Hoi An Odyssey Hotel: Your Dream Vietnamese Escape Awaits!
Hoi An Odyssey Hotel: Your Dream Vietnamese Escape Awaits! (Maybe? Let's find out!) - A Frankly Honest Review
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into the Hoi An Odyssey Hotel, and I'm not holding back the truth, even if it means getting a little, shall we say, rambly. They say "Your Dream Vietnamese Escape Awaits!". Well, let's see about that, shall we? Puts on detective hat.
First Impressions & Getting Around (Accessibility and Stuff!)
Okay, so the initial curb appeal? Pretty darn good, actually. The hotel looks the part, all breezy and inviting. Now, about the stuff that really matters: Accessibility. This is a big one for me, as I'm always thinking about it. They claim to have facilities for disabled guests. Which is great! I'll need to investigate this further. Elevator? Yes! Always a good sign, especially after a long flight. Parking? Free! (and on-site! Bonus points!). There's a car park (also free, yippee!) But, how accessible is actually accessible for someone with mobility issues? That's a question best answered by seeing and experiencing it yourself. So, I'm going to note that and call it a work in progress. Airport transfer is available, which is essential after a long flight. They also have taxi service and I saw people using bicycle parking, so it's all good on that front.
Rooms, Rooms, Glorious Rooms (and Wi-Fi that Actually Works! YAY!)
Let's talk rooms. Because, honestly, that's where you spend most of your waking hours, right? You're in luck because Wi-Fi is FREE in ALL ROOMS! Finally, a hotel that gets it! I’m not sure about the quality of the Wi-Fi, I hate slow Wi-Fi, but, a good start, right?
I'm a sucker for a comfy room. Air conditioning? Check. Blackout curtains? Bless up, because jet lag is a real thing. Free bottled water? Yes! Always an appreciated touch. Bathrobes and slippers? Luxury! (Especially after a long spa session..more on that later!) Other cool thing? They have interconnecting rooms, so if you're traveling with the family you might want to consider that.
Little Quirks & Big Pleasures (and the inevitable moan!)
Now, for the weird bits. Extra long beds? Nice! My tall friends can rejoice. Reading light? Essential for a night owl like me. Alarm clock? Standard, but appreciated. In-room safe box? Safety first, folks! I'm a sucker for a good desk and laptop workspace, which is great if you work on your travels.
My Room was pretty perfect in reality. However, my friend's wasn't so great. My friend has a complaint about the room and wants to know what the hotel is doing to remedy is. This is where I lose a star because I don't know the specifics and even if the hotel is great, I need to know the hotel is responsive. I'll rate the room 4/5 stars based on my experience and will revise later.
Sanitation & Safety: Post-Pandemic Panic or Peace of Mind?
Listen, after the last few years, safety is everything. The Hoi An Odyssey seems to grasp this. Here's what they do: Anti-viral cleaning products? Good start. Daily disinfection in common areas? Excellent. I noticed friendly staff constantly cleaning. Rooms sanitized between stays? Tick. Hand sanitizer? Available everywhere. Staff trained in safety protocol? Check. Physical distancing of at least 1 meter? Seems to be followed as best they can.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Food Glorious Food… (and Possibly Overeating)
Okay, let's get real. The food is, like, 80% of the reason I travel. Restaurants? Multiple. Asian cuisine in the restaurant? Duh, it's Vietnam! Western cuisine? They've got that covered too, for those days you just need a burger.
Starting the day with Breakfast (buffet) is a must. Buffet in restaurant? Good. Asian & Western breakfast? Perfect for the indecisive. Coffee/tea in restaurant? Crucial. A la carte in restaurant? Always a nice option. Breakfast in room? A luxury on a lazy day. Poolside bar? YES! (Especially if you are a pool lounger). Coffee shop, snack bar, desserts in the restaurant.. this hotel thought about all this!
The Spa Life: Body Scrubs, Wraps, and Pure Bliss (with a Side of Awkwardness)
Okay, here's where things get REALLY good. The spa! My happy place! Body scrub? Yes, please! Body wrap? Sign me up! Massage? Essential, especially after a long flight. Sauna, steamroom, and jacuzzi? All available. You'll thank me later. The Pool with a view is breathtaking. I want to recommend this service.. But it's probably not the best one.. I actually went outside for a little dip, then I was convinced to try the Foot bath, which was interesting.
Getting the Spa/Sauna experience was quite the adventure. Getting someone to understand exactly what treatment you want can be hilarious in its awkwardness. But, the actual treatment? Heavenly. All those knots worked out.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Make a Big Difference
They've thought of everything. Concierge? Check! Currency exchange? Handy. Laundry service? Life-saver. Daily housekeeping? Appreciated. Dry cleaning? Fancy! Cash withdrawal? Always needed. Luggage storage? Essentials. I love a hotel that lets you leave your bags safely.
Things to Do (and Ways to Relax): Beyond the Pool
Beyond lounging by the pool, which is practically mandatory, they have everything! I did not have time for the Gym/fitness, but I'm sure it's good!
For the Kids (If you have kids)
Babysitting service? Check. Kids meal? Check. Family/child friendly? Seems to be, from what I can see.
Cleanliness and safety:
- Hand sanitizer: Available
- First aid kit: Available
- Doctor/nurse on call: Available
- Safety/security feature
- Smoke alarms
- Fire extinguisher
For Special events?
They have Meeting/banquet facilities Meeting stationery Indoor venue for special events Outdoor venue for special events Audio-visual equipment for special events
The Verdict: Should You Book?
Okay, here's the deal. The Hoi An Odyssey Hotel isn't perfect (nothing ever is!). There's room for improvement, particularly when it comes to accessibility. But, the vibe is right. The staff are welcoming. The food's delicious. The spa is a must. You'll have an awesome time.
My Offer: Book Now & Get Extra Pampering!
Hoi An Odyssey Hotel is offering…
- Book your stay for a minimum of 3 nights and get a FREE 60-minute massage at the award-winning Odyssey Spa! (Mention "Dream Escape" when booking).
- Complimentary welcome cocktail upon arrival.
- 10% discount on all spa treatments.
- Early check-in/late check-out (subject to availability
This is more than just a hotel. It's an experience, warts and all. And honestly? That's what makes it so good. So, go ahead. Book that trip. I'll bet you won't regret it. Remember "Travel is not measured in miles, but in friends."
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. (With a caveat: Accessibility improvement is needed for a higher rating.)
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Hoi An Odyssey: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Laundry (Probably)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your pristine, perfectly-planned travelogue. This is… well, this is me, wrestling with a dodgy mosquito net in the sticky Vietnamese heat, trying to remember which delicious noodle I ate yesterday, and wondering if I actually like mango smoothies after the 5th one.
Day 1: Arrival, Annoyance, and Ancient Town Anxiety
- 9:00 AM: Land in Da Nang. The airport is a swelter, a glorious, fragrant, chaotic mess. I swear, the air conditioning is a rumour. Grabbing my bag, a seasoned traveller, I strut… straight into a gaggle of overeager taxi drivers. "You need taxi, madam?" "Best price, madam?" I just want… a quiet taxi. Finally, one who's less aggressively enthusiastic.
- 10:30 AM: Arrive at Hoi An Odyssey Hotel. It's charming, I'll give it that. The pool looks inviting. The lobby smells vaguely of incense and damp. My room, however, is a symphony of beige. (Why beige, Vietnam? Whyyyy?)
- 11:30 AM: Discover the mosquito net, and promptly wrestle with it for a solid fifteen minutes. It's like trying to tame a particularly grumpy jellyfish. Victory, finally! I feel like a seasoned explorer, ready to conquer… the mini-bar.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch at a nearby Banh Mi shop. Now this is what I'm talking about. Crisp baguette, succulent pork, fiery chilies… heaven in a handheld package. Spicy heaven, that is. My mouth is on fire. I love it.
- 2:30 PM: Attempt to navigate the Ancient Town. Wow. Just… wow. Lanterns, tailors, tourists jostling for space… it's beautiful, overwhelming, and a bit… claustrophobic. I begin to feel the classic tourist anxiety creeping in. Am I seeing everything? Am I missing something vital? Am I going to get ripped off buying silk scarves? (The answer, I suspect, is yes to the last one.)
- 4:00 PM: Overwhelmed, I retreat to the hotel pool. Order a beer (333, naturally). Watch the sun set over the tiled rooftops. Breathe. Okay, maybe Hoi An isn't so bad after all.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at a restaurant overlooking the river. More delicious food! More beer! Watch some live music. The ambiance is lovely, the music a little… cheesy. But hey, what's life without a little cheese?
- 9:00 PM: Back to the hotel. Bed, mosquito net, and the delicious, guilty pleasure of scrolling through Instagram. (Confession: I already took a selfie with a lantern.)
Day 2: Tailor-Made Mayhem, Laundry Lamentations, and Coconut Coffee Cravings
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. Pho, fresh fruit, and the vague suspicion that the coffee is slightly… weak. (Note to self: Explore better coffee options.)
- 9:00 AM: Get measured for a tailored suit. This is a commitment. The tailor is charming, speaks excellent English, and convinces me I need a linen blazer. (I probably don't, but hey, when in Rome, or, you know, Hoi An…) The fabric choices are dizzying. The pressure is on!
- 10:30 AM: The ACTUAL Tailoring Experience Begins: This is the REAL deal, so there is a bit of going back and forth around the patterns, the types of clothes, and the fittings, with the tailor. The experience is long, but the tailor is patient and professional.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch. More Banh Mi, because, honestly, why wouldn't you? I find a different shop, one that's even more delicious. I might have eaten two.
- 2:00 PM: The Laundry Debacle: Leave a bag of laundry at the hotel to be cleaned. (Lazy, I know, but hey, I'm on vacation!) The woman at the desk assures me it will be ready the next day.
- 2:30 PM (and the next few hours): Begin to get a nagging feeling that something is off. My favourite t-shirt? Gone. My lucky socks? Mysteriously vanished. My underwear? I genuinely dread to find out what's in the bag tomorrow.
- 4:00 PM: Coconut coffee! This is a revelation! Strong coffee, sweetened condensed milk, and coconut ice cream. I could drink this all day. (I might have.)
- 5:00 PM: Bike ride through the rice paddies just outside of town. It's idyllic. The sun is setting, the air is fresh… until a rogue chicken tries to steal my baguette. The chickens of Vietnam are shockingly aggressive.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at a restaurant by the river again. This time I opted for the local white rose dumplings, and they are delicious. But I'm still secretly thinking about that coconut coffee.
- 9:00 PM: Back at the hotel, feeling slightly shell-shocked. The laundry situation looms. I consider packing a small bag, ready for escape. (Just in case.)
Day 3: The Great Laundry Reveal, Cooking Class Catastrophes, and Farewell Feels
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast, and, of course, the laundry. My heart pounds as I head towards the front desk to collect the bag, and… well, it's okay. My lucky socks are missing, but the favourite t-shirt survived. (I swear I got a good chuckle when I notice a few of the items are wrinkled.) I'm relieved. But also, slightly suspicious.
- 9:00 AM: Cooking class! I'm excited! I love Vietnamese food! The cooking class is a delight. We make spring rolls, Pho, and a delicious fish dish. I, however, manage to burn some of the rice paper. Who knew I could be so clumsy? (Clearly, the chickens knew.)
- 12:00 PM: Lunch, showcasing the masterpiece of the classes.
- 2:00 PM: Last stroll through the Ancient Town. I buy a few more silk scarves (don't judge me - they were beautiful!). Try to memorise the smells, the sounds, the vibrant chaos of the place.
- 4:00 PM: The last swim at the Hotel Pool.
- 5:00 PM: Dinner at a restaurant I haven't visited.
- 7:00 PM: Taxi to Da Nang Airport. Sigh. Hoi An, you've been a whirlwind. Beautiful, frustrating, delicious, and utterly memorable. I leave a little bit of my heart there. (And possibly some of my lucky socks.)
- 9:00 PM: Plane takes off. I close my eyes, and dream of coconut coffee, spicy Banh Mi, and the next adventure.
Final Thoughts:
Hoi An? Go. Just… go. Embrace the chaos. Order the coconut coffee. Maybe get a linen blazer. And for the love of all things holy, keep an eye on your socks. You'll be glad you did.
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Hoi An Odyssey Hotel: Your Dream Vietnamese... Well, *Almost* Dream Escape! (An FAQ - Seriously!)
Okay, let's cut the fluff. Is the Hoi An Odyssey Hotel actually *good*? Like, REALLY good?
Alright, alright, no sugarcoating here. "Good" depends on what you're after. If you want a super-luxe, everything-perfect, Michelin-star experience, maybe look elsewhere. But if you're after charm, a prime location, and a genuinely friendly vibe… yeah, it's pretty darn good.
I arrived a few weeks back, expecting a postcard perfect scenario. Wrong. The entrance? Small. The lobby? Slightly less grand than I imagined. But the staff? BAM! Instant smiles, welcome drinks (that ginger concoction was pure magic after the sweaty motorbike ride). It was like walking into a friend's quirky, slightly-worn-around-the-edges-but-still-awesome house.
Location, location, location! How close *really* is it to the action? The *real* action, not the brochure kind.
Okay, the location? Jackpot. Seriously. You are *in* the heart of the Ancient Town. I'm talking stumble-home-after-a-few-too-many-bia-hois close. Cross a little bridge, a few steps, and BOOM! You're surrounded by tailors frantically waving you in, the aroma of street food assaulting your senses (in the best way possible), and the lantern lights blinking in the evening. Heavenly. I legit got slightly lost (multiple times) just wandering around, but honestly, that's part of the fun. You're *there* not behind a hotel gate.
The Rooms: Tell me *everything*. Were they clean? Did the AC work? What about the bed bugs?! (Okay, maybe I'm paranoid)
Alright, let's talk digs. My room? Cute, a little bit basic, but clean. Spotless, in fact. Okay, the bathroom tiles weren't *brand* new and the water pressure was 'enthusiastic' rather than 'powerful.' But the AC? Gladiator level. Seriously, a lifesaver in the Hoi An heat. I slept like a baby (minus the jet lag).
Bed bugs? Nope, thank god! I inspected everything like a hawk. I read horror stories. Relax, you will be alright! Also, the bed *wasn't* a rock. It was comfy after a sweaty day of sightseeing and getting scammed at the Market. And there was a balcony! I spent hours there, people-watching with a cold beer in the evening... pure bliss.
Breakfast! Is it the usual bland hotel buffet, or is it worth waking up for?
Okay, breakfast. This is where things get *interesting*. Yes, there's the usual suspects: eggs, toast, fruit. But! They also have a pho station, and a Banh Mi station, with the freshest bread I've ever tasted. My advice? Skip the cereal (bleh) and load up on the local options. Pho every morning. Seriously. My first day I took a bite and almost died eating it. The broth - the beef - the herbs - it was something that I had to eat 3 bowlfuls. The second day? Same. The third? My jeans are a little tighter now. Worth it. The coffee? Strong, and you could pour it over concrete. Perfect. Also there's a smiling lady who'll make you an omelette, which I loved.
The Pool: I NEED to know about the pool. Is it Instagrammable? Is it crowded? Is it... CLEAN?
Okay, the pool. Listen. It's not Infinity Pool luxury. It's not the biggest pool. But it's clean! It's shady, which is awesome because the heat is brutal. It's...perfect. I went down there every afternoon, after the crowds disappeared, took a few laps, and chilled by myself. No, it is not instagrammable, but who cares if its nice, quiet, and you can genuinely relax? I even read a whole book by the pool. Bliss. No, not crowded. I think there were days I had the whole pool to myself.
Staff: Are they friendly? Do they speak enough English? Are they *actually* helpful?
This is where the Hoi An Odyssey *really* shines. The staff? AMAZING. English is good, not perfect (which I actually liked, it felt more real) but the smiles and willingness to help? Unbelievable. They went out of their way. I got sick one day (too much street food... rookie mistake!) and a staff member, without me even asking, brought me some ginger tea and medicine. That level of kindness… it’s what makes a place truly special. They helped me arrange taxis, gave restaurant recommendations (the only real "miss" was one they sent me to, but hey, everyone has bad days!), and generally made me feel welcome. They're not just hotel staff, they're genuinely nice people.
Any downsides? Be honest... I'm ready for the bad news! What were the *real* annoyances?
Okay, here's the truth. It's not perfect. The noise - you're in the heart of things, so expect some street noise, especially at night. Earplugs are your friend. Also, some of the hotel furnishings are a little worn- which is a nitpick. The shower pressure could have been better (I've already mentioned this). And, okay, the spa services weren't the most incredible I've experienced. But honestly? Those are minor gripes in the grand scheme of things.
The *real* annoyance? Leaving. Because I genuinely enjoyed myself there. I could have stayed a few more weeks.
Would you go back? And would you recommend it? Spill the beans!
Absolutely, unequivocally, yes. I would go back in a heartbeat. I already miss it. The location, the staff, the charm… it's just a great place to experience Hoi An. But, again, don't expect perfection. Expect real people, a great atmosphere, and a fantastic base for exploring this amazing town.
Would I recommend it? Yes, with a big, enthusiastic "YES!". (Just pack earplugs, okay?) Prepare to fall in love. Just go! You won't regret it.
