Laos Accommodation

We have really enjoyed our trip so far and thought you would like to see a review of our 23 nights of Laos Accommodation in hotels, guest houses, and hostels. I usually sum up this type of thing in our monthly budget, but we are moving a little faster now and changing accommodation more frequently. So I think I will feature Accommodation on its own, to give it a little limelight.

Flashback to 2014:

In this particular summary, I will cover the accommodation for all 3 generations traveling. Gma Bev is covering her own costs, including her accommodation, but I thought I would list it here so you could get an idea of the full cost. This is why it will differ from the breakdown you will find in our monthly budget review.

Pak Beng Accommodation

Name – Mekong Riverside Lodge
# Nights / Rooms – 1 night, 2 rooms (a triple and a double) with fan and mosquito nets, breakfast included
Cost – Price was included in the two-day slow boat cruise package, with Nagi of Mekong.
Thoughts – We actually shared our thought in our review of the two-day slow boat on the Mekong, with Nagi of Mekong. We thought this place was very nice and had spectacular views.

Luang Prabang Accommodation

Name – Rattana Guesthouse
# Nights / Rooms – 1 night, 3 x twin rooms with AC and private bath
Cost – Online price was $25 per room. In person price was $15 (as per a walk-in guest), We paid a total of $51.50 for our 3 rooms for one night, due to our service listed in the review below.
Thoughts – We first booked online for our first night. The plan was to then walk around and find an alternative location. We have found in many cases it much cheaper to ask the price in person and get a deal, but sometimes you just need to book ahead, so this was fine. We had unfortunate circumstances, which made our stay a bit odd, but it was just okay. I am fairly certain, it is a good experience most of the time. You can read our Rattana Guest House Tripadvisor review for all of the details.

Name –Thalinh Guesthouse – best to book via email
# Nights / Rooms – 6 nights, 3 rooms (1 king with AC, 1 twin with fan, 1 single with fan) shared bathrooms.
Cost – King 100,000 Kip per night ($12.50) , Twin 80,000 Kip per night ($10.00) , Single 60,000 Kip per night ($7.50)
Thoughts – The location was ideal, right off of the main night market street, at the base of the hill and across from Wat Mai. There were so many things to do and see within walking distance as well. Plenty of markets, cafes and street food within steps of where we were staying. Each river was just a couple of blocks away and the morning almsgiving was right out front. The family was so nice and welcoming. We each had our own rooms, Gma Bev loved her own space and the kids did too. It was nice feeling like we just had a 3 bedroom apartment.

For other accommodation in Luang Prabang, check out our city guide.

Vang Vieng Accommodation

Name – Malany Villa 1
# Nights / Rooms – 1 night, 2 triple rooms with private bath and AC
Cost – Each triple room was $16 a night.
Thoughts – This was very basic accommodation and very expensive compared to what you can get closer to the river. It is located on the main road with the old airstrip along the back side. Not an eye appealing location and the pictures online make it look much nicer than it was. We were happy to move to the next location.

Name – ViengVilay Backpacker Hostel
# Nights / Rooms – 9 nights, 2 rooms (1 x 5 bed dorm with AC (paid for 4 people) and (1x double room with Fan) private bathrooms
Cost – This is a hostel, so the base rate is 30,000 KIP ($3.70) per person. If you want a room with AC it is an additional 5,000 KIP ($.60) per person. If you are a single in a double room, add 10,000 KIP ($1.25) per night. Total cost with our options – 4 people at 35k each = 140,000 KIP a night ($17.35), 1 person in double room 40k per night ($5).
Thoughts – We loved it here! It felt like home and the family that runs the place is wonderful. There were so many great travelers of all ages and surprisingly our rooms were very quiet. We were on the 3rd floor in the back, so that was key. I think the rooms in the front hall get plenty of traffic walking by, and much of the late night party noise. We had rooms C12 and C13 and felt they were ideal.

Vientiane Accommodation

Name – Sengtawan Riverside Hotel
# Nights / Rooms – 5 nights 3 king bed rooms with AC and private bathrooms. Breakfast Included
Cost – Free! Thanks to our Chase Sapphire Preferred points. I am telling you, if you have airline or credit card points, Southeast Asia is the place to spend them. We have each room at 3400 points a night! So that is about 11,000 points a night for 3 rooms. The rate for these rooms this time of year is about $60-$100 a night per room.
Thoughts – This is a nice hotel and beautiful view of the Mekong and Thailand across the river. The most spectacular sunsets from the rooftop terrace too! It is a good 20-minute walk to town and most of the cafes, so a bit far for our liking. We also prefer to meet and chat with other travelers and this hotel just has a different kind of traveler. It is very nice and a much-needed break from the backpacker style, but we would prefer to be in all of the action. They also offer tour services, meals and more. Right in the center of town, just a block off of the river.

Well, there you have it. We do have some affiliate links to the Laos accommodation. This means if you click on the link and decide to book any accommodation, we will get a very small percentage (cents) of the hotel’s portion. It all adds up for us, so we would love that. I would however suggest, if you are flexible and adventuresome, that you just arrive to town and walk around for a better price.

Organized Tours

There are also many organized tours for you to enjoy from being active on walking or biking tour, to enjoying a food or wine tour. There is so much to do and Viator has so many great offers for you.

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