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Published: February 25th 2013
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Info: strangely, I can always get facebook on my iphone here, but sometimes not on my notebook in hotels. No idea why this should be, and not clever enough to sort it out myself.
Communal items available for use in public loos: flipflops (you sometimes have to leave your own shoes outside - just put them on and don't think about it too much) and COMBS in case your hair is a mess - eeeuw! I think not! Oh, and if like me you occasionally have moments of picture dyslexia, the word for men is NAM - luckily it was not busy and I was able to emerge unseen......
Wifi - you can get it just about everywhere, and there are many unsecured networks which I've been using, but if you need a password, just hand over your iphone to the waiter etc and they happily put it in for you without running off with it!
Only an hour's delay with Jetstar, so arrived back in Bui Vien at 9pm, left Beth at the An An and, feeling confident (over-confident as it turned out), wheeled myself up the street and down the alley to the Luan Vu. I
wanted to stay off the main street for a different experience, and tripadvisor rated it very highly, as did Peter from the Philippines. I had looked when I was here before and it looked a bit dingy, but after his glowing recommendation decided to stick with it rather than cancel. The alley always has people in it, but no shops, so wasn't the best choice and the manager said to be careful even wearing a necklace in case of muggers. I hadn't considered there might be a safety issue, although am conscious about keeping my bag close and being wary of thieves on scooters.
I had paid £15 a night for a superior double, and thought that this would mean there was a window, but didn't check carefully enough, obviously. So arrived and one of the guys carried my bag up to the first floor (no lift here) and it was a twin with no window. Down I went to reception again and said I'd booked a double and where was the window? Couldn't remember my agoda password to check the room description, although they do have standard rooms too so I guess they are just smaller, the reception
guy (very nice) called his manager who said he'd be there soon. The manager was very sweet, said that agoda don't stipulate double or twin and won't give him guests' emails for him to check, but he could move me in the morning to the 4th floor if it is OK for me, ie can manage the stairs.... Quick bit of research to see if I decide to move hotels how much Beth's would be - £22 a night, no breakfast. V near to reception in the room, so lots of noise from voices and clattering up and down the stairs. Not happy! But the best policy here is to smile and look happy, thank them for their help and don't look cross - it gets you nowhere! On the positive side, the water is hot, aircon works and the ceilings are super-high.
After umming and aahing about whether to change hotels or not, I decided probably best to stay here if the new offering was OK. The breakfast was teriible - 2 of the nastiest looking sausages ever, an egg which looked like it has been run over and crappy white bread. Packed my stuff up and the
manager said he would move it when the room was ready and I didn't have to pay more. I aoplogised, as it was my fault, and went to find a motorbike. Sensible-looking older guy, helmet passable (wore it so tight it nearly cut my head off) and negotiated a one-way fare to the Water Puppet theatre. The manager at the hotel looked horrified when I asked him how much it would be, as you can get a normal taxi for the same price, but no fun in that! It was past rush hour, so not mega-busy, and I pushed the No Insurance thoughts out of my head, replacing them with This Guy Wants To Arrive Alive, as do all the other road users. It was great, and I'll try to find him tomorrow too.
Diddled back through Ben Thanh market, had 2 hours to kill before lunch so wandered from one coffee place to another, so much to see everywhere (including one place where the owner was sellotaping Christmas garlands around the room - how festive, in February), and met Beth and Steph at ILA and we went for lunch. I had to pick up my bag of stuff
not needed at the weekend from Beth's hotel, and now must seriously not buy more as have no idea how I'm going to fit it all in on Thursday.
New hotel room - much better, but 4 flights of stairs in this heat is no fun. Will be much quieter with no traffic going past my door at least. Window with no view, double and single bed, can't work the safe (yet again) - never mind! If you're seduced by tripadvisor reviews and are thinking of staying here be warned - of the 12 rooms only 4 have windows, the bigger ones at the front, and the Seventy Hotal is cheaper and much better all round.
Time for a chill before the thrill of the W Puppets - have a look on youtube - it looks hilarious!
Love to all xxxx
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Paula G
non-member comment
Oh dear
Doesn't sound like a good end to your holiday hun, the hotel sounds truly awful! Pxx