Review – InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort

^{It’s tough to forget our stay at the InterContinental Danang!}

When rain was a blessing, truly.

We were looking forward to this stay at the InterContinental® Danang Sun Peninsula Resort as a respite from the hustle of touring Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City during our ‘epic’ DIY Vietnam trip with kids.

^{Watch highlights from our unforgettable stay at the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort.}

^{The breathtaking view from the hotel’s funicular railway.}

Even though we were really looking forward to the stay, the incessant December rain had other plans for us. Little did we know that the rain, instead of being a dampener, enhanced our experience! Here’s why:

Like A Hearty Home-made Soup:

^{Impeccable service amidst the stunning view.}

The incessant rain curtailed our plans to play by the beach and participate in other outdoor activities but whenever a buggy turns up to pick us, it was always accompanied by a warm, assuring greeting, accented by the friendly, “Xin Cao, may I help you?” . This warmth is felt at all touchpoints: at their funicular railway (yes, there’s one in the sprawling hotel grounds!), the gym, the restaurants and even at Planet Trekkers (the hotel’s kid-friendly club)! The welcoming smiles act like a hot, hearty, home-made soup served on a cold rainy day. This hospitality warms our hearts and made the dreary weather more bearable.

Rain…Rain Go Away?

As family travelers, we want to maximize our vacation by engaging in lots of activities in every city. At the InterContinental® Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, Mother-Nature, through the incessant December rain, offered us the option to slow-down and enjoy our time with one another in this beautiful resort.

^{The spacious and luxurious suite of the InterContinental® Danang Sun Peninsula Resort}

Goodness, The Room!

Our family suite was huge. Seemingly perched on the canopy of the rainforest, these suites were essentially two large rooms joined by a common corridor (yes, corridor!). They had identical huge bathrooms and bathtubs facing the commanding view of the South-China Sea. Watch our video highlights to see the room.

^{The children’s suite adjacent to ours. Comes with twin beds and their own spacious bathroom.}

^{Rather than soak in the pool during rainy weather, the ‘Ostrich egg’ bathtub was an excellent alternative!}

Slowing down meant that we had time to soak in the huge “Ostrich Egg” bathtub (thanks to our 8-year-old’s imagination) and let the plush beddings envelope us to slumber. In between waiting for the rain to stop, we drank tea in the balcony and admired the scenic views that stretch as far as our eyes can see.

^{Our bed in the suite with a commanding view of the South China Sea.}

^{Opulent and chic. We felt like royalty!}

Unwind, Unplug, Unknot

With time on our hands, the hubby went for a massage at the hotel’s Mi Sol Spa while the kids and I took an afternoon nap on our second day.

^{Spacious and luxurious massage in the lush hillside forest.}

^{The hubs was whisked away to a massage villa that was a distance away from the main building.}

He came back waxing lyrical about his massage experience! A surprise for someone who is quite a critic on spas and massages (He’s quite fussy!). Here’s what he has to say:

“We’ve been to our fair share of hotel spas but not one that has a buggy that fetches and transports you to another side of the hill, checks into a little villa where a masseuse takes his time to welcome and puts you at ease before the treatment begins.”

The masseuse was skillful in applying consistently strong pressure yet sensitive to give that light touch of finesse. Nothing short of a massage experience at a world-class hotel and accompanying sound of the trickling rain ricocheting off the that surrounding fauna, bliss!

^{The hotel’s funicular rail car offers convenience as well as a commanding view. Unique experience!}

^{Beautiful scenery greets us every morning…}

Introspective:

The hotel boasts a myriad of activities from nature treks to watersports such as snorkeling, outdoor yoga and kayaking etc.… but all the outdoor activities we’ve booked were suspended due to the incessant rain. All was not lost. The rain allowed us to try out other equally fun activities indoors.

^{Beauty, space and nature everywhere we turn.}

^{The L_o_n_g Bar, another instagrammable venue within the resort.}

^{One of the few swimming pools in the hotel that was tempting us to jump in.}

Food Tantalizing Food:

Citron Restaurant: We dare say that the breakfast at Citron is probably THE BEST we’ve ever had in any hotels that we’ve stayed around the world. Not only in terms of the wide selection but certainly the quality, service, and view!

^{The lavish buffet spread at the Citroen was phenomenal.}

^{Breakfast at the Citron was a visual feast!}

From local Vietnamese dishes to Continental, Western as well as Asian Cuisines, hotel guests are utterly spoilt for choice! For the more health conscious, they also serve organic, gluten-free selections as well. All the dishes were presented in a classy dining lounge with mirrors all around. Outdoors, the Citron boasts one of the most ‘instagrammable’ dining setting – the uniquely designed open air dining booths shaped like traditional conical Non La hats are a perennial favourite. Totally worth waking early and ‘buggy-ing’ down to the Citron restaurant to secure these coveted tables!

The thing that truly stood out for us at Citron was the impeccable service. Kudos to (name) and team who were not only obliging and prompt in their service, but they also did it with so much warmth. We want to say again, from the bottom of our hearts, ‘ Xin cảm ơn’ (Thank you very much).

For dinner, we were in for another gastronomical treat at the relaxed beachfront restaurant that offers chic, casual dining accompanied by an ocean breeze. The Barefoot Restaurant serves a good fusion selection of local and western seafood and meat dishes. This was our ‘go-to’ place to wind down at the end of the day. Dishes there were flavourful, topped with their signature good service.

^{Barefoot – one of the smart casual dining venue, serves up quite a storm here!}

^{Beware! Tantalising food shots ahead!}

^{Western (top) and local (bottom) dishes were exceptionally well-cooked (and presented!)}

^{Looking at these photos again made us really crave for the food again.}

Planet Trekkers Kids Club:

The spacious Planet Trekkers and their dedicated staff was a godsent, especially if you’re travelling with kids. Our kids love their time at the Planet Trekkers, doing home-made crafts guided by their in-house staff or just chilling and playing some video games.

^{The kids were meaningfully occupied with crafts, books and even video games. Perfect for holidays!}

^{The indoor decor was so nice, it provided the perfect backdrop for our Christmas family photos!}

Indoor Classes – Café Art, Fitness Classes.

We tried our hand on something we would not have had the time to do back home – learning the basics of Café Art guided by their resident Café Art Master who patiently taught us some simple designs. Cool!

Next the Hubby had some Daddy-Daughter time at the fully equipped Soar Gym (open 24/7!) with the resident Fitness Instructor. They learnt the right techniques of using gym equipment as well as some basic fitness exercises. The highlight for them was the sports massage given by the instructor.

Bonus: Airport Lounge!

We were pleasantly surprised that the exceptional hospitality doesn’t end when we leave the hotel’s premise. The hotel has an exclusive lounge at the airport for their guests to relax while waiting to board our flights. What a welcomed gesture!

Danang was a destination we chose not only as a respite between 2 bustling cities but it’s also a charming city to visit on its own. Staying at the InterContinental® Danang Sun Peninsula Resort was truly a pampering experience of a lifetime and we can’t wait to return!

To the General Manager:

Dear GM, any hotel can deliver during a ‘sunny day’ but for a hotel to impress their guests throughout a rainy spell, speak volumes of the InterContinental® Danang’s service excellence and the ‘heart-ware’ behind the hotel’s leadership. We’ve seen the devotion demonstrated by the entire hotel team to give your guests the impeccable pampering hospitality – rain, or shine. You have a magnificent estate and an outstanding crew. For that, we will return.