Laos forum

Hey there. I stayed at Jaliya Guesthouse in Feb 2007. It was a nice spot a bit outside of the Hub of the city, but a nice walk to the river and the market etc. I think my room was $12 US. It was about the most I paid in 6 months in SE Asia, but the rooms and the people were great. There are a few bungalow style rooms out back as well. I would recommend you avoid the room on the main floor, near the office. It was quiet loud, so I ended up moving upstairs... problem solved. There is a bank across the street, and many great places to eat that are not frequented my "Farang", so you get a better feel of Laotian life. Great spot for seeing monks collecting alms as well. Try for a room upstairs facing the street, mine had a nice balcony.

Re. previous message, I will be in LP for 11 days in December. Thanks

Hi all, thanks Exacto fro your response. There are 2 of us and we can afford up to $35-$40 per night max. We are looking for a small , quiet place in town for about 5 nights. Recommendations so far are Oui's, Suan Maak, and Sokhai. We like small quiet, family run.Then we wish to move out of town for another 6 nights: and are considering Thongbay and Kun and Con's. Any feedback?
Also, it seems like the whole online booking thing doesn't really work, except maybe if you pay the full amount up front, which doesn't seem right. As we are travelling high season, we don't want to arrive and find nothing available.
Any tips about how to secure a booking? Anyone used 'Accomodation Luang Prabang ' website booking?
Thanks everyone,
buddha

Hi
Stayed at the Thongbay four years ago and thoroughly loved the bungalow we had overlooking the river. Being outside of town, transportation was a bit of a problem...especially last year when I found foreigners are no longer able to rent moto-scooters in LP> However, bicycles are (were?) well suited to the pace there.
Enjoy.
ps - I'd drop your 'chêu lên' before arriving. Thais love nicknames but I think they'd find your current handle disrespectful.

you can check on www.planetholiday.com. i had used it, once. the service was o.k. and the rates was quite bargained. i hope there will be some options in Luang Prabang.

Amazing Space Amazing Grace
By a serious of fortunate incidents I have just had five days at a soon- to- be opened hotel named (not so fortunately) Le Bel Air. The name though is the only unfortunate thing about the place....the rest gets a ten out of ten rating.
Location.....right on a sizeable river near its junction with the Mekong in Luang Prabang Laos ....no roads just lawn then picket fence then water.Its probably the world's only tranquil two hectare rural location in the centre of a city.
Size...currently 10 "bungalo's" or "rooms" on two hectares. In other words AMAZING space.The only time you see people is when you want to.The spaciousness and Buddhist -like tranquility are outstanding.
Position....four minutes from the airport and fifteen to twenty minutes walking distance from the town's centre,five by bike and three by car.It's in a rural setting with about six houses visible over two kilometres on the other side of the river and none visible on the side of the hotel.
Rooms....well above average. It's an all new hotel.There are three levels all of which are better than they should be for the price.I stayed in a bungalo at the rivers edge in the garden, which as you can imagine was beautiful,quiet and secluded. The bed was huge and comfortable. The bungalo had a big bath which I used daily,flat TV (I didn't use!) ,and a verandah facing the setting sun over the river, which is close enough to throw in a fishing line!
Service....as the "hotel" isn't yet open it's hard to say what the service will be like in a country where English is not widespoken and the prevailling attitude is to only work as much as you need to .The saying is " too much work (and to much thinking) hurts the brain".Having said all that I saw nothing less than enthusiasm and politeness and very adequate service without people constantly hovering nearby
Price......$700 a night...whoops...make that a week!
No the price is $60-$120 U.S. a night . The "hotel"(it's better than a hotel) is aimed at the mid level market.It really combines lower end prices and middle to upper end facilities (free wi-fi,free pushbikes,free airport service,etc)with top end position and location .This without doubt is the best value hotel not only in Laos but in most of the world.
I am not paid to write this,it's just the opinion of a well travelled first time visitor to this country.
Simon