Tokyo's Hidden Gem: CVS Bay Hotel Annex - Unbelievable Views!
The [Hotel Name] Review: More Than Just a Stay, It's a… Thing
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your average travel review. This is going to be a deep dive – a chaotic, slightly obsessive, occasionally rambling deep dive – into the [Hotel Name]. I stayed there. I survived (mostly). And now, I'm here to tell you all about it, the good, the bad, and the incredibly beige.
(SEO & Metadata Alert: We're talking about access, amenities, safety, food, and everything in between - a real-world review of the [Hotel Name]. Keyword density is your friend! Accessibility, Wi-Fi, Spa, Dining, and overall experience are key!)
First Impressions & Accessibility: Ramp or Ruin?
Right off the bat, let's talk about the all-important Accessibility. I'm not in a wheelchair, but I appreciate a hotel that gets it. Thankfully, the [Hotel Name] seemed to, at least on the surface. Wheelchair Accessible areas were marked (phew!), and there's an Elevator – a godsend when you’ve lugged your suitcase up a flight of stairs and realized you left your charger in the car. There was Air Conditioning in public area, thank heavens, because, well, you know… Sweat.
I gave it a very casual glance over, but honestly, I wasn't really experiencing the accessibility like someone who needed it would. Which is a huge gap in my report, something I'm going to try and improve on in the future reviews. Sorry, future readers!
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: Couldn’t tell you, didn’t really dig into it, but the general feeling was… yes!
The Digital Front: Wi-Fi & Internet – Bless or Blight?
Listen, in this day and age, Internet access is not a luxury, it's a necessity. And the [Hotel Name] seemed to understand this… mostly. They boast Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!, and I can confirm it mostly worked. I say mostly because there were moments when the connection resembled a dial-up modem in the early 2000s. Seriously, I aged a year uploading a single photo. Internet [LAN] was also available, a throwback to the days of wired connections, which I didn’t use – because, you know, wires? But it was there. They did have Wi-Fi in public areas, which was clutch when the room Wi-Fi decided to take a nap. I did end up tethering my phone a lot.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Spa-tacular Maybe?
Okay, let's talk relaxation. This is where the [Hotel Name] promised to shine. Spa/Sauna? Check. Steamroom? Check. Massage? Double-check! Did I actually use all these wondrous amenities? Let's be honest, I probably should have, but I somehow forgot to schedule a massage. My own fault! I did see the Pool with view, and it was tempting, the water was the correct temperature, and it's like, a pool.
The Fitness center was adequate, maybe a little underwhelmed. The Gym/fitness was available, which is good, because I need to sweat!
Body scrub/Body wrap: Totally missed that.
Cleanliness & Safety: Germaphobe's Delight (and Not-So-Delight)?
This is where things get… interesting. The Cleanliness and safety protocols were visible. Lots of hand sanitizer stations, which I am a huge fan of. They were all over the place. Daily disinfection in common areas, Rooms sanitized between stays, and staff trained in safety protocol – all reassuring, especially in this post-pandemic world.
Anti-viral cleaning products were used, they said. Hot water linen and laundry washing – good to know. Hygiene certification – yep, plastered on the wall. They seemed to take this seriously.
Physical distancing of at least 1 meter? Sometimes. Sanitized kitchen and tableware items? Probably. Individually-wrapped food options? Ah, yes, the ubiquitous individually-wrapped breakfast pastries. It’s got a certain sadness to it, right? Like a tiny, pre-portioned existential crisis.
Room sanitization opt-out available? Don't quote me on that one.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Culinary Adventure (or Just Food)?
Alright, the food. This is where things got a little… uneven. They had Restaurants, plural! Breakfast [buffet]. Buffet in restaurant. (The theme is buffet). There was Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, and a general sense of… quantity over quality. The Coffee/tea in restaurant was decent, but the coffee shop was a little understaffed for the morning rush.
A la carte in restaurant: Good! Asian cuisine in restaurant: Yes. International cuisine in restaurant: Yes. Vegetarian restaurant: Also yes. (but not a dedicated one, and the options were… limited).
Room service [24-hour]? Yes! Which was a lifesaver after a long day of… well, whatever I was doing. I’ll be honest, I ordered a pizza at 3 AM. And it arrived. God bless room service.
Snack bar? Fine. Poolside bar? Fine.
The room service was a life saver.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
Concierge: Super helpful. Daily housekeeping: Yes! (My messy self appreciates this more than I can say). Dry cleaning: Didn’t use, but good to know. Elevator: A necessity. Convenience store: Convenient! Gift/souvenir shop: Tourist trap central, but they had stuff. Laundry service: There are many. Luggage storage: Handy.
For the Kids: The little blighters!
Babysitting service: Not for my trip
For the kids, there are kids facilities, and a kids meal.
The Room: A Home Away From Home (or a Temporary Abode)?
My room was… decent. Clean, generally. Air conditioning? Thank heavens. Blackout curtains? Glorious for sleeping in. Free Wi-Fi? See above (it worked, eventually).
- Wi-Fi [free]: Did I mention it was free?
- Air conditioning: Essential for summer, but a bit noisy.
- Bathtub: Luxurious (though I didn't have time for a soak).
- Desk: Useful for working (when the Wi-Fi cooperated).
- Mini bar: Overpriced, as always.
- In-room safe box: Peace of mind.
- Shower: Adequate.
- Safe/security feature: Always reassuring.
- Room decorations: A little… bland.
The overall experience:
The [Hotel Name] is not perfect. It has its quirks. I didn't use all the amenities. The Wi-Fi could be temperamental. But it tried. And for the price, it was a perfectly acceptable place to rest my weary head. Is it the best hotel in the world? No. Would I stay there again? Maybe. Depends on the Wi-Fi. Seriously, I need stable internet!
Final Verdict:
I give the [Hotel Name] a solid… 7.5 out of 10. Room for improvement, certainly, but a decent, functional, and occasionally charming place to stay. Would I recommend it? Yes, with the caveat that you bring your own internet access and a healthy dose of patience.
Torrington's BEST Hotel? Holiday Inn Express Review & Hidden Perks!
Tokyo Tumble: CVS Bay Hotel Annex - A Messy Love Letter (and Occasional Grumble)
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into my Tokyo trip. Prepare yourselves. This is not your perfectly polished, Instagram-filtered itinerary. This is real life, with all its glorious chaos and questionable choices. We're starting at the bastion of budget-friendly bliss, the CVS Bay Hotel Annex. And, honestly? It's… it's a journey.
Day 1: Arrival and Immediate Regret (Kidding! … Mostly.)
- 14:00 - Arrive at Narita (NRT). Okay, so, technically, the flight was fine. But the instant I hit Japanese soil, I was hit with the "OMG, I don't speak Japanese" anxiety. Found the train, which was an accomplishment, but getting to the hotel felt like an Olympic sport. So many people! So much… efficient walking. I felt like a slow-motion, clumsy panda.
- 16:00 - Check into CVS Bay Hotel Annex. The lobby? Tiny. The elevator? Even tinier. My room? Well, let's just say "cozy" is the polite word. It's… compact. Like, you can touch both walls while lying in bed. But the view? Surprisingly, NOT bad. Tiny concrete jungle views are kinda growing on me. (Or maybe it's just the jet lag talking.)
- 17:00 - Attempt to find a convenience store. This is a crucial part of assimilation, people. I wandered, slightly delirious, for what felt like miles, desperately searching for the mythical land of pre-packaged sushi. I finally stumbled upon a 7-Eleven. Heaven. 7-Eleven is basically a religious experience. Sushi, onigiri, and those ridiculously amazing egg sandwiches. I bought everything. Everything.
- 18:00 - Dinner/Food Coma. Back in the room, I devoured my 7-Eleven bounty. Seriously, that egg sandwich? Changed my life. Then, the jet lag hit. HARD. Passed out cold.
Day 2: Shinjuku Shenanigans and Ramen Rhapsody
- 09:00 - Drag myself out of bed. The compact room is definitely starting to feel… intimate. And the lack of English signage in the elevator is still giving me mini-heart attacks every morning.
- 10:00 - Train to Shinjuku. Okay, the train is packed. Like, sardines packed. I learned the hard way to hold onto my bag for dear life. Also, I swear I saw a salaryman sleeping standing up. The dedication is real.
- 11:00 - Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. The garden was a complete and utter balm to the soul. After the concrete jungle and bustling train stations, it was a breath of fresh air. Zen gardens, meticulously manicured trees… I felt like I could finally breathe, even if the entire experience involved a constant internal monologue of "Don't touch anything! Don't break anything!"
- 13:00 - Lunch at "Ramen Street" in Tokyo Station. This was a pivotal moment. After some internet deep diving, came across a recommendation of a ramen shop called "Ichiran". I thought I was in for a quick bowl, a light lunch. Oh, no. Ichiran is a whole production. Individual booths, customizable broth, and a level of ramen fanaticism that borders on the religious. Here's the thing: it was amazing. Seriously. Hands-down, the best ramen I've ever had. I even slurped the broth, which I'm usually too self-conscious to do. No regrets. That bowl of ramen was a spiritual experience. I might go back tomorrow. Scratch that, I will go back tomorrow. It's an addiction.
- 15:00 - Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Free view of the city. The view was breathtaking, even with the slightly hazy weather. It's a great way to get your bearings and see how truly massive Tokyo is.
- 17:00 - Lost in the Department Store. There are so many levels to explore in Tokyo department stores. I wandered into a department store, was completely overwhelmed (in a good way) and ended up buying a ridiculously adorable cat-shaped dish. Worth it.
- 19:00 - Dinner - More 7-Eleven. Let's be honest, I had ramen for lunch. Dinner required a quieter, less intense, and easier meal.
Day 3: Tsukiji Outer Market and… Sushi Overload!
- 07:00 - Wake up. (Yes, really.) This is early for me, but I'm on a mission: Tsukiji Outer Market. Plus, the tiny room seems to encourage early starts. (Maybe because there's literally nowhere else to be.)
- 08:00 - Tsukiji Outer Market. The market is a sensory overload. The place is teeming with people and vendors. The smells, the sights, the sounds… it's a complete and utter assault on the senses in the best way possible. Saw tuna auctions (didn't get in on that), and sampled various seafood delights.
- 09:30 - Sushi Breakfast. Okay, so, I'd read about the queues for sushi. I waited. I waited an hour. But it was worth it. The sushi was the freshest, most melt-in-your-mouth, mind-blowingly delicious sushi I've ever tasted. I went to Daiwa Sushi – the recommendation was right. The line was long (like, really long), but the sushi was sublime. I basically ate my weight in raw fish. Worth. Every. Second. Again.
- 11:00 - More market exploration. I wandered around, trying to soak it all in. Bought some green tea. Got lost. Ate a melon. Life. Is. Good.
- 13:00 - Return to hotel, and… nap. All that early rising and sushi consumption takes its toll.
- 16:00 - Exploring the Surrounding Area. Took a walk around the neighbourhood. Found a tiny park with cherry blossoms. Pure bliss.
- 18:00 - Dinner - Udon Noodles. Found a tiny, local udon place. (This time, no 7-Eleven.) The best meals are usually in these random places.
Day 4: Akihabara, Anime, and… Karaoke Catastrophe
- 10:00 - Train to Akihabara. Getting the hang of the trains, although I still occasionally get on the wrong line. (Fun times!)
- 11:00 - Akihabara Exploration. My inner geek had a field day. Arcades, electronics stores, anime merch… It's sensory overload in the best way. Took a pic with a giant Gundam. (Don't judge.)
- 14:00 - Karaoke. Oh, karaoke. This was a mistake. A glorious, slightly-embarrassing mistake. After a few too many Japanese beers, some friends and I stumbled into a karaoke bar. My singing voice is… let's just say, "unique." The Japanese people were so darn kind in cheering me on. I don't think I can say the same about my friends. The karaoke machine? It had a video for every song. Some were surprisingly good, others?… interesting. Let's just say, Mariah Carey's "Without You" will never be the same.
- 17:00 - Pizza? Didn't plan it, but after the karaoke, we were all ravenously hungry, and pizza was the only thing open.
- 19:00 - Back to the hotel, and immediate sleep. (Karaoke is exhausting.)
Day 5: Departure (and a Tear or Two?)
- 08:00 - Last 7-Eleven run. (Gotta stock up.)
- 09:00 - Check out of CVS Bay Hotel Annex. Farewell, tiny room. Farewell, compact elevator. I'm oddly going to miss it. Okay, maybe not. But it was a place to stay.
- 10:00 - Train to Narita. (No getting lost this time - success!)
- 13:00 - Flight Home.
- Okay, so… I was genuinely sad to leave. Tokyo is an amazing city, and I've only just scratched the surface. Despite the tiny room, the train struggles, and the karaoke disaster, I had an incredible time. I met some amazing people, ate some unbelievably good food, and… well, I'm already planning my return.
Things I Learned:
- Always carry tissues.
- Learn a few basic Japanese phrases. (But don't worry too much.)
- 7-Eleven is a gift from the gods.
- Embrace the chaos.
- Ramen is life. Especially from Ichiran.
- Going to Japan is an adventure. Make it your own.
- Expect the unexpected.
- Don't be afraid to get a bit lost.
So, what *exactly* is this "stuff" you're supposedly an expert on? Be honest, now.
Ugh, honesty is the best policy, right? Okay, so... I wouldn't call myself an *expert*. More like... a highly experienced *survivor* of "stuff." We're talking everything from navigating the mind-numbing bureaucracy of getting a library card (seriously, the *forms*!) to, oh, I don't know, surviving a near-disastrous attempt at making homemade pasta. Let's just say experience is my middle name; Disaster is my last. I've seen things, man. Things you wouldn't believe. I mean, I've even *been* things. Like, the time I accidentally wore mismatched socks to a job interview. The shame...
Alright, alright, you’re experienced. So, how do you even *start* tackling something new or daunting? Like, genuinely, what’s your first move?
Ah, the million-dollar question. And honestly? It's messy, okay? I'm not a "master planner." I'm more of a "wing it and hope for the best" kind of gal, even if my stomach is cramping with anxiety while doing it. First, I usually panic. Like, full-on internal screaming. Then, after I've recovered from the initial wave of overwhelming dread, I break it down into the SMALLEST possible steps. Like, ridiculously small. If I'm learning guitar, step one *isn't* "become Jimi Hendrix." It's "sit down, and stare at the guitar." Step two could be "Put my fingers on the strings." Then, and this is crucial, I usually *reward* myself for each teeny-tiny accomplishment. Cookie? Absolutely. Nap? You better believe it. I'm not above bribery. It's gotten me through some tough times.
What about when you, inevitably, mess up? Do you just, like, quit?
QUIT? Honey, I *excel* at messing up. I'm practically a gold medalist. The trick is to embrace the mess. My famous pasta disaster? Let me tell you, I spent a solid half-hour crying in the kitchen, convinced I was a failure. Flour EVERYWHERE. Ragged, uneven noodles. The sauce... well, let's just say the dog wouldn't even touch it. But then, after the tears dried, I thought, "Well, I survived. And at least I have a darn funny story to tell." So, no, I didn't quit. I laughed, I learned (mostly how *not* to make pasta), and I vowed to order takeout next time. Because, let's be honest, sometimes takeout is the ultimate win. The key here is to laugh at yourself when you make a mess. Don’t panic too much. Learn from the experience and just take a deep breath.
Okay, okay, you're making me feel a little better. But what about the *really* hard stuff? The stuff that actually keeps you up at night?
Ah. The dark stuff. The stuff that eats away at you when you're trying to sleep. Thing is, what's "hard" varies wildly from person to person. So, speaking for myself, I tend to have a bit of a problem with overthinking. If someone asks me a question, I can spend days trying to nail down the perfect answer even if I don't know the answer. The thing I’m trying out at the moment is to get comfortable with the fact that I can't be perfect, and try to enjoy the moment.
Do you have any tips about confidence? The kind that isn't a complete lie, anyway?
Oof. Confidence. That elusive butterfly, right? The kind you try to catch, and it just flits away mocking you with its perfect wings. Look, I’m not gonna feed you a load of BS about "believing in yourself" all the time. Because, let’s face it, there are days I don't believe in my ability to make a decent cup of coffee, let alone conquer the world. However, I can offer some *workarounds*. First: Find *one* thing you're actually good at, and then DO IT, and do it often. Don't go searching for perfection, just find *one* thing you can do and then do it and you will feel at least a little better about your general competence. Second: Fake it 'til you make it - but with caveats. Fake it, *but* be kind to yourself. Acknowledge your vulnerabilities, so you're not setting yourself up for a crash and burn. And lastly, remember that everyone is faking it, *especially* the people who seem like they have everything figured out. And, really, the most important thing is to get past the initial hurdle.
What's the WORST advice you've ever received?
Oh, I've amassed a *collection*. But the one that stands out, the one that makes me want to scream into a pillow, is: "Just relax." ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Relax?! Do you, by any chance, know my crippling anxiety? My inner monologue that sounds like a never ending newsreel of impending doom? "Just relax" is not advice. It's a weapon. It's the verbal equivalent of being poked with a stick while trying to cross a rickety bridge. It just makes everything worse. So, yeah, if you ever hear yourself about to utter "Just relax," please… just… don't. Instead, offer me a chocolate chip cookie. Those things can actually make me feel better.
Okay, final question. You've been through a lot. What's the absolute *best* thing you've learned from all of this "stuff?"
Okay, so... the absolute best thing? Hmm... It's not glamorous. It's not profound. I'm going to say… The best thing is the realization that I *can* handle it. Whatever "it" is. Whether it's pasta that tastes vaguely of sadness, anxiety, or even a tiny bit of success, I can survive it, and somehow, usually, even learn something. And honestly, that realization isn't just comforting. It's actually kind of… freeing. Because if I can survive the truly awful stuff that’s happened, what do I have to fear? Besides maybe making pasta again. Maybe the dog, maybe it knows something I don’t.
