Villa Santi Resort (not the Hotel) - Luang Prabang
May 5th, 2005, 05:56 AM
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Villa Santi Resort (not the Hotel) - Luang Prabang
I have been reading reviews of this new resort that opened last fall. There is one review on this site and a couple of reviews on both asiahotels.com and tripadvisor.com. The reviews are generally good and it appears that its large pool is now open (it wasn't for a while). The resort is about 4 miles out of town, about 10 minutes by shuttle. The rates look pretty good right now - $78 to $96 with tax and breakfast for a deluxe room, depending on when you go versus $119 and up for the Pansea. Has anyone heard anything else about this resort? Is it too far out of town? Would any of you that are going in the near future (Bob, Andy?) be willing to check it out?
May 5th, 2005, 07:06 AM
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Craig, I saw where the Villa Santi resort was going to be when I was in LP a few years ago. It felt like it was a long way out of town, no doubt because LP is so small. I really loved the Pansea, which is right on the edge of town. You have a lovely view of town, with Mt. Phousi right in the center of the view. I shoule note that while I loved the Pansea (and would return), some people view it as "too far out of town."
May 5th, 2005, 01:10 PM
#3
Craig, I stayed at the Villa Santi Resort a couple of years ago. It was lovely. The rooms are large and well appointed, with a fairly good size balcony looking out onto rice fields with water buffalo in one direction, mountains in another and some jungle as well, all from the same balcony. The breakfast was very nice and the shuttle drops you off at the Villa Santi Hotel in town. The ride is about 10 minutes and you pass some very nice scenery. If you don't want to wait for the shuttle, a taxi costs a dollar or so. I never felt it was too far out of town and would stay there again. It's nice to know the pool has opened, it wasn't built yet when I was there.
May 5th, 2005, 06:33 PM
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craig--- it was our #1 choice until i found out that they did not have a pool...are you sure that has changed...i had contact with them and they told me no pool...
as you know we are at the pansea instead...the grand hotel has also been suggested as a better property, but no pool there either....
bob
as you know we are at the pansea instead...the grand hotel has also been suggested as a better property, but no pool there either....
bob
May 6th, 2005, 03:19 AM
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If a pool is imp to you Bob sure you will love the Pansea - their drop pool is stunning. As u may remember I was not very happy with the attitude of the French manager there but otherwise it is a gorgeous hotel. Craig, I would add that your hotel choice in LP depends on what you are looking for from the city. To me the charm of LP lies in being near the town main road, wandering it, walking around, even cycling down. Even though the Santi Resort and Grand are very near, IMO it is not the same as staying in the town. Having said that both the Santi resort (where we went for dinner) and The Grand receive rave reviews for the "resorty" experience they provide. So, is really a call on what your plan for LP is.
May 6th, 2005, 06:07 PM
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Craig, I have some pictures of the Villa Santi Resort up on Shutterfly with my Laos, Burma & Thailand trip. They're basically of the grounds and views from the balcony, but you (or anyone else for that matter) can look at them and see if it helps you make up your mind. Just beware, they are nowhere near as good as your India pics.
http://www.shutterfly.com/view/pictu...21b331d5e645b6
http://www.shutterfly.com/view/pictu...21b331d5e645b6
May 7th, 2005, 05:09 AM
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May 12th, 2005, 06:29 PM
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having just returned, I agree that the charm of LP is being right in town. We stayed at the 3nagas guest house. No pool, but if you stay in a room across the street, a lovely patio, lawn and river. The monls' walk for alms at dawn was right outside our door! It is a gem of a town to walk around in/be in.delightful. why separate yourself? Its not as though its noisy, dirty or polluted. quite the opposite.
May 16th, 2005, 08:55 PM
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If I go again, CFW, I would stay at Auberge Calao - loved the look of it. No pool tho. Am pasting the url for a review of various LP hotels which all of you may enjoy.
http://www.destinasian.com/article/3/sidetrips.php
http://www.destinasian.com/article/3/sidetrips.php
May 17th, 2005, 07:07 AM
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There are several small places in LP that looked great to me before I went to LP sveral years ago. Auberge Calao was one of them. I tried to book those small places six months in advance, but all were fully booked for late November dates.
