[Accommodation Review] – VIE Hotel Bangkok (Grand Duplex 2-Bedroom Suite), Bangkok, Thailand (9 – 12 Aug 24)

September 28, 2024September 28, 2024 / kktong76 / 1 Comment

VIE Hotel Bangkok seen from the BTS platform

Location

VIE Hotel Bangkok is conveniently located at the edge of the heart of Bangkok, within a 5-minute walk to the shopping malls in the Siam area and about 10 minutes from the Platinum shopping mall area. The convenience of the hotel’s location is greatly enhanced by the BTS station right at the hotel’s doorstep, allowing us to explore the other parts of Bangkok easily. There are several eateries nearby the hotel, with the nearest Co-Co Walk just below the hotel. Despite having three convenient stores within minutes’ walk from VIE Hotel Bangkok, I found accessing these stores inconvenient as they are located across the main road from the hotel. We had to take the overhead bridge to get to these stores.

The Suite

The Grand Duplex Suite in VIE Hotel Bangkok is a 2-bedroom suite with one bedroom on the upper floor and the other on the lower floor. It has an impressive 145㎡ of real estate space and is perched on the top floor of the hotel. The Grand Duplex Suite was recently given a refurbishment earlier this year.

Entryway

The entryway is the first area we came to from the main entrance to the 2-bedroom Grand Duplex Suite. We could immediately feel the contemporary Thai-influenced decor exuding throughout the suite from the entryway. The suite uses a lot of bold colours and natural wooden materials, radiating warmth and class. The entryway is only furnished with a tall wooden table, perfect for placing our shopping and small items. We were able to use the space under the wooden table to place our shoes.

Powder Room

The Grand Duplex Suite’s powder room is located in the entryway. This room, decked in marble and furnished with a porcelain throne and a small sink, is the suite’s half bathroom. I like how VIE Hotel Bangkok decided to include a powder room at the entryway, which allows us to use it before we head out and also allows visitors of the occupants to use it without having to bash into the bedrooms.

Living Room

At the end of the entry is the main living area, which includes the Living room, dining area, and a small pantry.

Pantry

The first thing that caught my eye was the pantry sitting to the side of the lounging area in the living room of the Grand Duplex Suite. The pantry is essentially a large countertop fitted by the wall next to the staircase leading to the second level of the suite. It houses a Nespresso coffee machine, an electric kettle and bottles of water, which are replenished daily. A kitchen sink sits at the end of the pantry countertop, perfect for us to wash our cups. In addition to the pantry countertop, the pantry area also houses a kitchen island between the pantry countertop by the wall and the lounging area. This kitchen island houses a microwave and one of the three mini fridges in the suite. I applauded the inclusion of this kitchen island, which not only gave us additional storage space in the suite but also provided us with an additional place to charge our mobile devices with the power outlets installed.

Lounging Area

The lounging area houses a bright red carpet and a couple of sofas. The three-seater light brown coloured leather sofa is placed facing the TV and is capable of sitting four adults comfortably. The cushions on this sofa bring a homely vibe. Placed beside the leather sofa, next to the floor-to-ceiling window is another sofa. This sand-coloured fabric sofa comfortably increased the sitting capacity by another three to four adults, making it excellent for a small gathering of friends in the lounging area. A brown coffee table is placed in the centre of the lounging area, and we find ourselves using it to place our drinks and snacks while obtaining entertainment on the large flatscreen TV. The Thai decorations displayed on the shelving of the light brown and sand-coloured two-storey high cabinet where the TV was placed enhanced the Thai theme in the suite. A third couch in the living room of the Grand Duplex Suite sits by the staircase after the pantry area. Despite further increasing the sitting capacity in the suite, I find the placement of this couch out of place.

Dining Area

The dining area occupies the space behind the lounging area. Furnished with a large solid wooden table and four matching dining chairs, it not only allowed us to consume the food we packed from the roadside stalls on the streets of Bangkok, but this table was also a great place to gather and chit-chat.

Antechamber

There is an antechamber on the second floor of the Grand Duplex Suite, a small area before the entrance to the bedroom on the upper level. This is where VIE Hotel Bangkok fitted a study desk that looks out into the living room on the lower level. I like the placement of this study table, which maximises the space usage but also allows guests working on it to look out into the skyline of Bangkok City through the floor-to-ceiling window. There are some power outlets installed in the work desk that allow guests to keep their laptops charged while working. These power outlets also gave us additional spots to charge up our lifestyle devices. A large brown cabinet is fitted onto the wall by the staircase on the antechamber, giving us additional space to stow our stuff.

Bedrooms

The two bedrooms in the Grand Duplex Suite, one on the upper and the other on the lower levels, have identical layouts and decor. Entering the bedroom, a dresser cum luggage rack sit behind the double-panelled wooden doors. I like how the hotel maximises the storage space for its guests by designing a three-drawer dresser under the luggage rack. The bedroom proper lies to the left of the luggage rack area. The Thai-influenced decor is especially pronounced in the bedroom, mainly decked in wooden furnishes with bright colours, and the warm light creates a golden hue effect. The king bed sits by a large sand-coloured velvet headboard, offered us an excellent sleep quality. A couple of bedside tables stand guard on either side of the king bed, fitted with a single drawer and provide additional space for storage. The bedside lamps placed on these bedside tables added to the sophistication of the vibe in the bedroom. Despite placing a phone, lamp and clock, I still find sufficient space to charge my mobile phone using the power outlet fitted on the wall.

An elongated vanity desk is opposite the king bed and fitted onto the wall. The slim desk is great for make-up but can double up as a work desk with a power outlet installed on the wall to provide juice for laptops. I was surprised to find a mini fridge inside the cabinet under the vanity desk. Very few hotels went the extra mile to provide such small conveniences for their guests. A TV hangs on the wall at the end of the vanity desk has the same entertainment options as that in the living room.

The vanity desk In the bedroom

I am pleasantly surprised to find a mini fridge at the end of the vanity desk

VIE Hotel Bangkok fitted two wardrobes in the bedroom, one next to the king bed and another opposite the bed in the vanity area. Both wardrobes have the same size; the only difference is that the one opposite the bed has an additional in-room safe. However, I find it peculiar that hangers are only placed in one wardrobe and not the other, but I am sure the hotel would provide us with more hangers if we requested them. Another thing to note is that the ironing board and iron are only found inside the wardrobe in the bedroom on the lower floor of the suite.

Bathrooms

Similar to the bedrooms in the suite, both ensuite bathrooms inside the bedrooms have identical layouts and fixtures. The bathrooms were covered with sand-coloured marble tiles, giving them a luxurious look. Sitting on the right of the bathroom is a dual sink with a large countertop, giving us sufficient space to put our toiletries despite installing two large sinks. Two glass cubicles opposite the sink area house the walk-in shower with rain and a regular shower head installed, and the toilet cubicle. I like the sizeable space allotted to the shower cubicle, but I found adjusting to the right temperature on the taps difficult. VIE Hotel Bangkok installed a sizeable bathtub at the furthest end of the bathroom. Soaking in the large, deep, seated bathtub, coupled with the bonus of the jacuzzi function, was very comfortable and took away the fatigue we accumulated out exploring the streets of Bangkok.

Service

The service we received at VIE Hotel Bangkok was impeccable. Our positive experience with the hotel started even before we arrived. Jeng, whom we did not manage to meet during our stay at the hotel, was very responsive to our questions regarding the suite we were booking. She put in the effort to enable our seamless and smooth check into our suite. The service provided by Jeng started us with a positive note on our experience at the hotel. Then there are the front desk staff at the reception counter, who were very welcoming and displayed the warmth the Thais are famously renowned for. They gave us the biggest smile one could ask for upon our arrival and processed our check-in efficiently, enabling us to gain access to our room quickly. The front desk staff would always greet us with the warmest greeting when we walked past the reception.

The porters at the main door were attentive and would rush to the door whenever they saw us walking towards the door, regardless of the time of the day (or night). They took care of our luggage when we arrived at the hotel and during our departure. The dynamic staff at La VIE restaurant, where we had breakfast, was very observant and attentive. Besides the warmth of “Sawadees” every morning we walked into the restaurant, they left no empty plates on our table and promptly cleared them. Then there is Khun Nest, who manned the pool. She was welcoming and diligent in ensuring the pool was tidied to welcome guests despite the hot and humid weather. Like the rest of the staff we met at the hotel, Khun Nest also welcomed us with the biggest Thai smile one can ask for.

The staff served us a welcome drink during our check-in

Hotel Facilities

Breakfast @ La VIE

The VIE Hotel Bangkok serves daily breakfast at La VIE restaurant on the 11th floor. The restaurant’s food area is in a corner and offers a good mix of Thai, Western, and Chinese cuisines. The food was delicious, and there was a minor change in the menu daily during breakfast. There is even a juice cart where we find all sorts of healthy juices. The hardworking staff constantly topped up the food promptly.

Afternoon Tea @ Piano Bar

Guests staying in Suites can enjoy afternoon tea at the Piano Bar on the ground floor of VIE Hotel Bangkok. The afternoon tea features bite-size canapés that are delicious and presentable. Along with the small canapé menu, the hotel also includes some dessert options. The menu for the afternoon tea changes daily. We were also treated to a menu of drinks, from cocktails to mocktails to juices, to enjoy with the afternoon tea session.

Swimming Pool

VIE Hotel Bangkok has a rooftop infinity pool at level 10, on top of a standalone building that houses the hotel’s signature Japanese restaurant. Linked by a wooden bridge from the main hotel building, the swimming pool is a perfect place to cool off from the hot climate of Bangkok. We enjoyed suntanning here as no vegetation or tall buildings blocked the sun. However, there are limited sun deck chairs at the swimming pool. The pool is large enough for one to do decent laps or for families to have fun with their children. A jacuzzi is at the end of the pool, closer to the pool bar. The hotel also thoughtfully provided floating gear for young ones to enjoy the pool.

Gym

VIE Hotel Bangkok has a large gym on level 10, occupying the entire floor space. The gym is essentially a commercial-run gym with a huge variety of equipment, from cardio to strength training machines, where guests can engage in a variety of workouts. There is a class studio where the gym conducts several group exercise classes throughout the day. Despite being a commercial gym, guests staying at VIE Hotel Bangkok can use the gym for free. However, these group exercise classes are chargeable.

Overall

We had a very good stay at VIE Hotel Bangkok. The Grand Duplex Suite is sizeable and comfortable. It felt like our home away from home, with its distinct Thai elements that decorated the suite. The king bed’s sleep quality is excellent, leaving us sufficiently rested to explore Bangkok. The service at VIE Hotel Bangkok is excellent, and every staff member we encountered was friendly and welcoming. What I liked the most about the hotel was its excellent location; with the proximity to the BTS stations, staying here allowed us to explore Bangkok easily.

View of Bangkok from our Grand Duplex Suite

[Airline Review] – Singapore Airlines A350 – 900 (SQ706) – Economy Class, SIN – BKK (9 Aug 24)

September 21, 2024September 21, 2024 / kktong76 / 1 Comment

Our flight today is serviced by Singapore Airlines A350-900

At the Airport

Check-in

Our flight from Singapore to Bangkok departs from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2. Singapore Airlines operates Rows 3 through 6 for check-in at the terminal. Row 5 is dedicated to Economy Class passengers, comprising a few counters for passengers who want an in-person check-in experience and several counters for automated baggage drop-offs. As a member of KrisFlyer Elite Gold, we used the check-in counters at Row 3, dedicated to Business Class and status members of the airline’s KrisFlyer membership programme. There was a short queue at the check-in counter, and we did not have to wait too long for our turn to be checked in. The ground staff at the check-in counter was very friendly, greeting us with a warm smile and making us feel welcome. She efficiently processed our check-in, and we were at the immigration gates within 5 minutes. The ground staff gave us information on the boarding gate and our boarding time. She even reminded us of our eligible access to KrisFlyer Gold Lounge and told us it would take about 15 minutes to get from the lounge to our boarding gate. The friendly ground staff set our great experience with Singapore Airlines.

KrisFlyer Gold Lounge

As Elite Gold members, we were entitled to access the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Gold Lounge, located one level above the departure hall in Terminal 2. The KrisFlyer Gold Lounge was recently reopened in 2022 after refurbishment. My first impression of the lounge was classy and relaxing, using dark brown wood on the ceiling coupled with the soft, warm lighting. The lounge has only two areas: the buffet and lounging area. Most of the real estate in the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge is dedicated to the lounging area, furnished with single-seater armchairs in rows. The leather armchairs exude a sense of luxury and are very comfortable to sit on, but I find them are not ideal for consuming food. We had to bend over sideways to use the small side table or lift the plates to consume the food from the buffet area. Sitting at the furthest corner of the lounge from its entrance, hiding behind a false wall, is a small row of work desks catering to passengers who want a quiet area to do some work. I did not find any toilets or showers in KrisFlyer Gold Lounge. Passengers who needed to use the toilet would have to find the public toilet outside the lounge.

The buffet area in the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge offers a good selection of local food for breakfast, representative of the three races in Singapore. The Laksa in the lounge was flavourful and delicious, with a strong coconut taste, while the Indian food was mildly spiced to suit even non-spicy eaters. There is a small salad bar section along the wall where the buffet is placed and a section for dim sum. The variety of food available in the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge was sufficient to fill one’s stomach.

The Aircraft

Singapore Airlines operates several types of aircraft between Singapore and Bangkok. The aircraft that flew us to Bangkok is the A350-900 Medium-Haul variant.

Our flight departs from Gate D41, in Terminal 1 this morning

The Cabin

Singapore Airlines A350-900 Economy Class has 263 seats spread into two cabins: 126 in the forward cabin and 137 in the aft cabin. The cabin is decked in bright white and supplemented with bright white lights, while the lilac mood lighting used during boarding gives it a sense of calmness. The use of blue and light grey seats gives the cabin a sense of cheerfulness, while the navy blue carpeting gives it a classy vibe.

There are five lavatories in Singapore Airlines A350-900 Economy Class serving all 263 passengers. Three are in the section between the two Economy Class cabins, while two lavatories are at the rear of the aircraft. The bright light and the use of white on the walls in these lavatories made it feel larger, while the wooden panelling on the sink cabinets gave the lavatories a sense of luxury. Singapore Airlines is rather generous when it comes to lavatory amenities. While most airlines only provide hand soap, Singapore Airlines also stocked their Economy Class lavatories with hand lotion, dental kits and sanitary pads. I like the touchless functions on the tap and the rubbish bin.

The Seat

Economy Class seats onboard Singapore Airlines A350-900 are arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration (except a few rows in the rear cabin, which are arranged in 2-3-2 and 2-3-3). Each seat has a pitch of 32″ and is 18″ wide, capable of reclining up to 6″. I found the legroom was quite generous in these Economy Class seats, and I had plenty of knee space from the seat in front of me. The Economy Class seats are also very comfortable for this 2-hour flight, with great lumbar support and padding in these seats. When it comes to powering up our lifestyle devices, Singapore Airlines fitted each Economy Class seat on their A350-900 with a USB-A power outlet under the TV screen and universal power outlets to be shared amongst the three passengers in the row for charging.

Singapore Airlines uses the bi-fold design in the Economy Class tray table. When fully deployed, these tray tables gave passengers plenty of space to dine or work on their laptops. There is a cutout for drinks in both folded and full deployment mode for passengers to put their cups on. I also like the inclusion of a cup holder under the TV screen that gave passengers additional space to hold their cups without deploying the tray table. In terms of storage, I find the space afforded by the seat pocket sufficient to place a tablet and my smaller items. I like how Singapore Airlines compartmentalised their seat pockets to increase the storage capacity. On top of the main seat pocket, Singapore Airlines also fitted two smaller pockets in front, increasing the storage capacity and allowing me to be more organised when storing my items. Other than the seat pockets, there is a small pocket under the TV screen for passengers to store small items such as USB charging cables.

Inflight Entertainment

Singapore Airlines A350-900 Economy Class seats come with an 11.1″ personal touchscreen TV. The picture quality on the TV screen was very sharp, but it could only tilt upwards. The tilting function catered more to accessing the small storage compartment and the charging outlets beneath the TV. There are no IFE controllers for the TV. Instead, passengers would have to rely on the touchscreen functions on the TV to select their entertainment. Fortunately, the touchscreen functions are very responsive. Singapore Airlines also designed the controls for the seat features, such as the overhead reading lights and call attendant buttons on the TV screen. There is an extensive entertainment library in the KrisWorld entertainment system, ranging from the latest Hollywood blockbusters to Asian movies to TV series and games. The KrisWorld is intuitive to use, and the entertainment options are very well organised. Singapore Airlines offered its frequent flyer members unlimited Wifi onboard. However, the connection speed only allows me to browse my social media, chat with friends, and post some pictures. The connection speed does not allow one to stream YouTube videos.

Meal

I was not impressed with the meal options for this morning’s flight. Economy Class passengers are given a choice of scrambled eggs with chicken sausage or congee with pork, but neither option appeals to me. I also find the meal portion to be on the small side, which is only sufficient to fill one’s stomach temporarily. As the options were not to my liking, my friend and I pre-ordered meals from the Special menu. I pre-ordered the Muslim Meal, while my friend pre-ordered a Seafood meal. I got Dried Mee Siam for my Muslim meal, which I find quite tasty and generous with the amount of prawns. My friend commended his seafood meal as mediocre. All meals also come with a side of a bun and yoghurt.

Service

The service in Economy Class was excellent. We were warmly welcomed by the friendly cabin crew at the door, who would direct us to the correct aisle. The cabin crew serving my aisle were friendly and warm. Despite not being part of their jobscope, they would help passengers stow their carry-ons on the overhead bin when instructed by other passengers (these passengers are quite rude when asking the cabin crew to put their bags). The cabin crew were responsive and efficient in fulfilling requests for blankets and drinks. I saw the industrious cabin crew constantly patrolling the cabin to either check for safety or to clear trash, apart from the meal service. When confirming my order, the cabin crew recommended I order food from the Singapore menu when I told him my past few experiences with the “Book-the-Cook” were disappointing when I flew in Business Class.

Afterthought

I had a great short 2-hour flight onboard Singapore Airlines in their Economy Class. The seats offered excellent legroom and were sufficiently padded to provide comfort to passengers. KrisWorld kept us entertained throughout the 2-hour flight time and made time pass by quickly. The catering onboard could have been better with the options and the portion size. Fortunately, the Muslim meal that I pre-ordered was tasty. The service we received onboard was great.

Taking off from Singapore Changi Airport

[Accommodation Review] – Premier Village Da Nang Resort (Beachfront Villa with Private Swimming Pool), Da Nang, Vietnam (17 – 21 Jul 24)

September 14, 2024September 28, 2024 / kktong76 / 5 Comments

The Reception at Premier Village Da Nang Resort

Location

Premier Village Da Nang Resort is ideally located in the southern part of My Khe Beach, about a 10-minute car ride from Da Nang City, affording its residents the best of both worlds – proximity to the city and the advantage of enjoying the beach away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The resort is also about a 20-minute drive from Da Nang International Airport. There are numerous eateries lined outside the resort along the main street where the resort is located and along the beachfront area next to the resort. There are numerous minimarts within a minute’s walk from the resort, where we could stock up on our snacks and drinks.

The Villa

We checked into the Beachfront Villa, which gave us a generous 511㎡ real estate space. The villa has four bedrooms spread across its three levels, three on the upper and one in the basement. Only three bedrooms on the upper floors were unlocked for our use, as there were six of us. I found the villa to be a very liveable space, having an expansive living room and a dining room, a private swimming pool, and a fully equipped kitchen.

The Beachfront Villa that we stayed for our five-day trip to Da Nang

Living Room

The living room resides on the ground level of the villa, alongside the pantry, the dining room and our private swimming pool. The living room predominantly employs a wooden decor from the flooring to the furniture, giving it a contemporary and timeless look. While the walls are painted dark grey, the colour gives it a modern look. The Japanese-style lighting hanging from the living ceiling exudes a sense of zen and simultaneously brings in the resort vibe. The ceiling conny in the living room gives it an elegant character and, at the same time, provides even more illumination at night. The L-shaped sofa, the living room’s centrepiece, and the single armchair beside it can comfortably accommodate six or seven guests. The TV cabinet sits by the wall separating the living room from the dining room and not only houses the 42″ flatscreen TV but also provides generous storage space. Despite having numerous channels on TV, only a few are in English. The floor-to-ceiling window panels fitted with two large sliding door panels let a lot of natural light into the living room and make the already spacious space feel even more spacious, creating an indoor-outdoor living concept. The living room looked into our private pool and granted us a view of My Khe beach, creating a true resort vibe.

Dining Room

Located next to the living room on the ground floor, the dining room is furnished with a round dining table and eight chairs. The sizeable table is perfect for ordering in-room service or gathering to consume the food we packed from Da Nang City. The dining room is connected to the pantry, which makes this space convenient for us to cook some light meals. The dining room also looks out into the swimming pool, with its access to the pool making it great for us to grab our drinks or snacks quickly when using it. Premier Village Da Nang Resort designed a powder room at the dining room to provide convenience for its guests.

Pantry

Rather than calling it a pantry, the space functions like a small kitchen. Occupying the space behind the dining room, the pantry is segregated with a bar counter perfect for us to place the snacks we brought to Da Nang. Besides a dual kitchen sink, the pantry is also furnished with four induction cookers, which allowed us to do light cooking in the villa. There is a drip coffee machine (which we did not figure out how to use) and an electric kettle which we used to prepare hot drinks. Premier Village Da Nang Resort fully furnished the pantry with pans and pots, while the cabinets house china and cutleries, enabling us to dine with proper dinnerware. Sitting in the corner of the pantry is a large dual-door fridge for us to keep the beverages we brought cool. The resort provided a one-off complementary minibar during our stay at the villa.

Second Floor Living Room

The Beachfront Villa at Premier Village Da Nang Resort has another smaller living room on the second floor. This living room is simply furnished with a three-seater sofa and a floor lamp, which is great for occupants of the second floor to gather and relax. The earthy colour theme in this part of the villa, plus the simple design, exudes a relaxing and elegant vibe. The resort also furnished this part of the villa with a cabinet, which makes the space look less empty.

Balcony

Right outside the second-floor living room is an outdoor balcony that extends to the outside of the master bedroom. Furnished with a white wooden table and four matching chairs, Premier Village Da Nang Resort gave guests the option of relaxing and gathering outdoors while enjoying the sea breeze.

Master Bedroom

The master bedroom is on the second level of the Beachfront Villa, predominantly employing a wooden finish with walls and hints of yellow. The decor in the master bedroom exudes a resort and yet elegant vibe. The master bedroom in the Beachfront Villa is the largest of the three bedrooms. The first thing that caught my eye was the spaciousness that this bedroom offers. Premier Village Da Nang Resort designed the layout of the bedroom very well. The master bedroom has the right amount of furniture that did not make it feel too empty or come across as a cramp. Unlike the decor in a typical hotel, the king bed sits in the centre of the bedroom, facing the beach, allowing us to laze on the bed and look out into the beautiful My Khe beach. I find the quality of sleep on the mattress of the king bed to be excellent. The firm mattress allowed me to recharge every night and wake up afresh without fail. However, I found the pillows too soft for my liking, and it did not help that the resort does not have a pillow menu to cater to the different preferences of guests. The bedside tables were of a good size, allowing us to charge our lifestyle devices using the two power outlets designed on top of the tables.

I like how Premier Village Da Nang Resort placed the TV console and the armchair in the two corners of the bedroom that the king bed faces. Doing so allows guests an unobstructed view of the beach. The bedroom comes fitted with another 42″ flatscreen TV, with the same entertainment options as the living room. The armchair, placed by the floor-to-ceiling glass panel, is a good spot to laze, watch the beach or read a book. Sitting behind the king bed was a work desk that spans its breadth, providing its users ample space to work on. I like how the resort fitted two power outlets on the side of the work desk, which frees up space on the desk. However, I find moving in and out of the chair at the work desk a tad inconvenient due to the limited space allocated between the work desk and the wall behind it. The space is so limited that I find it difficult to use the two drawers fitted on the work desk. Flushed into the wall space next to the entrance of the master bedroom and beside the work desk are two sets of large wardrobes. The space afforded inside the wardrobes was very generous. We could hang up at least two weeks of clothing in each wardrobe. Despite being the same size, the interior furnishings of the wardrobes are different. The wardrobe near the entrance has open shelves and two large drawers. Including these fixtures vastly increases the amount of things we can put away. The wardrobe near the armchair is fitted with a three-tier drawer, allowing guests to keep their wardrobes organised. It is in this wardrobe that we found the in-room safe.

Bathroom

The bathroom in the master bedroom is the biggest of the three ensuite bathrooms in the villa. Entering the bathroom, a sink countertop fitted with dual sinks welcomes its occupants. The presence of the two sinks allows both occupants to freshen up simultaneously. Despite the dual sink designs, I find little space to place our toiletries on this sink countertop. Fortunately, the resort installed a three-tiered open shelving next to the sink area, which gave us space to stow our toiletries.

The walk-in shower and the toilet cubicle occupy the space opposite the sink. The space allocated in the walk-in shower was generous, allowing us to shower without engaging in elbow war with the walls or the glass door. The shower has a rain and regular shower head with excellent water pressure. The toilet cubicle, opposite the walk-in, has the same amount of real estate. Other than the porcelain throne, the toilet is fitted with a Western-style bidet. A large bathtub sits in the centre between the two cubicles, which is great for us to soak away the wariness of exploring Da Nang.

Bedrooms 1 & 2

The other two bedrooms in the villa have the same design and layout, with one on the first and the other on the second floor. Like the master bedroom, these rooms also employ an earthy theme to enhance the relaxing vibe. Entering these bedrooms, a large space dedicated to the sleeping area is immediately in sight. The king bed, with the same sleeping quality as the master bedroom, sits by the wall to provide more space for its occupants. A couple of bedside tables on both sides of the bed provide occupants with space to place their lifestyle devices. The TV consoles in both bedrooms, which house a 42″ flatscreen TV, were set to one corner of these bedrooms to provide its occupants with an unobstructed view of the outdoors.

The wardrobe is fitted in the corner next to the entrance. While not as large as that in the master bedroom, the wardrobe space is still generous for its occupants to put away at least one week of clothing. The combination of open shelving and three-tiered drawers hidden inside the wardrobe increases its storage capacity. There is another wardrobe dedicated to guests to hang their clothing, and it also doubles up as a place to stow our luggage after unpacking. Unlike the master bedroom, these bedrooms are fitted with a vanity area instead of a work desk between the wardrobe and the bathroom.

Bathroom

The space allocated to the bathroom in these bedrooms is rather generous. A single sink is fitted behind the door to the bathroom. Considering the space allotted, Premier Village Da Nang Resort was clever enough to furnish this bathroom with a single sink, which meant more space for occupants to place toiletries. The open toilet is fitted next to the sink. The walk-in shower opposite the sink, also equipped with rain and regular shower heads, is equally spacious in the master bedroom. The water pressure from these shower heads rivals that in the master bedroom. A large bathtub, identical to that in the master bedroom, is found next to the walk-in shower.

In-Villa Pool and Outdoor Terrace

The BeachFront Villa comes with a small private plunge pool. The pool serves more for guests to play in the water or cool down from the humid weather in Da Nang than allowing guests to do some laps. The poolside area is furnished with a table with four chairs, which is great for guests to enjoy their meals outdoors. There are also a couple of sundeck chairs for guests to relax or sunbathe by the pool.

Service

The service we received at Premier Village Da Nang Resort was exceptional, and every staff member we met was very friendly and welcoming. We were always greeted with Xin Chao whenever we bumped into any of them. We felt the excellent service the moment we arrived at the front gate concierge. The team sprung into action efficiently and took care of our luggage without us needing to lift our fingers. The next time we saw our luggage was in the villa. The staff at the reception welcomed us with the warmest smile one can receive. They ensured we were comfortable, serving us welcome drinks and cool towels to cool us off the humid Vietnamese weather while arranging for our host – Vivian, to attend to us. The operator would always give us an estimate of the buggy’s arrival, which was always on time. The staff ferrying us around in the buggy were also friendly and always greeted us with Xin Chao every time we hopped onto one.

Months before our arrival, Vivian created a chat group with us and was always responsive to our text messages. She welcomed us during our arrival and ensured we were comfortable with our villa. She has excellent knowledge of the city and generously shares information about Da Nang. Vivian remained contactable via Whatsapp chat and was very efficient in ensuring our requests were being attended to. Our stay at Premier Village Da Nang Resort couldn’t have been better without Vivian.

Hotel Facilities

Breakfast @ Lemongrass

Premier Village Da Nang Resort serves daily breakfast at Lemongrass. The restaurant offers a great variety of food, including Vietnamese, Chinese, and Western cuisines. As the resort has a number of Korean guests, Lemongrass even offers a large variety of Korean food for breakfast. The food served at the restaurant was constantly topped up, ensuring it was available to all guests. I highly recommend the Vietnamese coffee served. As with most hotels, minor changes to the menu were observed during our 5-day stay at Premier Village Da Nang Resort.

Nautical Club

The Nautical Club is the resort’s beach-facing main swimming pool, where guests can enjoy beautiful beach views and do some decent laps in the expansive pool. A small section of the pool is dedicated to the younger guests, and with the many floats and life vests available at the pool for borrow, Premier Village Da Nang Resort ensures the little ones can enjoy the pool as well. There are numerous deck chairs around the Nautical Club facing My Khe Beach, and with the strong sun in Da Nang, guests can get a great tan at the resort’s main swimming pool.

Gym

The gym in Premier Village Da Nang Resort occupies a three-storey villa in a corner of the resort. Due to the villa’s design, the gym has a clear distinction of workout stations. The first floor of the gym is dedicated to cardio workouts. We spotted two treadmills and stationary bikes in the room that houses this equipment. The room on the second-floor houses machines allowing guests to do strength workouts. The room on the top floor of the gym looks like a mixed workout station, with some bikes and dumbbells; this room seemed designed for guests who wanted to perform HIIT-type workouts. I was surprised to find a room being converted into a yoga studio in the gym. Like most villas in the resort, the gym has a small pool. However, similar to the villas, this pool seemed too small for guests to do any laps.

Kid’s Club

The Kid’s Club in Premier Village Da Nang Resort is a haven for younger guests. Premier Village Da Nang Resort provides child care services (at a charge) at the Kid’s Club. There are playing areas in the Kid’s Club to keep children of all ages entertained, be it in the indoor area or the outdoor swings. There is even a PlayStation room for older children to enjoy at the Kid’s Club. The Kid’s Club is also where we borrowed bicycles to cycle around the compounds of the resort free of charge.

Overall

Premier Village Da Nang Resort is a great place to relax and enjoy the sun and the beach. The resort’s proximity to Da Nang City and the numerous shops at its doorstep makes it an ideal place to stay while in Da Nang. The villa we stayed in was excellent for families or groups of friends. The three bedrooms (and the fourth in the basement) allow larger groups to enjoy the villa together. We liked to gather in the expansive living room and had a great time in our private pool in the villa. The dining room allowed us to dine in the comfort of our villa. We had a relaxing time at Premier Village Da Nang Resort and would return the next time we returned to Danang.

Da Nang Day 5 (21 Jul 24): Relaxing Last Day in Da Nang

September 7, 2024September 7, 2024 / kktong76 / 1 Comment

Relaxing Last Morning in Da Nang

As our flight departs at 4.35 pm, I did not have anything planned for today. We wanted to take the time to enjoy a relaxing day at the resort and recharge before we head home. Originally, we wanted to skip breakfast, sleep in and go for lunch. My friends started to wake up at around 9 am, and since breakfast runs at the resort would only stop at 10.30 am, we went for breakfast. We spent the next few hours before our check out of our villa lazing and packing our luggage. Since there were another 2 hours before our airport transfer after we checked out at noon, we spent the next couple of hours at the Kid’s Club, playing some card games, till our pick up at 2 pm. Our airport transfer came on time, and we were transported to the airport in under 20 minutes. After checking into our flight, we spent the rest of our time at the airport while waiting for our flight back home.

My Thoughts on Our Maiden Da Nang Trip

We enjoyed Da Nang despite this city not having a lot going on for tourist sights. A trip to the city was very relaxing, and the people were friendly and hospitable. We reckon Da Nang is a great place to relax and wind down, and we are considering returning and spending more time at the resort since we have already visited the sights there are to see in the city.

We thought Ba Na Hills was great and worth revisiting. Most of the rides were included in the ticket price, and the cooler weather was a true escape to the hot and humid climate of Da Nang. It was a shame that we did not manage to ride on the Alpine Coaster. Ba Na Hills is also very easy to move around with the excellent transportation built in the resort. We felt a guide was unnecessary when visiting Ba Na Hills, but allocating one day was insufficient. We spent 1 hour getting there from the My Khe Beach area, and the cable car system down the hills ceased operation by 6 pm. We felt that spending a night in Ba Na Hills would allow us to enjoy the resort better since there is a hotel on Ba Na Hills.

We did not enjoy our day trip to Hoi An. It was not that the guide was not good, but the issue lies with the overtourism in the town. While a refreshing experience, the basket boat ride feels like something planned specifically for tourists. As much as Hoi An was vibrant, we felt its purpose was to attract tourists. Shops selling souvenirs and restaurants selling international cuisines now occupy the traditional buildings in the town. Hoi An also felt very crowded, and we spent more time trying to squeeze past people when we were there. The Hoi An Night Market was similar to those in Bangkok but on a smaller scale, selling mostly souvenirs and knock-off products and had nothing that stood out. We did not enjoy Hoi An as the whole town felt very touristy.

We liked Marble Mountains and thought it was unique and worth a visit. Seeing the locals turn the caves in the Water Mountain into places of worship was refreshing. Despite missing some caves, we thought we had seen everything on the mountain. Our trip to Hai Van Pass offered some great views of the peninsular and we enjoyed the tranquillity with the great views. The Lady Buddha was magnificent. Not only did the statue look tranquil, but the sight of the peninsular’s edge treated us with a great view of the coastal area and Da Nang city. We thought visiting here during sunset was perfect. Not only did we avoid the heat, but we also got beautiful views at dusk. Despite having covered most of the sights in Da Nang, my friends and I talked about returning to Da Nang. We planned to spend one night in Ba Na Hills and the next two to three nights in the resort.