don't make us miss the plane early in the morning if we leave from Tokyo Narita.

• Hilton Honors
• hotels near airport