Sheraton Saigon Towers Ho Chi Minh

Though this room is a suite, it has one one bathroom located within the bedroom. This means that guests lounging in the living room or doing work at the work station have to make a short trip through the bedroom just to answer nature’s call. Even so, the bathroom does not disappoint as it is a beautiful and luxurious space that well complements the grandeur of the suite. Step in and you will be greeted by a room full of marble in different shades and yet it does not turn out looking messy or confused. The different shades of marble create a relaxed but yet classy ambience that fits well into the theme of a luxury hotel.

The sink area is marked by brown coloured marble and a clean squarish sink. There is a large mirror that most guests will find useful and it is flanked by two bright orange wall lamps framed in grand looking cages. The lamps give the bathroom a very warm and nice glow and adds on an extra touch of extravagance. The live orchid plant by the mirror emits a light fresh scent that is pleasant and evokes a relaxed mood within guests. Basic amenities like toothbrushes are also provided, but what is really thoughtful and considerate is that Sheraton Saigon Towers provides bottled water by the sink. This is a very practical move that every guest will appreciate, as it is strongly advisable for guests to use drinking water when brushing their teeth and not tap water. Guests can also leave their towels at home as all these are provided in excess in the suite.

The full-sized bathtub is located next to the sink, built into glossy black tiles that still has a shimmer although the hotel is not exactly new. The bathtub is pretty large and it will definitely be spacious enough to fit full grown adults, even tall Westerners. The tub is filled via a simple and elegant looking tap and the temperature can be controlled easily, so you can be assured with a good warm bath of Goldilocks’ temperature. There is no non-slip mat available so guests, especially kids and the aged should take precaution when getting in and out of a full tub but thankfully guests have the aid of a sturdy handrail attached to the wall. What really makes the bathtub shine is that there is a soft comfortable headrest attached to one end of it! This is in fact a first for me and it is a very practical and useful attachment to have. With this, a long bath will never be strenuous on the neck or painful on the head and I am sure that there will certainly be some guests that will doze off during a bath.

Guests also get to enjoy the use of a standing shower that is contained in a class cubicle by the bathtub. There is a decent amount of space unlike some hotels that try to provide separate bathtubs and showers and end up compromising on space. It is obvious that the shower is provided for guests convenience and comfort and not just an afterthought. Over here, more toiletries are provided and guests get to use the complimentary shampoo, conditioner and bath gel. Also, the glass door shuts well and there is minimal water spillage out of the shower area. Hence, guests can be assured of a generally dry and hazard free bathroom floor. The only improvement that I feel can be made is the provision of professional brands of toiletries and not just house brands. After all, this is becoming the norm in luxury hotels and I am sure that most guests will be more comfortable using the products of reputable brands rather than a house brand.

The Grand Tower Lounge is an exclusive area meant solely for guests of Sheraton Saigon Towers’ Grand Tower. Over at the Grand Tower Lounge, discover a peaceful and functional space suitable for all guests.

Stepping in, you will come to the main sitting area of the Grand Tower Lounge. This area features comfortable cushioned chairs and hard top tables and it resembles the setting of a restaurant. Many might think that such a setting is a little too formal and somewhat impractical for a lounge, but this is not the case. That is because the Grand Tower Lounge offers food and beverages most hours of the day and in the morning, the main sitting area can get a little crowded. Grand Tower guests are well fed, as the lounge serves breakfast daily from 6am to 10.30 am, afternoon tea from 2.30pm to 4.30pm and evening Hors d’Oeuvres from 5pm to 8pm. For breakfast, expect a sumptuous international buffet that is sure to cater to all palates and tastes and it offers a more exclusive ambience as compared to the hotel’s Saigon Cafe. Furthermore, the tall floor to ceiling windows overlook the pool and this also gives the sitting area a touch of tranquillity.

When there is no need to be dining at the main sitting area, head up the stairs to the lounge area, where colourful chairs and rustic wooden coffee tables welcome you. The bright and plush sofas give the lounge a contemporary feel, while oriental looking paintings on the wall remind you that you are in Asia and not a luxurious hotel in the Swiss Alps. Here, guests can watch TV, browse magazines or just have a chatting cum mingling session while sipping on some hot coffee or tea, as round the clock beverages are available. The ambience is very comfortable and it is unfortunate that the Grand Tower Lounge closes at 11pm every night, or I am sure that it will make a good place for a late night drinks.

Finally, the Grand Tower Lounge is also a fantastic place for business travellers to catch up with some work as it offers work stations with high speed internet access and office equipment such as stationery, a copier, printer and fax. There is also complimentary mobile phone and iPod rentals that guests can request for to serve any needs they have. Guests also enjoy one free hour of use of the Grand Tower Board Room daily, allowing them to host important meetings. This clearly shows how much the hotel has put into consideration for the numerous business travellers that they frequently host.

The Sheraton brand of hotels has always been endowed with excellent facilities and it is reasonable to expect the same from Sheraton Saigon Towers. Though it is in Ho Chi Minh city, where commercial gyms and public pools are almost non-existent, I must say that the hotel does provide these facilities.

Guests can utilise the full function gym, which is rather large in size and boasts many state of the art equipment. The free weights are sufficient for the average person and a selection of machines and equipment make sure to leave no part of your body untrained. After all, Vietnam is home to numerous delicacies and what can be better than to end the day burning of some of the calories consumed in the gym. However, the gym lacks natural lighting as most part of it is just enclosed by plain white walls. The main area where natural sunlight enters by is a panel of floor to ceiling windows facing the pool. The treadmills are placed in front of these windows and those taking a walk or run on them can do so to a sight of other guests taking a swim. Because of the limited natural light and views, the gym can feel a little dull and stale and though it is quite well appointed, it lacks the wow factor. The only type of guests I can foresee truly enjoying their time in the gym are those that are dead serious about their workouts as they will have a focused and quiet time in there without the multitude of guests enjoying the views if there were any.

The outdoor pool is also located on the fifth floor of the hotel. Guests can look forward to lazing on the lounge chairs while sipping on snacks and drinks that can be ordered from The Lifestyle Bar. For those who want to take a dip, feel free to do so in peace as the pool is seldom crowded, making it possible to get a decent swimming session. However, it is not for swimming enthusiasts as the pool is relatively small in size, spanning only about 15 metres in length. Perhaps one reason why the pool area is often sparse is that it is of a fixed depth of 1.2 metres and there is no children pool or play area Thus, families with young kids will not be able to utilize the pool. I must say that the environment around the pool is pretty nice and the plants make for a tropical decoration to the pool. It is a quiet place for people to lounge and relax in though I feel it can surely be expanded and improved to meet the needs and requirement of a broader group of guests.

Another facility which the Sheraton group is known for is the Link@Sheraton workstation, which caters to all types of guests. Located at the main lobby, Link@Sheraton offers numerous computer stations in various seating configurations where guests can do almost anything, from doing work to surfing the net to browsing newspapers and magazines. Those with their own laptops can also get complimentary wifi in the Link@Sheraton area, all these while sipping on some drinks or munching on snacks that can be ordered from the Lobby Lounge.

Sheraton Saigon Towers is also home to Aqua Day Spa, a full fledged spa service which offers a diverse multitude of spa treatments and services. Head there to de-stress and relax, with simple services such as a foot massage to a full day of massages and scrubs in the VIP room. Over there, there is definitely something for everyone although I must say that the prices for the services are in no way cheap. Should you want spa or massage services at much lower prices, you will be better off searching of one in one of the nearby malls or along the streets of Ho Chi Minh city.

With a choice of 4 bars, 1 cafe and 3 restaurants, those who do not wish to experience local delicacies can still satisfy their hungry stomachs within the hotel compound.

For those who enjoy modern dance hits, head over to the Level 23 Nighspot, where the hotel’s house DJ will spin some popular tracks, for finger food and drinks. Those who prefer a casual jazzy styled lounge can head to the Lobby Lounge and be entertained with frequent live performances.

For proper food, guests can head to one of the three restaurants which serve different types of cuisines. Saigon Cafe is the international buffet spread of the hotel which also serves daily breakfast for guests. Slightly more formal offerings are the Level 23 Signature Restaurant which serves a western fare and the Li Bai Chinese Restaurant, where guests can taste something more Asian. All restaurants are of top quality and by dining there, guests can have a peace of mind regarding food cleanliness.

As you can expect from any Sheraton hotel or in fact any hotel under the Starwood group, there are certain standards that they actively try to meet and this applies for Sheraton Saigon Towers as well. I must say that Sheraton Saigon Towers offers guests what almost every 5 star hotel offers. From room cleanliness to service standards, everything is sort of expected and nothing really blows you away. That is not to say that it is bad, as Sheraton Saigon Towers does offer guests a very comfortable and extremely convenient stay. It has a location that is almost second to none and for those looking to experience the popular places of Ho Chi Minh city without having to spend too much time and money on travelling, Sheraton Saigon Towers has the location advantage. The hotel is also surprisingly well geared towards business travellers and offers the right amenities and facilities that most people on business trips will require. To sum it all up, Sheraton Saigon Towers is indubitably a great hotel with a great location, especially for business travellers and tourists with a bigger budget. For those planning a budget holiday, there are other hotels with locations similar to Sheraton Saigon Towers at much lower prices, but without the luxury, care and strong brand name that you will get at this Sheraton hotel.

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