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Region: Northern Laos> Province: Luang Prabang> Location: Luang Prabang
Rattana Guesthouse
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Vientiane
French colonial villa with 12 atmospheric rooms. Located in central Vientiane.
Air-con rooms: US$33
Smallish but clean and new rooms
Kok Sack St, 4/2 Baan Wat That, Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang Province
Tel: (071) 252 255, (020) 557 0997
Contact via email form
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Description
Rattana is in a lovely, quiet area filled with a mix of guesthouses and private homes, but is still only a couple of minutes walk to the main centres of town. The newly-built part of the building is in Lao-French colonial style. The smaller rooms are very clean, fan-cooled with a private bathroom and hot shower. The larger rooms have air-con or fan. The large wooden balcony with comfortable seats and games to play is a bonus. Staff are friendly, and offer services such as laundry, drinks, bus information and breakfast - a table for which is elegantly set on a small terrace out the front.
Total rooms: 12
Dbl fan share b'room
7 USD (low season)
7 USD (high season)
Dbl fan private b'room
12 USD (low season)
15 USD (high season)
Twin room $10
Dbl A/C private b'room
15 USD (low season)
20 USD (high season)
Added to Travelfish on: 8th September, 2004
Last visited or updated on: 16th November, 2006
Guest feedback
Cozy - 
By bethmitchell ( total comments: 16 
) Stayed here 12/2007
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.
Worst experience of my trip - 
By Emanef ( total comments: 7 ) Stayed here 1/2008
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.
Recommended -
By stilltravelling2007 ( total comments: 11 ) Stayed here 9/2007
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).
underwhelmed - 
By fondo ( total comments: 11 ) Stayed here 8/2007
Good email response, picked up at airport in nice car for USD5. 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 LP 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.
Charming Owners - 
By coffeeaddict ( total comments: 2 ) Stayed here 7/2007
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.
got all the qualities -
By muzzaf ( total comments: 3 ) Stayed here 4/2007
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!
agreable -
By vivien ( total comments: 2 ) Stayed here 2/2007
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
good place -
By spy ( total comments: 8 ) Stayed here 12/2006
Friendly and family run place. Very clean and with a very comfortable bed, also tv and hot showers. Good location too.
What happened? - 
By looklively ( total comments: 4 ) Stayed here 7/2006
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.
Spotless - 
By BC ( total comments: 16 ) Stayed here 1/2006
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 aircon, 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.
Friendly and clean - 
By mari1210 ( total comments: 5 ) Stayed here 12/2005
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.
Good Guesthouse -
By tja103 ( total comments: 4 ) Stayed here 11/2005
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 a/c). We were given clean towels every day and it's handily located a couple of minutes walk from the nightmarket.
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