Reallyblessed

Any suggestions on good but inexpensive accommodations in Saigon? Funds are not unlimited so the Hilton level hotels are out but I am taking my dad for his birthday and he's 74 and not in the best of shape so roughing it really isn't an option for 9 days we're there.
A La Quinta or Comfort Inn or IBIS level (for comparison) accommodation would probably suffice.
Any suggestions??

Thanx and -

type to you later....

Kathie

You are spending 9 days in HCMC? I suggest you consider one other stop, perhaps Hanoi or Hue/Hoi An. Nine days is a lot of time for HCMC.

Others will have hotel suggestions for you. If you can specify a price per night, that will help people make appropriate recommendations.

Kathie

Take a look at www.vietnamstay.com a booking website that many people here have used. They have hotels listed in price categories. Take a look at options in your price range and others can give you feedback. Especially look for recommendations from Bisbee, who live in HCMC.

ekscrunchy

Take a look at Somerset Chancellor Court. This is a long-stay residence near the Sofitel and a bit north of the Dong Khoi tourist area. I stayed here for two weeks in 2000 and would return. Rooms are large and there are kitchens. The pool is huge.


http://www2.somerset.com/en/vietnam/...lor_court.html

Reallyblessed

Thanks for the tips folks. I will research and see what I can find out. As far as a price goes, I'd reluctantly spend $120 per night if I had to but that's only if there aren't good accommodations for $50 or $60. My last Asia trip was late last year for business and $150 was on the lower end of a decent business hotel. Granted, this trip to HCMC is not business so I'm willing to forego the basic amenities of a business hotel.

With respect to 9 days and going somewhere else, this trip is a birthday gift to my dad where he can show me where he was assigned during the war in '71 and '72 when he did two tours of duty as a medic stationed near the airport. It's not my typical trip that my wife and I take which involves seeing lots of things, this father-son trip is more of a healing and sharing trip of a time in my dad's life that is long past. Chances are slim he'll want to visit Hanoi or other places. I'll have to do that when I come back with just my Mrs.

Again, thanks for the help and I'll -

type to you later....

Bisbee

While the Somerset is quite nice (very good salon on the ground floor), it's most likely not in your price range if you don't want to pay Hyatt prices. An 85m2 2 bedroom apartment there starts will run you $200USD with taxes.

This website offers a pretty good selection of hotels for you to look at, in all price ranges.

http://www.hotels-in-vietnam.com/ho_...on_hotels.html

afterall

Reallyblessed - what is it that you want?

Are you after a pool and flunky out the front door, or do you just want somewhere to sleep?

Is well located and super-clean good enough? What more is it that you need?

I can recommend a brilliant place - huge rooms, tiled bathroom, balcony, TV, fridge, etc. etc, wonderful location.

Would it suit?

I salute your Dad. Just working it out. If he is 74 now he was born in 1934 and would already have been 30 when the war started to get out of control.

So he was a freely enlisted person, not a draftee?

lcuy

Can you share a link for hotel, afterall? and where is it located?

afterall

Lcuy - delighted so to do. Though be aware that this is not like an IBIS chain hotel.

It has all the aforementioned attributes (but note no restaurant, no tour desk, no frills of any kind). Located in Bui Vien Street (backpackerland)

Here's the link:

http://www.happy-inn.net/

Cheers.

Bisbee

Pham Ngu Lao is the last place I'd want to stay in HCMC. Constant hassles from locals trying to sell you photocopied books, fake Zippo lighters, drugs, etc. You would also want to confirm the hotel has an elevator as many in that area don't.

OP, your Dad will enjoy his stay much more if you don't stay in that area. You can always go there to visit if you want.

afterall

Bisbee - you may not like it but thousands do!!

One wonders what your preferred "Vietnam" is. No hawkers? Nobody intruding on your space trying to make a living? All of that nicely hidden from view?

Apart from the zippo lighter sellers, which you also come across in the swish part of town, you have easy access to lots of cheap eateries, and some good ones too; street food; markets within walking distance, and much else too.

If you are on a budget it is hard to beat.

True, there's no lift at the Happy Inn, but there is the charming Nga who will go out of her way to help.
And if you ask for a room on the first floor (one flight of stairs)then that's what you'll get.

If such is not available they'll tell you straight up. No booking one thing and getting another.

Cheers.

Bisbee

You're right, there are 1000's that do, most of which stay there because they are on very tight budgets. That's not where most of the people on this forum would stay, but to each their own. I've been down there 5 times in 3 years. That's enough for me.

Bisbee

"One wonders what your preferred "Vietnam" is. No hawkers? Nobody intruding on your space trying to make a living? All of that nicely hidden from view?"

Nah. I'd just like to sit down to a meal without the same people who I already said, "no thanks" to, coming by every 15 minutes asking me if I want to buy a fan, knock-off Gucci wallet or a Lonely Planet Vietnam copy.

Never seen a zippo lighter person on Dong Khoi (swish area), just the occassional knock off sunglasses salesman. The local authorities try to keep that area free from most of the sellers. They've even managed to remove many of the postcard and chewing gum sellers that used to be prevelent there. I guess it's their version of "beautification".

crellston

We are currently in Hue and have been trying to find a place to stay in Saigon and so have taken up afterall's recommendation as it seemed just what we were looking for. Will report back later. the current prices are :

"We have the rates as followings :
- The room with balcony : $30 ( with juliet bacony ) and $45 ( with terrace ) .
- The room without balcony : $20 , $22 , $25 , $27 ."

Reallyblessed

Afterall,
Yes, well located and super clean is just what I need. Pop was enlisted and not drafted and spent two tours of duty as a medic in Nam (Saigon). He said he was based near the airport and he said the US airport was in better shape than the VN airport but he figures that after US evacuated, VN began using the US runways. He thinks he wants to stay close to where he was stationed .. of course I have no idea if the HCMC airport is new or is located at the same place my pop was talking about.

As for street vendors, my wife and I have come to accept that reality and can do a good job of dealing with locals doing what they can to make a living (my guess is that if my family's ability to eat that night depended upon my selling a tourist some fake shades or watches - I might be sort of pushy too). My pop, on the other hand, might not be able to handle it so easily in his 'senior' age. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Oh, and the hotel would need to be near some good eating places and public transport if it's available.

type to you later....

afterall

Crellston,

Hope it works out for you. Let us know what you think. It was perfect for me but everyone is different.

Reallyblessed.

You may want to wait on Crellston's report. All I can say is that you can find really lovely accommo in Vietnam without paying an arm and a leg for it.

There are loads of eateries close to the Happy Inn - whether they are "good" or not depends on what you mean by good! Most cater to people not wanting to spend a fortune to eat.

I didn't have any memorable eating experiences there but then I wasn't looking for one.

lcuy

RB- Taxis in Saigon are very, very cheap. Just make sure the driver uses the meter.

MichaelBKK

Just finishing up a short trip to HCMC. There's a big conference starting tomorrow (Monday) so most of the hotels are full up. Because I was making arrangements at the last minute, and didn't want to pay an arm and leg, I tried making a reservation at Indochine. They responded that they had a room available, but then didn't confirm. When I emailed them back, they said there was still a room available, but only for two nights. I confirmed that would be okay, but when I got there they said they were full.

They sent me up to another property they own called Parkview. It's a bit of a hike from the main area, but not too bad. The room is a bit small, but the air con is cool, the water hot, and the in-room internet is fast and free. At $30 a night, it's not bad at all, especially considering how expensive hotels are getting here. The Park Hyatt is $720 a night, while the Caravelle and Sheraton are both going for around $400, if you can get them at all.

Bisbee

Park Hyatt and Sheraton are $180 with a local contact/corporate rate. Otherwise, it's worse then HK now.

MichaelBKK

I was told that if you tried to book with the contract rate, you'll be told "full up". This was by a guy who knows the manager of the Sheraton - and never stays there (although he does eat free in the casino).