Ngoc Chau Hotel

After just one day, they moved us into the high-floor, unobstructed sea-view room we'd reserved, but the check-in mess made the stay extremely frustrating. We'd booked three days through Agoda and were first given a ground-floor room with a blocked view. When we politely asked why, staff said they'd given our reserved room to someone staying longer. They even said we could leave if we weren't happy. I can't recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a smooth, hassle-free trip.

The facilities feel old and poorly maintained, and there's nothing else that stands out. The central location is convenient for getting around, though, so it's okay if all you need is somewhere to sleep for one night.

I left after a few days, even though I'd planned to stay for 20. The only positive was getting my money back for the unused nights. The receptionist apologized repeatedly, but I was already fed up with the place and their attitude. The air was awful from both directions. On my first morning, a foul smell woke me. Opening the balcony door brought in an overpowering kerosene or oil odor from the busy ships along this part of the seaside. On the other side, the island's main road was packed with motorcycles, buses, and construction vehicles, so the air seemed constantly polluted. After a few days, my bed smelled like pee too. I asked them to clean it more thoroughly because of the mattress odor. When I returned, they'd flipped the mattress to its unstained side and done nothing else. There was lots of black hair inside the bed, and the fresh sheet was covered in red dots, as in my picture. Before that, lifting the white sheet had revealed several large mattress stains. They'd simply covered the unknown stains with the sheet. Disgusting. The room's sea view looked like a fake Insta-post. The view itself was good if you didn't look down or to the side. Balconies sit right beside each other, leaving no privacy; it felt like sharing one outdoor space with the neighbors. The surroundings were filthy. The ocean is only 20-30 meters away, but it was FULL OF GARBAGE. Please zoom in on my pictures. A broken toilet was sitting outside under the balcony, and cats ate from the garbage there in the evenings. I felt like I was living in a ghetto. The advertised photos may have been taken 10+ years ago. The building looked neglected, with broken or missing tiles at the entrance that made you watch your step, and the sky bar was closed. When I arrived, receptionists stayed behind the counter, avoiding greetings or conversation. They offered no information, and after a few questions I gave up. I didn't feel welcome and got the impression they didn't like their own guests. Sad. There was nothing positive to mention. Avoid this place. I had a very bad experience, and the pictures show it.

The rooms were roomy and clean, and the property was really nice. We got a very affordable rate, too. Check-in is at noon, but they let us in early without charging extra, and the staff were really sweet.