I Ranked Every Hotel From Our Asia Trip
Tiffany and I just got back from two weeks across Asia. Tokyo, Kyoto, Shanghai. Five hotels, all booked on points, and they ranged from genuinely incredible to "probably not booking that again."
I'm ranking every single one on a tier list from S to C. No participation trophies. I'm also breaking down exactly how I booked each one, the points programs I used, the transfer strategies, and whether the redemption was actually worth it so you can book these yourself.
Let's get into each one.
Edition Toranomon, Tokyo: S Tier
This was our first Edition hotel experience, and it set the bar high.
Edition Toranomon — Booking Breakdown
I booked the Edition Toranomon using Chase Point Boost through my Chase Sapphire Reserve. 113,284 points total for 3 nights. I did a full breakdown of that redemption in another video (linked above) because the Point Boost math saved us a significant amount compared to a standard Marriott transfer. Didn't even have to transfer credit card points out to a hotel program.
The hotel itself matches our vibe perfectly. Upscale, but not pretentious. You walk in and it's sleek and modern, but it never feels stuffy. The rooms are comfortable, the service is consistent, and the views of Tokyo Tower from the room are unreal. You can see why this is a top 50 hotel.
If you're going to Tokyo and want something that feels luxury without feeling like you need to dress up to walk through the lobby, this is it.
If you're interested in the Chase Sapphire Reserve or any of the cards I use, head to maxmilespoints.com/cards. Using those links helps support the site.
The Thousand Kyoto: B Tier
From Tokyo, we took the Shinkansen down to Kyoto and stayed right by Kyoto Station at The Thousand Kyoto.
The Thousand Kyoto — Booking Breakdown
I booked this with I Prefer points. Transferred 38,000 Citi ThankYou points at a 1:4 ratio, which turned into 152,000 I Prefer points for 3 nights. Had to transfer 38,000 because transfers go in thousand-point increments. Quick note: the 1:4 transfer ratio is available until April 14th, 2026. After that, it drops to 1:2, which is half the value. If you're considering this hotel, now is the time.
The hotel itself is modern, quiet, clean, and the rooms are spacious for Japan (if you've stayed in Japanese hotels before, you know that's saying something). They call it a luxury hotel. I wouldn't go that far. It's more upper mid-tier. Think Hyatt Regency level. Nice, but not blowing you away.
I'd stay here again though. The location right next to Kyoto Station is really convenient for day trips, and there are a lot of hotels around these major train stations in Japan. The Thousand is probably one of the nicer options in that immediate area.
Waldorf Astoria on the Bund, Shanghai: A Tier
Waldorf Astoria on the Bund — Booking Breakdown
The Waldorf Astoria on the Bund is bookable for 95,000 Hilton Honors points per night for a standard room, or you can use a Hilton free night award if you have one.
There are two parts to this hotel: a historic building out front that's right on the Bund, and a more modern tower in the back. If you can get a room in the historic building, especially one facing the Bund, it's really something. You're looking out at the Shanghai skyline, the Pudong side with all the skyscrapers lit up, and it's one of the best hotel views I've ever had.
The rooms are nicely appointed with good finishes, comfortable, and decent size. It's a big-format luxury hotel with a lot of rooms, but it doesn't feel impersonal.
For first-timers in Shanghai, I think this is one of the best options. It's on the Bund, close to the touristy landmarks, and gives you that experience of staying in a historic building while still being modern and comfortable. If you have Hilton free night certificates from the Amex Hilton cards, this is one of those properties where a free night cert can potentially punch above its value.
Andaz Shanghai: C Tier
Andaz Shanghai — Booking Breakdown
The Andaz Shanghai scored the lowest on our list. 36,000 Hyatt points total for 3 nights, so 12,000 a night. Really cheap on points.
We got upgraded to a suite, which sounds great on paper. The problem is the entire hotel is showing its age. This place was probably cool in 2015, but it's 2026 and the finishes, the furniture, everything just feels dated.
Great location though, I'll give it that. And at 12,000 points a night, you're not exactly overpaying. It's not a bad hotel. It's just not one I'd go out of my way to book again. If you're in Shanghai and want to save your points for somewhere else, it works as a base. If you want an actual luxury experience, look elsewhere.
Park Hyatt Tokyo: B Tier
Park Hyatt Tokyo — Booking Breakdown
I already know people are going to disagree with me on this one.
The Park Hyatt Tokyo is iconic. It's luxury. And the points redemption is solid value: 110,000 Hyatt points for 3 nights, broken down as 40,000 the first night and 35,000 for the next two. I transferred Chase points to World of Hyatt to book it.
The rooms are beautiful. The service is excellent. On paper, it checks every box.
The location is where it loses points for me. It's in Shinjuku, but it's kind of tucked away. Not bad, but not convenient the way I want it to be in a city like Tokyo where you're constantly moving around. Spending an extra 20 minutes getting to where you want to be, every single day, adds up.
For reference, the Andaz Tokyo or the Hyatt Centric Ginza are both in spots that work better for most travelers, in my opinion. The Park Hyatt is worth experiencing once, especially on points, but location matters more to me than most people realize.
If you want to build up Hyatt points, the Bilt Mastercard is probably the easiest way to do it from everyday spend. You earn on rent, dining, travel, and Bilt transfers directly to World of Hyatt.
Bilt Palladium Card
Max's Take
If I had to pick one hotel from this trip to recommend to someone planning their first Asia trip on points, it's the Edition Toranomon in Tokyo. The vibe, the service, the views, and the redemption through Chase Point Boost all came together perfectly. The Waldorf on the Bund is a close second, especially if you have a Hilton free night cert to burn.
Don't sleep on the Citi ThankYou to I Prefer transfer at 1:4. It ends April 14th. That ratio makes The Thousand Kyoto a really reasonable redemption for a solid hotel in a perfect location.
And if you disagree with me on the Park Hyatt, drop a comment on the YouTube video. I want to hear your take.
