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216<br />
VIENTIANE<br />
11<br />
WHERE TO STAY<br />
and satellite TV will keep you connected in the present. <strong>The</strong> hotel’s elegant restaurant,<br />
La Belle Epoque (p. 221), serves excellent Continental cuisine. <strong>The</strong> pool area is leafy and<br />
calm, and an ideal place to relax. While the Settha Place is very expensive (with the most<br />
basic single coming in at five times the cost <strong>of</strong> most rooms in town), its service is<br />
unmatched and it <strong>of</strong>fers quality far exceeding its price tag.<br />
6 Pangkham (P.O. Box 161), Vientiane. & 021/217-581. Fax 021/217-583. www.setthapalace.com.<br />
29 units. $180 deluxe; $280 junior suite; $380 suite. AE, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; Jacuzzi; outdoor<br />
pool (nonguests welcome for $7.50); room service. In room: A/C, TV, minibar, Wi-Fi.<br />
EXPENSIVE<br />
Green Park Boutique Hotel Combining the traditional and contemporary into<br />
a seamless whole can be difficult, but the Green Park has succeeded in doing just that.<br />
Raised tile pathways set among jar fountains lead from the elegant reception area to the<br />
central courtyard, where contemporary Lao-style pavilions surround a lovely swimming<br />
pool and adjacent reflecting pool. Stylish guest rooms boast rich wood floors, beautiful<br />
Lao silks draped over chic teakwood furniture, and all the modern conveniences, including<br />
free wireless Internet access. Cozy balconies have views <strong>of</strong> the pools and the newly<br />
planted frangipani trees that dot the surrounding garden areas. Set next to the undeveloped<br />
Nong Chanh Park, Vientiane’s largest, and a 15-minute walk to the Morning<br />
Market, the Green Park is far enough away to feel secluded but not too far to feel isolated<br />
from the city. Add to this tranquil setting an eager-to-please staff that caters to guests’<br />
every whim, and you get a hotel that has set the bar extremely high for future boutique<br />
properties in Vientiane.<br />
248 Khouvieng Rd. & 021/264-097. Fax 021/263064. www.greenparkvientiane.com. 34 units. $165 classic<br />
double; $175 deluxe double; $350 deluxe suite; $450 executive suite. Internet rates available. AE, MC,<br />
V. Amenities: Restaurant; lounge; free airport transfers; Jacuzzi; outdoor pool; spa. In room: A/C, satellite<br />
TV, hair dryer, minibar, Wi-Fi.<br />
Lao Orchid Hotel <strong>The</strong> Lao Orchid is an upscale and comfortable choice. <strong>The</strong> decoration<br />
is muted but easygoing with plenty <strong>of</strong> beige, ocher, and pastel green. <strong>The</strong> facilities<br />
are top <strong>of</strong> the range and the rooms are large and well equipped. A few have a good view<br />
<strong>of</strong> the river. It is a bit overpriced when you look at the midrange competition, but not<br />
extortionately so.<br />
Chao Anou Rd. & 021/264-134. Fax 021/264-133. www.lao-orchid.com. 30 units. $45 standard; $65<br />
suite. MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; Internet; room service. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, minibar.<br />
Tai Pan Hotel This hotel combines businesslike practicality with a certain amount<br />
<strong>of</strong> style. It is brand-new, tastefully and efficiently designed, and well equipped, with<br />
friendly staff. If you are on business and want to be near the center <strong>of</strong> town, the Tai Pan<br />
will give you everything you need. Neither fancy nor glamorous, it is about getting things<br />
done. That does not mean that it is soulless—the designers obviously put a lot <strong>of</strong> thought<br />
into combining functionality and style, and that combination is very successful. <strong>The</strong><br />
rooms are large and come with all the conveniences you would need. <strong>The</strong> pool and the<br />
business center are state <strong>of</strong> the art and the foyer has just enough painted-on retro charm<br />
to do justice to its old town location.<br />
2–12 Francis Nginn St. & 021/216-906. Fax 021/216-223. www.taipanhotel-vientiane.com. $64 standard<br />
single; $82 standard double; $70 deluxe single; $88 deluxe double; $82 junior suite single; $99<br />
junior suite double; $148 suite. AE, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; health club; Internet; outdoor pool;<br />
room service. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, minibar.