I have thought long and hard about how harshly I ought to judge the Awaken Hotel Danang. It’s obviously not a Four Seasons or a Mandarin Oriental. But because this hotel expressly markets and advertises itself as a 5-star hotel, I believe it is only fair to judge it against other 5-star hotels. This is the starting point for my following comments.
Let’s start with what’s good. The location is very convenient and just across the road from the beach. The design and layout of the hotel is modern, easy to navigate, and efficient. The rooms are well designed, bright, clean, and spacious. Housekeeping did very good work. The check-in process went smoothly. The lobby staff (doormen and bellboys) were attentive, friendly, and helpful; they were quick to assist with luggage and help dispose of trash when I couldn’t find the rubbish bin. All in all, you do get a lot of “hotel” for your money.
Next, the painfully mediocre. The hotel breakfast had a very limited in selection and, whilst still edible, was far from enjoyable. The bathroom in the lobby smelled faintly of urine and could have been better maintained. The lobby was loud, rowdy, and uncomfortably hot – the air conditioning was not always turned on even when the temperatures outside reached 30+ degrees Celsius. The shower amenities were frustrating to use – the shampoo and body wash dispensers required dozens of pumps, there was no towel rack beside sink, water from the shower got everywhere due to the lack of shower curtain