Le Méridien Saigon: an almost perfect experience

During my last trip to Vietnam I started my journey in Saigon (which I definitely can’t call Ho-Chi-Minh City). My choice was the Meridien Saigon (proof that hotels also use the old name of the city).

Reservation and arrival at the hotel

As usual I book via the Starwood Hotels SPG application which guarantees me the best possible price and offers me, if necessary, 20% discount on the best price found elsewhere. I book a “Premier Classic” room in the hotel’s basic room at around 120 euros per night with a flexible rate that can be changed and refunded.

A few days before my arrival I check in the application and see that I have been upgraded to “Club Deluxe”, minimal upgrade related to the loyalty program but still good to take. The same morning my reservation will be updated again, in “Grand Suite” this time which means an upgrade of 4 levels. Strict application of the loyalty program, which is not always the case, some hoteliers being more stingy than others.

I arrive at the hotel. In Saigon, there are two main types of hotels: old hotels that have been renovated to a greater or lesser extent, some of which are already beginning to show their age, and completely new constructions. The recent Le Méridien is in the second category.

The protrusion you see at the front is the pool, but more on that later. The hotel is well located, on the outskirts of the hyper center and faces the Saigon River.

The reception is spacious, decorated in a modern way (after you like or not the style) and the fresh perfume of atmosphere proper to all the Méridiens makes a great good when you get out of the outside humidity.

I go to the counter and immediatelysomeone accompanies me to the Club Lounge to check inmore comfortably, again a benefit of the loyalty program perfectly applied (free Club lounge access for platinum members regardless of the room).

The lounge is modern and spacious and offers a beautiful view over the river and the city.

I settle down, and I was offered a drink. My room is not ready yet (it’s not 3pm and I didn’t ask for an “early arrival”) but I’m offered to do the formalities and to wait quietly in the lounge until the room is ready. With wifi, drinks and some self-service cakes at this time of the afternoon there are more uncomfortable ways to wait.

At the time of signing the arrival documents, I reread the form and realized that the room indicated was a “Club Deluxe”. I note that the application indicates an upgrade to a Grand Suite. I was told that the CLub Deluxe would be ready quickly, but I would have to wait another hour for the other one, so I was given the Deluxe instead. Given the waiting conditions I confirm my preference for the suite. I still wish I had been asked my opinion before but the damage is repaired.

It is less than an hour later that I will be informed that my room is ready.

Grand Suite at Le Meridien Saigon

So I go to the room. The corridors organized around an atrium are not without reminding me something and the regulars will easily see the similarity with the very appreciated Sheraton of Roissy Charles de Gaulle.

As soon as I enter the room, a glance to the side reveals the first toilet, then a large dressing roomthat leads to the bathroom, also equipped with a toilet.

Then there is a large living room, also decorated in a modern way but with enough taste in my opinion.

Then we go on the bedroom, of good size too.

Shutters and curtains are of course electrically and centrally controlled.

The work space is large and the room opens directly to the bathroom.

The bathroom has a bathtub, a walk-in shower and a rain shower and opens onto the dressing room seen in the entrance. Large and bright.

So I close the loop with the dressing room. For once there is enough storage space for the contents of a luggage, let’s point it out!

Let’s end with a video tour that does more justice to the place.

A spacious room, very bright, comfortable, nothing to complain about the bedding … it’s flawless!

Restaurants

Having access to the club lounge I did not miss the snack aperitif offered in late afternoon / early evening.

The place is as pretty by night as by day.

The offer is very very rich with hot, cold, sweet, salty, and a fairly consistent offer of drinks.

And on top of everything it was really delicious. When the service is of this level I wonder to what extent these lounges do not harm the hotel restaurants. Personally in 3 nights I only went to the restaurant once because I was more than full when I left the lounge. And the conversation between customers confirmed to me that many restaurant plans are canceled after the passage in this very well stocked lounge.

The breakfast service is of the same level.

So I had no reason to go and try the “normal” buffet breakfast that the hotel offers its guests.

One evening I managed to keep a little space to go and try a restaurant that seems to be chic and trendy in the hotel: the Bamboo chic. No photo. Correct service even if the order taking was a little bit pushy while the restaurant was almost empty, very good meal on the other hand but I didn’t felt like staying long. In Saigon, there are many ways to eat very well outside the hotel restaurants and for much less money, add the “superior” clientele who have already had a substantial snack at the lounge….all of this surely explains that.

Fitness ok, pool cold, disappointing Spa

Of course, the hotel has many facilities for its guests. Starting with the fitness room.

It is bright, airy, the machines are modern. Nothing to complain about except maybe the music a little too loud for my taste. And it’ s nice to have a morning session in front of the river.

I didn’t try the spa treatments but the facilities.

The arrival in the locker room suggests the best.

It’s nice, clean and well designed.

First surprise, the lockers of the locker rooms do not have bathrobes as we generally find it. Finally I will make the same observation in 3 successive hotels in Vietnam…it must be a local standard.

The sauna is quite large and brand new.

The sauna is so hot that it is useless. The steam even flows from the inside to the outside.

At my request the staff will adjust the temperature but it will take a good 20 minutes before it becomes usable.

The hot tub / jacuzzi will not be available for an undetermined reason.

In short, it was promising but it’s a bit of a light offer, especially without the possibility to relax in a bath at the end.

I’ll make up for it on the hotel pool located on the same floor as the fitness room and spa.

Open and overlooking the outside, located as if on a balcony, it offers a pleasant view and it is nice to sit on one of the deckchairs to relax or read.

If it is long enough it is rather narrow.

And indeed this swimming pool is pleasant where you are around, much less inside. I didn’t see a person do more than one lap during my whole stay and for good reason:the temperature of the water was really cold compared to the 37° outside, which discouraged the most reckless.

Check-out

The check-out process was smooth and quick, they called me a cab and kept me cool in the lobby to save me a wait in the humidity and heat outside. Nothing to complain about.

Conclusion

No surprise: I was delighted by my stay and will certainly choose the Meridien for my next stay in Saigon. If we forget the small problem with the upgrade at check-in and the small disappointment with the spa/piscinetout duo,it was perfect and the staff was really attentive.

The grades

Hotel (location etc…): the hotel is new, almost in the hypercenter. Nothing to complain about. 10

Check in -out: Small glitch at check-in on the upgrade but it was with good feelings. Otherwise everything was perfect. 9

Room: large, bright, no lack of taste, very comfortable. 10

Restaurant/bar: I only tried the lounge and a restaurant. Lounge perfect, restaurant empty (but is it their fault), very good but waitress a bit too much pushy on the order taking. 9

Facilities (gym, pool, spa...): nothing to complain about on the fitness room, the spa lacks a little ambition and service, the pool is a nice place but not very usable. 7

Service and attention: perfect. 10

Application of the loyalty program: to the letter and even a little more generous than usual. 10

Experience for money: at 120 euros per night… it can only be a 10.