Looking for Hotel in Luang Prabang, Laos
 

Want a very nice hotel as close to possible to town. Any recommendations?

The Villa Santi is fantastic, about 20 rooms, 5 star standard and it's only about $70 a night.

These are the guys I booked though with a link for the hotel photos:-
http://www.res99.com/hotel/10006005-11295754O.html

The rates are on:-
http://www.res99.com/hotel/10006005-112977440O.html

They pick you up free from the airport. It's a gem of a hotel, you'll really enjoy it.

James(Bangkok)

Thanks for the info. Can you tell me how close it is to town? And, can you recommend a good guidebook to Laos? Thanks!

It's right in the middle of the temples and other sights to see, also local shopping nearby. The place has changed greatly and I guess many guide books might be dated. The hotel took care of all our excursions and gave us maps and other information. It's not easy to find your own way around.
Air fare from Bangkok is a whopping US$270 return on either Bangkok Airways or PB Air, unless you are thingking of getting there via Chiang Mai or up from Vientiene?

I was in LP in December and stayed at the Pansea, which is on a hill just outside of town. It was fabulous! The rooms are gorgeous and there is a swimming pool with a view of town. When I checked for rates last year, the rates at the Villa Santi were over US$200 a night. The Pansea has a shuttle to take you into town (just takes a few minutes) and you can take a tuk tuk back for the equivalent of 50 cents. We paid US $110 per night at the Pansea, including tax, service and breakfast. The Villa Santi gets mixed reviews on the rooms. Certainly James (above) liked them, but I've heard others say that they weren't what they expected.

When I was in LP, there were a number of very expensive hotels going up way outside of town. While I wouldn't want to stay that far out of town, the Pansea was perfect.

You can see our photos of LP at my friend's website www.marlandc.com

the new issue of travel and leisure (july, 2003) which just came to my house today, has a great article on LP---take a look at it

Just got back from LB. There is a new hotel (6 months old) that I think is much nicer than the villa Santi (which is showing its age. It is just down the street from Santi. In the middle of the few blocks of town that is Luang Prabang.....We stayed here at the 3nagas (www.3nagas.com). It has only 7 rooms. Wonderful spacious rooms with sitting area. Stylish, great food and warm helpful staff. $90 inc tax, breakfast for the standard rooms (room 1 is highly recommended. We stayed here with two small kids. They have an extra bed in this room. It has a sitting area inside the room and one outside overlooking the restaurant and street. There are glass doors and then gooden doors. Though if you want to leave the wooden doors to the room open you lack privacy). Suites are $120-150.
Another small new place right on the Mekong, immaculate rooms, charming, front rooms have balcony overlooking the Mekong, for $30/night, is the Sala Prabang (www.salalao.laotel.com). This is a GREAT value. Can walk to "town" in one minute.

The Villa Santi IS old. That's why people stay there. It was the residence of a member of the royal family.

i would like to contact JamesA. can i email you on some questions on thailand?
thanks
michael c

nislan- I couldn't gain access to salalao.laotel.com website-please let me know if you have a fax no or email for them. Tks.

Lyndie - I've finally found the Sala Prabang at www.salalao.com and take the link to Sala Prabang - silly lot have actually still got the other address on the webpage but it doesn't work!

Tks Mary W. I also found it yesterday and emailed them and told them their web address doesn't seem to work. Tks again.

We stayed at The Pansea in July. I agree that it is a fabulos property, gorgeous landscaping but i WOULD not stay there again. For what we paid I found service not up to the mark and it is too "resorty" for a place like LP. I liked Villa Santi when we went to check out the rooms. Also consider Auberge Calao - truly a boutique hotel with only 5 rooms. Very pretty. Do not worry too much re location as LP is very small - all the resorts have shuttle services round the clock and we cycled from the pansea into town one afternoon, half an hour. Also, tuk tuks abound, you can rent a motorcycle - options are endless.

There are several nice and reasonable priced Hotel properties in Luang Prabang. Last year I enjoyed my stay at the Grand, which is a bit far away from the centre but offers a free shuttle service (van or boat) to downtwon. But you if you want the best go for the Pansea, altough it is far from the center as well, it is a great hotel. If you want to see some nice photo albums about Luang Prabang, please also visit www.geographic-expeditions. Have a nice trip.

The Grand is WAY out of town, as is a new resort being built by the Villa Santi. The Pansea is on the edge of town. Obviously (from my previous post) I loved it and would stay again. Unlike Sameera, we had wonderful service. The manager checked in with us daily about our stay.

The Nov7-9 Asian Wall street Journal has an article on "Five Star Character at Two Star price". I do not know the authors reco in LP personally but can vouch for his Mumbai and Bangkok recos so his LP reco is likely to be good. Is called Sayos Guest House. Email [email protected]. $30 per night. Recos room # 6 or 4.