Hoian Aroma Villa

We arrived an hour after check-in time, but still had to wait another 20 minutes for our room. At checkout, it was 12:04 and we were literally a minute from leaving when he knocked, walked in rudely and disrespectfully, and looked around at everything. We assumed the water in the room was complimentary, like at other hotels, but he charged us for it at more than double the store price. There was no sign saying it cost money. The room also hadn’t been fully cleaned after the previous guests, and the walls where they meet the ceiling were gross. DO NOT GO HERE.

My original hotel was overbooked, so I stayed one night at Hoian Royal Villa. The room was comfortable, with big windows, a comfortable bed, cold air conditioning and a hot shower. It also had basic amenities like a kettle, coffee and tea, plus a refrigerator. The location was very quiet and peaceful, and check-in and checkout were quick and convenient. I’ve been visiting the Hoi An area for many years.

My two-night stay didn’t meet expectations, and I can’t quite understand the many positive reviews. The accommodation differed from the description in several ways. I know things wear out and don’t always work perfectly, but the cleanliness was unacceptable: the floor clearly hadn’t been cleaned, long hairs were everywhere, and the rest of the room wasn’t very clean either. The bed was mostly clean. Like other reviewers, I didn’t see bedbugs, though it seemed better not to inspect the corners too closely. After the first night I wanted to move because I developed a sore throat and cough. I can’t say for sure the room caused it, but other reviews mentioned mold, which seems possible in a room with no windows. The staff weren’t very helpful or friendly. Also, the room water apparently costs extra, and that wasn’t clearly explained. Two out of five stars feels fair.

I booked Hoi An Royal Villa through Agoda, but when I arrived and showed my confirmation, the receptionist kept saying “wait a moment” without explaining what was going on. I waited over 30 minutes as staff checked their laptop and went up and down the stairs, but no one could confirm my room. I didn’t want to wait any longer, so I left and booked somewhere else. It seemed the hotel may have accepted online bookings without an available room, which would explain the delay and confusion. The actual condition also looked very different from the online photos. I recommend future guests read recent reviews carefully before booking.