Rattana Guesthouse

Noisy!!! - 9th January, 2009
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 on 9th January, 2009, rated 3 out of 5.
Stayed here 11/2008
Total reviews submitted: 5.
bennyandchelle also reviewed: Cassia Cottage, Golden Temple Villa, Indochine 2 Hotel, Mali Namphu.

Charming place - 21st December, 2008
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 on 21st December, 2008, rated 4 out of 5.
Stayed here 2/2008
Total reviews submitted: 5.
markyeo also reviewed: Bi Saigon, Lanta Nature Beach Resort, P. Guesthouse, Pantawee Hotel.

Not too bad - 19th November, 2008
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 on 19th November, 2008, rated 4 out of 5.
Stayed here 11/2008
Total reviews submitted: 2.
marybee also reviewed: Vilay Guesthouse.

Cute and Clean! - 28th May, 2008
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 on 28th May, 2008, rated 4 out of 5.
Stayed here 3/2008
Total reviews submitted: 4.
katieq2 also reviewed: Dai Long Hotel, Dok Khoun 2, Nam Phuong.

Worst experience of my trip - 30th January, 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.

Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by Emanef on 30th January, 2008, rated 1 out of 5.
Stayed here 1/2008
Total reviews submitted: 7.
Emanef also reviewed: Greenfield Hotel, Phan Lan Guesthouse, Riverside Hotel, Thanh Binh 3, The Elephant Crossing, Tien Dat.

Charming Owners - 8th July, 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.

Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by coffeeaddict on 8th July, 2007, rated 4 out of 5.
Stayed here 7/2007
Total reviews submitted: 2.
coffeeaddict also reviewed: Tien Thuy Hotel.

got all the qualities - 10th June, 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!

Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by muzzaf on 10th June, 2007, rated 4 out of 5.
Stayed here 4/2007
Total reviews submitted: 3.
muzzaf also reviewed: C&C Guest House, Mali Namphu.

agreable - 7th March, 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

Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by vivien on 7th March, 2007, rated 4 out of 5.
Stayed here 2/2007
Total reviews submitted: 2.
vivien also reviewed: Phi Phi The Beach Resort.

What happened? - 1st August, 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.

Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by looklively on 1st August, 2006, rated 1 out of 5.
Stayed here 7/2006
Total reviews submitted: 4.
looklively also reviewed: Artist Hotel, Chiang Mai Thai House, La Residence Phou Vao Hotel.

Friendly and clean - 22nd December, 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.

Rattana Guesthouse reviewed by mari1210 on 22nd December, 2005, rated 3 out of 5.
Stayed here 12/2005
Total reviews submitted: 5.
mari1210 also reviewed: Chiang Mai Thai House, Coco Palm Resort, Four Sons Inn, Rambuttri Village.

Good Guesthouse - 24th November, 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 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 on 24th November, 2005, rated 4 out of 5.
Stayed here 11/2005
Total reviews submitted: 4.
tja103 also reviewed: Bounmy Guesthouse, Malany Guesthouse, Sri Pat Guesthouse.