Dormy inn EXPRESS Meguro-Aobaddai — Hotel in Tokyo

Could there be a better hotel in Tokyo? Well, yes, there could, but for the time of my life - think no-one puts baby in corner - for the time of my life - 40 something, family of four, balding, could stand to lose a few - this hotel, this establishment, this restful place for the weary traveller - THIS is ideal and will remain in my memory as the best I've stayed at including the disappointment that turned out to be a Ryokan. Right time, right place, right people - that sort of thing. And I realize it's part of a mass produced, cookie cutter, same-same hotel consortium hell bent on spreading its brand and the many variations within all over Japan and Korea but oh me, oh my, how tremendously wonderful! Everything from the teeny tiny bathroom with the teeny tiny bath coloured in soothing beige tones like a Duchamp masterwork - to the television set featuring Japanese TV which is amusing if incomprehensible - everything about this place just fit and helped make an amazing trip to Japan even better. The onsen on level one was a comfortable highlight - an experience my son and I will always remember. Unfortunate that men and women are separated by days of the week -- with women getting far less time amongst the steam and splashing, no doubt with very good reason beyond simple inhibition and the red faced embarrassment that comes with nudity. That being said the highlight of the erstwhile establishment known as the Dormy Inn express Meguro, the one stand out feature about this superlative place - part novelty, part genuinely useful service - was the vending machine a few doors up. IKR - THE VENDING MACHINE! Open 24/7 and well stocked with drinks, this delightful machine included ample supply of the already- warm-milk-coffee in cans and the Lord himself knows the value of a sweet cup of Joe even if it is sullied with milk and produced in a factory. Who cares as long as they can get their fix, right? Add to that the availability of cans of beer at reasonable prices and you a truly exceptional hotel feature in a metal contraption, 4 by 6 . I couldn't believ the value of 160 Yen for a Kirin lager in a can. Real beer, real cold, real cheap. My god, my English is abominable here but we're talking beer and at two bucks fifty for the real thing who actually cares? Unbeatable! No late night run to the BOTTLO required. The staff at the front desk were most excellent - like an adventure taken by a certain Bill and Ted some years ago - accommodating our every question and looking after our bags on the last day. Missed the cup noodles upstairs but they'd be worth checking out especially because they give them out for FREE! Over all I'd say this was my favourite hotel in Japan with all the trimmings a family might want. Biscuits, gravy, beer*, WiFi. Right next to the Goliath Starbucks and found at the French end of town - where, incidentally you'll find the best coffee. (Aux Bacchanale, across the road, Tres Bien!). Visit Don Quixote up the street to see just how various a variety supermarket can be. My only criticism of the Dormy is that I didn't stay long enough! Thanks to the staff for such a wonderful time - perhaps consider simplifying the name to Dormy Meguro - but then again this is Tokyo so there may be more than one and the more the words in the title the less the confusion? Just a thought. *Not free but...

BEWARE Not recommended for solo females OR couples with females! I chose this place because of the listed spa amenity. It says separate areas for men and women. FALSE that is a lie! There is 1 area only, and separate DAYS for men and women. Men get 5 days (weekdays), women get 2 days (weekends). I arrived Sunday night, and the lady took so long to check me in and finally got to explaining the spa at which point I said, wait, so I only have 20 minutes now to use the spa? She said "Sorry, 15 min sorry" So I had to rush, while she was still talking to me about the ramen I don't care! So I got to use the spa for 10 min! So I booked another hotel, Super Hotel I stayed at before that I know has 2 separate areas and the spa is open ALL night until 9am. I asked Dormy to give me a refund because of the false advertising. Of course they say sorry no. I would not have stayed there if I had known this. Seeing that I was a single female booking they should have notified me. And what I really cannot tolerate is gender inequality. I know this is a more male dominate society, but that is old and backwards and I do not support that type of thinking. Please do not support this gender inequality! If you are a woman, this is NOT the hotel for you. Location is also weird and not much to walk to. Who cares about the Starbucks you can get that anywhere. I left first thing in the morning, I don't care if I lost money on it, I wasn't going to stay there a...

BEWARE Not recommended for solo females OR couples with females! I chose this place because of the listed spa amenity. It says separate areas for men and women. FALSE that is a lie! There is 1 area only, and separate DAYS for men and women. Men get 5 days (weekdays), women get 2 days (weekends). I arrived Sunday night, and the lady took so long to check me in and finally got to explaining the spa at which point I said, wait, so I only have 20 minutes now to use the spa? She said "Sorry, 15 min sorry" So I had to rush, while she was still talking to me about the ramen I don't care! So I got to use the spa for 10 min! So I booked another hotel, Super Hotel I stayed at before that I know has 2 separate areas and the spa is open ALL night until 9am. I asked Dormy to give me a refund because of the false advertising. Of course they say sorry no. I would not have stayed there if I had known this. Seeing that I was a single female booking they should have notified me. And what I really cannot tolerate is gender inequality. I know this is a more male dominate society, but that is old and backwards and I do not support that type of thinking. Please do not support this gender inequality! If you are a woman, this is NOT the hotel for you. Location is also weird and not much to walk to. Who cares about the Starbucks you can get that anywhere. I left first thing in the morning, I don't care if I lost money on it, I wasn't going to stay there a...