City Hotel N U T S (Tokyo, Japan)

When in a completely strange country, you rely to a great extent on the hotel staff for general assistance. Here, they are just great and their combined input is crucial to the success of your Tokyo stay. It's surprising how many of them speak very good English. *Bet 'you' don't speak Japanese!

Everything is very clean and well maintained. There's even a spa bath in the bathroom. Free soft drinks are in the lobby and they'll process your accumulated laundry needs, quickly and at a minimal cost.

There are plenty of shops and restaurants in the area … plus, that all-important post office.

It's not unusual in this part of the world to find that accommodation is tight - the whole of Tokyo is crowded and cramped! Practically, here, westerners have difficulty recharging their electronic devices.

A common complaint is that there are no windows to the room and no natural light, or adequate air circulation. There are windows, but they are boarded up; presumably for security reasons? Either way, the result is a less than appealing, cell-like existence. It's a bit disarming too, to hand in your room key every time you leave - and hand over the security of your belongings.

Nothing wrong with being old but, when it's a hotel room, this means the buildup of cigarettes etc; in the rooms, lifts and public areas. Air vents are dirty and dusty and don't fulfill their role very well. The fridge hasn't been properly cleaned in 'yonks' - and now stinks.