Ever had a trip where everything felt right? The weather cooperated, you get a lot of free stuff and you basically have a great time. Ever had one where try as you might not to feel negative, there’s this nagging tug to pull you into negativity that the trip is less than what you expected?<\/p>\n
That’s what happened to me in Hoi An.
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\nI arrived in Hoi An around 3:30pm from Ho Chi Minh via Da Nang. I was feeling cranky because I haven’t had lunch yet, but my spirits picked up as the taxi pulled into Hoi An. Unlike other legs of this trip, I haven’t booked a room in Hoi An. The reviews on Travelfish were uninspiring, and I figured I’d try looking for one when I get into town. The receptionist at my guesthouse in Saigon referred a hotel that would give me a good price if I say that I got the referral from them, so I decided to try it out.<\/p>\n
Swimming Pool, the mirror behind the reception screams. Hoi An is a very popular destination, specially for those traveling overland from HCMC to Hanoi, so competition is fierce among the hostels. That’s why they would try to outdo each other with pools, free wifi, breakfast. In theory, it’s us, the customers who win because we have more options and (theoretically) better service.<\/p>\n
Take my current hotel for example. They offered me a room for $12 without aircon. If I’m going to use the aircon, the rate for my room would be $15. So up we went through 4 flights of stairs, passing by the swimming pool looking so blue and inviting in the heat. The room was at the top floor, and it was disconcerting to see the short door. However, there was more than ample head room inside (though I really don’t get the short door. Did they run out of material?). The room was huge and it looked great. It was a double room with ensuite toilet, cable TV, fridge and a tiny veranda that looks out into the room across from mine and the one underneath it (and the occupant’s underwear that was left on the bed). <\/p>\n
However, once you get over the initial awe and start “living” in your room, you notice a lot of things. First, there’s no Starworld, National Geographic nor Discovery channel on TV. So much for cable — there’s only so much Start Sports and BBC World that I can take. The shower, though impressive with ths sliding doors to keep the water out does not have any soap dish inside so you’d have to keep opening and closing the sliding doors to get your shower things. Don’t even get me started on the water heater that doesn’t work (not that you need hot water; it’s been very hot in Hoi An). It was hot in my room so I gave notice at the reception that I wanted to use the airconditioning. They said yes and flipped the switch for the airconditioning unit in my room. Come nightfall, I was back in my room and sweating. The aircon was turned on but the room wasn’t getting any cooler. There’s no remote to check the thermostat.<\/p>\n
Today, when I went down, I was told that I had to move to another room, since a group was checking in and needed the room I was staying in. Inside my new room, I immediately realize that my old room was part of the hotel’s new wing; my current room is dated. It shows its age: the TV and fridge has seen better days, the side table missing a drawer. The bathroom tries to impress with its tub, but it fails because there’s no shower curtain to keep the water off the bathroom floor. At $15 a night, I suppose I shouldn’t be expecting too much.<\/p>\n
Back to my first day in Hoi An, I set off from the hotel in good spirits. I went out to look for something to eat and promptly got lost. While I was walking I was marveling how different Hoi An is from Ho Chi Minh; how peaceful life in this small town compared to the chaos of the capital. Nobody was even hassling me to buy their wares, a surprise since all the guidebooks warn travelers about this. <\/p>\n