Carmelina Beach Resort — Hotel in Phuoc Thuan Commune

Stay was excellent!||We only stayed 3 nights over a long weekend, it took us 4 hours to arrive at the hotel from district 1 in Ho Chi Minh City. ||Our first impression of the hotel was incredible, an oasis from the hustle and bustle with plenty of day time activities were shown to us on our way through to the room. ||“We had a little hiccough when I accidentally booked a twin and not a double so we had to get an upgrade but I’ll elaborate later”.||Our first port of call after a long drive was to go a grab something to eat, the restaurant had a lovely setting with the salt water pool surrounding the front of the restaurant overlooking a pristine beach, with plenty of indoor, outdoor and air conditioned seating areas. We opted for a steak and a chicken burger and the chicken burger was fantastic and just what was needed, the steak was cooked well but the fat was not rendered down enough. We left in good spirits and just wandered around the resort and went exploring around. ||We returned to our rooms and the bed was very comfortable, slightly firm but I like that and it was very quiet so we slept well, unfortunately there is a little window above the door that let light in at 5.45 as the sun rose but it was fine as it got our day going nice and early. The shower and jacuzzi in the pool view bungalow is great and there is a little fountain for the ambiance. ||Breakfast has a great selection for you to choose from, savory, sweet, healthy or not there was plenty of options. There is an omelette station which is always great, although there were a few issues with the chefs English I always got what I ordered. ||The hotel staff usually cleaned the room at around 9-9.30am and the rooms were cleaned really well. The resort is very clean too and the use of electric buggies/ golf carts to take you around the resort was welcomed greatly by us as Vietnam was in the middle of a heat wave, so walking was very hot.||To go along with the salt water pool by the restaurant, there was also a fresh water pool, 2 tennis courts, 7 pickleball courts, a cinema, a games room, a soft play area, a fishing pond, archery tag, paintball, a kids fun pool, a spa and their very own fruit gardens where they grow all their fresh tropical fruit. We didn’t use most of these facilities but we played pickleball for the first time, on their main tournament court and loved it.||Unfortunately I couldn’t give 5 stars, the way to book a room is overly complicated as it is an email system on their website and one mistake means you end up with a mistake in your room too. Some might put that down to me but the ease of booking a room is very important and key to making an enjoyable holiday begin well for us. Secondly the food at the restaurant is average, you can get a taxi out the resort to Ho Tram town but grab does not work so was difficult again to do that. Besides that a...

A Family-Friendly Stay at Carmelina Resort, Ho Tram: A Botanical and Beachside Haven

Our family’s post-Christmas vacation at Carmelina Resort in Ho Tram offered an enchanting blend of child-centric enjoyment, natural splendor, and beachside bliss. The resort’s array of activities and facilities ensured that our children were delightfully occupied, allowing us parents a much-needed respite.

The resort’s accommodations, while reflecting a vintage charm, were spotless and comfortable. The spa, a modern oasis, provided a welcome contrast to the overall nostalgic feel of the resort. The extraordinary gardens stood out as a botanical wonder, offering a serene retreat with their unique plants, animals, and trees.

Equally impressive was the resort’s beach. This stunning strip of coastline featured a vast, deep expanse of sand, perfect for both relaxation and play. The beach was adorned with intriguing tide pools, which captivated our younger children with their assortment of seashells and little critters. The oceanfront was safe enough for our older kids to freely enjoy the waves, while the younger ones explored the shoreline’s natural treasures. This balance of safety and adventure made the beach experience truly remarkable for the whole family.

The staff at Carmelina Resort deserves high praise for their attentive and friendly service. Navigating the resort was made easy and enjoyable with the efficient tram golf cart system, a boon during the peaceful off-season.

However, our dining experience at the resort fell short of expectations. As worldly travelers, we found the food to be disappointing, often served cold and lacking in variety. The absence of consistent staples like pho, a reasonable expectation in Vietnam, was a letdown. To align the culinary experience with the resort’s other stellar offerings, a menu revamp focusing on fresh, well-prepared dishes and an upgraded bar is necessary.

In summary, Carmelina Resort is a fantastic choice for families seeking a harmonious blend of fun, tranquility, and natural beauty. Its stunning gardens and magnificent beach are highlights not to be missed. With improvements in the dining experience, this resort has the potential to transcend from a delightful stay to an exceptional one. We departed with cherished memories and anticipate seeing how this beautiful resort continues to grow...

If I can give anything less than 1 STAR, I DEFINITELY would. AVOID AT ALL COST if you don't want to ruin your vacation. We booked thru Expedia and the site said "Sleep 4". When we arrived at the property, front desk told us that their hotel policy that the room is only sleep 2, and if we want to add one more person, it's $50. We would be more than happy to pay that extra $50 if the staff did not straight out denied anything wrong on their part and blamed us for the problem. How do we suppose to know their policy when we booked thru a site clearly said that everything is OK? They provided us a written document in which they stated that they cannot let us stay because we refused to pay extra $50. It was a HORRIBLE experience since the get go so we end up did not stay there. We went to the Lan Rung resort down the street which also had similar problem but a much better way of handling the situation and we did pay the extra fee. And i'm glad that our first meet up with Carmelina was not smooth as we would not have a wonderful stay at Lan Rung with superb hospitality, closed to town with amazing and cheap food (Carmelina is very far away from local food and their only restaurant is very expensive). If you purposely want to ruin your good time, this is the place. CARMELINA BEACH RESORT, WHERE GOOD TIME ENDS AT FRONT DOOR!!!

UPDATE: Clearly the reply from the resort indicates that whatever the problem is, it will never their wrong doing. This is how we expected the situation being handle at the time of check in: "We are sorry that there is misunderstanding/ discrepancy regarding the booked room. We can still accommodate your family but with extra fee" and we would be more than happy to pay the fee. Instead the staff told us that it was our fault. We totally understand the policy but blaming your customer for the confusion around the policy between you and Expedia, only happen at Carmelina. We travel alot and stay at numerous resort around the globe and the way your staff treat their customer, I must say "You are the first!", and still, you are...