Rattana Guesthouse
Clean and cheerful
What we say: 
A cheerful place run by two sisters, Rattana Guesthouse has a good selection of rooms in two buildings. Choose from a smaller but cheaper room in a wooden heritage building or a more spacious one with TV in the modern cement house. All rooms are spotlessly clean, have attached bathroom with hot shower, and simple décor like flowered bedspreads covering the firm mattresses. Two rooms have their own balconies, or a large shared one with comfy seating beckons. Your hosts, Phone and Nith, offer the usual services like laundry, tours, bus tickets, and breakfast, but the free WiFi was a pleasant surprise.
Check rates around Luang Prabang best price guarantee!Contact details:
Kok Sack Rd, 4/2 Ban Wat That, Luang Prabang. T: (071) 252 255Visit website
What we were quoted
| Type of room | Low season | High season | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dbl fan private b'room | 10 USD | 15 USD | $18/$20 in cement house |
| Dbl air-con private b'room | 15 USD | 20 USD | $20/$25 in cement house |
Added to Travelfish on: 8th September, 2004
Last visited or updated on: 8th April, 2010
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Read Rattana Guesthouse reviews
Rated 3.5 out of 5
Based on 18 ratings and 18 reviews
Good starting place
I made initial email contact with the guesthouse through their website and had reply the next day. Reservations and airport transfer were booked. When I arrived at the airport a lovely young gent was there to take me into town. I asked if we could stop at a money exchange and after checking out other rates in Luang Prabang, this exchange teller proved to have the best rate I found. I was booked to stay in the cement house at $20/night. The room was on the front side of the house and it had a lovely shared balcony. Typical Lao "firm" beds, but very clean, plumbing worked well and the staff were very helpful. WiFi worked well in my room and I also used them instead of the many booking agents around town to secure my bus ticket to Nong Khiaw (they also had the best rate for the "bus" which was a minivan). Location is very accessible to the town's many wonderful sights and I would have no hesitation to stay here again. However, there are also many good deals to be had if you shop around once you are on the ground in Luang Prabang.
Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by chergood (Total reviews: 5) on
Watch your bill!
Rooms are rather small, even the big ones. The laundry is expensive and of poor quality - as I now see in a previous post already mentionned. Expensive breakfast, better have it at Joma around the corner for the same price Worst complaint is that the bill changed after I asked a copy. I guess the owners have no idea, but the young guy running the place is skimming the customers.As proof I posted my bill on my website. It does not add up! Owners - ladies are very nice, quiet place in the center, but I would jnot stay there again.
Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by Soefisinjoor (Total reviews: 1) on
Good value & central
Stayed at Rattana's after looking for somewhere that would offer airport pickups. Was originally in their spill over place ''Rattana 2'' a few hundred metre's out of the centre of town. Moved from what was a very nice room to Rattana 1 in the centre of town, where the facilities were just as good. Room had tv, ensuite and aircon (I prefer fan but take what I can when I get it). Water was nice and hot in the shower which was a bonus. Location is pretty good on a quiet street off the main road through Luang Prabang. I paid $15 per night and it was worth all of it.
Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by Mangala (Total reviews: 3) on
Noisy!!!
OK, so they were building a house across the road at the time and we understand that it's easier for the builders to work early in the morning when it's cooler, but it doesn't make being woken up at 5am by saws and drills any more fun. Hopefully it's back to normal by now. The guesthouse itself is clean, open and airy. The staff spoke good English and arranged transfers and a tour to the fall for us - they also recommended a couple of restaurants that turned out to be great. It's about 5 minutes walk from town, sights and the night markets.
Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by bennyandchelle (Total reviews: 5) on
Charming place
After 7 hours of nerve-wrecking speed-boating down the Mekong, arriving in Luang Prabang to Rattana Guesthouse was a sight for sore eyes. I first checked out the a/c rooms on the top floor, which was really nice with a balcony. Unfortunately, it was a little out of my budget due to the high season's prices, so I stayed at a smaller windowless, fan room on the first floor for two nights. It was February and the weather was cooling and there wasn't any need for air-con. As all beds in Laos, it was hard. Decor of the room was quaint and charming with lots of wood used around the room. Wooden beams, wooden decorative ornaments and a nice little paper bedside lamp. Fortunately, I did not experience plumbing problems with my toilet bowl and my feast from the night market was safely flushed away. The staff were friendly and helpful. Despite me bringing back a load of barbecued meat, fish, and other tantalizing food from the night market to eat at the stone tables and benches outside the guesthouse's cafe, the staff were kind enough to lend me their crockery and utensils. The staff also made arrangements for me to catch a bus to Vang Vieng and Vientianne. The location of the guesthouse commanded its relatively higher price and just around the corner is Joma, a fantastic cafe run by a Canadian (forgive me if I got your nationality wrong) woman. The cafe's upper floor was great for spending a relaxing day reading the news and coffee. I must say that the deserts, cakes and pizza at Joma were so fresh and well-made that it made me go back for seconds. Friendly staff, charming little room, which I got by without a television and a window (if you must, pay a little more for a better room on the upper floor) made my stay a pleasant one.
Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by markyeo (Total reviews: 5) on
Not too bad
I just walked in and they gave me a nice big bright room with 2 beds, 3 windows and a balcony. But as I was staying 4 days, they moved me out into a small windowless downstairs room with one bed after 2 days, saying the other room had been reserved. It would have been nice if they told me that when they gave me the room in the first place! Price was same for both rooms. The nice balcony room did have the toilet problem (gurgling when someone flushed) but not the downstairs room. Rooms were very clean, and the owner was nice & helpful with local information. Breakfast was decent, with good French bread for toast. Rooms did have fans and TV, which got a handful of English stations. Overall not too bad, but I'd definitely get the balcony room. They should do something about their plumbing!
Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by marybee (Total reviews: 2) on
Cute and Clean!
Nice place to stay for a decent price in Luang Prabang. Super friendly owners, we made a reservation and they saved it for us. Clean room, serviced daily. Air con, hot water, close to the market and restaurants. Only bad thing was we gave them laundry and the whites came back yellow with some stains. Maybe take laundry elsewhere! Other than that, lovely place to stay for $13US/night
Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by katieq2 (Total reviews: 4) on
Cozy
We found this place to be cozy and nice. Our room was really comfortable, though small. Fortunately we didn't have any problems with the plumbing. There's a nice balcony for hanging out or reading.
Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by bethmitchell (Total reviews: 16) on
Worst experience of my trip
After travelling all around SE Asia, we stayed one night in this hotel (we found another one the next morning). Tatty and overpriced was the initial impression, but that was until we experienced the plumbing. We soon realised that whenever someone in the hotel flushed the toilet, our toilet would gurgle menacingly, then spit out the contents, all over the bathroom floor. Unfortunately, I had eaten something that disagreed with me that day, and after having to empty my bowels, someone upstairs flushed the toilet, at which time our toilet spat the freshly parked contents back at me...! Seriously, I have never felt so violated! I had to shower immediately, and we both had to hover over the toilet when using it after that in case of a repeat occurance! Needless to say, we moved out the next day. On leaving I mentioned it to another guest, who said that he had heard of a similar problem a month ago. The woman in reception just smiled and didn't seem to care either.
Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by Emanef (Total reviews: 7) on
Recommended
I'm surprised to see some of the negative comments here - I found it a pleasant place to stay. Clean and with friendly, helpful staff. The showers are hot and, though they're not flash, they're clean and the same thing you'll get anywhere in LP at this price (LP is a tourist town, and it might surprise you how expensive it can be).
Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by stilltravelling2007 (Total reviews: 11) on
Underwhelmed
Good email response, picked up at airport in nice car for U$5. From then on the generally positive comments on this page leave me totally bemused. You can do a lot better -- I mean a lot better -- in Luang Prabang if you're thinking of the more expensive rooms. Tired room, bathroom needs renovating. The family ambiance of the lobby *** storeroom obviously went over my head.
Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by fondo (Total reviews: 16) on
Charming Owners
Quick to reply to email, and luckily had a front room with balcony spare, as the back room we were booked into WAS cramped and dingy. But the balcony room was well worth the US$15, and the relaxed, patient and friendly family (including granny handing out bananas) made the stay really pleasant. Airport transfer was $5.
Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by coffeeaddict (Total reviews: 2) on
got all the qualities
Safe, comfortable, clean and value if you choose to stay here. Gracious and caring hosts will help you understand this part of the world, with good english if this helps you. Prices are most reasonable for this quality and service. Regretted leaving here!
Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by muzzaf (Total reviews: 3) on
agreable
i was there during last febuary ; I stayed upstairs in the main and oldest building and the bedroom was agreable; the bedroom is a little ancient but ok (it's better to ask to remove the water after shower ; people of this guesthouse were friendly and efficient;luang-prabang is very charmingand it was hard to leave
Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by vivien (Total reviews: 2) on
What happened?
We chose this place, based on the good reviews but were a bit disappointed. No free pickup (not that we minded paying the standard $4 taxi price, but perhaps the synopsis should be updated). We stayed in a back room on the ground floor, which was pokey, dark and not especially pleasant. We checked out the local competition and then checked out of the Rattana.
Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by looklively (Total reviews: 4) on
Spotless
This place is immaculate - very comfortable, good hot shower, spotlessly clean, very well located just a stone's throw from the Mekong in a quiet area. We took a triple (2 + 1) room with bathroom for $12 in peak season ($15 with air-con, which we didn't need), but the share bathroom on the same floor was also immaculate. The female management is very responsive to email inquiries and we got exactly what we booked. Highly recommended. Note, transfers from the airport are free, transfers to the airport are $5 (in a very comfortable car), transport from the bus station is not offered but the tuk tuks only charge $1 per person.
Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by BC (Total reviews: 22) on
Friendly and clean
Very welcoming and clean guesthouse. Free pick-up from airport (if you ask for it). Our room was large and airy. Ask for a room that is fully glazed, because the nights can get cold in the cool season (Nov-Feb). Like a lot of hotels in Laos, beds tend to be hard, there's no heating, and the shower and toilet areas are not separated, so the floor is constantly wet. However, Rattana has western style toilets and hot showers. Breakfast and laundry services are also available for a fee.
Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by mari1210 (Total reviews: 5) on
Good Guesthouse
We spent a few nights here. The family that run it are really friendly and the room was large and clean with comfortable beds (we were in a room with air-con). We were given clean towels every day and it's handily located a couple of minutes walk from the nightmarket.
Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by tja103 (Total reviews: 4) on