Diamond Bay Resort and Spa

The service was very poor. They completely messed up our pickup even though it had been confirmed twice, and the staff didn’t seem well informed or empowered. I had to explain a lot just to establish that we’d actually booked a room. The resort is also quite far from the main beach city, though Grab cars are easy to get at any time. Still, it was only Rs 2300 (INR) per person per day, and restaurant prices weren’t too high. It’s a huge resort with spacious rooms, a private beach, a large pool, and a SPA. If you want a decent stay for a very reasonable price, it’s an option, as long as you don’t expect five-star treatment. I’m giving it five stars for value for money despite all the problems.

We booked a standard room without a balcony, so there was no view. The other rooms would be a five-star choice. They let us get into our room before the official check-in time, even though we arrived early. It’s a friendly, comfortable hotel, with beach towels ready to take across to the beach, free bike hire, and a fabulous rooftop pool.

The grounds are lovely and have their own charm, and the resort is very quiet with pleasant nature around it. Still, you can tell its best years are behind it. There are few guests, which makes for peace and quiet but also leaves a slight sense of neglect. It can work well for an affordable, quiet break, though anyone expecting a true five-star standard may be disappointed. I got more or less what I expected, and with better transport and dining, the place has real potential. Getting into Nha Trang is a drawback. The city is about 25 minutes away by taxi or resort shuttle, but the shuttle runs only twice a day and has very limited seats. We were turned away twice after asking in advance, and if there’s no space, a taxi is the only option. The website mentions transport, but it doesn’t always work as expected. The schedule is inconvenient too: after a 25-30 minute drive, there’s very little time left in the city before the return, even for a quick errand like buying basic supplies. It would help if the shuttle ran more often or extra transport were provided when one bus can’t take everyone. The bungalows are nice and spacious, and rooms are cleaned daily with fresh towels each day. But ours smelled unpleasantly damp when we arrived. I woke with a sore throat and felt unwell the next morning. It smelled like dampness or mold, so people with asthma or breathing problems could have similar trouble. The air conditioning seemed to need cleaning or servicing too, as the air felt harder to breathe. The big pool was fairly clean and usually empty, and I enjoyed swimming even in the relatively cool weather. The breakfast buffet had a good range and was average in quality but sufficient, with something most guests could eat. Take flip-flops for the shower. Most of the bathroom isn’t slippery, but the shower area really is. I slipped, fell, hit my head, and got a bruise, so be careful. The water was warm and the pressure good. The reception experience was mixed. The women at the front desk were kind and helpful, but an older male staff member was noticeably unpleasant. Most guests are foreigners, yet English is only spoken at a basic level, which sometimes made communication difficult. Banana Leaf looks nice, but the food is expensive for below-average quality. The menu lists prices without clearly saying there’s also a 5% service charge and 30% consumption tax. A bill that should have been 415,000 came to 470,610, causing real inconvenience at the end of the trip because we’d carefully worked out how much cash we had left. The spa feels outdated and empty. The gym is worn, humid, and has only basic equipment.

My room was clean, with a big balcony, and breakfast was huge. It really feels like staying in the jungle. Having a car would make it easier to get somewhere else for a yummy lunch or dinner.