It was four-thirty in the morning and I was awakened by the burst of light coming from our window. It was the break of dawn and the early morning light was starting to peek from the Mirai Tower. I slowly lowered the roller shades down and watched as my husband and son were in their usual weird sleeping positions. I smiled and went to the sofa then made myself a cup of the oh-so-good instant coffee from Travelodge Nagoya Sakae and started my usual morning “me” time.
My two-month school break commenced our annual family backpacking trip. We had the opportunity to travel via 2GO Travel Ship to Central Visayas in June where we went around Bohol, Siquijor, Dumaguete, and Cebu for 22 days. We then went on a trip to Nagoya, Takayama, and Furukawa in Japan for 11 days. We aptly called our trip #PreKinderTrip2024 as these were the weeks leading to Akira’s first formal schooling.
After arriving at Chubu Centrair International Airport, Christian, Akira, and I went straight to Hida Takayama where we stayed for five days. After exploring the mountainous Gifu Prefecture, we went to Nagoya, the capital of Aichi Prefecture, and explored the third largest city in Japan.
Check here for discounted tours, transportation, and activities in Nagoya
It was summertime in Nagoya and as expected, it was hot and humid on some days and rainy at times. The sun usually rises at four in the morning and sets at seven in the afternoon which was perfect for going around the city. It’s my first time visiting Japan during summertime and I love how we had fifteen hours of daylight every day as opposed to nine hours during wintertime.
There are several accommodation options in Nagoya but we chose to stay near the famous spots in the city and within our budget. Travelodge Nagoya Sakae ticks everything on our list so we made it our home in Nagoya for seven days.
Getting there
From Nagoya Station, where our bus from Takayama dropped us off, we took the local subway train that brought us to Marunouchi Station, the nearest station to Travelodge Nagoya Sakae. We then walked for a few minutes to get to the hotel.
Sakae is an area in Nagoya where the shopping scene is undeniably great. This retail and entertainment district is packed with shopping centers, bars, underground shops, and more.
Travelodge is a hotel network that gives you the comforts of a hotel stay but for great value for money. They promise hassle-free and no-fuss stay by providing the essentials you’ll need for a comfortable stay. The hotel chain is currently operating in major cities around the globe
Check-in Process
The standard check-in time in Japan is at three in the afternoon and we arrived later than that. We had an online reservation which made everything fast and easy. We just had to present the confirmation email and were asked to present our passports. In no time, we were given the keycard to our room and were asked of our chosen day to have our room cleaned because the rooms are not cleaned every day. They clean and change linens for rooms with guests staying for a minimum of four days.
We were also advised on the rules and facilities of Travelodge Nagoya Sakae.
Hotel Overview
The first thing I noticed when I entered was the modern vibe of the hotel. There’s a long hallway with an accent wall of different greetings from around the world. Although the staff could converse in the English language, I was happy to meet a Filipina (which I forgot to get the name of) as one of them. She gladly answered all our queries as to some of her favorite hangout spots and such.
The front desk is open 24/7 and they will help you with all you need especially if you need information on going around the city. There’s also a luggage weighing scale and complimentary luggage storage services.
There’s a lounge area for in-house and outside guests and a shelf where you can get some of your stay essentials such as a comb, toothbrush, bedroom slippers, coffee, tea, and other stuff. What I like most is how you would only get what you need as compared to filling the bathroom with amenities that would usually go to waste if not used. Free high-speed WiFi connection was also included during our stay.
Facilities and Amenities
They have a microwave oven located on the first level for in-house guests. This came in handy as we usually buy bento meals at night at a super low price and reheat them the next morning for our breakfast.
A Fitness Center on the same level is open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. There’s nothing fancy though, just your regular go-to gym when you just want to sweat a little.
A co-working space can be found on the second level is free for use for in-house guests and is open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. This is also where the buffet breakfast is served for a fee. It is spacious and comfortable with lots of seating options with accessible USB sockets and power plugs. What we love is the free-flowing juices, teas, and sodas during its operating hours.
Self-service coin laundromat with washer, dryer, iron, and ironing board is located on the second level as well as the in-house vending machine.
Superior Queen Room
The 17-sqm. Superior Queen Room was compact with all the essentials that you could think of. I really love how they utilized the space very well.
There’s a clothes hanger mounted on the wall with a fabric and room freshener spray hanging on it. There’s also a wooden shoe horn and brush. The queen size bed rested in the middle of the room against a soft headboard. The bedside tables had integrated charging plugs as well as lighting controls.
My side of the bed also had a portable vanity mirror, digital alarm clock, and facial tissue. Below it were some shelves we used to store some of our stuff while our luggage rested below our bed.
The TV was mounted on the wall right at the foot of the bed. The remote control as well as the TV channel guide were conveniently located right below it. We made sure that we always put it back there so we wouldn’t lose it.
A printed montage of Nagoya’s iconic skyscrapers was displayed on one of the walls. Resting below it was a piece of multifunctional furniture with a compact seating area, mini fridge, in-room safe, storage area, coffee and tea-making facilities, and more features incorporated in a modular way.
The private bathroom had a typical Japanese toilet, huge mirror, lavatory, and enclosed shower room. They also provide hand & body wash, shampoo, and conditioner in dispensers—all of which were POLA, a Japanese brand I love. There's also a hair dryer, bathrobe and towels.
Check-out Process
Our seven-day stay at Travelodge Nagoya Sakae was great as we got to see the different spots in the city including a visit to Legoland Japan. The standard check-out time in Japan is ten in the morning and because our flight was early, we checked out at eight and grabbed a taxi to go to a nearby train station to the airport.
There’s an Express Check-Out area for those who are in a hurry wherein all you need to do is drop your keycards and leave (assuming that the bill was already settled). As I mentioned earlier, you can borrow a weighing scale for your luggage.
Final Thoughts
There are different types of travelers which has led to the development of various lodging options in recent years. Our small family travels a lot and with meager means to go backpacking for weeks, we usually look for great deals on flights and hotel accommodations. What I love about Travelodge Nagoya Sakae is that it suits our family’s needs by providing basic accommodation with everything you need for a comfortable stay that won’t hurt your budget.
They also help our environment by having refillable shampoos, conditioners, and body wash dispensers. They are also reducing their single-use products by getting what you only need for a day or stay for the other amenities. Overall, Travelodge Hotels Asia helps a lot of travelers by focusing on the basics without sacrificing comfort and security. Hopefully, they will open a hotel here in the Philippines soon.
3-1-22 Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
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