Hotel AreaOne Hakata

The walk from Hakata station was a little difficult because parts of the street had no sidewalk. Breakfast was a set meal and was pretty much the same every day. The staff were friendly and the cleaning service was good.

The room was a little small for sharing, but the value for money was good, so I can’t complain about that. My suitcase was shipped here from Osaka, then spent five days in storage and transit. When it arrived, it was broken open and some valuables were missing. The hotel manager did his best to get an answer, calling the luggage transport company for me, but they couldn’t tell when the lock had broken or the contents were stolen. I was upset. I used to believe Japanese people were honest and trustworthy, but I guess there’s always a bad apple in the barrel. I’ve lost faith in that belief and trust.

My main issue was how unclean the room felt, even though the staff were friendly and the hotel is close to Hakata Station. I noticed a smell as soon as I walked in. The carpet had mold and clearly hadn't been vacuumed properly, and there was hair on the sink. I couldn't tell if housekeeping had been rushing, but none of this seemed to have been noticed. I usually find places in Japan well kept, and this one wasn't.

Everything else was good, including the service, cleanliness, location, and amenities. I’d have rated it five stars if the bed weren’t so low that there was no way to slide my suitcases underneath.