Ariston Inn Kanda Kitakyushu Airport

The Wi-Fi was slow, and the room was small.

From the lovely view on the upper floors to the welcoming front desk, this hotel gave me reasons to want to return regardless of the price. After arriving from Shin-Moji Port, I was glad to get water and coffee after checking in. Members get a small discount and an 11:00 checkout, and apparently there are occasional campaigns too. The room does show some age, though.

The breakfast was tasty, even if there wasn't a huge selection, and the staff were really friendly. The rooms felt cramped and dim, and the Wi-Fi kept dropping during busy hours while I watched YouTube streams, though that may vary by room. With 11 floors and just one small elevator, mornings meant a long wait, and it was frustrating when it got crowded. I wish guests could use the emergency stairs. The pros and cons are pretty clear. It felt like a standard business hotel.

Last year I spent one night here without any trouble. This time I stayed two, and the service felt like it had slipped. At check-in, I noticed that gowns, toothbrushes, and slippers, usually left in the room, were set out by the front desk for guests to take. That seemed odd, but it was the notice in the room that shocked me. It said the hotel was cutting back on resources and removing items where possible to help the global environment. When I came back the next day, the bed hadn't been made, and the electric kettle I'd used the night before was still there. The toilet seat had a heater last year, but this time it didn't. I was charged the same price for that second night, which struck me as a straightforward cost-cutting move. I won't stay at this hotel again.