ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa by IHG — Hotel in Beppu

I have Diamond Ambassador status with IHG; I stay in hotel rooms many nights each year. Some portions of the following review cover benefits specific to guest with similar (or higher) status and/or pay the extra supplemental charge for a room that includes lounge access.||Transportation||There is a free shuttle between the hotel and Beppu Station. Station to Hotel is every 30 min on the hour. Hotel to Station is every 30 min on the :30.||We used JR Kyushu to get to/from Beppu Station from Hakata Station in Fukuoka. Going to Beppu, we were able to secure tickets on the Yufuin no Mori #3 train, arriving into Beppu at 1327. I emailed the hotel in advance to request two seats on their 1400 shuttle from the station to the hotel. The Mercedes van arrived around 1350 and we sat in it until 1400 just in case any other unannounced guests arrived. From there, it was about a 20 minute drive through the surface streets of Beppu City to the hotel.||We booked Sonic Train tickets back to Hakata, departing at 1520. We took the 1430 shuttle to the station. The station itself is small and compact with some shops and food/beverage options.||Overall, we found the Sonic to be more comfortable and the route more scenic than the Yufuin no Mori so we'd probably stick with the Sonic for future visits to Beppu. Flying into Fukuoka seems to be a better option than the closer Oita airport given the more frequent flights and larger list of airports one can use to get to Fukuoka and the excellent train service between Hakata and Beppu.||Accommodations:||We booked a Two Double Bed One Bedroom Suite With Club Access Mountain View with Private Onsen (king suites are very few and limited here). When we arrived, our luggage was collected and we were escorted to the Club Lounge for check in. Afternoon Tea was being served so we partook of it while getting processed with all paperwork and interaction done at our private table; it was such a pleasant experience! We were also asked to make breakfast reservations and schedule room cleaning time (earliest is 1000).||The suite was the 102 sqm "Junior Suite" on the hotel's webpage. It was on the second floor at the far end of the wing that's above the public onsen. To earlier reviews, yes, the view from the balcony is largely of the steam plant and parking lot. That being said, there was also a spectacular panoramic view of Beppu City and Bay from the living room and bedroom and that's what we chose to look at and ignored the parking lot. We especially enjoyed an amazing sunrise one clear morning. Entire room was bright and spacious with a huge walk-in closet and expansive marble bathroom with the Harnn spa toiletries that came with it (regular rooms have standard toiletries). We booked our dates right after arriving from the East Coast of the US so our jet lag was really hitting us so spending a few quiet days of relaxing and soaking in onsen was our goal. Having the larger room and private onsen was really nice as are the separate onsen located on the bottom floor for ladies and gentlemen (the specific onsen are flip-flopped each day so both sexes can enjoy the specific amenities on each side. We intended to visit the pool but didn't make it down on the day that the weather was nice; it was cold and rainy on the second day of our stay. We did use the exercise room both days; it was well-appointed and had a terrific view of the city. WiFi was a snappy 100 mbps up/down.||IHG Diamond Elite Benefits:||I was advised that as a guest with Club Lounge access, there was no need to request free breakfast as my amenity, so I took the points. For Diamond members without Club Lounge access, I strongly recommend selecting the breakfast benefit as the quality of the food in the restaurant was excellent with a multitude of Japanese and Western dishes.||For late check out, I was told that suites must be vacated by the 1100 check out time; this is fair enough, given the small number of suites and the need to turn them over quickly for arriving guests. I've been on the other side of this as a Hyatt Globalist waiting for my suite to get cleaned after the vacating guest used their 1600 check out benefit. To honor our requested 1400 checkout time, I was given the keys to a Classic City view room only a few doors down from our suite with our luggage moved over to it by the bell desk staff.||IHG Ambassador Benefits:||In addition to a guaranteed room upgrade and various discounts on spa and other items specific to this property, the main benefit is access to extra entrees that supplement the basic breakfast option at the restaurant (so there's really no reason to take breakfast in the lounge unless you want a more limited menu and intimate space).||Overall:||The staff were exceedingly pleasant and helpful. Unlike my wife, I am not fluent in Japanese and was thankful that all the staff I interacted with were fluent in English. As a pro tip, if you are a larger person like myself, you can advise the property in advance and yukata and slippers of an appropriate size will be provided. They weren't able to provide a pair of geta (wood sandals) that fit, but that didn't impact my stay at all. During our two-night stay, we didn't venture off-property at all; had we stayed any longer, we probably would have been more open to exploring/playing tourist. I would definitely recommend this property, especially to travelers with IHG elite status (points bookings are also of good value based upon the quality and comfort of the rooms and the free breakfast for Diamond Members is...

I have Diamond Ambassador status with IHG; I stay in hotel rooms many nights each year. Some portions of the following review cover benefits specific to guest with similar (or higher) status and/or pay the extra supplemental charge for a room that includes lounge access.||Transportation||There is a free shuttle between the hotel and Beppu Station. Station to Hotel is every 30 min on the hour. Hotel to Station is every 30 min on the :30.||We used JR Kyushu to get to/from Beppu Station from Hakata Station in Fukuoka. Going to Beppu, we were able to secure tickets on the Yufuin no Mori #3 train, arriving into Beppu at 1327. I emailed the hotel in advance to request two seats on their 1400 shuttle from the station to the hotel. The Mercedes van arrived around 1350 and we sat in it until 1400 just in case any other unannounced guests arrived. From there, it was about a 20 minute drive through the surface streets of Beppu City to the hotel.||We booked Sonic Train tickets back to Hakata, departing at 1520. We took the 1430 shuttle to the station. The station itself is small and compact with some shops and food/beverage options.||Overall, we found the Sonic to be more comfortable and the route more scenic than the Yufuin no Mori so we'd probably stick with the Sonic for future visits to Beppu. Flying into Fukuoka seems to be a better option than the closer Oita airport given the more frequent flights and larger list of airports one can use to get to Fukuoka and the excellent train service between Hakata and Beppu.||Accommodations:||We booked a Two Double Bed One Bedroom Suite With Club Access Mountain View with Private Onsen (king suites are very few and limited here). When we arrived, our luggage was collected and we were escorted to the Club Lounge for check in. Afternoon Tea was being served so we partook of it while getting processed with all paperwork and interaction done at our private table; it was such a pleasant experience! We were also asked to make breakfast reservations and schedule room cleaning time (earliest is 1000).||The suite was the 102 sqm "Junior Suite" on the hotel's webpage. It was on the second floor at the far end of the wing that's above the public onsen. To earlier reviews, yes, the view from the balcony is largely of the steam plant and parking lot. That being said, there was also a spectacular panoramic view of Beppu City and Bay from the living room and bedroom and that's what we chose to look at and ignored the parking lot. We especially enjoyed an amazing sunrise one clear morning. Entire room was bright and spacious with a huge walk-in closet and expansive marble bathroom with the Harnn spa toiletries that came with it (regular rooms have standard toiletries). We booked our dates right after arriving from the East Coast of the US so our jet lag was really hitting us so spending a few quiet days of relaxing and soaking in onsen was our goal. Having the larger room and private onsen was really nice as are the separate onsen located on the bottom floor for ladies and gentlemen (the specific onsen are flip-flopped each day so both sexes can enjoy the specific amenities on each side. We intended to visit the pool but didn't make it down on the day that the weather was nice; it was cold and rainy on the second day of our stay. We did use the exercise room both days; it was well-appointed and had a terrific view of the city. WiFi was a snappy 100 mbps up/down.||IHG Diamond Elite Benefits:||I was advised that as a guest with Club Lounge access, there was no need to request free breakfast as my amenity, so I took the points. For Diamond members without Club Lounge access, I strongly recommend selecting the breakfast benefit as the quality of the food in the restaurant was excellent with a multitude of Japanese and Western dishes.||For late check out, I was told that suites must be vacated by the 1100 check out time; this is fair enough, given the small number of suites and the need to turn them over quickly for arriving guests. I've been on the other side of this as a Hyatt Globalist waiting for my suite to get cleaned after the vacating guest used their 1600 check out benefit. To honor our requested 1400 checkout time, I was given the keys to a Classic City view room only a few doors down from our suite with our luggage moved over to it by the bell desk staff.||IHG Ambassador Benefits:||In addition to a guaranteed room upgrade and various discounts on spa and other items specific to this property, the main benefit is access to extra entrees that supplement the basic breakfast option at the restaurant (so there's really no reason to take breakfast in the lounge unless you want a more limited menu and intimate space).||Overall:||The staff were exceedingly pleasant and helpful. Unlike my wife, I am not fluent in Japanese and was thankful that all the staff I interacted with were fluent in English. As a pro tip, if you are a larger person like myself, you can advise the property in advance and yukata and slippers of an appropriate size will be provided. They weren't able to provide a pair of geta (wood sandals) that fit, but that didn't impact my stay at all. During our two-night stay, we didn't venture off-property at all; had we stayed any longer, we probably would have been more open to exploring/playing tourist. I would definitely recommend this property, especially to travelers with IHG elite status (points bookings are also of good value based upon the quality and comfort of the rooms and the free breakfast for Diamond Members is...

This hotel is new and the staff for the most part are young hardworking and friendly.

However their 5600 yen buffet is a joke like the other reviews mention. Everything tastes pretty good, but it’s all very low value items, mostly bread. They basically have a salad bar dessert bar and bread bar with a very small selection of meat and other. The total amount of choices excluding salad bread and dessert is maybe 6 to 7 items?

They also strangely even though it is a Buffet let you choose one main dish. Although the main was good it was just local chicken pork or fish. If you want something special they will charge you more. The cospa is incredibly low, it is worth maybe like 20 to 30 max.

Furthermore while we stayed there there was a huge tour group (which based on the value of the buffet and the special treatment they were getting) from a country that mentions roads and belts a lot, who decided it would be fun to pull the fire alarm at 9pm.

As guests it was very not fun to be on a top level and having to run out of your room with whatever belongings you have just to wander aimlessly in the lobby before having to ask a staff member who was just standing around what happened?

They didn’t even bother to inform guests coming down that it was a false alarm we literally had to flag a member down.

Afterwards we got the most half added apology about 20 mins after the alarm was off that it was an accident and to appreciate our understanding.

Please note that the following experience corresponds to a hotel that can cost in excess of 80000 yen a night and you can decide if that’s something you want to deal with.

• 11/2/2019. Response to director of rooms:

Reading the reply was the type of disappointing corporate doublespeak you see way too much.

First, your staff I agree is not responsible for a guest pulling a false alarm. I severely disagree with your attempt however to characterize your staffs response as quickly let the guests know.

When we walked down I would like to reiterate after a blaring alarm going on for 15 min and going down the stairs. We were wandering around aimlessly in the lobby with other guests wondering what was happening. Your staff that you characterize as working hard to tell guests the problem was a false alarm was just gearing up for the huge chinese your group that was arriving. It wasn’t until we asked someone after going inside and out the hotel that someone told us it was a false alarm.

Then when we got back to our room at 30 min mark there was an announcement. Then at 50 min mark we got a call telling us it was a false alarm.

To any potential guests reading decide for yourself if that sounds like a timely response and where the real priority lies.

Second in response to your comments about the buffet being the best of both worlds. The food was cooked well for the most part but there is very little choice and the ingredients are again for the most part salad and bread. A salad and bread buffet with one course is not a variety of choices.

Lastly you say to reach out to you with any concerns without leaving an avenue to. This is just the type of response that shows a businesses attitude toward their customers. Corporate doublespeak filled with lies or bending of the truth followed up with an insincere attempt at follow up.

Without the response I would have left at 2 stars as the hotel is indeed quite pretty, but it’s down to one after your response reminds me of what happens when you put...