It was April 2014. The four of us were sitting in our hostel room, being typical millennials and checking our emails. We had one more day in Hanoi, Vietnam, and we’ve seen what we needed to see – Ha Long Bay, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Old Hanoi and markets. We also ate what we wanted to eat – pho, banh mi, more pho, more banh mi and drank lots of (sketch) Vietnamese coffee. So, we decided to take it easy and hang back at the hostel. It was then when Kelly checked an email that changed the rest of our trip. She turned to us and said, “My parents would like to treat us to a night at the JW Marriott.” Did I ever tell you I have amazing friends with awesome parents?
Getting to the Hotel:
No 8 Do Duc Duc Road, Me Tri Ward, South Tu Liem District Hanoi Vietnam
JW Marriott is located on the newer side of town but taxis are easily available throughout Hanoi.
Tip: Make sure the taxi driver is using the meter and count your money carefully. The currency is in thousands and can easily confuse tourists.
Checking into the Deluxe Suite:
The Deluxe Suite, with a lake/golf course view, has a living area with TV and sofa, two bathrooms, an office desk and chair, and a sleeping room with a King bed and another TV. Since there were four of us, the hotel added two extra beds in the living area at no extra charge. The bathroom includes a tub with sprayjets and a separate shower and toilet area. You can expect high-end amenities (Aromatherapy Associates brand) and the typical bathrobes, slippers and other 5-star hotel goodies. The room, along with the rest of the hotel, was sophisticatedly decorated with fine art and vases.
Average Cost for Deluxe Suite (April): 7,000,000 VND (315 USD)
Standard Rooms start at: 3,040,000 VND (140 USD), depending on season and availbility
Executive Lounge Access:
The Deluxe Suite comes with Executive Lounge Access which means guests have access to a room with complimentary food (continental breakfast, midday snacks, afternoon tea, hors d’oeuvres), cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages. Did I mention, cocktails? Yes, we wined and dined on the room.
Pool and Spa Facilities:
This is my favorite part about 5-star hotels! We didn’t actually purchase a spa treatment but the facilities, including the jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, ice room, showers, beauty room and even the locker area was sufficient to provide ultimate relaxation. The only issue we had was the temperature of the jacuzzi – it was said to be 40 C but it felt a lot hotter than that so we did not end up using it.
Once you enter the pool area, the attendents will serve watermelon juice and make sure you have everything you need. The four of us had all these facilities to ourselves and had a blast.
A well-equipped fitness center is also available for those who wants a good work out.
Hotel Hospitality:
I truly believe hospitality is an art and luxury hotels should be a leading artist. The Vietnamese are naturally hospitable so the JW Marriott Hanoi did not have trouble with that. The check-in and check-out service was efficient and as mentioned, the staff went out of their way to accommodate us with the extra beds at no extra cost. I was traveling with two other girls and a guy who were all English speakers. I thought the staff were very friendly and made sure we were enjoying the experience even though their English was broken at times. We were also pretty sure the staff thought our guy friend was gay (he’s not) but even if they thought that, there was no sign of judgement despite being in a conservative culture.
The four of us were really blessed to experience such a pleasant surprise and a rejuvenating end of our trip. Perhaps you’ll consider treating yourself or a loved one to the JW Marriott’s 5-star offerings too?
Glorious Ruins 