Chapa Dew Boutique Hotel

There are some good points here. The hotel is in the city centre on the shopping street, with plenty of nearby cafés, bars, and restaurants, from pizza and Indian food to local places. Staff were very friendly, the front desk spoke English, and breakfast was good with excellent service. The room and bathroom were less convincing. The flooring was badly worn, cleanliness was only modest, and there weren't enough towels. There was just one bedside table, on the right side of the bed, and no fridge or telephone in the room. The bathrooms were very poor, with moisture marks on the ceiling and a foul smell in the rooms. The doors still use old-fashioned keys instead of cards.

The room was very large, with a great mountain view when the mist allowed it, and the staff provided great service. I spent three nights here during my Sapa trip and was happy with the stay. It's a centrally located hotel. The only reason I'd give this three-star hotel four rather than five stars is the pretty average breakfast, though they did the basics, like chicken pho, really well.

Being right in the centre means there are endless food options, and the location is great. They also let us check in three hours before the usual 2pm time. Service was inconsistent, depending on who you spoke to and that person's mood. We paid for a suite with a mountain view but were given a triple room with only a partial view. It wasn't dirty, though it wasn't especially clean either. The towels were our main problem: however many fresh ones we asked for, they smelled funky enough to make you want another shower. Otherwise, it's what you'd expect for a two-star hotel in the town centre.

I was nervous after seeing some older reviews, but my own stay turned out very differently, in a good way. The hotel was quiet, almost as if I were the only guest, which felt peaceful to me. Staff were friendly and helpful throughout, and the receptionist welcomed me with a lovely smile. My room was huge, spotless, comfortable, and had a great view. I didn't find the dirty towels or bad smells mentioned by some reviewers. I also enjoyed the food, including fries, fried chicken, rice, vegetables, soup, and tea, though it might not suit everyone's taste. I'd definitely stay again.