Hotel S Nara

My hotel choice for Nara was Hotel S, located in the west of the city. The hotel is in a quieter section of the city. The location for this hotel initially seemed ok; however, it seems that after a certain time, if you miss the bus, your options become very limited for reaching this hotel. If timed up the walk to the hotel from the bus stop is about 8 minutes. However, if you are arriving any time after eight pm and miss the bus, it will result in a twenty-minute walk, so be careful. There is a 7-Eleven nearby and a small mall also within the area. For location, I will be awarding a 5, as you will be relying on buses or taxis.

As for ease of access, this hotel was booked on booking.com, making it less stressful; however, it should be noted that if you book via booking.com or online, you will not be able to get a member’s card for this hotel. Members’ cards often offer cheaper rates to guests and reward the loyalty of those who rebook. When enquiring, the hotel said it is because guests get discounts and offers via these booking companies. The hotel has an electronic touch screen board for check-in for those who want to turn up at night and chance it. If you book online, you will need to call the front desk to get your room details. For ease of access, I award a 7, bringing the total to 12.

As for amenities, there is a small selection of items you can bring to your room alongside the freebies provided in the room itself. It is the usual selection of items such as grooming products, bath and shower goods and a small beauty range. The room was equipped with a nice-sized bath with jets and lighting. There was a sofa and a big TV, tea-making facilities, a microwave and a big comfy bed. For amenities, I award another 7, taking the total to 19.

For comfort and cleanliness, this hotel was very clean despite the outside showing some age. The reception area is attractive with LED lighting and wooden flooring. The room itself was comfy, and the bedding was clean. The bathroom had been cleaned, and often in love hotels, all your cutlery, cups and plates will come in plastic or sealed to prove they are clean. For cleanliness, I award an eight, increasing the score to 27.

Now, food is the area I found myself most in shock, usually I am unable to try the food due to check-in times being late. However, I arrived hungry, and after glancing at the large menu, I decided to make an order. And boy am I glad I did! I ordered a steak with sides and some pasta. For dessert, I ordered one of their large parfaits. To date, this hotel has the best food I have eaten in a love hotel. It must be said, love hotel food is often mid-range, it’s reasonable in price, sometimes tasty, but never mind-blowing. You're simply not in the right hotel for food to be the priority; some love hotels do not have chefs, but a skeleton crew who offer the basics. But this hotel blew me away. The steak was insanely good, and the sides were all very fresh. The addition of the hot stone allowed for additional grilling if the steak wasn’t cooked to perfection. The parfait was insane, and the flavour of the chocolate was mouth-watering. I often keep my expectations for food low; however, Hotel S blew my mind and will be walking away with a score of 9, making it the first hotel to nearly score perfect. The only way it would have hit full marks is if it had staggered the food and delivered the ice cream later, so it wasn’t starting to melt. The new score is 36.

My overall enjoyment of this hotel was high as both the food and the large bath made for a good night. It left me feeling satisfied despite its location, and the bed was also very cosy. I would rate my enjoyment at an 8, taking the score to 44.

The final category is rebook value, and for this, it is difficult. The location was not ideal, but there were a lot of other areas where the hotel flourished. So, if I were to return to Nara, I would at least consider it. So, I will score it a 7, leaving it with a final score of 51, which is a very respectable showing. This hotel is worth considering if you are coming by car, and if you are relying on public transport, if you time it correctly, it is worth it for the food alone.