Hanoi Elegance 2 Hotel
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85 Ma May St, Hoan Kiem District Hanoi, Vietnam, 10000, 84-4-9263451
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Travel Blogs by Travelers Who Stayed at the Hanoi Elegance 2 Hotel
It only took a little arm twisting to get Yvette to meet me in Vietnam--when I was here last year I thought that she would have really liked this place. And, of course, I was crazy about it. And since there are two of us this time, I also figured it allowed me to have a bit more quality in my accomodations. Our planes got in about 20 minutes apart to Hanoi Airport. Oh. By the way--Vietnam Air = turbulent. It's the only flight I've ever been on where I was constantly and painfully aware that w...
Hanoi, Vietnam 12thousand500
Hello from Hanoi, as you can tell by the title it is HOT as hell here. It is in the upper 90's with very high humidity still. I don't think the temperature has changed much since we have been here at all. We woke up this morning and lazed around a little bit, then got some breakfast in the hotel (breakfast buffets have been included every morning so far and from now on out). We then set off to talk around a bit and headed towards the Army Museum and the Temple of Literature. Well, we had a ve...
Hanoi, Vietnam aaronanddeana
Today started out annoying but it got better. We went and had breakfast at the hotel restaurant (which is included) and we both sat down and placed our order. Well, for those of you that watch Hells Kitchen, Chef Ramsey would not be pleased. My food came out and I started eating, 10-15 min after I was done Aaron's food came out. We have noticed here that food never comes at the same time. It gets a little old. We headed off to the Temple of Literature. It is a rare example of well-preserved t...
Hanoi, Vietnam aaronanddeana
Woke up this morning when the A/C was shut off, how rude of them! Got up and out of the cabin because was stifling in there. Breakfast was at 0730 and was eggs/bacon/toast/fruit; Aaron enjoyed it all, I enjoyed the toast and fruit (the eggs/bacon were cold). That was OK, was plenty to eat. The boat got underway for a bit til we ended up at a cave. The boat docked at Hang Dau Go cave which consists of three chambers which you reach via 90 steps. The nickname of this cave is either Surprising C...
Halong Bay, Vietnam aaronanddeana
Good morning everyone! Another hot & humid day in Hanoi. It is actually much cooler then yesterday, feels in the mid 90's which is great compared to yesterdays 109! Today is our last day in Vietnam and as much as I am sad that the vacation is coming to an end I feel like we "did" Vietnam so our journey is complete. I also can't wait to get back to our own bed and be able to pull clothes out of the dresser not the backpack. We woke up and had breakfast at the hotel. This hotel excels every...
Hanoi, Vietnam aaronanddeana
Arrived at Hanoi Train station on Sunday morning at 4am. Had a bit of trouble with a taxi driver who was trying to force us to ride with him and we wanted to take the legimate government taxi ( other companies have rigged meters). When we refused to go with him he told every other taxi driver not to take us so about 30 taxis lined up at the platform all crossed there arms and nodded" no" to our requests. We finally found a taxi outside the terminal on the street.Our hotel is in the old quarte...
Hanoi, Vietnam backpackers
After we got some sleep, we really needed. We were ready to explore the city. We- as the rest of the world- oraganized our visit with the help of the Lonely PLanet Guide, so it's funny to see same people as pilgrims with the same book in different languages but same text same photos same visits, anyway is quite useful to trace a walk or to find a restaurant after reading some reviews from other travellers. Hanoi Old Quarter is organized on a comercial basis each street is devoted to a particu...
Hanoi, Vietnam choni
WE finally got to Hanoi. There was a funny guy waiting for us at the airport we had already asked the hotel manager for this service since I'd heard a lot of problems with possible scams and people who try to drive you to a hotel where they get a comission for that. The driver was waiting for us with a sign saying WElcome and my name on it. we did not have any problems with the visa we had ready from Spain- something really useful when travelling to this part of the world-. Our first impressi...
Hanoi, Vietnam choni
On June 8, we arrived in Hanoi on the north side of Vietnam. Hanoi is an interesting combination of modern city and traditional Vietnam. It has terrible traffic and large concrete buildings, like you'd expect in any major city in a developing country. But then half the people are wearing cone-shaped rice paddy hats. And you see rice paddy fields all over the place once you get beyond the city center. We asked the airport taxi to take us to a well-known guesthouse in the Old Quarter and he ins...
Hanoi, Vietnam connieyc
After a massively long flight on the biggest plane in the world(The A380!), with a stopover in Singapore,we finally made it to Hanoi. Our hotel collected us at the airport and drove us to our hotel - which was great because we were both just about ready to collapse! Hanoi was hot hot hot and humid, with an unbelievable traffic system whereby thousands of scooters, bicycles, motor bikes, cars and buses weave in and out of eachothers lane and beep their horns continously to get to their destina...
Hanoi, Vietnam katandstevie
Historical Traveler Reviews of Hanoi Elegance 2 Hotel
Nice hotel but need improvement in their booking system
We would say this hotel is pleasant to look at, clean and a centrally located hotel in the thick of the Old Quarter..and a generally good hotel as far as bricks and mortar go but needs some improvements on their customer service and systems.
Warning, if you book a room with Elegance II hotel, please be aware that your room is still not secured until you are physically in it! The hotel re-appointed our DELUX room to someone else because we arrived late due to a delayed flight.
To cut a long story short we ended up staying the first night in their room #302 (a shoe box without a window) which I think they must keep as a last ditch resort when they overbook. To rub salt into our wound they wanted to charge room #302 as a standard room. After some negotiation with reception I highlight the point that room #302 should not be charged out at their standard room rate. Room #302 does not fit the description of their standard room as depicted on their website, therefore, should not be charged as such. It just makes you think twice about their integrity which they seem to promote so much on their website. To the hotel manager's credit he came to my way of thinking and accepted my offer of a reduced price for the "shoebox".
For the remaining 4 nights we were moved into a Delux room which we were happy with. The female receptionist was very helpful and understanding of our needs in this regard.
Nearly all of their staff are genuinely friendly, courteous and helpful. However, we experienced a couple of key staff who made us feel we were in the wrong. What a pity. This was more of a disappointment to us than the debarkle with the flight delay/overbooking.
We would have second thoughts about returning to Elegance II Hotel or recommending it to our friends and associates. Thus the reason I am posting my honest opinion on Tripadvisor.
Good place for old town
Rooms vary and when I arrived late in the evening, I was surprised to find that my superior room was the size of a shoebox. But by breakfast the next morning the staff had moved us into a larger room which had a refrigerator/minibar, computer, tv and vcr, fresh fruit, water and a city view. This room wasn't huge, but at least it could fit a couple chairs. I was told that superior rooms do not have balconies (contrary to the website). Breakfast was nice. Pho was our favourite and the coffee (with condensed milk of course) and lemon juice were some of the best we had on our trip.
OK now for the things we didn't like. We seemed to be on an airshaft of strange smells. The first couple days, the smell of cigarette smoke came wafting into the room through the bathroom and on our last night there was a strange rotten durian diaper scent. Though the room seemed quite clean after returning to the same room four days later we wondered if the duvet cover had been cleaned and changed after each stay when we noticed the same stains in the same spots. Understandable if there is a top sheet but the duvet is it. We were disappointed with the private day trip we booked through the hotel - too expensive and lack of communication between the hotel and driver. There are lots of tour operators in the area, so shop around or try and join a group tour. Finally we just didn't like old town all that much - too many backpacker cafes and tourists. Mainly for that reason we'll stay somewhere else next time.
Good place to stay in Hanoi
Good service and location!
A wonderful home away from home!
It is in a fantastic location, May May street is close to everything and as scary as it seems Ha Noi is a great walking city.
The staff are marvelous. They have taken care of us at every turn, almost like guardian angels. I really can't say enough about how well we have been treated by all the staff. We booked a driver though the Elegance to take us out to Ba Vi National Park and Tay and Thay Pagodas, it was everything we asked for.
The meals are wonderful and the eatting room comfortable. I love the french toast served on a bed of lettuce and the Pho.
Since we have been here for so long (adoption takes a while) we have had a chance to stay in several different rooms. 405 was spacious, great bathroom, workable balcony. The street sounds fade with closing the glass door and nearly disappear completely when shutting the wood dormmer doors.
However, room 705, the junior suite is by far the finest room. The balcony is amazing as is the natural light that filters in from the huge windows. It is almost like staying in an lookout tower in the Old Quarter.
Having a computer in the room has been wonderful and it has allowed me to download photos of our trip to family back home.
Having a dresser to put clothes in would be nice, as would a safe in the room but those a little things.
For the price you can not find a better place to stay in Ha Noi. This place really has been a welcome respite. We highly reccommend the Elegance 2
Kevin, Alison and Jodie Mai
Great place to stay
Home away from home
We have been in Vietnam for 3 weeks now and have stayed in everything from a 1/2 star to 5 star but rated Hanoi Elegance as our most enjoyable and comfortable stay. The location at 85 Ma May Street (opp. the Handspan office) is ideal and the restaurants and cafes in the Old Quarter are at your doorstep.
We were able to walk to the lake and shopping areas, buy a few DVDs go back to the room in the evening and watch a movie as we had a DVD player in the room as well as a laptop with internet access.
Breakfast is included, which is fine for what you are paying, but it's the service that we loved. The staff and management at Hanoin Elegance are genuinely trying to make your stay the best possible and nothing is too hard. We loved our stay at this hotel, with the stylish room decor, perfect location, hospitable staff and the most comfortable bed in Vietnam. I can highly recommend this hotel - it's a good one.
New, spotless and absolutely elegant!
A great choice in Hanoi
The hotel is very well located in the center of the Old Quarter only a few blocks from the lake. All of the sights are only a walk, cyclo, or moto ride away.
The hotel staff was very accommodating and helped us in any way possible. We checked out of the hotel and went on an overnight trip to Halong Bay and when we returned the next afternoon around 4pm the hotel staff let us repack and use the internet in the lobby while we waited for our train at 11pm. They were more than hospitable and it was very much appreciated.
Our room was on the top floor and was the only room with a large balcony overlooking the city as far as we could tell. We had booked a Superior room by email for $40 a night but I think they may have given us a Deluxe room because it was so nice. The balcony was great and really beautiful.
The bathroom was nicer than most you will find in Vietnam and other parts of Asia. The Shower head was actually installed at the end of the bathtub instead of the center facing out which gets water everywhere. It was also very clean.
There was in room internet access with a PC provided in the room as well so you can use that if you do not have a laptop or you can use your laptop instead. The TV was a newer model and had a good picture.
Breakfast is included in the rate and is served from 6 - 10am in the restaurant downstairs. It has been one of the best included breakfasts we have had during our trip so far.
My only complaints were that the street noise, even through the "sound proof" windows was pretty loud in the mornings. If you do not want to be awaken at 6:30 by the public announcement system that relays the news of the day I would suggest asking for a room towards the back of the hotel because even on the top floor the street noise was very loud. You will, of course, have to trade the quite for a room without a view/balcony and maybe even without a window at all. I also would have liked to have a safe in the room. This too was not that big of a deal because the reception will store any valuables for you but I really prefer to have them stored in a safe in my room.
Overall, our stay at Hanoi Elegance 2 was absolutely fantastic. I would like to thank the staff very much for making our stay so pleasant.
Good value for money
Enjoy!
Julie, 32, London
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