Fabulous Resort!

This resort is the crown jewel in the Intercontinental chain. We have spoken to staff at other Intercontinentals, and their ears always perk up, when you mention that you have stayed here. And it is a crown jewel. The hotel architect is Bill Bensley who has designed many signature hotels in Asia. One of the nicest, most over the top properties (from a chain), that I have experienced in a long time.

The resort requests that you provide an estimated time of your arrival. We arrived at 9PM. We had just come off a Halong Bay cruise. With all the transfers and flying, it made for a very long travel day. Arriving at night, the reception areas are lighted, fountains with fire torches, and candles put out, all very impressive. Not sure, if all the lights are turned off, after the last expected guest. There were at least 6 people doing our check-in, which concerned me. We were booked on 2 for 1 Ambassador certificate, which was upgraded into a Terrace Suite. Then we had 3 award nights in a standard room. The hotel graciously offered us to remain, in the Terrace Suite, gratis, for our entire stay. I was impressed, as most ICs, make you pay for an upgrade on award stays. Later on, we realized that the resort was only about 30% occupied. On IHG.com, the difference between the standard room and the Terrace Suite was only $15. But months earlier, I had emailed about the situation. The reply was that we had to pay $90US/night to stay in the Terrace Suite. As we conversed with other guests, many were on award stays. Many also commented that this was the best use of IHG points that they had experienced. Going back to check-in, I was concerned about the award nights and it turned out better than I expected. After check-in, we rode a buggy to our suite, with a reception agent. Our suite was on the Sky level, so quite a distance to walk.  The agent explained everything about the suite and the resort. The whole check-in process was close to an hour. Which I thought was way too long. We wanted to eat. Just be aware that no restaurant serves food after 10PM. We managed to sneak into Barefoot at 10PM. After going back and forth to the L_o_n_g Bar, we were able to order a salad and a pizza, which was all we wanted that late at night. I didn’t want room service. I actually hate room service.

The resort has units spread across the hillside. The resort has 4 main levels that are connected by a funicular. You can also call for a buggy, from any location, to take you anywhere in the resort. We never waited long for a buggy. Units range from a standard room to 3 bedroom villas with private pools. It must be pointed out that most units have capacity limits that are very different from the US. Our suite was limited to 3.  So a family of 4 must get a villa, or 2 suites.

Our Terrace Suite was not a suite, in the traditional sense, in that there is separate living room and a bedroom. It is more along the lines of a junior suite. There is bed area that has a couch below the TV and a couple of upholstered chairs. There is a separate desk area and 2 large balconies. When you add up the square footage, it easily tops 1,000 sq. ft.  The suite uses an open concept so popular in homes today. There is a large wardrobe and 2 areas to unpack suitcases. I was impressed again, because most hotels only give one luggage rack. There is a long hallway and then a large open area. This area would be an ideal place for a rollaway. Putting an extra adult in this unit would not make it crowded. There are wood shutters that open between the bath and bedroom. There are shutters behind the TV that open to the outside. But the resort warns guests to not leave any doors or windows open, while the unit is unattended. The resort is in a nature preserve. The monkeys will come and take your belongings. We didn’t experience any issues with the monkeys. But the monkeys will come onto your balconies and beg for food.

The bathroom in all the rooms, suites and villas are huge! Easily topping 350 sq. ft. total. This is bigger than most apartments in Hong Kong. The toilet is in a separate room/cabin. There is a huge vanity with 2 sinks and plenty of room for 2 people to lay out their toiletries. There is large stone soaking tub. Next to the tub is an open shower, with a wood floor. There is a rain showerhead and a wand. This is not a wet bathroom. The area of the shower has redwood and the rest of the bathroom and suite have black wood. Where the redwood ends you put your bathmat. I just loved the concept of a wood floor shower. While there are no enclosures, this is not a wet bathroom, that are so common in Asia. All the doors and windows can be closed or covered so there is total privacy. There is no floor to ceiling window between the bathroom and bedroom! The resort provides amenity kits, male and female, filled with all the usual products. I think this saves housekeeping from having to check/replenish those items on a daily basis.  Although if you need anything extra, just ask. They will give you whatever you need. We requested another male kit, no problem. They also provide the usual room slippers, and beach flip flops, which are on the small side. They have bigger ones, just ask. I wondered if the usual guest is Chinese. I asked a bartender where the usual guests come from?  China. The bath products are Harnn and they are very nice.

We ate in every restaurant in the resort. La Maison 1888, was over the top, French/continental cuisine.  Very expensive, but I suggest doing lunch, at 1/3 cost of dinner. We ate at Barefoot and Citron, each multiple times. Food everywhere had high quality ingredients, was well prepared, and was beautifully presented. The Sunday Brunch at Citron is a big to do. Many non-hotel guests come to dine. Make reservations to be assured of your dining time. You can do this by email, in advance of your stay. With the exception of La Maison 1888, we did not find food costs to be outrageously high. We knew going in, what the food pricing would be. While pricier than eating in Danang, the food was well worth the cost. Our first dinner in Barefoot was 2 salads, a pizza, a Coke Zero and 1 draft beer. I checked my tab. It was 837,475 VDN. Which converts to $37 USD. That was including the ++. That is a little more than what I would spend in my US home. Why people think that is expensive for 5 star resort, I do not know.

We did not have Club access. We chose not to do it as we are not heavy drinkers. The upcharge for Club access is $175++US, per room. The buffet breakfast, which is what we wanted, was $35++US per person. Easy decision!  

The location of the resort is really the only downside. It is located on the Son Tra peninsula. Son Tra is a nature preserve located about 20 km and 40 minutes from the Danang airport. The seclusion and remoteness allows the resort to be far from the beach vendors, etc. But sightseeing is a good distance as Hoi An is about an hour away.

The spa at the resort is set aside from everything else. There is a check-in/reservations office next to the L_o_n_g Bar. From there one is taken by buggy to the spa. Each treatment room is actually a private pavilion. Each pavilion contains a reception area, changing area/restroom, Jacuzzi area, and the actual treatment room. These pavilions are large and just for one person or couple. I think I counted 11 pavilions. I had a massage and it was very good. Prices were competitive to other resorts in Vietnam. There are spa specials posted about the resort. The spa set-up really makes one feel that they are away from it all.

There are 2 large pools and several Jacuzzis. One set is adjacent to the L_o_n_g Bar and the other is on top of the L_o_n_g Bar.  We mostly used the pool on top of the L_o_n_g Bar. The water was warmer and it is a bigger pool. This pool has one end that is the Jacuzzi that is 50ft. by 40 ft. You could always find a spot in this Jacuzzi that was away from other guests.  One can also see the sunset from this pool.

The beach is almost a mile long and totally private. No beach vendors. Raked and cleaned by hotel staff, at least once daily. There is grass matting to the beach and all along the lounge chairs. You can go to the beach, sun, relax and if you don’t go in the water, you won’t get sand on your feet. The beach attendants have everything. If you forget sunscreen, no worries.  Full bar service and lunch are offered.  If you just want water, all the bottles you need are complementary.

Service was excellent, everywhere in this resort. We did not have any issues. All of the staff are friendly and professional. If you have an issue, it will be easily and politely addressed. The GM was available every morning, at breakfast, at Citron. He approached all guests and initiated conversations with them. The GM and other staff were constantly out and about the resort.

The day we departed, a young woman, who was the sales manager, was helping at reception. She was proactive in asking about our stay, where we were going next, etc. When management is constantly present, the employees will do what they are supposed to do, SOPs will be followed, and overall keeps the service at a high level.

There is an arrival/departure lounge, for guests, at the Danang airport. We didn’t use it, so I cannot comment on it. I understand that there are facilities for all passengers. Meaning domestic and international departing guests and all arriving guests. Which wasn’t true in the past. We arrived too tired, to check it out. We departed via limo to Hue.

There is a children’s club, called Planet Trekkers.  There were about a dozen children in the resort while I was staying. I truly never knew there were any children in the resort. The staff entertain and watch your children, all day long, up to 8PM. I was impressed with this service. Honeymooners have no fear, you will not be tripping over children.

With the recent construction of a conference center, this resort is ideal for corporate meetings and incentives. There are probably more benefits, dollar for dollar, for holding a meeting here versus other Asian cities.

The world's #1 resort for the 4th year in a row, by the World Travel Awards. This is also the resort that hosted the APEC Economics Leaders Meeting in Oct. 2017. The conference center was being built when we stayed. His highness Trump stayed at the resort.

 Now for you IHG points collectors, this is a prime use of your points. Everything is here, to make a great vacation. The resort is over the top incredible, they cover all the bases. I have seen the resort offer standard rooms for $299US. Award points have only gone up. They started at 25K and now are 50K. But even at 50K, the value is there. It isn’t just a hotel room. The IC DaNang is an intensively themed, well kept resort, with a very competent staff. I would definitely stay here again.