Dalat 1 - Accommodation

I don't usually publish a post just to talk about the accommodation. This is an exceptional case because both places where we stayed in Dalat were just too photogenic and I have too many photos to share. I was amazed by how elegant these French-inspired buildings were and even my parents complimented the places in terms of cleanliness, quality of service and amenities.

Christina's Bich Dao Villa

Address: 8 Trieu Viet Vuong, Dalat, Vietnam.

Cost per night = ~RM102 per pax (two persons sharing 1 room)

(+) Clean, quiet and cozy place, friendly staff, instagrammable hydrangea garden, convenient location

(-) Not responsive to online queries, no lift (may need to carry your luggage up to 3rd floor)

To be honest, I didn't have much expectation about this place prior to our arrival given the host wasn't responsive to our queries sent through Booking.com. Initially, I planned to ask for their assistance to arrange pick-up from the airport. I simply gave up in the end because I was having monologues all the time.

Putting rants aside, we totally enjoyed our stay here. We were allocated 3 rooms on the third floor and owned the entire space ourselves. While spacious might not be the right adjective for the rooms, they are beautifully decorated with vintage furniture and warm lighting that gave a "homey" feel. The host was kind to deliver free homemade desserts such as yogurt and chocolate toast to us everyday. Considering how helpful the staff was during our stay, I believe that the language barrier could be the main reason that resulted in the online communication breakdown.

I was neutral towards the breakfast selection here. Of course, it's not comparable to a hotel buffet in terms of variety. You can place orders for freshly made fried rice, soup noodles, soup of the day, and eggs, on top of the salad bar. The best part? It's the "eat until you're full" concept, but it does not mean that you should over-order and cause wastage ya. The dining area is absolutely photogenic, featuring canary yellow walls and lovely paintings.

I really like the cosy vibe, probably due to the warm yellow lighting?

The cute little cafe located right in front of our villa. Too unfortunate that we didn't have time to pay it a visit during daytime.

Lovely mini hydrangea garden.

Canary yellow gives a homey feeling. Should I consider painting my house in this colour next time? :)

Another photogenic wall.

One of my favourite photospots.

Dalat Wonder Resort
Address: 19, Rose Street, Tuyen Lam Lake, Dalat, Lam Dong, 670000.

Cost per night for family room for 4 persons = RM94/pax
Cost per night for lake view bungalow for 2 persons = RM109/pax

(+) Photogenic resort with lake view and multiple photo places, value for money, shuttle service to town center is provided, attentive staff (especially important for buggy service)
(-) Located at secluded area with limited food options

Fittingly named as Dalat Wonder Resort, the resort is wonderful instead. It is a brand new resort that is still expanding; very value for money while the resort is building its fame and reputation. We were awestruck by the picturesque European-inspired houses and stunning view of Tuyen Lam Lake, particularly during sunset when the sky was in dreamy gradient shade. The buffet breakfast with a view was awesome. The infinity pool looked inviting but nobody wanted to dip in on such a cooling day. :/ We spent our morning hanging around and taking photos instead.

We highly recommend having your dinner in the town first before checking in at this isolated resort. Our Grab food experience wasn't entirely pleasant, with at least 2 drivers canceling our orders in view of the distance from town. Thankfully there was a young driver who accepted our order after we agreed to provide additional tips for the delivery service. The poor guy was shivering while he handed us the food. :( It must be traumatizing to ride a motorbike around a hilly area on a chilly night. We felt really bad for him.

Thought you own the entire villa? Hehehe, you are wrong (sorry for my evilness)! If you book a family room, you will be given a two-bedroom unit that comes with a balcony, but without a kitchen and living room.