IC Danang Sun Peninsula Resort
Were you happy with the hotel/stay?
Yes.
Which room did you book and which upgrade did you get?
Booked an Atrium Suite, got Villa on the Beach (2-level upgrade).
How are the rooms?
Villa on the Beach
There are in total three of these; they have direct beach access and a small private sundeck underneath a private pool. The pool is more than a plunge pool and about 8x2.5 meters - long enough to swim. Pool patio with table and two chairs, porch swing, two showers.
The villa building is one single large room. Bed in the center of the room. Small desk area. Large daybed with TV and sound system. Large bathroom with humongous bathtub, double sinks, walk-in closet. There is no seperate dining area in the room. Storage space for two people was just enough.
Villa on the Rocks
Same as Villa on the Beach. Beware that in the worst case there are 85 steps leading down to the villa which need to be climbed in the sun (close to 40°) to go anywhere.
Fantastic views of the bay from the pool.
Atrium Suite
Atriums suites look nice from the outside - they have a huge balcony with dining and lounge area. No pool or whirlpool outside.
How is the club?
There is no club lounge per se, but Club Intercontinental benefits, which are apparently included in suite and villa bookings (check - this may change anytime).
Club benefits include
- Breakfast at the main restaurant only.
- Afternoon tea at the main restaurant, consisting of
lots of sandwiches and pastry.
- Evening cocktails at the Long Bar (down at the beach). You can basically order any drink from the menu, excluding expensive spirits. Canapés are also available, which are delicious but very, very few - there is basically no food during happy hour.
- 30 minutes massage per person per stay
Overall the club concept leaves a lot be desired and should be completely redone. Club guests now neither enjoy an exclusive area, nor exclusive treatment or any significant food and beverage privileges. In-room breakfast or by the beach, separate menus, a more elaborate evening canapé flying buffet, reserved tables at the beach etc. are a few things we appreciate and other ICs offer for club guests.
Staff
Excellent staff throughout the hotel. Of course, the hotel is new and so is staff; some just need more practice.
Personal butler service at each villa; very friendly and knowledgeable.
Pre-stay communication
This was a nightmare caused by higher management and it took months to get simple questions answered. My emails were forgotten/ignored/lost - including booking requests for the very highest room category.
The generic email address reservations at icdanang.com sent prompt and competent answers after I contacted ambassador services... I recommend to use this email contact only.
Location, Facilities
The resort is nestled in its own bay, about 20 mins by car from Danang. There is nothing else close. Beautiful, picturesque bay, yellow sand and turquois, clear sea. One pool at the beach, one on the roof of the Long Bar.
Unique architecture in a modern colonial style. Every detail of the resort as been thought through with this concept. There won't be many resorts or hotels with such a lovingly unique architecural style. It is a welcome antipode to bland minimalist hotels.
The hotel is built on a hill, this means that all rooms that are not on the beach (I guess about 90%) rely on a buggy service that needs to be ordered. This is everything but convenient.
Currently, about 1/3 of the resort is still under constructions and our villa was right next to one construction site that started loud work (i.e. buzz saw) at 8 am.
Until now only two f&b outlets are open.
The main restaurant
Citron featuring a good breakfast buffet and all-day-dining, evening buffet only on Fridays (Seafood night). The food was generally good, but varied from excellent (seafood curry) to tasteless (Gnocci) and also by day (great baguette one day, rubber the next day).
The
Long Bar serves drinks only and some cold food. Cocktails were very good, but varied by barkeeper. Nice setting right at the beach below one of the pools (which is on the roof of the bar).
At least two more dining outlets should open. One Café/Bar at the beach. Right now it is not possible to get something to eat at the beach, so this addition is well appreciated.
Another fine dining is under construction and probably not to open within the next three months.
Value for € or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
Room rates are now pushing over 1000 USD for beach villas. Would return to Danang anytime, but look again at all hotel options.
Photos
I'm not a good photographer and an old camera doesn't make it better:
http://chinatrvl.tumblr.com