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canucksinasia
backpacker
Posts: 15
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#1 Posted: 15/2/2007 - 01:54
Hello!
Wondering if anyone has had any experience with the Vanvisa Guesthouse in Luang Prabang? The same woman that owns this one also has one called Villa Lane Xang Guesthouse. From what I've seen on the internet ( Van Visa ) the place looks very nice, well located, and inexpensive... In short, too good to be true!!! If anyone has stayed their and can shed some objective light on the place I would be quite grateful!
James & Lindsay
CanucksinAsia
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http://www.wjamesmeagher.com
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wanderingcat
adventurer
Posts: 305
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#2 Posted: 15/2/2007 - 10:36
stayed 4 nights in late Dec 2006, booked a double with shared bathroom for USD8 through that website, received quick response. peak season, but no change in price unlike certain guesthouses that upped rates by as much as USD15. for USD8 you can get a room with private bathroom at other places, but not the atmosphere that Vanvisa has. only drawback - thin walls. but most guests were the quiet sort. laundry service offered too.
magical thing was stepping out of my room in the wee hours of the morning, looking through the common balcony door, & seeing in the distance the brightly lit chedi on top of Phou Si hill glowing in the silent darkness.
it's a place for those who love peaceful surrounds & traditional crafts. wonderful owner is an expert in textiles & has coauthored a Lao cookbook. first floor has her personal textile collection on display, & you can arrange to try her cooking if she is in town. has many repeat guests who bring her gifts. guesthouse is along same lane as the famous silversmith Thitpeng Maniphone's workshop & showroom, can watch his apperentices at work.
one end of the lane is the Mekong river, & the other end is Nam Phou fountain & Wat Phra Maha That along Chao Fa Ngum Road. neighbourhood felt more 'real' than the old city proper (where every house seems to be catering to tourists in one way or another - restaurant, guesthouse, travel agency, net cafe, souvenirs, it's like a Disneyland). observing the morning alms-giving here is a quieter, more 'dignified' affair than within the old city where the lines of tourists shoving cameras into the monks' faces are longer than the line of monks.
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canucksinasia
backpacker
Posts: 15
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#3 Posted: 15/2/2007 - 15:33
Thank you so much for your insights. I kind of felt like this post was a shot in the dark - what a pleasant surprise to find a reply with such good things to say. I was feeling overwhelmed with the number and variety of guesthouse choices in Luang Prabang, and none of my "maybes" felt quite right. You've definitely sold us on Vanvisa - you should do their write-up for future guidebooks and websites!
Thanks again,
James & Lindsay
Canucks(about to be)in Asia
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http://www.wjamesmeagher.com
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joosh
newbie
Posts: 2
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#4 Posted: 16/2/2007 - 11:14
My family of four datyed at the Vanvisa in December. Very comfortable and convenient. Charming owner with much knowledge about Lao foods and textiles. We paid $12 for a nice double with private hot water shower (and we got at least 5 minutes of hat water!!). Recommended.
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canucksinasia
backpacker
Posts: 15
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#5 Posted: 16/2/2007 - 14:12
Thanks Joosh! I've gone from being completely lost as to where we are going to stay in Luang Prabang, to being quite excited about this seeming diamond in the rough. So nice to know that there's going to be warm, interesting and comfortable place to stay after what I'm sure will be a fairly long and arduous day of traveling from Luang Nam Tha.
James & Lindsay
Canucks(about to be)in Asia
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http://www.wjamesmeagher.com
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longleat
tourist
Posts: 53
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#6 Posted: 18/2/2007 - 01:52
Are there any AC rooms at the Vanvisa?
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canucksinasia
backpacker
Posts: 15
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#7 Posted: 18/2/2007 - 05:16
Hi Longleat,
Perhaps wanderingcat or joosh can shed more light on this than I, as they've actually stayed at the Vanvisa. But in the meantime I can tell you that the website I posted the address for in the beginning of this thread ( Van Visa ), does not seem to indicate that the Vanvisa has any AC rooms available.
James & Lindsay
Canucks(dying to be)in Asia
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http://www.wjamesmeagher.com
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