Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka REVIEW - MASTER THREAD
Jun 16, 2024, 7:41 pm
#76
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,420
I was also finished before the all inclusive bonanza. UrCove, I would MR if I ever found myself in a Chinese city that has one and it wasn't too much of an inconvenience to get to. I just want to check off what I can, when I can.
Jun 16, 2024, 7:43 pm
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,420
Thanks for the details. Kids deserve more than just bread though.
Jun 16, 2024, 10:31 pm
#78
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: KIX - Japan
Posts: 41
Caption Namba Osaka - after only its first five nights
Caption at Namba, Osaka has potential, but opens as a disappointment. The hard product is shiny, new, and occasionally beautiful. Globalist breakfast is a choice from three very small 2,400 yen sets including a drink. You will be hungry again before you finish your coffee. Globalists can get early check in and late check out, but no Globalist room upgrades, no Globalist welcome drink.
Talk Shop, which makes up the entire entrance and check-in area, marketed as a brand-defining, flexible, DIY, you-are-in-control coworking and community area, is actually just an overpriced restaurant, where you will be asked to leave (really. seriously.) if you don't buy something or have a room reservation, and where staying guests cannot bring in outside food. Cafe latte 750 yen. Draft beer 1100 yen.
Management seems, at best, terribly inexperienced. Despite having empty minimum-sized rooms available every night, they refuse to accept new World of Hyatt point or free night reservations for most nights in June, July, August, and mid September apparently somehow believing that an empty room generating zero revenue is better than a point redemption generating some revenue. Encouraging guests to earn World of Hyatt points that they cannot actually redeem is fraud.
If you, like I, were lucky enough to get a room reservation on points during the day or two they were available, great, Caption is fairly valued at category 1.
For a cash stay, Hyatt Place Kyoto is a better, and often much cheaper, choice. If you just need a place to crash after spending a night eating, drinking and wandering around the lively Namba area, APA hotel, Toyoko Inn or about a dozen other select-service hotels in the area would work just as well, for less than half the current price of Caption.
Caption Namba Osaka vs Hyatt Place Kyoto
Hyatt Place Kyoto wins on its buffet breakfast, ease of train access, free coffee in the lounge, free space to bring in food or drinks, and hospitality. It is also often significantly cheaper.
Caption Namba Osaka wins on Wifi speeds (28 mps at caption vs 3 mps at Hyatt place Kyoto) and as new a badge for your Brand Explorer collection.
They tie on attached restaurants (Talk Shop and School Bus Coffee), interiors, rooms, bathrooms, beds, gyms, (lack of) Globalist benefits and ability to cast to TVs.
2400 yen Breakfast above and below. Free for adult Globalists
Pizza 1300 yen
Talk Shop, which makes up the entire entrance and check-in area, marketed as a brand-defining, flexible, DIY, you-are-in-control coworking and community area, is actually just an overpriced restaurant, where you will be asked to leave (really. seriously.) if you don't buy something or have a room reservation, and where staying guests cannot bring in outside food. Cafe latte 750 yen. Draft beer 1100 yen.
Management seems, at best, terribly inexperienced. Despite having empty minimum-sized rooms available every night, they refuse to accept new World of Hyatt point or free night reservations for most nights in June, July, August, and mid September apparently somehow believing that an empty room generating zero revenue is better than a point redemption generating some revenue. Encouraging guests to earn World of Hyatt points that they cannot actually redeem is fraud.
If you, like I, were lucky enough to get a room reservation on points during the day or two they were available, great, Caption is fairly valued at category 1.
For a cash stay, Hyatt Place Kyoto is a better, and often much cheaper, choice. If you just need a place to crash after spending a night eating, drinking and wandering around the lively Namba area, APA hotel, Toyoko Inn or about a dozen other select-service hotels in the area would work just as well, for less than half the current price of Caption.
Caption Namba Osaka vs Hyatt Place Kyoto
Hyatt Place Kyoto wins on its buffet breakfast, ease of train access, free coffee in the lounge, free space to bring in food or drinks, and hospitality. It is also often significantly cheaper.
Caption Namba Osaka wins on Wifi speeds (28 mps at caption vs 3 mps at Hyatt place Kyoto) and as new a badge for your Brand Explorer collection.
They tie on attached restaurants (Talk Shop and School Bus Coffee), interiors, rooms, bathrooms, beds, gyms, (lack of) Globalist benefits and ability to cast to TVs.
2400 yen Breakfast above and below. Free for adult Globalists
Pizza 1300 yen
Last edited by Mark McCracken; Aug 6, 2024 at 12:13 am
Jun 16, 2024, 10:40 pm
#79
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Taipei
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,222
I'm not really about the FNC. I just want the badges filled in on the Explorer sheet. Urks me everytime to see something incomplete. If I'm in Osaka and it's convenient then I would book and check out the property. However, I would not book a round-trip flight from Korea to MR/knock this one off.
Last edited by projectmaximus; Jun 18, 2024 at 5:40 pm
Jun 18, 2024, 9:18 am
#80
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: FAT
Programs: AA LT GLD, AS 75K, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 188
Point availability lasted about 48 hours. The price also increased from a minimum of 15,300 to 17,700. Osaka has a strong local Hyatt following, and a bit of a Hyatt community, but no hotel. The Osaka Hyatt died June 30 of last year, but everyone knew that Caption was coming, so I think a lot of people waited, then took their remaining points and booked a ton of nights at Caption to re-qualify.
I hope I am wrong, but I suspect people who pay cash will be disappointed. The neighborhood is surrounded by similar sized hotel rooms for less than 10,000 per night. The five-minute outdoor walk from the train station, lugging your belongings would be unpleasant in the rain or the summer heat. Management could exceed expectations with great amenities or welcome presents or outstanding hospitality, but since it will be managed not by Hyatt managers, but by outside franchise managers, I am not expecting that to happen.
Hyatt Place Kyoto has slow wifi, and also has franchise management, but it has a great breakfast for Globalists, and it sits directly above a subway station. You can walk to the stair entrance without setting foot on the sidewalk. If the price of Caption Namba and Hyatt Place Kyoto continue to overlap, or if Caption Namba matches Hyatt Place Kyoto and goes to Category 2, then I think most people would prefer Hyatt Place Kyoto.
I hope I am wrong, but I suspect people who pay cash will be disappointed. The neighborhood is surrounded by similar sized hotel rooms for less than 10,000 per night. The five-minute outdoor walk from the train station, lugging your belongings would be unpleasant in the rain or the summer heat. Management could exceed expectations with great amenities or welcome presents or outstanding hospitality, but since it will be managed not by Hyatt managers, but by outside franchise managers, I am not expecting that to happen.
Hyatt Place Kyoto has slow wifi, and also has franchise management, but it has a great breakfast for Globalists, and it sits directly above a subway station. You can walk to the stair entrance without setting foot on the sidewalk. If the price of Caption Namba and Hyatt Place Kyoto continue to overlap, or if Caption Namba matches Hyatt Place Kyoto and goes to Category 2, then I think most people would prefer Hyatt Place Kyoto.
Jun 21, 2024, 5:57 am
#81
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 89
Americans won’t be able to use the laundry machines and capture image at checkin
Just checked in this afternoon after staying at the Hyatt Place Kyoto and wanted to use the laundry machine. I was surprised that no one was using the machines whereas all three of the machines at Hyatt Place Kyoto were constantly in use. After looking at the payment system I understand why!!!! The hotel is cashless and will not accept coins but only accept QR code payments using Pay Pay, We Chat pays or Ali Pay etc. I went downstairs and talked to the duty manager and complained about this. All I got was apologies and suggestions for offsite laundromat!
This is ridiculous that Hyatt being an American hotel will only accept Japanese and Chinese payment types for its laundry machines but not American payments.
In addition, this is the first hotel I stayed at that captures your image at check in. Had I known that it is part of the process I would not have booked here.
Payment types accepted by laundry machine
This is ridiculous that Hyatt being an American hotel will only accept Japanese and Chinese payment types for its laundry machines but not American payments.
In addition, this is the first hotel I stayed at that captures your image at check in. Had I known that it is part of the process I would not have booked here.
Payment types accepted by laundry machine
Last edited by Alinsfca; Jun 21, 2024 at 6:32 am
Jun 21, 2024, 7:52 pm
#82
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,420
Just checked in this afternoon after staying at the Hyatt Place Kyoto and wanted to use the laundry machine. I was surprised that no one was using the machines whereas all three of the machines at Hyatt Place Kyoto were constantly in use. After looking at the payment system I understand why!!!! The hotel is cashless and will not accept coins but only accept QR code payments using Pay Pay, We Chat pays or Ali Pay etc. I went downstairs and talked to the duty manager and complained about this. All I got was apologies and suggestions for offsite laundromat!
This is ridiculous that Hyatt being an American hotel will only accept Japanese and Chinese payment types for its laundry machines but not American payments.
Payment types accepted by laundry machine
This is ridiculous that Hyatt being an American hotel will only accept Japanese and Chinese payment types for its laundry machines but not American payments.
Payment types accepted by laundry machine
Jun 21, 2024, 9:08 pm
#83
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Northern New Mexico
Posts: 1,820
Jun 22, 2024, 12:02 am
#84
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 89
Update on the payment situation
The room manager approached me this morning at coffee and apologized again about the lack of payment options for western guests. She said they will look into this with the vendor and hopefully it will be available when I return to the hotel next time!
I booked for four nights and cancelled my last two nights when I talked to the duty manager last night. I actually didn’t really like staying in this location that much! I think I prefer the dojima area better. I will be checking out the Voco.
The manager also confirmed that the image at check in is just to match it to the passport and is not kept on their system. I wish they have a sign somewhere to let us know about it.
I booked for four nights and cancelled my last two nights when I talked to the duty manager last night. I actually didn’t really like staying in this location that much! I think I prefer the dojima area better. I will be checking out the Voco.
The manager also confirmed that the image at check in is just to match it to the passport and is not kept on their system. I wish they have a sign somewhere to let us know about it.
Jul 1, 2024, 7:44 am
#86
Join Date: Jul 2024
Posts: 3
The room manager approached me this morning at coffee and apologized again about the lack of payment options for western guests. She said they will look into this with the vendor and hopefully it will be available when I return to the hotel next time!
I booked for four nights and cancelled my last two nights when I talked to the duty manager last night. I actually didn’t really like staying in this location that much! I think I prefer the dojima area better. I will be checking out the Voco.
The manager also confirmed that the image at check in is just to match it to the passport and is not kept on their system. I wish they have a sign somewhere to let us know about it.
I booked for four nights and cancelled my last two nights when I talked to the duty manager last night. I actually didn’t really like staying in this location that much! I think I prefer the dojima area better. I will be checking out the Voco.
The manager also confirmed that the image at check in is just to match it to the passport and is not kept on their system. I wish they have a sign somewhere to let us know about it.
Jul 4, 2024, 2:36 am
#88
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 49
Agreed. I was there a couple weeks ago and the limited payment options sucked. They need to either support more payment systems (Apple Pay, PayPal, etc.), credit cards, or coins. The coin slot was taped over, but people were peeling it off and using them anyway.
Jul 4, 2024, 2:43 am
#89
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,420
That's something at least.