Osaka Tokyu REI Hotel (Osaka, Japan)

The best thing about this hotel is that it is located so close (a ten-minute walk) to all the shops, malls, restaurants and entertainment venues which surround Umeda metro station and JR Osaka train station. The city's most famous shopping district, Shinsaibashi is only three stops away from Umeda as well. Very handy.

If you're keen to do your bit for the environment then you'll no doubt appreciate staying at this hotel as it affords you the (green) option of not having your towels changed every day and accepts donations for reforestation.

With a selection of bread with butter and jams, fish (typically barracuda or salmon), eggs, ham, bacon, and even okonomiyaki balls to compliment the delicious Japanese rice; it's clear this place exceeds the token breakfast offerings which so many Japanese hotels in this price range tend to proffer.

If you've ever been on a cruise holiday then you'll be familiar with the very limited space afforded by cabin-style bathrooms. If you haven't then the highly compact (read claustrophobic) nature of the bathrooms here will probably be something of a shock to you.

A great many guests have remarked on the somewhat stiff, bureaucratic and sometimes even rather brusque manner of the staff members at the hotel's reception desks. C'mon guys, loosen up a little!

It is an unfortunate fact that the fact the in-room air-conditioning units here are unable to cool the accommodations down to anything other than ‘uncomfortably warm'. Something to keep in mind if you're looking to visit during the summer...