courtyard by marriott – Jellybeans in the City

Nagoya, often overlooked in favor of Japan’s more famous cities, holds a charm that’s all its own. It’s a place where history meets innovation, tradition fuses with modernity, and unique experiences await around every corner.

I never thought that I would be able to explore this vibrant area but thanks to the Sun Life Philippines’ Sun Talks Media Digital Media Edition contest for bloggers, I was able to join the international trip qualifiers of 42nd Macaulay Club during their six-day sojourn in Nagoya.

I also had the pleasure of staying at the Courtyard by Marriott Nagoya, and I’m excited to share my experience with you. From the heartwarming hospitality to the city’s hidden gems, Nagoya and the Courtyard by Marriott Nagoya made me feel right at home.

An Urban Oasis

The hotel enjoys a prime location nestled among the bustling shopping, entertainment, and business districts of Nagoya. It’s the perfect starting point for wanderings and explorations around the city as it is just a stone’s throw away from Fushimi and Nagoya Stations, which connect travelers to every part of the city.

My stay was all about comfort, productivity, and exploration. The Courtyard Nagoya ensures that its guests have all the essentials for a fulfilling trip. From cozy seating areas to work and collaborate, a well-equipped gym to stay on-track with fitness goals even while traveling, to complimentary Wi-Fi, the hotel has everything covered to ensure a memorable stay.

The hotel also boasts a spacious, pillarless ballroom venue that offers ample room for large gatherings. During our stay, the ballroom played host to daily breakfast and a gala dinner event for over 200 Macaulay delegates. It’s a testament to the hotel’s ability to cater to various event needs in style and comfort.

A Room to Remember

I shared one of the Courtyard Nagoya’s Deluxe Room Twin with my fellow blogger, Mommy Sigrid. The 28-square-meter room was spacious and thoughtfully designed, housing two spacious and comfy double beds, a mini-fridge (to hold our munchables for our late-night cravings), a living/sitting area with a view of the Hori River, and equipped high-speed wireless internet to keep us connected. As we relaxed in the room, we entertained ourselves and sought inspiration from Nagoya travel blogs on Youtube with the 55-inch LCD TV.

The Deluxe Room Twin is perfect for up to two guests, and the featherbed and duvet on the double beds ensured a cozy night’s sleep. The room featured air conditioning to keep us comfortable and USB outlets for all our charging needs. The bathroom was no less impressive, with a shower/tub combination, a lighted makeup mirror, a hairdryer, and plush slippers to pamper us. For those who need to catch up on work, the room comes with a desk and writing/work area with electrical outlets.

Nearby Dining Delights

When it comes to dining, the Courtyard Nagoya offers an array of options to satisfy your taste buds. But if you’re itching to explore the neighborhood, there are plenty of culinary gems to discover. Here are some of the establishments we tried out during our stay:

Exploring Nagoya

Thanks to Courtyard by Marriott’s convenient location, exploring Nagoya’s popular and hidden sights and experiences is made easier:

Further Adventures

While Nagoya itself offers a plethora of attractions, don’t forget to explore the gems in the region:

Nagoya is a city that pleasantly surprises you at every turn. From its historical sites to its vibrant cultural experiences, it offers something for every traveler. And when you choose to stay at the Courtyard by Marriott Nagoya, you’re not just selecting a place to rest; you’re selecting a home away from home, where every day is filled with comfort and adventure.

Consider the Courtyard Nagoya for your next trip to this captivating city. With its bold design, convenient amenities, and ideal location, it’s the perfect base for your Nagoya adventure. Your journey awaits, and Nagoya is ready to welcome you with open arms.

Want to have a similar adventure in Nagoya? Book your stay via Klook today!

Courtyard by Marriott Nagoya is located at 1 Chome-17-6 Sakae, Naka Ward, Aichi 460-0008, Japan.

Disclosure: Together with Mommy Sigrid, I was awarded an all-expense paid trip to Nagoya, Japan, joining the international trip qualifiers of the Macaulay Club which includes a 6D/5N stay at the Courtyard by Marriott Nagoya, after winning the first Sun Talks Digital Media Edition contest for bloggers.

Check out my previous posts on other Marriott properties:

Basking in Bali: Discover paradise at Marriott’s Bali Nusa Dua Gardens

Basking in Bali: Our sojourn at Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua Resort

Bali, located between the isles of Java and Lombok in Indonesia is said to be the island of gods. From its towering mountains covered with lush forests that give way to verdant rice paddies and glittering shorelines, Bali is definitely blessed with nature’s wonders.

Its populace is no less unique; while most of Indonesians are Muslims, the Balinese are predominantly Hindu, and are expressive of their spirituality, not just through prayer but also in the form of structures and iconography that provide interest their surroundings as well as through other vibrant works of art.

Bali’s premier resort area, Nusa Dua, is located in the southern part of the island. Its name translates to two islands which refer to the two headlands found just off the peninsula’s coast.

Within this 350-hectare upscale enclave are twenty-plus resorts catering to tourists and visitors, one of which is Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua Resort.

This award-winning hotel is one of Courtyard by Marriott’s 1360 properties across 65 countries. This upscale brand caters to business and leisure travelers by providing quality comfort.

This is where Hubby and I stayed during our trip to Bali to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

A luxurious hotel stay

Everything about Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua Resort speaks of luxury in touch with nature.

Upon entering its driveway, we were welcomed with verdant green grass dotted with statues.

Its sprawling lobby is cool, airy and surrounded by water, adding to the relaxing atmosphere hat welcomes the resort’s guests.

Its lagoon-like swimming pool meanders along the outdoor seats of the resort’s on-site restaurant, Momo Cafe. Here, guests can lounge while enjoying their meals or taking a dip in the pool.

Our air-conditioned deluxe room is furnished with a king-size bed topped witu plush pillows and a comfy duvet.

It is also furnished with a sitting area for resting as well as a desk bureau for working (which, thankfully, were few and far between during our vacay).

The marble bathroom is equipped with a shower and toilet, as well as a hairdryer, robe, slippers and Nirvae bath products for our use during our stay.

Our room has a balcony that overlooks the pool area. I found it a perfect spot to read a book or enjoy the Bali evening breeze.

The room is also equipped with high-speed wireless internet, a 32-inch LED TV with cable channels, as well as a radio.

Other amenities provided to make our stay nice and comfy include:

Alarm clock
In-room safe
Iron and ironing board
Complimentary bottled water
Coffee maker and tea service

Should we wish for some work off a few pounds, the hotel’s gym is equipped with treadmills and other exercise machines.

The hotel’s C Spa offers a wide range of Balinese massage and beauty treatments, administered by expert therapists.

Well, Hubby and I didn’t travel all the way to Bali just to stay indoors, right? So off we went to Nusa Dua Beach to enjoy the sand, surf and the sun.

Here, the resort operates a Beach Club that provides beverages and snacks to guests.

With these comfortable and luxurious amenities, as well as the excellent service of its staff, our stay Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua Resort helped make our anniversary sojourn of #BaskingInBali one of the books!

Nearby tourist attractions

Being a resort hub, Nusa Dua is filled with sites and establishments that appeal to tourists which are all within a short and easy walking distance from the hotel (or an even shorter and easier ride in the shuttle!)

Strolling around is no problem for Hubby and myself, thanks to Nusa Dua’s comfortable walkways lined with lush greenery and tastefully graced with Balinese architectural structures and mythic sculptures.

We also got a little dose of retail therapy at the Bali Collection. It is a commercial hub enveloped with touches of nature, housing an extensive collection of outlet stores and local merchants that offer great finds and exciting deals.

We were also pretty lucky that our stay coincided with the Nusa Dua Light Festival.

Organized by the Indonesia Tourism Coincil, it is the biggest lantern festival in Bali, featuring a spectacle of lights and lanterns to be enjoyed by tourists and residents alike.

Good eats in the vicinity

Nusa Dua is also home to great restaurants so epicureans will be able to go on a gastronomic adventure without having to venture far from the hotel.

Momo Cafe

Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua Resort’s on-site restaurant’s offers convenient all-day dining with indoor and al fresco seating.

For the duration of our stay, Hubby and I started our day with a scrumptious fusion continental and local cuisines through our complimentary breakfast buffet.

On our last night, we treated ourselves to a Babi Guling buffet dinner, highlighting Bali’s version of the suckling roast pig, the Babi Guling.

Other Balinese delicacies that we were able to try include the Ayam Betutu (Balinese Spice Chicken), Tambusan Be Pasih (Baked Snapper in Base Genep), Be Sampi Menyayat (Slow Simmer Balinese Spiced Beef), Sate Lilit (Balinese Minced Seafood Sate), Lawar Kacang (Green Bean Salad) and Jujut Urab (Balinese Cold Tossed Vegetables with Coconut Dressing).

While eating, we were also serenaded with live acoustic music.

Spicy Geg Indonesian Kitchen

Hubby and I found a restaurant in a commercial hub just outside the hotel that serves light Indonesian fare.

The tropical feel of Nusa Dua was brought indoors, thanks to the wood and rattan furniture and the vibrant palm print walls and lush hanging plants with a bit of contrast from the restaurant’s marble bar and gold fixtures.

At Spicy Geg, we continued our exploration of local cuisines with our delicious orders of Nasi Goreng Rendang (Beef Rendang with Rice), Ikan Tuna Bakar (Tuna dish from North Sulawesi) and Sate Rembige Lombok (Beef and Chicken Skewers).

Kagura Authentic Japanese Cuisine

Hubby and I also discovered a piece of Tokyo right in the heart of Nusa Dua.

We took a breather from our explorations ny having lunch at the trendy yet cozy Kagura Authentic Japanese Cuisine.

We wasted no time ordering our Japanese food faves such as Tuna Sashimi, Salmon Maki, Katsudon and Ebi Tempura.

Easily go on an Ubud Tour

We took advantage of Nusa Dua’s proximity to many well-known tourist spots by hiring a van to take us on a tour around the Ubud region.

Highlights of this tour include watching the Barong and Keris Dance, a visit to enclaves of batik and jewelry artists in Batuan, lunch overlooking a cliff at Batur Sari Resto, coffee and tea tasting at Alam Bali Agriculture, exploring the Sebatu Temple, viewing the Tegalallang Rice Terraces and, finally, a seaside dinner at Ayu Bali Resto.