51 Best Hotels in Laos

With the best riverside viewpoint in town, overlooking fabulous mountain scenery and an atmospheric wooden bridge, this upscale boutique hotel is blissfully, beautifully serene. The suites overlook the river and have huge balconies and sun loungers. The swimming pool is a big draw on hot afternoons, and the on-site Restaurant du Crabe d'Or is Vang Vieng's swankiest eatery.

A small boutique hotel on a quiet lane near the Mekong River, the Ansara is convenient to local attractions. Its 28 upscale rooms come equipped with complimentary minibars and free laptops for guest use. The adjoining La Signature, which serves French cuisine, is one of Vientiane's best restaurants.

This small hotel punches above its weight in style and charm, with six rooms named after local fruits and exploding in unique colorful touches. Families will love the hotel's intimate feel, the small but well-kept swimming pool, and convenient location---it's a short 5-minute walk to the night market. Breakfast offers a choice of Western style, healthy, or even local street food. The cozy restaurant area also doubles as the hotel bar.

Vientiane's newest—and arguably best—chain hotel blends traditional Lao touches with modern conveniences like super-fast Wi-Fi. Rooms have both showers and bathtubs, as well as views over the city. The hotel has two restaurants, a lounge, and a pool bar, so you'll be well taken care of. The staff here are definitely some of the best-trained in Laos. 

For a luxury Robinson Crusoe experience, nothing surpasses La Folie, with spacious bungalows that have stunning views of the Mekong and Wat Phou across the way. The lodge fronts the largest sandy beach in the 4,000 Islands area, and the unique arrival boat trip and bicycles to get around the island are included in the price. With tourism on Don Daeng still in its infancy, the island and its locals offer unparalleled unspoiled charm. Rooms go for a substantial discount in the off-season.

Situated around UNESCO-protected ponds, Maison Dalabua is a peaceful escape, while still in the city. With a deceptively modest entrance that blends into the neighborhood, the property opens up into an expansive complex teeming with foliage. Decorated in fine Lao textiles, the comfortable rooms are equipped with bathtubs and verandas. Breakfast is served on a pond-side deck. The hotel's restaurant, Manda de Laos, is also highly recommended. 

Located on the riverside a bit north of downtown, this hotel is popular both for its lodging and restaurant, which features Mexican, Lao, Indian, Thai, and Mediterranean food. Rooms are modern, spacious, and comfortable, with air-conditioning and televisions. Breakfast is one of the best in town.

A premier boutique hotel in a refurbished historical corner building, Residence Sisouk is luxurious and charming, with original hardwood flooring and a mix of old and new furnishings. The large rooms have charming four-poster beds, parquet floors, high ceilings, spacious en-suite bathrooms, and romantic wraparound balconies filled with potted plants.

This gorgeous riverfront boutique resort with outdoor rain-style showers and truly cool air-conditioning is the perfect spot to start or end a southern Laos excursion. A bit north of Champassak Town, secluded from the road, the resort has two swimming pools, a spa, and a fantastic restaurant. Extras include Mekong sunset cruises and trips to the Bolaven Plateau and Si Phan Don.

Formerly a prince's residence, this century-old property has been refurbished and expanded into a series of French colonial homes surrounded by pools and gardens and is one of Luang Prabang's best-kept secrets. The owner, a serious collector, has furnished every nook and cranny with fine-art pieces, paintings, and antiques she's come across during her global wanderings. The rooms and suites are spacious and decked out in superior wood furniture, with poster beds and writing desks. All accommodations have either terraces or garden views. In the spirit of keeping modern touches to a minimum there are no TVs, though they are available upon request, and Satri House has excellent Wi-Fi throughout. Other amenities include two swimming pools, a spa, and a well-regarded French-Lao restaurant. The hotel is a member of the prestigious Secret Retreats boutique lodging collection.

Rooms at this landmark property have high ceilings, hardwood floors, Oriental rugs, and period pieces that reflect its many histories—from its inception in the French colonial period to its life as a hotel in the 1930s and again in the '90s (with a period of expropriation by the Communist government in between). Lush gardens surround a large pool, and the lobby, decorated with fine antiques, is adjacent to a small bar and elegant restaurant, La Belle Epoque, which specializes in Lao and French cuisine. City tours are available via the hotel's London taxi.

This complex of historical mansions stands under official UNESCO World Heritage Site protection, thanks in no small measure to the efforts of the former owner to retain its weathered but handsome look. The vintage Citroën parked out front, original wooden floors and clay tiles, and the use of dark wood, silks, and homespun local fabrics in the large rooms enhance the colonial setting. You can buy the fabrics in the hotel shop, along with Lao teas, coffee, and spices. Some rooms have four-poster beds. Deluxe Room 6 has a balcony like that of the executive suite, ideal for watching the morning alms procession of local monks. The 3 Nagas Restaurant on the lobby terrace is a longtime favorite for its fine food and elegant surroundings and the Nagini bar in the French colonial building serves cocktails with class.

The queen of resorts in Luang Prabang, this gorgeous and tranquil oasis occupies the old French colonial hospital and is surrounded by leafy gardens and shaded verandas. The spacious suites, which have claw-foot tubs and private patios, are clustered around an enormous courtyard and huge pool. Lao and French cuisines are served in the colonial dining room, and there's a well-stocked library, state-of-the-art fitness center, and self-contained spa specializing in all types of relaxation packages. Best of all, this serene haven of exclusivity is a 5-minute stroll from the center of town, near all the wats, markets, and restaurants. Attention to detail and personal service are the hallmarks of this temple of opulence. Be prepared to blow the bank, though, as this is one of the most expensive accommodations in Laos.

Towering above the river in close proximity to Vang Vieng's tourist enclave, the Amari is popular with tour groups, but sleek rooms with walls of windows and attractive river-view balconies offset that nuisance. The complex is set around an impressive swimming pool next to the riverside, a perfect spot to end a day with a cocktail in hand.

The former residence of Prince Souvannaphouma, prime minister in the 1960s, has been transformed into one of Luang Prabang's top hotels. The colonial-style mansion contains the reception area, an open-air restaurant, a bar, and, upstairs, the suites; the regular rooms occupy a newer building alongside the main building. All the accommodations are large, bright, and attractively furnished, with small balconies overlooking tropical greenery. Ask for a room at the back, away from the busy street, for more peace and quiet, or opt for the prince's bedroom suite, which is spacious, elegant, and romantic. The hotel has a decent swimming pool, a nice spa, and guests have access to free bicycles.

This hotel is clean, comfortable, and centrally located to the heart of the action in Phonsavan. 

With its white facade and balustrades and riverside location, this former shophouse complex is now a trendy boutique hotel. The reasonably priced rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows that face east, so you can catch the sunrise over the nearby mountains. Rooms 1 through 5 on the second floor have the best river or mountain views.

For those looking for something glamorous and exclusive, this sister property of The Apsara, across the Nam Khan River, has a swimming pool, private verandas, and a free 24-hour shuttle-boat service to take guests across the river. The nine boutique rooms are in a villa decorated with fine contemporary Asian art. The hotel is a stone's throw from town, but its private position across the river makes it feel secluded.

The old-world charm of this two-story building extends from spacious vintage-styled rooms to a lovely pool area, enclosed by long wooden planks. A cozy hall and restaurant welcome guests on the ground floor.

This modern and clean Thai-style flashpacker hotel within walking distance of the bus station has large rooms, most with small balconies; sturdy beds; and decent-sized bathrooms—all great perks at this price range. The friendly and helpful reception is set next to a small café and restaurant, and they can assist with booking taxis.

This relaxing Lao-Belgian-run guesthouse set in a quiet neighborhood about 2 miles out of town offers five clean and large rooms, some with balconies, in an authentic Lao mansion. The common areas feel homely, and the backyard—equipped with a seasonal swimming pool, hammocks, and a sala filled with cushions—is the perfect spot to while away the hours. They can help organize tours of the Plain of Jars, or rent motorbikes to the most adventurous travelers.

Its prime position on Phou Vao (Kite Hill) gives this sumptuous hotel the best views in town. Traditional Lao touches are everywhere, creating a sense of exotic luxury in the rosewood-furnished rooms. In the evening you can relax over cocktails at the Dok Champa Bar and soak in the restful garden surroundings. The restaurant is among Luang Prabang's best, serving authentic Lao food and rich French dishes. Seven different therapies are available at the spa; stay a full week and you can try a different treatment each day. The hotel provides a free shuttle service into town for its guests. The hotel is very expensive during the high season, but substantial discounts are offered during slower periods.

This small boutique hotel above the namesake Euro-inspired bistro offers a few good-value, squeaky-clean rooms that range from basic-but-stylish doubles to larger mini-studio apartments. Located up a side alley near the fountain square, it's a perfect option to stretch the budget in style. Breakfast is included and served at the café downstairs.

Almost every room at this modern four-story hotel has a river view, a balcony, hardwood floors, and wooden trim constructed of recycled bits of old Lao houses. The restaurant spills onto the lawn and a patio alongside the river, where guests can sip complimentary tea and Lao coffee. A traditional herbal Lao sauna and massage room nestle underneath the restaurant, providing respite and comfort after a day outdoors.

This is a good choice if you're after a trusted brand with clean and comfortable facilities, right next to the Nam Phou Fountain and the adjoining restaurant and bars. The rooms are on the small side, but the beds are excellent. The room rate doesn't include breakfast ($10 extra) but there's good free Wi-Fi throughout the property.

This central hotel's well-appointed rooms have wood floors, large and modern en-suite bathrooms, and balconies offering stunning views of the Nam Song and mountain backdrop. You'll also find an attractive pool housed in a modern industrial-chic building. 

Something of a local landmark, the Lao Plaza stands six stories tall in the center of town. The modest exterior is a contrast to the modern comforts within: rooms are furnished with blond woods, shades of slate gray and navy blue, and some homey touches like fresh flowers and fluffy pillows.

Fronting the Mekong and just down the street from Wat Xieng Thong, this small hotel was resurrected from a ruined mansion built by a Portuguese merchant in 1904. Four guest rooms upstairs open onto a colonnaded veranda to views of the river and the hills beyond. The two rooms on the lower floor, each with three beds, are larger and have private terraces, but are a bit dark. Because of the hotel's small size and popularity, it's highly advisable to book ahead November through April or ask about the owner's similar properties nearby.

With a convenient location in the heart of town near the Mekong River and comfort at competitive rates, this hotel is popular with business travelers. Rooms are spacious and have dark parquet floors. The ground floor holds the reception area, restaurant, and lounge, which are separated by potted plants and wooden dividers. Behind the building are a narrow garden and a small pool, a nice place to take advantage of the hotel's Wi-Fi.

Rooms here are simple but clean, with comfortable beds, hot showers, TVs, air-conditioning, and fans—all luxuries in this neck of the woods. Wi-Fi is available throughout, and for the price, this guesthouse is a great value. On the main road it's a good choice if you're spending the night in Oudomxay on the way to or from Phongsaly.