specifically chose to stay at Novotel Ha Long Bay after researching properties in the area because I wanted two simple things: a swimming pool and a private balcony where I could enjoy a cigarette. At over $140 AUD a night, you expect premium service and full transparency during the booking process. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
Upon arrival, I was deeply disappointed to find out that smoking is strictly prohibited on guest room balconies. This crucial rule is completely buried in the fine print on booking websites. Had this been made explicitly clear upfront, I would have gladly booked one of the many cheaper, excellent alternatives in the area. Spending a premium for a balcony you cannot use the way you intended feels like a bait-and-switch.
What makes this policy entirely nonsensical is that while you are banned from smoking in the isolation of your own private balcony, the hotel actively permits smoking around the public pool area—where families and young children are running around. Banning it on a private balcony while allowing it around kids in a communal space makes zero sense.
To top off the disappointing experience, the hotel also completely forgot to clean my room during my stay—a basic standard you shouldn't have to worry about at this price point.
If you are a smoker looking for a premium, hassle-free stay with a private outdoor space and reliable service, save your money and look elsewhere in Ha Long. The booking information here is highly misleading to