Nha Trang Palace Hotel

Room service was the bright spot, the cleaning ladies worked hard and kept the room spotless. I stayed at Nha Trang Palace Hotel for about two weeks, and even if it might have been a five-star place in its prime, I’d give it three stars now. It’s outdated and run-down. The restaurant tables and chairs were dirty or stained, the ceilings looked like they rarely got cleaned, and the staff seemed unmotivated. Meals were a hassle because constant sales events and insurance pitches took over the hotel. The promotions for swallow’s nest products were especially aggressive, with hundreds of salespeople crowding the restaurant and leaving little space to eat. People smoked everywhere despite the rules. Breakfast was meagre and unappetizing, with no yoghurt or proper coffee, just instant. The internet was painfully slow, at best 10 Mbps, and got even slower when several guests used it. Compared with my previous stay at Havana Hotel, this was almost unbearable. Luckily, I was away for five days in Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh, and checked out a day early 😅. I asked some Russian guests if they liked it, and they said yes. Maybe that influenced my choice at first, but I’m glad I left. Avoid it if you want peace, decent food, or reliable WiFi.

The beds are comfortable, and the rooms and bathrooms are a good size. It’s a proper old-school four-star hotel, with a great gym and a decent-sized pool on the 7th floor.

It took 25 minutes to sort out a bad key and door situation. I had to go back to the front desk three times to try their electronic key. At a three-star hotel, they’d normally give you a different room, but she wanted me to stay there without a key. I insisted she get her manager to move me to a room with a working key. That finally happened. Maybe an Asian five-star is a Westerner’s three-star.

The price was very low, the hotel is near the beach, and the view is good if your room faces the right way. Don’t expect too much if you want a reasonably priced stay. There are plenty of better hotels nearby. Only one front desk staff member could understand and speak simple English, so I had to use translation to communicate. Breakfast was included, but the food was just so-so. Housekeeping only swept the front area and changed the towels, without making the bed. I had laundry done on the night I checked in, but they didn’t bring it up. I had to pick it up at the counter and pay in cash.