Roar into Luxury: Hoi An's Lion King Hotel Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're not just reviewing the Lion King Hotel in Hoi An, Vietnam, we're living it. And let me tell you, after a week there, I feel like I've wrestled a lion, survived a herd of tourists, and maybe, just maybe, found inner peace (or at least a decent massage therapist). So, here’s the real, unfiltered, slightly-too-honest-for-its-own-good scoop on Roar into Luxury: Hoi An's Lion King Hotel.
First Impressions - The Accessibility Angle (because yeah, I care about that, and so should you!)
Okay, let's be real - the accessibility in Vietnam is… a work in progress. But! The Lion King Hotel mostly gets it right.
- Wheelchair accessible? Yes, in the public areas, which is a HUGE win. Lifts are available, but remember, Vietnam. They're… charming. Sometimes you wait. Just breathe.
- Rooms? Check with the hotel directly for specific accessible room details, like grab bars. Don’t assume anything, ever.
- On-site Restaurants/Lounges? The main restaurant and pool bar seemed generally navigable. Again, details are key!
Rambling about the Internet and Staying Connected (Because, Let’s Face It, We Can't Live Without It)
Ugh, the internet. So essential, so frustrating.
- Free Wi-Fi (in all rooms!!): Praise be! Thank you, Lion King! It was generally reliable. I’m a digital nomad, so I need this.
- Internet [LAN]: Available, but I didn't even bother. Why bother with wires when there’s Wi-Fi?
- Internet Services: Okay. They offered it. Didn't use it much, but good to know it's there.
- Wi-Fi in public areas: Also good. Though, I found myself wanting to just be OFF the wifi sometimes. But the hotel always obliged me.
Things to Do (and Ways to Melt into a Blissful Goo, AKA Relaxation Central!)
Okay, here's where the Lion King Hotel truly shines.
- The Spa! Oh, the Spa! Look, I've had massages all over the world. This place? Unreal.
- Body Scrub: Don't get me wrong, I'm a sucker for a good body scrub. But I went straight for the:
- Body Wrap: I tried one. It was… earthy. In a good way.
- Fitness Center: Yep, it exists. I briefly considered using it, for about 30 seconds. Then I remembered there’s a pool, and…
- Foot bath: That foot bath? Divine.
- Gym/Fitness: Didn’t touch it. See “pool,” above.
- Massage: Holy. Freaking. Grail. The best thing ever. This is where I got lost in the blissful, soft sounds of the place. I needed this.
- Pool with view: The view wasn't much, but the pool itself was lovely.
- Sauna: Didn't try, but hey, options!
- Spa/Sauna: They have a whole dedicated area.
- Steamroom: Again, options. I was too busy getting massaged.
- Swimming pool: Absolutely gorgeous. Spent hours here floating in the sunshine.
- Seriously guys, take advantage of the spa. Do it. Your stressed-out soul will thank you.
Cleanliness and Safety (Because, You Know, COVID and All That Jazz)
Let's be honest, travel during these times feels like you're willingly entering a biohazard zone. The Lion King Hotel actually did a decent job of trying to keep things clean.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: I didn't see the products, but I did see people cleaning a LOT.
- Breakfast in room: Tempting.
- Breakfast takeaway service: This is amazing if you want to eat in your pajamas
- Cashless payment service: Convenient.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Noticed it.
- Doctor/nurse on call: Good to know.
- First aid kit: Standard.
- Hand sanitizer: EVERYWHERE.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Hooray!
- Hygiene certification: Always a good sign.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Yes.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: They tried. It's a hotel.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: More than I got at home.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Nice touch for eco-conscious folks.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Definitely a plus.
- Safe dining setup: Felt reasonably safe.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Hopefully.
- Shared stationery removed: Okay. Weird, but okay.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Seemed like it.
- Sterilizing equipment: They had the stuff.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (Because, Hello, Food!)
Okay, the food. Vietnam is heaven for foodies, and the Lion King Hotel… did its best.
- A la carte in restaurant: They had all the things.
- Alternative meal arrangement: Yep, if you need something special, talk to them.
- Asian breakfast: Standard fare.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Decent.
- Bar: Nice. Could use more craft cocktails.
- Bottle of water: Complimentary. Always appreciated.
- Breakfast [buffet]: Nothing to write home about. The omelets were okay.
- Breakfast service: Just eat.
- Buffet in restaurant: See above.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Always available.
- Coffee shop: Didn't hit it.
- Desserts in restaurant: They had desserts.
- Happy hour: Sweet.
- International cuisine in restaurant: Fine.
- Poolside bar: Perfect for daytime cocktails.
- Restaurants: They fed you.
- Room service [24-hour]: Excellent. Midnight noodle cravings? They got you.
- Salad in restaurant: You can eat this.
- Snack bar: Got some things.
- Soup in restaurant: Soup!
- Vegetarian restaurant: Plenty of vegetarian options.
- Western breakfast: See the buffet.
- Western cuisine in restaurant: They have that too.
Services, Conveniences, and the General Stuff (Because, Life)
- Air conditioning in public area: Essential.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: For the love of… no thanks.
- Business facilities: Yep, if you must.
- Cash withdrawal: Handy.
- Concierge: Helpful.
- Contactless check-in/out: Yes!
- Convenience store: Useful.
- Currency exchange: Another convenience.
- Daily housekeeping: Excellent.
- Doorman: Helpful.
- Dry cleaning: Yes.
- Elevator: Yep.
- Essential condiments: You're good.
- Facilities for disabled guests: Good but be patient
- Food delivery: Yes.
- Gift/souvenir shop: Tourist Central.
- Indoor venue for special events: Nope.
- Invoice provided: Yup.
- Ironing service: Yes.
- Laundry service: Very helpful.
- Luggage storage: They deal with your stuff.
- Meeting/banquet facilities: Yup.
- Meetings: They can make it happen.
- Meeting stationery: Yup.
- On-site event hosting: Sure.
- Outdoor venue for special events: Yup.
- Projector/LED display: If you must.
- Safety deposit boxes: Secure.
- Seminars: I'm good.
- Shrine: Always something.
- Smoking area: Yup.
- Terrace: Nice if you can find it.
- Wi-Fi for special events: Sure.
- Xerox/fax in business center: If you must.
For the Kids (Because, Families Need Love Too)
- Babysitting service: They have options.
- Family/child friendly: Generally.
- Kids facilities: A little bit.
- Kids meal: They have food.
Access, Safety, and All That Jazz (Because, Safety First!)
- CCTV in common areas: Yup.
- CCTV outside property: Yup.
- Check-in/out [express]: Available.
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this trip to Hoi An? It's gonna be less "polished Instagram post" and more "slightly-crazed scrapbook." Welcome to my Lion King Hotel Hoi An Adventure, the itinerary that's less “perfectly planned” and more “winging it with a dash of frantic joy.”
Day 1: Arrival, Anxiety, and Attempted Culinary Excellence (Spoiler: It's a work in progress)
- Morning (Arrival & Hotel Houdini Act): Landing in Da Nang Airport. Now, the REAL adventure begins. After a surprisingly smooth flight, my internal monologue starts: “Okay, taxi… Negotiate the price… Don’t make eye contact with the aggressive souvenir hawkers… Breathe… You got this.” Finding the Lion King Hotel was easy – a little oasis of calm after the airport chaos. But the second I walked in, my brain went into overdrive. *“Is the AC cold enough? Do I remember how to use the TV remote? Is *that* a suspicious stain on the bedspread?”* (It wasn’t. Probably just a shadow. Probably).
- Afternoon (Hoi An Hustle – The First Tumble): After unpacking, which is always an exercise in "what am I actually going to wear?" I decided to plunge headfirst into Hoi An's heart. First stop: the Old Town. I was instantly overwhelmed by the vibrant chaos: silk lanterns swaying, the smell of pho wafting from every corner along with the sounds of the traffic. Ah! The traffic. Scooters zipping, rickshaws whizzing… It was a delightful sensory overload, especially when I almost got sideswiped by a scooter (note to self: look LEFT, not right, when crossing the street). I managed to dodge disaster and promptly rewarded myself with… ice cream. Gotta keep that energy level up, you know?
- Evening (The Pho Fiasco & Tailor Trials): Dinner. I was determined to conquer Pho. Found a highly-rated place online. *“Yes, this will be *the* Pho experience!”* I ordered, waited with bated breath… and then… I realized I had no idea how to hold the chopsticks. Cue the awkward maneuvering, the noodle-splash mishaps, and the quiet internal scream of “Why didn't I practice this beforehand?!” The soup was delicious, even though half of it ended up on my chin. Then followed my tailor's trial, this was a bit smoother but still had its fair of stuggles. Did I really need that many pockets? Maybe.
Day 2: Beaches & Beyond (and a near-death experience with a coconut)
- Morning (An Bang Beach Bliss – Almost): Day two brought a beach bonanza a little outside of Hoi An. An Bang Beach! This was the plan, and i was ready to relax, I managed to find a nice spot on the beach, and promptly settled in. “Ahhh, the ocean… The sun… this is the life.” Then, disaster struck (again). I ordered a coconut, reached for it with a smile, and nearly got taken out by the clumsy waiter, the heavy coconut came close to dropping on my head. “Okay, maybe I'm not a beach person,” I thought ruefully, as I got up and retreated back to the shaded restaurant.
- Afternoon (Cooking Class Chaos - Deliciously Messy): Ah, the cooking class. This was the thing I was the most excited about. I am not a great cook, but I love food. I’m convinced I could become an awful chef in the most delicious way possible. I found a class that looked promising, and I was raring to go. Within the first ten minutes, I'd managed to spill fish sauce on myself, mis-chop the lemongrass into smithereens, and set the rice paper on fire (okay, maybe not actually on fire, but it came close). The instructors must have been used to it because they just chuckled. But by the end, against all odds, I'd actually created edible (and even somewhat delicious) spring rolls, and the best ever Banh Xeo!
- Evening (Lantern Light Rambles & Over-Excited Shopping): The Old Town at night is magical. The lanterns are lit, the air is warm and smells amazing, and everyone seems to be smiling. I spent way too long wandering the lantern-lit streets. “Oh, a silk scarf! … Must have! … And oh, a hand-painted fan! … NEED.” My wallet is now weeping.
Day 3: The My Son Temple Trek & the "Is That a Snake?" Incident
- Morning (My Son Meltdown – The Early Rise from Hell): Okay, the My Son Temples. Supposed to be "amazing." I’m not a "get up before sunrise" person. But, y'know, "cultural experience." Woke up at 5 AM. The internal grumbles were loud. Got on the bus (which was surprisingly comfortable) and endured the hour-long journey. The sun felt like it was boiling me, the humidity was trying to drown me, and the whole place felt like I was visiting a haunted set. But… the temples were actually pretty spectacular. The architecture was incredible - it was very peaceful to experience this sight, and there was some peace amidst the earlier chaos.
- Afternoon (Riverside Relaxation… with a side of Panic): After the temples, the plan was a boat trip on the Thu Bon River. Picturesque, right? Well, yeah. Until I almost panicked during the boat trip. *“Are those lily pads just… sitting there? Is there something… *under* them?”* I swear I saw something move near the shore. Could it be a snake? Or maybe my imagination?
- Evening (Farewell Dinner & Reflections - or, “Did I Really Do All That?”): It's my last night. I wanted to celebrate. I found a fancy dining spot and got myself all cleaned up, and ready to eat! It was the perfect way to finish my trip to Hoi An. Now I'm sitting in my hotel room, slightly sunburned, perpetually hungry, and utterly exhausted. Did I love Hoi An? Absolutely. Was it perfect? Nope. But that's the beauty of it. It was messy, imperfect, sometimes hilarious, and filled with those little moments that you can only get when you're traveling. And I wouldn't trade it for anything. Now, where's those pajamas… and maybe another bowl of pho, for old time's sake?
Roar into Luxury: Hoi An's Lion King Hotel - Seriously, Is It Worth the Hype? (My Honest Rant/Review/Whatever You Want to Call It)
Okay, First Thing's First: Is the Lion King Hotel Actually *Luxury*? Or Just, You Know, Fancy Curtains?
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this is where it gets real. Luxury? Well, it depends on your definition. My definition? I want my bed to be like sleeping on a cloud gently caressed by angels, and I want a bathtub big enough to swim laps in (or at least *pretend* to). The Lion King Hotel… it gets *close*. The sheets? Heavenly. The pillows? Perfectly plumped. The bathroom? Okay, the tub wasn't *quite* Olympic-sized, but it was definitely big enough to drown my sorrows in after a particularly disastrous attempt at haggling for a silk robe at the Hoi An market (more on that later!). The staff? Utterly delightful, even when I was being a total pain in the... you get it. So, yes, it *leans* into luxury. Not *quite* a five-star palace, but a very, very comfortable and genuinely lovely place to crash.
What's the Deal with the Location? Is it Actually *In* Hoi An, or Out in the Boonies?
Location, location, location! That’s what they always say, right? Well, the Lion King Hotel is perfectly situated, I have to say. It's close enough to the Old Town to wander over and get properly lost in the lantern-lit magic, but far enough away that you're not kept awake all night by the constant buzz of scooters and the drunken sing-alongs of karaoke patrons. (Speaking of which, I swear, the karaoke in Hoi An has a *special* kind of… enthusiasm.) You can easily walk to the main attractions, but you can also hire a bike (highly recommended!) and explore at your own pace. The hotel also runs a free shuttle service, which is a godsend after a particularly epic food coma brought on by way too much Cao Lau. I used the shuttle a lot! Don't judge me.
Let's Talk Food. Is the Breakfast Buffet Worth Waking Up For? (Because, You Know, I'm a Serious Sleeper.)
Listen. I’m a creature of habit. And that habit involves hitting the snooze button approximately 7,000 times before finally dragging myself out of bed. Was the breakfast buffet worth it? YES! Absolutely, unequivocally YES! Forget the snooze button! My sleep schedule was ruined for the better. From the fresh fruit (mangoes, oh the mangoes!) to the pho cooked right in front of you, to the expertly brewed Vietnamese coffee (strong enough to raise the dead!), the breakfast was a highlight. They even had a pancake station! I may or may not have eaten my weight in pancakes every single morning. Don't judge me, again. Seriously, I miss those pancakes. Like, a *lot*.
The Pool! Tell Me About the Pool! Is It Instagrammable? (Because, Priorities.)
Okay, the pool. The pool is… glorious. It’s that perfect turquoise color, surrounded by lush greenery (perfect for hiding from the sun, and the judging eyes of other guests who are *much* better at lounging effortlessly than I am). Is it Instagrammable? Honey, it's practically begging for a photoshoot. I spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to get the perfect selfie, but hey, no regrets! I did, however, learn that my 'model' skills are questionable. But the important thing is, the pool is clean, refreshing, and a blissful escape from the Hoi An heat. Seriously, I was in the pool more than I was out of it. That's a good thing.
So, What About the Staff? Are They Actually Nice? Or Just Pretending? (I'm Cynical, Deal With It.)
Alright, here's the deal. I'm a naturally suspicious person. I always assume everyone's got an angle. BUT, the staff at the Lion King Hotel… they were genuinely, undeniably, wonderfully *nice*. I mean, they remembered my name (after like, a day!), they were always helpful and friendly, and they went above and beyond to make sure I had a good time. I felt like they actually *cared*, which, in this day and age, is a rare and beautiful thing. They helped me with everything from booking tours to rescuing me (metaphorically speaking) from a disastrous attempt at riding a motorbike. They're the real MVPs! Seriously, they deserve ALL the praise.
Alright, Spill the Tea: What Was Your *Worst* Experience at the Lion King Hotel (If You Had One)?
Okay, alright, this is where the veil of perfect holiday bliss gets a little… smudged. There was one minor blip, I suppose. My air conditioning unit was kinda… temperamental the first night. It decided to go full-throttle arctic blast. Like, I woke up shivering like a Chihuahua in a snowstorm. I mean, hello, Vietnam? Not Antarctica! I called the front desk, they were *super* apologetic, and fixed it immediately. But I spent a good portion of that first night trying to convince my goosebumps to disappear. Tiny, insignificant hurdle really, considering the overall experience. It was just a minor inconvenience. And the next day, the air conditioning performed flawlessly, which helped me to sleep even better!
Would You Go Back? Be Honest. (No Pressure… Okay, Lots of Pressure!)
Would I go back? Are you kidding me? In a heartbeat! I'm already dreaming of those pancakes, that pool, and the ridiculously charming staff. Hoi An itself is a magical place, and the Lion King Hotel just made it even better. It’s like, that perfect balance of charm, comfort, and a little bit of over-the-top luxury. It's not perfect, nothing is. But it's pretty darn close. So yes, pack your bags (and your appetite), because I'm pretty sure I'm going to be booking another trip soon. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I *should* go back! Just for the pancakes, alone, and have a bath in that gorgeous tub.
Bonus Round: Any Quirky Observations or Tips for Fellow Travelers?
Oh, absolutely! First, bring earplugs. Hoi An's a vibrant city, but sometimes the sounds can be a bit overwhelming. Second, embrace the tailoring! Get a dress made, a suit, anything! The quality and prices are amazing. (Just… be prepared to haggle. It's part of the fun… I think).Low Price Hotel Blog
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