TTC Hotel Premium – Michelia

From the street, the Michelia Hotel looms large, with its white tower flanked by palm trees. The open lobby gets plenty of natural light and makes a nice first impression, and while the style here isn't quite contemporary, it's modern enough to make for a pleasant stay. Expect to see curved wicker seating, bursts of colors like aquamarine, and tropical flowers as accents. The abundance of white everywhere keeps things bright. There are just a few common areas here, and all stay fairly calm. The Red Tilapia restaurant and bar is vast, and save for a few design features, has the unfortunate look of a banquet hall, but its outdoor seating area is lovely. The large outdoor pool connects to two whirlpools, all set within an attractive wooden deck edged with stones along the pool. The wide, clean beach, one block away, is another gathering spot -- it has a section reserved for hotel guests, with sunbeds and umbrellas. The Michelia attracts mainly couples and families, and it's especially popular with Russian visitors. 

Set in downtown Nha Trang -- known for its high rises and party scene -- the hotel is well-situated for travelers who want to sample both the relaxing beach vibe and energetic nightlife. It's only a three-minute walk to Nha Trang Beach, where the hotel has its own area. The Nha Trang Center and other shops are about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Dam Market -- a popular spot packed with all sorts of vendors -- is a 10-minute walk from the hotel as well. Plenty of bars, cafes, and restaurants can all be reached in five to 15 minutes on foot, and many are near the beach. The Po Nagar Cham Towers are a 10-minute drive from the hotel to the north. Expect it to take just a little less than an hour to reach Cam Ranh International Airport by car.

The 201 rooms at the Michelia Hotel differ little in design -- all are bright and spacious, with plain white walls offset by modern dark-wood furniture. Each includes armchairs and small wooden tables, as well as flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, coffee- and tea-making facilities, minibars, and safes. Unfortunately, the textured beige carpeting stands out as dated, and could use a refresh. Executive Suites and Suite Premiers have living areas with couches, though the seating is a bit dated as well. 

Bathrooms in Deluxe and Superior Premier Rooms are small with shower/tub combos. Superior Rooms have power and rainfall showerheads but no tubs. Bathrooms in the Executive Suites and Suite Premier Rooms are much larger. They have tubs, along with walk-in showers. All bathrooms have white tiled floors, rectangular vessel sinks, and a good amount of counter space, though the dark marble details are dated. On our visit, we detected some faint but unpleasant odors in the bathrooms.

Narrow balconies offer either sea, cityscape, or pool views, but buildings on the next block obstruct views from lower-floor rooms, Balconies are unfurnished, and not all rooms have them.

This hotel has a comparable number of features to others in its category. The buffet breakfast, which is free, includes an selection of Vietnamese and international dishes, as well as made-to-order eggs, though it can be hectic. It's served in the Red Tilapia restaurant, which offers a la carte menus of Asian and European fare at other times. The seafood barbecues are particularly well-liked by previous guests. Room service is available too. A compact, but attractive, pool sits behind the building, though it doesn't always get sun and there aren't a ton of chairs -- especially disappointing given the hotel's size. The same goes for the hotel's free beach chairs and umbrellas; unfortunately, there aren't enough sunbeds for the hotel's own guests. The spa offers massages, body scrubs and wraps, hot stone therapy, and reflexology, and various grooming services, while a small, but well-equipped, gym is good for a basic workout. There's also a ballroom that's popular for wedding receptions and other events. Given the number of families that pass through here, features like a kids' club, playroom, and supervised activities are helpful. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.