Ever dreamt of treating yourself to a fancy stay at a 5-star hotel in Japan, but felt put off by the high prices? Wondered how others afford it? My fiancé and I had the same thoughts, so we came up with a simple plan using credit card perks to save money and enjoy all the extras. Follow along as I share our journey, how we saved money, got free upgrades, and if the hotel experience was worth it. Despite what some say about the annual fee, using it wisely can make it pay off in the end.
Watch our Conrad Osaka video here:
Why Conrad Osaka in Japan?
Before diving into credit card strategy, I want to give you a brief overview why we chose Conrad Osaka | Hilton Hotel Fine Hotel & Resort.
1. Relax Time After Universal Studio
We knew we’d be exhausted after our day at Osaka Universal Studios, so we were on the hunt for a luxurious hotel or resort where we could unwind and recharge for our next destination.
2. Top Luxury Hotel in Japan
Conrad Osaka is well-known throughout Japan for its exceptional hospitality and luxurious atmosphere. Praised by both locals and visitors, it’s earned a spot as one of Osaka’s top hotels. With breathtaking skyline views and impeccable service, Conrad Osaka ensures a memorable stay for guests looking for luxury and comfort in the vibrant city.
3. Fairly New Hotel
Conrad Osaka opened its doors in June 2017. We made a deliberate choice to opt for a newer hotel for our relaxation time. While some luxury hotels can be old and expensive, with potential issues like poor soundproofing due to aging infrastructure, we preferred the modern amenities and updated facilities offered by newer establishments. This is why we opted for Conrad Osaka over Conrad Tokyo, which opened back in 2005.
4. Prime Location
Situated in the vibrant Nakanoshima area, Conrad Osaka offers convenient access to Osaka’s top attractions, shopping districts, and entertainment venues, making it an ideal choice for both leisure and business travelers.
5. Executive Lounge and Exceptional Dining
Having Hilton Diamond status or booking an Executive Room grants access to the Executive Lounge for indulging in their Afternoon Tea and Cocktail Hours. Fortunately, we didn’t need to rack up hotel stays to earn Diamond Status. Thanks to our American Express Hilton Aspire Card, we were automatically granted Diamond Status, allowing us to enjoy the lounge’s offerings. Additionally, being Diamond members, we received complimentary breakfast buffets for each person during our stay. The breakfast spread was impressive, with a wide variety of delicious options to choose from.
If you are interested opening American Express Hilton Aspire Card, please feel free to use our link to get additional points. – American Express Hilton Aspire Card Referral link 🔗
How Much & What Benefits We Got?
| Item | Charges | Credit |
| + KING DELUXE ROOM (Including Tax & Fees) [Complimentary upgrade to KING EXECUTIVE CORNER SUITE] Would have cost ~$1000 with tax & fees |
$830.69 | |
| – American Express Platinum Card Credit | FHR Statement Credit | ($200) | |
| + Massage/Spa for 2 People (Including 10% discount) | $174.21 | |
| – American Express Platinum Card Credit | FHR Benefit Property Credit | ($125) | |
| Breakfast Buffet at Atmos for 2 People ($55.00 per person) [Complimentary breakfast due to Diamond Status] |
Free | Free |
| Sum | $1004.9 | ($325) |
| Final Total Charge | $679.9 |
Total Savings:
- Total saved: $325.00 for hotel room, massages for 2 people, and complimentary breakfast for 2.
- Access to Executive Lounge for Afternoon Tea & Cocktail Hours: We opted to dine in at the Executive Lounge instead of going out for dinner, as the snacks and food provided were more than sufficient for us.
- Free Room Upgrade to KING EXECUTIVE CORNER SUITE: Despite paying the basic room price, we enjoyed a complimentary upgrade to a luxurious KING EXECUTIVE CORNER SUITE.
- With the annual fee of $695 for the American Express Platinum Card Credit, we’ve already saved more than half of this amount using its benefits. In fact, the savings we’ve accumulated from other benefits exceed the annual fee. Utilizing the American Express Platinum Card Credit | FHR Benefits has proven to be a worthwhile investment, allowing us to enjoy luxurious experiences while saving money.
Step by Step to How to Start
1.Open Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card to get the Hilton Honors Diamon Status. You will see special referral offers. Bonus Points may vary and you can try opening in incognito to see if better benefit shows up.
2. Open American Express Platinum Card Credit to get FHR and Property Benefits
3. Navigate to American Express Travel Portal
4. Search Hotel Name OR City
5. Filter by Fine Hotel + Resort : Sometimes you will see an exclusive special promotions. You can save even more.
5. Make sure to book from the AMEX Travel Portal with the AMEX Platinum Card.
6. Later, you will get a $200 statement credit back in your AMEX Account
Benefits & Saving Using the American Express Platinum Card Credit
If you book through the American Express Travel Portal and pay with your American Express Platinum Card Credit, you’ll enjoy a range of benefits. Here’s what we experienced and made use of during our trip and there are more benefits I did not list but these are the highlights:
- Noon check-in, when available
- Room upgrade upon arrival, when available: I recommend checking in earlier as this increases the chances of securing a better room upgrade, especially if no one has checked in yet.
- Daily breakfast for two people
- Guaranteed 4:00 pm late check-out
Also, these are the additional special amenity at Conrad Osaka:
- Access to Executive Lounge
- $125 USD Property Credit to be used during your stay. Applicable at 40 Sky Bar & Lounge, Atmos dining C-grill, Kura, Room Service, Minibar, Conrad Spa.
Benefits & Saving Using the American Express Hilton Honors Aspire Card
You do not need to spend money using the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card to obtain benefits. This card helps you to attain Diamond Hilton Status. Without this card, you would have to stay 60 nights or have 30 separate stays to achieve Diamond Hilton Status. However, with this card, you automatically receive the status.
There are many benefits to having Hilton Honors Diamond Status, and here are the ones we found particularly valuable during our stay at Conrad Osaka:
- Executive Lounge | Afternoon Tea
- Executive Lounge | Cocktail Hours
- Complimentary Breakfast for 2 at Atmos
Worth It?
We believe it’s definitely worth opening both cards due to the dollar-saving benefits and property credits offered. With perks like credits for massages or dining at hotel restaurants, it’s a real incentive to travel more and make the most of these benefits. Conrad Osaka is just one example of the savings we’ve enjoyed, but we’ve also managed to save additional dollars at other hotels. Overall, despite the high annual cost, we’ve seen significant savings and value from these cards.
If you are interested to watch full Conrad Osaka Experience, you can watch our YouTube Video as well.
