Caravelle or Majestic Saigon?
 

I will be in HCM City in MAR for 3nights apart of our holiday. I have read the hotel reviews on tripadvisor on both the Caravelle and Majestic Hotel and they are mostly good with the odd bad ones. An agent quoted me similar rates for both hotels.

Can someone please give me some views on the above thought? I suspect that I should stay at the Majestic instead of at the Caravelle.

Thanks for your views.

I was just at the Majestic 6 days ago. I liked it a lot. They have an 85th Birthday rate right now. You don't need a T.A. to book this. Go to their website and book it yourself.

An acquaintance of mine was just at the Caravelle a few weeks ago - said it was perfectly nice, but a "business hotel".

I have stayed at the Caravelle 3 or 4 times and have enjoyed it each time. That said, the previous poster is correct in their assertion that it is a "business" hotel 9i.e. comfortable but v. bland. It is however in a perfect location and does have the best bar "Saigon Saigon" on it's rooftop. Cant speak for the Majestic as I have only ever had a drink there. Another alternative might be the Hyatt which is close to the Caravelle but I am not sure how expensive it is these days.

I loved the Majestic-lots of character and charm. I took a look at the Caravelle too and it was a modern, business hotel and seemed quite ordinary.

The rooftop bar(and breakfast area) was full of atmosphere also.

Just to be clear, the Saigon Saigon bar is actually on the 9th floor, not the rooftop of the Caravelle. Would agree that it's a really nice place to have an early evening beverage overlooking the Opera House.

Hyatt rates will be very expensive (close to $300). Very nice hotel with the best pool in Saigon. Not much of a view from the rooms compared to the Caravelle or Sheraton.

http://www.caravellehotel.com/en/1/11/3/products.aspx - looks like a rooftop to me..

It's on the 9th floor. The rooftop of the Caravelle is over 20+ stories. The hotels that have bars on the top floors (rooftops) are the Majestic, Rex, Renaissance and Sheraton. Open air bar would be a better term.

Bisbeee,

I have had many drinks at the Saigon Saigon Bar and it is outside.

The bar is indeed on the "rooftop" of the Caravelle. The ORIGINAL hotel was 9 stories high and was incorporated into the New Caravelle. That is the rooftop where all the reporters hung out along with the Rex rooftop that directly accross from the Saigon Saigon. They are very different bars. The Rex is huge and more commercial. The Saigon Saigon is more intimate and elegant. There is a wrap around terrace and a large open area that can seat around 60 people. It also includes a large inside bar.

Take a look at this picture of the caravelle you will see TWO rooftops. The lower one holds the bar: http://www.caravellehotel.com/en/default.aspx

I've mentioned this in the past, but for anyone going to Ho Chi Minh City, the <b>very best</b> inexpensive gift you can bring to friends are the cardboard drink coasters from the Saigon Saigon bar. They cost only about $3-4 for 12 and everyone I gave them to LOVED them. I wish I would have bought three times more. They are terrific gifts and are easy to send to those who don't live near you.

I loved the Caravelle. The location was absolutely perfect. the rooms were wonderful and the wi-fi worked beautifully. I had a drink at the Hyatt bar (lobby) and the Rex (rooftop) and was glad I stayed at the Caravelle. The Hyatt is crazy expensive and the Rex looked very worn. I stayed in the new tower of the Caravelle. I don't know if the rooms in the old tower are better or worse, but mine was beautifully decorated, great bathroom, fabuluous pillows. It is used by a lot of business people, but I believe that is its legacy of the hotel due to its location. Most of the business folks I saw were from Asia and elegantly dressed. I find those folks pretty interesting compared to an all tourist hotel.

Check out the Legend Hotel, a wonderful 5 star hotel located on the River. The daily rate will probably be less than the Majestic or Caravelle, but be sure that, whichever hotel you pick, you book through one of the third party booking sites, such as Agoda. The rate will be much less than if booked direct.
It may not have the "charm" of the Majestic or Caravelle but you will not be able to beat it's amenities, room size and bountiful breakfast buffet.

I guess we're splitting hairs here. Yes, your correct, the SS bar is on the rooftop of the serviced apartments. It's not on the rooftop of the hotel anymore. And yes, part of it is outside the bar, but the bar, bandstand are under a roof (wouldn't want the Filipino band getting wet now). When it rains, they move all the chairs inside and put down the shutters to keep the rain from blowing in. It was the first hotel I stayed in when I visited Saigon. It was the best in Saigon until the Sheraton, Park Hyatt and Intercontinental were built. Haven't stayed there since though as I like a few others better.

Anyway, I agree, fun place to have a drink. Had many a drink there myself and always took friends there when they visited. It is my favorite hotel bar in Saigon. Will most certainly be having a drink there next week.

Where ever it is the bar at the top of the Caravelle was really good. I absolutely hated the one at the Rex (although the hotel itself seemed nicer), felt like some awful pastiche of the bar from long ago...
If you can stretch to it the Hyatt is lovely but would be tempted by the Rex offers.

Thanks for all,

We definitely go with caravlle hotel.