Lost? -- you're looking for a room
Region: Southern Laos> Province: Champasak> Location: Don Khon
Salaphae
Add to your scrapbook
Photo of Salaphae
Vientiane
Boutique hotel in Vientiane, with river views. Lonely Planet says "Excellent Value".
Air-con rooms: US$37
Outstanding
Don Khon
Champasak Province
Tel: (021) 217 526, (020) 540 4233
Fax: (021) 217 108
Contact via email form
Visit website
Description
These raft-houses, managed by ex-lawyer Leusak, are the enviro-friendly standout on Don Khon. Employing some solar heating and ecologically-sensitive treatment of waste this is a surprising addition to the other offerings on the island. The bungalows (two to a raft) are absolutely stunning with an great finish and attention to detail -- so often missing from mid-range options. With a small riverside balcony and an interior reading area furnished with axe cushions, the rooms here are an outstanding value. The fact that prices have gone up recently hasn't dulled our enthusiasm -- it's still worth it. If you're after a romantic splurge at the end of a long trip, save enough cash for here. Highly recommended.
Total rooms: 6
Bungalow fan private b'room
30 USD (low season)
30 USD (high season)
Added to Travelfish on: 10th January, 2005
Last visited or updated on: 20th December, 2006
Guest feedback
A special place - 
By judyno ( total comments: 2 
) Stayed here 1/2008
We loved our stay in Salaphae, only inches above the Mekong River, where life is always on view. We would disagree, though, with the over-written web-site description: ''The bungalows...are absolutely stunning with a great finish and attention to detail.'' That might have been true when they were first built, but when we were there everything was slightly rundown. Maintenance is obviously not a priority at Salphae. Those with any mobility problems should be aware that each raft is reached by its own rickety gangplank,requiring sobriety at all times for safe navigation. Don Khon is a special place to visit--great for wandering around and exploring with no cars and only a few motorbikes! Very peaceful and uncommercial.
Cleanliness | Facilities | Location | Romance | Rooms | Service | Value | Vibe |
Great view of sunset -
By polygon ( total comments: 4 ) Stayed here 5/2007
The rooms in Sala Phae quite possibly offer the best views of sunset in Don Khon. At night, one can always choose to lounge out at the veranda to do a bit of star-gazing. Word of caution: Room can get pretty toasty in the day and afternoon and the rooms are probably not for you if you have severe motion sickness - the rooms do rock ever so gently whenever a boat goes by.
Nice but overpriced - 
By jo8034 ( total comments: 6 ) Stayed here 3/2007
Stayed 4 nights. Rooms are nice but are expensive when compared to other options. Also bear in mind that you are out over the river so forget any idea of a sleep in. The local boats fire up at first light and it can sound like they are right under your bungalow. Also had a problem with our door, it wouldn't close and we returned a couple of times with the door wide open! However they did eventually fix it after several requests! When we were there the staff were all very young and no-one really seemed to be in charge. Also had to ask them to come and clean our room and change the towels.
However in saying all the above still enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of Don Khon.
Nice but a bit overpriced -
By Julis ( total comments: 6 ) Stayed here 2/2007
Raft-houses are nice especially with veranda right on the water - good spot to watch the sunset with a bottle of Beer Lao. But $30 for just fan-cooled rooms with ecectricity available only between 18-30 and 21-30 is too much. Restaurant's service is extremely slow - took'em 1 hr to cook mere spring rolls and 1.5 hr for a dinner, while priced higher than other places (except Sala Don Khone), so we eat there only on the first day. What really annoyed me is that they are charging $6 for a boat to the mainland while everyone else does the same for $4 - why should i pay more for the boat which is no different from other boats? just coz i just paid them for their expensive rooms a substantial amount? didn't look fiendly at all
A special place - 
By krisim ( total comments: 7 ) Stayed here 12/2006
OK - Salaphae is expensive but if you really feel like you want to relax, this place is excellent. The rooms are nice and they have electricity between 18:00 and midnight. The best is the veranda where you can sit and watch people coming down to the river to wash themselves or do their laundry or go fishing, you really are part of peoples daily life.
Didn't live up to expectations - 
By messej01 ( total comments: 10 ) Stayed here 1/2007
We stayed at the deluxe camping for one night but it is very isolated and no one else was there (to be honest I was a bit scared) - it feels like no one should be staying there until next season when they are ready; so we moved to the floating rooms for another night. They were nice but I thought that they were too expensive (given that they are really just plain fan cooled rooms). I didn't find the staff that friendly or helpful.
good value . A recommander -
By jagoland ( total comments: 10 ) Stayed here 9/2006
Situation excellente, dans une ile de reve . Les sdeux reproches : la proximité du groupe éléctrogène, un peu trop bruyant en fonction entre 18 et 21h30 et le restaurant d' une lenteur extreme. Le prix est en effet de 30$.
Go with the flow - 
By dilakeman ( total comments: 6 ) Stayed here 11/2006
We relaxed dangling ourlegs in the Mekong, a unique spot that I discovered from an article in the Townsville Bulletin. Spring rolls are the best I found in Laos.
Sala Phae & sala Don Khon -
By petercgecko ( total comments: 6 ) Stayed here 4/2005
Agree with you. Sala Phae is the number one place on Don Khon. It belongs to the same group as Sala Don Khon, Sala Lao. Have stayed there 4 times since October 2004. The enjoyment is universal. Stayed at Sala Don Khon in April puerly because it was a little cooler being a solid brick construction. maybe, maybe not. I certainly enjoyed Sala Don Khon. The menu at Sala Phae restaurant is more diverse and interesting. This is not a criticism of the restaurant of S. Don Khon since they were the people who introduced this style of cuisine to the islands.
Have your say
Have you stayed at Salaphae? What did you think?
You need to be logged in to add a comment. Not a member? you can join here.
Please note comments may be edited for clarity, typos etc. Also, this is not intended as a means to contact the guesthouse or hotel. Messages such as reservation enquiries will be deleted.
More options in Don Khon
Sala Don Khone
Don Khon
Set in and around the French-era hospital, this atmospheric place is well worth consideration, though we'd lean towards Salaphae as being the better option for a splurge. Probably more at home in Luang Prabang or Phnom Penh, the main building is indeed charming and has been refurbished without... more
