Our top 10 places to stay in and around Luang Prabang
Good location
It would be a stretch to call The View Pavilion a hotel.
It’s a polished guesthouse with an excellent location, and it’s the location that you primarily pay for, so don’t expect bells and whistles. This new build with just eight rooms is in the heart of the historic area, in a neighbourhood with a high concentration of temples. It’s on the main street across from Wat Sop Sickharam, though the actual rooms are set back from the road, so there is some buffer from the street noise. If you’re a light sleeper, expect to hear the temple drums at the crack of dawn.
The four ground-floor garden terrace rooms are serviceable and plain, with glossy wood floors, plain white walls, twin beds, air-con, small fridge and shower but no safety box. The deluxe rooms on the second floor have the same amenities but you do get a terrace with chairs and an east-facing view of the pretty rooftops and mountains, which would be beautiful at sunrise if you can manage to roll out of bed that early. All rooms also have a bathtub which is a lovely touch -- except the tub is located right in the bedroom. It lacks privacy and rather awkwardly takes up a chunk of space.
Breakfast and WiFi are included. There is no bicycle or airport pick-up, services you should expect at this price. The View Pavillion is rather expensive for what it is but is one of the newer, solidly built places to stay in the peninsula. Ancient Luangprabang Inn would be a cheaper alternative and they include airport transfer. You can get far more for the same rate at a proper hotel just outside of the historic area such as Maison Dalabua, My Dream Resort or Le Bel Air, so it becomes a question of convenience of location versus amenities, service, space and character.
Address: Sakkarine Rd, Ban Khili, Luang Prabang
T: (071) 253 918;
Email: info@theviewpavilion.com
Web: http://www.theviewpavilion.com
Coordinates (for GPS): 102º8'35.6" E, 19º53'46.19" N
See position in Apple or Google Maps: Apple Maps | Google Maps
Room rates: US$50 to 100
What we were quoted as a walk-in.
| Standard double room Garden Terrace | US$75 | US$85 |
| Deluxe double room Deluxe Mountain View | US$85 | US$95 |
Reviewed by
Cindy Fan
Cindy Fan is a Canadian writer/photographer and author of So Many Miles, a website that chronicles the love of adventure, food and culture. After falling in love with sticky rice and Mekong sunsets, in 2011 she uprooted her life in Toronto to live la vida Laos. She’s travelled to over 40 countries and harbours a deep affection for Africa and Southeast Asia. In between jaunts around the world, she calls Laos and Vietnam home where you’ll find her traipsing through rice paddies, standing beside broken-down buses and in villages laughing with the locals.
Our top 10 places to stay in and around Luang Prabang
