When visiting a new destination, deciding where to stay is an important factor and that was also the case when I was looking for places to stay in Hoi An, Vietnam. In the end, I decided to book the Hotel Royal Gallery Hoi An for a number of reasons that will become apparent in this hotel review.
I was in contact with the hotel prior to arrival and was impressed with the communication. For this reason, I had high expectations, which is never a good thing! Were they met? Read on to find out!
The Concept
“Prominently situated close to the majestic Old Quarter of Hoi An and bordered by the tranquil Thu Bon River, Hotel Royal Hoi An – MGallery is now an established gem on the crown jewel of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hotel Royal Hoi An, a member of the MGallery collection by Accor Hotels, dazzles the eyes with elegant decorations, intuitive design and a fascinating love story that dates back to centuries ago.“
(Source: Hotel Royal Hoi An website)
Please note that Hotel Royal – Gallery Hoi An is no longer part of Accor, so it’s not possible to earn or redeem Accor ALL points, or enjoy additional perks due to loyalty status.
The Hotel
The location is great! It’s about a 10-minute walk from Hoi An Old Town in Vietnam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it convenient without suffering from the over-tourism and associated busy-ness of the main tourist areas. For non-walkers, there are plenty of taxis around, and they’re very cheap. The hotel also offers complimentary bicycles (first-come, first-served) if you’d like to cycle around Hoi An. With the traffic and number of scooters around town I didn’t feel comfortable cycling and walked everywhere. The exception of this when going to An Bang beach. We just used a Grab for that.
The Hotel Royal Gallery Hoi An consists of two buildings. The older one, opened in 2014, features a black & red theme. The newer building, opened in 2017, has a more modern aesthetic. All room categories are available in both buildings. If you have a strong preference for one style over the other, be sure to communicate this to your travel advisor.
Arrival Information
Upon arrival, the lobby area seemed chaotic, reminiscent of a scene with tour buses arriving and departing. However, a bellhop promptly took our luggage and escorted us to a seating area opposite the reception. Refreshing welcome drinks were brought to us while we waited. It took about 10 minutes before we could begin the check-in process, but staff members did apologize for the delay. In the meantime, one staff member took our passports to photocopy them and, shortly after, we were checked in and shown to our room.
The Room
As mentioned above, the hotel consists of two buildings. We were assigned a room in the first building and got upgraded to a Grand Deluxe room facing the pool. Top tip: The rooms facing the pool are quieter so if you’re a light sleeper, avoid the ones by the main road that suffer from traffic noise.
The room was spacious enough for two people spending a couple of days in Hoi An. Even though we didn’t have a balcony, the room upgrade was very much appreciated as we had a separate walk-in closet where we could store our luggage without it getting in the way. The little sofa at the end of the bed was practical but probably not a great location to spend an extended period of time.
The bathroom featured a freestanding bathtub and separate shower cubicle. As you can see from the photo below, one could see into the main part of the room from the bathroom and vice versa, but thankfully there was a privacy blind that could be rolled down.
There was also a desk, minibar, laptop-sized safe, ironing board & iron, hair dryer, etc. There were enough power sockets by the bed and desk to charge all of our devices.
The internet connection was pretty bad (this is me being kind). It was barely functional for basic web browsing and not reliable for anything important or anything that requires a lot of data such as syncing photos or streaming video. When I needed to do some work, I ended up using my mobile data connection (Get US$3 off your first eSIM data pack from Airalo. Use code STEVE3670 when you sign up or apply it at checkout)
I personally found the room a little bit on the darker side but I think it was designed to be romantic (maybe?). The rooms on the second (newer) building where much lighter as far as the colour scheme is concerned and more my style. Which one do you prefer?
Restaurant
Anyone who knows me personally will know that I love breakfast, and the buffet selection at Hotel Royal Gallery Hoi An was very good. Even though it was hot and humid in April, I enjoyed sitting al fresco at the balcony overlooking the river, eating a healthy-ish breakfast and drinking some green tea. Warning: The coffee is a bit weak, if that is important to you. There are a few nice coffee shops in town with better coffee.
The breakfast buffet had a good variety of items, including fresh fruit (I love passion fruit & dragon fruit when I’m visiting the region), freshly-made Phở, pastries, cereals, eggs cooked to your specification, and more.
For registered guests of Royal Deluxe, Deluxe Suite and 2 Bedroom Suites there is also the option of visiting the Executive Lounge for refreshments. The times vary but the lounge offers breakfast, self-service refreshments, afternoon tea, as well as evening cocktails and canapes. Guests with access to the lounge can also enjoy additional benefits such as: complimentary steam & sauna, garment pressing, and more.
Facilities
So, you have found a great place to stay in Hoi An? What other facilities does it feature? Glad you asked. A pool is a must! Two pools is even better. The Hotel Royal Gallery Hoi An has a rooftop pool with view of the entire city, as well as a bigger one on the first floor. The vibe is different, as well as the sun and noise exposure. Personally I preferred the one on the first floor. It’s a little more ornate, as you can see from the photos below and I found it to be a little more relaxed, but maybe that depends on who else was (or wasn’t) around at the time.
Also on the first floor and right next to the pool is a spacious and air-conditioned fitness centre with all the basic equipment you would expect. I have to admit, as I was only there for a couple of days that were packed with sight-seeing, shopping, and going to the beach I didn’t get to use the gym facilities but I really did enjoy swimming in the pool, especially in the evening after a busy day in the sun & humidity of Hoi An.
On the second floor of the same building there is a spa offering facial & body treatments. A sauna and steam room is also available for deeper relaxation.
Finally – as you would expect from a five-star hotel – laundry service is provided but there are also a couple of shops across the road that charge based on weight, making it more economical for bigger loads.
Pros/Cons of the Property
Pros
- Service overall was very good – Reception staff remembered my room number and everyone from bellhop to restaurant team members was extremely friendly and professional
- Complimentary bikes (first come, first served)
- Highest rooftop pool/bar in Hoi An for a drink and best views in the city
- Laundry service opposite the hotel was quick and great value, especially if you’re travelling for a while and need to get laundry done per Kg, instead of paying more in the hotel to have it priced per item
Cons
- Internet – I can’t sugarcoat this. Not great!
- Coffee – The coffee (even the double espresso) in the restaurant was pretty weak
Enhanced Perks
The Hotel Royal Gallery Hoi An is no longer a member of Accor, but when visiting one of the Accor ALL member hotels in Vietnam (and there are many), it is worth checking with an Accor HERA travel advisor (Accor Preferred Partners) if there are any special rates or perks available for your travel dates.
For example, at the time of writing, Hôtel des Arts Saigon – MGallery in Ho Chi Minh City has a ‘3rd night free’ and ‘4th night free promotion’, both of which also include:
- 100 USD hotel credit per room per stay
- Upgrade at time of check-in (subject to availability)
- Daily Breakfast for two
- Early check-in / late check-out (subject to availability)
- Welcome note and amenities
- Wifi
The perks above are also available at Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi – MGallery (Look out for my review coming up soon!) and the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi.
Several non-Accor hotels exist too, many of them offering different promotions and perks.
Verdict
The Hotel Royal Gallery Hoi An offers a luxurious stay in Hoi An, close to the Old Town but peaceful. The hotel has two buildings with different design styles, a rooftop pool with city views, and a larger pool on the first floor. The breakfast buffet is excellent, with fresh fruit, local specialties, and made-to-order options. While the internet and coffee were weak points, the staff was friendly and professional, and the complimentary bikes are a great way to explore the area.
Luxury Travel by thirdpassport 