Review – Hotel GrandVrio resort, Saipan

This post has been pending for 6 years for some reason, so I figured it was time to get it moving and out there. I made the booking for the hotel via Agoda.com, and after looking around for a while I settled at the GrandVrio resort for my 48 hours visit. However, I was arriving at 5 am, and checking out at 2:30 am, so I had to book the room for 3 nights to be sure it was available.

• Introduction – 48 hours in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
• Review – Hong Kong Express – Hong Kong – Saipan
• Review – Hotel GrandVrio resort, Saipan
• Around Saipan

I booked a “Standard, Main Wing” room for a total of USD 411 for the 3 nights, including taxes. When I booked, there were only 2 single beds available and no queen or king size, so I emailed the hotel asking for a queen size instead, but apparently they don’t have those, only single beds. Not an issue, so I was happy with it.

I had also informed the hotel about my late arrival, so they were expecting me when I arrived at 5 am that morning, and my room was ready and waiting for me. Even though I had a nice nap on the plane, I headed straight to bed for another nap, before checking out my room and the resort.

As mentioned, my room had 2 single beds instead of a large size which I had requested, but that fine. The beds however, were old, and had definitely seen better days, and were not very comfortable to sleep on.

Next to the beds there was a small table and a couple of chairs, also not of the most comfortable kind.

Then there was a small balcony that had awesome views of the ocean, which made it all worth it!

However, I don’t remember that there were any chairs on the balcony, but probably not an issue, as I pulled one of the chairs from inside to the balcony instead.

Back inside the room there was a rather small flat screen TV, a desk with a mirror and hair dryer, a small fridge and space to store a suitcase. There were also a wardrobe, and a couple of hangers, and a small in-room safe.

The bathroom was quite standard, with the exeption that the toilet was quite new, what I consider Japanese style with a lot of options on how you wanted to clean your behind.

They also had provided one-time use of Shampoo and Conditioners, which I appreciate, I am not a fan of the larger, multi-use that seems to be popular nowdays. Probably better for the environment, but still…

This building was built in a very american motel style, with the corridors on the outside, meaning all rooms had ocean view. I am quite a fan of that, and that also gives good views when walking to the rooms.

The hotel was build as a resort, and had lots of swimming pools outside, and also a nice pool or two for kids.

Just next to the pools the beach was waiting, and it was white, undisturbed and firm. Great for walking on.

I didn’t have breakfast included in my room rate, so I did not have the opportunity to sample the food at the hotel, but there were breakfast buffet available. Playing tourist, I rather explored the neighbourhood for somewhere to eat both mornings.

Overall I must rate this hotel as OK only. It was quite old, and showed signs of it, not very comfortable beds or chairs, and lack of furniture on the balconies. The location however was great, right on the beach and in the middle of Garapan, the main city in Saipan. With a price point of almost USD 140 per night I am not quite sure it was worth it though….

Read my other hotel reviews here.