Melia Vinpearl Quang Binh

Update after the first night: the staff moved us to a riverside connecting suite with a shared area and its own half bath, and offered us a later checkout, which I appreciated. Vinplaza is right next door, with a cinema, supermarket, and indoor kids' playground. There's also a local fish market very close by on the right. If you want to walk around and explore, avoid that area because the ground is very wet and dirty. Original review: I expected a lot from the pictures, but the room design was disappointing. At night there's either very bright light or total darkness, with no dimmer or night light. If I used the restroom before my spouse woke up, the light would wake him and make it hard for me to fall back asleep, or I'd have to hunt for my phone flashlight. We booked a family room for our two kids, aged 4 and 6, and I expected a shared area. It turned out to be two connected rooms. The description didn't promise a common space, so that expectation was my own, but I was still disappointed. We also had dinner at the sixth-floor restaurant. The food was good, but service was very slow. With young kids, patience isn't our strong suit. Our stay wasn't over yet, so I was waiting to see how the rest of the trip went.

The staff worked hard to make us feel welcome and accommodate us, and the location was pretty good. I also enjoyed the view from the room. But by Western standards, I wouldn't call it a five-star hotel, mainly because the room and bathroom needed a deeper clean. The sheets were fresh, but there was mold in the bathroom grout, and the shower door and walls looked like they hadn't been scrubbed thoroughly in a while. The refilled toiletries also looked as if they weren't regularly cleaned and replaced properly. In my opinion, breakfast was overpriced. The fruit was fresh, and the coffee and omelette station were okay, but the rest of the buffet food was just so-so, often stale and cold even under the buffet lights. I'd rather find something to eat on the street.

The staff were fabulous, spoke English, and went above and beyond. The rooms were spacious, comfortable, and luxurious, and the pool was massive. There was a large breakfast buffet with delicious food. I stayed for a day before and after my Phong Nha trip, and it was fantastic, a truly five-star hotel.

The breakfast was a real highlight, with so many delicious choices, and the hotel was exceptionally clean. Getting around is easy because Grab has frequent discounts for this location. A tip: SEN SPA MASSAGES is a fantastic massage shop about a 10-minute walk away. They’re professional and use high-quality natural oils, much better than the nearby tourist traps advertising '24-hour' service. The hotel and that spa made for a very relaxing holiday!