Tourane

The checkout experience overshadowed what had been a lovely room and sea view. We were three, with our six-year-old, and stayed January 3-5. The room was spacious and comfortable, and until checkout everything seemed fine. But we had used neither room service nor anything from the minibar, so expected checkout to be quick. First we were asked to wait while the room was checked. A receptionist then hurried over to say the hotel’s rubber slippers were missing. We asked them to look again, and the slippers were in the room. Five minutes later, staff said we had used one of the large Aquafina bottles and pointed to a line on the minibar menu, which was only in Vietnamese. We hadn’t been told the larger bottles cost extra, at nearly four times the market price, and assumed one was complimentary. For three people, the two small 330 ml Aquafina bottles provided free felt inadequate. At least a litre of drinking water seems reasonable for a family room. The menu was impossible for international guests to read, and no one had explained the charge. The next morning at breakfast, a staff member immediately stopped guests from refilling bottles at the water dispenser. That added to the feeling that the hotel would rather push overpriced bottled water than offer basic hospitality. The whole episode felt petty and absurd, and the lack of transparency and poor communication left a very bad impression. For a hotel in this category, the way guests are nickel-and-dimed is unacceptable. We wouldn’t stay again or recommend it to families or international travelers.

We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary at Grand Tourane, which made the stay especially meaningful. The staff were so friendly and welcoming, and the breakfast was fantastic, with lots of delicious choices. The location is handy for restaurants, cafés, and local food spots. Thank you for the thoughtful present from Grand Tourane. We’ll remember it, and if we return to Vietnam, we’ll definitely stay again.

The beach is right across the road, and the location is easily the hotel’s strongest point. I also liked the large outdoor pool, though it drew all sorts of people. Staff didn’t seem to check who was using it, so I wondered whether some might be from nearby hotels. My room was huge, enough space for six to eight people, with a great view, but the decor and furniture were dated and worn. The hallways weren’t air conditioned, so they felt hot, and the interiors needed better upkeep. It’s popular with tour groups and feels past its heyday, in need of a refit to justify five stars. Breakfast was in a busy room with tired decor. The coffee was great and strong, and the coffee machine made a wonderful cold coffee with milk, but the food selection felt limited for a five-star place. Fruit, cold meats, and cheese were sparse, though the congee was good and thick. The sky bar prices were very high, and staff wouldn’t let me look around, which put me off. I wasn’t impressed by how I was treated. In the heat, the hotel was less comfortable than I’d hoped. The rooms are big but need updated furniture and decor. A deal might make it fair value, but I’m glad I stayed only a few days before moving elsewhere. I’ve been to worse hotels, but they don’t claim five stars.

The ocean-facing location is great, but make sure to get a room facing the water. The hotel feels old, and maintenance and service need improvement. Breakfast is very local, so don’t expect much variety. I’d skip the spa, it felt like a waste of time and money. I’m not sure this place deserves to be called a five-star hotel.