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Hotel Review: AVANI Quy Nhon Resort & Spa

My husband and I recently celebrated our one-year anniversary at the AVANI Quy Nhon Resort & Spa (formerly “Life Resort”). We were overwhelmingly pleased with our choice and highly recommend to anyone visiting Quy Nhon. The resort wow-ed us with its beautifully manicured grounds, exquisite spa setting and professional spa services, delicious and high-quality food, chic and modern rooms, diverse activity and amenity offerings, impeccable cleanliness, and most of all, the exceptionally friendly and proactive customer service.

The Grounds

Beginning at the roundabout and entrance, up through the jungle where the spa resides, throughout the pool, restaurant, and bar areas, and down onto the resort’s shoreline, the AVANI Resort is beautifully landscaped and maintained. The grounds include brightly colored flowers and trees of pinks and yellows and whites, stonework and ubiquitous greenery, and straw-thatched roofs, all with a modern and Asian-Caribbean fusion flair. Seating around the pool and on the beach is plentiful and comfortable, with both upright chairs and chaise-lounge cushioned options. The pool is infinity-pool-like, though not a true infinity pool. Nevertheless, it looks out onto the ocean and remains impeccably clean.

The Spa

Included in this stunning landscape, the spa is nestled into the side of the mountain in a tropical jungle-like setting. Again, flowering trees and greenery abound, and guests walk along a stone path to find the treehouse-esque spa facility. Both times that we utilized the spa, we were immediately greeted with iced rose tea and a warm welcome. There are endless treatment options (almost too many!) including a variety of massages, facials, body scrubs and wraps. The sauna and steam room facilities are no extra charge. We purchased a 60 minute “Deep Impact” full body massage on our first visit, which came with a promotional 30 minute treatment for free (we went with a facial). Changing rooms were well-stocked and clean, and the treatment room carried on the log cabin feel, with copious floor-to-ceiling windows to look out onto the beach and woods. The masseuses asked a number of questions before the massage began to ensure comfort and prevent injury, and not surprisingly, both the massage and the facial were fantastic. We returned the next day to try out the sauna, an unusual, but pleasant experience. The staff brought us into a hot sauna-like room with a gigantic sandbox in the middle. They covered us with sand and left us in the room for about 30 minutes. At the end of the session, the staff exfoliated our skin with the sand. Though the spa prices are not "cheap," the price is reasonable considering the quality of massage and facilities, and the professionalism of the staff.

The Restaurant and Bars

The restaurant is perfectly situated on the property, maximizing the oceanview and breeze. It includes plenty of outdoor and open-air indoor seating, and a “special” table in a more elevated, secluded area for a romantic dinner for two. Though there is only one restaurant, the menu is diverse and big enough to ensure no repeat meals throughout your stay. Most importantly, the quality and preparation of the food is outstanding. Seafood (of course), Western and Vietnamese dishes, and even an array of sushi - all simply prepared with maximum flavor. Our favorites included the Seafood Mixed Grill Platter, a sashimi combination, the Beef Tenderloin, Grilled Octopus, the Vegetarian Tofu Wrap, and the Claypot Braised Tofu. And though you may not travel to Vietnam for the french fries, let me tell you, the fries are hand cut and freshly fried - some of the best fries we’ve ever tasted. The dessert options are a bit limited, but still delectable. In particular, the ice cream stood out as our favorite dessert option (no surprise there if you know Victor and me!) - creamy, flavorful, and not too sweet.

Breakfast is included in the resort price and also maintains the great-quality food reputation. Compared to other resort buffet breakfasts in Southeast Asia, the selection was perhaps narrow, but still tasty and diverse, including an omelette/egg bar, a pho bar, a juice bar, a salad bar, a sushi bar, a cereal bar, and baked goods. Some of the baked goods (such as the croissants and donuts) were a bit stale, but the cakes and muffins and other breads were enjoyable.

There are two cocktail/drink bars - both serving the same menus. Prices are reasonable for “resort-rate” prices, and the drinks are good, though not outstanding. It seemed that the bartenders could use more experience - some were almost unfamiliar with the AVANI drink menu and did not know traditional drink recipes outside of the menu. Moreover, the single glass wine options are limited. That being said, the pina colada was unique and divine - not the typical thick smoothie, but rather a lighter drink that used the actual meat of the coconut (and was served in a coconut as well). And again, the customer service surrounding the restaurants and bars was outstanding. Overall, very pleased with the dining experience at AVANI.

The Rooms

My husband and I stayed in a room with a balcony and oceanview (I believe all rooms have a seaview). The room was clean and modern, the mattress was quite comfortable with soft sheets, and though the bathroom did not include a tub, the shower had a rain shower head (and a nice view of the ocean!). As an added perk - the turndown service every night includes a tiny coconut dessert treat.

Activities and Amenities

Amenities include the private beach, the spa, the gym, a pool table, and the manager tells me that a game room/movie room and outdoor grills are soon-to-come. On-site activities include Yoga and Taichi classes, Vietnamese cooking and language classes, biking and kayaking and snorkeling equipment, and a variety of beach games (badminton, volleyball, whiffle ball, bocce ball, etc.). The resort will also recommend and organize off-site excursions, including village tours to Xuan Hai or Dap Da, a Quy Nhon City tour, or nearby island tours by boat/kayak. My husband and I took advantage of the kayaks and went for a three-hour boat ride around the islands. An exhausting but incredibly beautiful experience. The staff did not accompany us but provided ample instruction. We chose to do off-site excursions on our own, as we found taxi rates to be very reasonable.

Cleanliness and Customer Service

This element of AVANI perhaps should be listed first and foremost - the cleanliness and customer service at the resort extraordinarily exceeded our expectations. My husband and I have been to a number of hotels and resorts throughout Southeast Asia, and this one stands out as employing some of the friendliest and most proactive staff. Perhaps thanks to the relatively small size of the resort, staff members knew us by name and ensured we had everything we needed, even before we knew we needed it. Every employee knew the balance between providing proactive customer service, while at the same time not “over-bothering” or hovering over us. No matter where we were, lying on the beach, sitting by the pool, or playing billiards, we were immediately greeted with, “How are you today, Mr. Danau?” and “Would you like something to eat or drink?” And as soon as our drinks were finished, someone would appear offering another. We’ve found this type of proactive service is generally rare in Vietnam, but AVANI Quy Nhon has nailed it, spot-on.

The Bottom Line

Currently, AVANI Quy Nhon is undoubtedly the best high-end and value-for-money accommodation option in all of Quy Nhon. AVANI is the reason that we loved the city and beaches and the people of Quy Nhon. And AVANI is the reason that we will return to Quy Nhon in the very near future.

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