The Best of Cambodia & Laos

260
LUANG PRABANG LUANG PRABANG & NORTHERN LAOS
13
and ladders to upper floors. Bathrooms are done in dark wood, shower and all. Convenience
points are earned because the hotel is close to the town center, but far enough
from the din to afford some peace. The connection to history comes as the very professional
staff welcomes you to a place that provides a glimpse into an aristocratic Indochina
of a bygone era. The hotel restaurant (p. 266) is tops, too.
Sakkarine Rd. & 071/253-888. Fax 071/253-999. www.alilahotels.com. 15 units. $125 superior; $175
junior suite; $225 executive suite. MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; concierge; Internet; room service. In
room: A/C, TV, fridge, minibar.
Mekong Riverview Hotel This is the only hotel offering stunning mountain
and river views from the balcony of every room. The location is well complemented by
the exquisite design. The rooms are beautifully furnished in a French provincial style with
dark-wood furniture, rattan chairs, and faded ocher floor tiles. There is a shaded veranda
overlooking the river providing a very pleasant place to enjoy your croissants in the
morning. The rooms are equipped with every luxury you would expect in a top-line
hotel. The beds are “remote controlled” and imported from Sweden. The hotel offers free
transfer to the airport and they have a golf buggy to take you uptown. You are also just
next to the ethereal Xieng Thong temple, one of the Luang Prabang’s major landmarks.
Mekong Riverside Rd. & 071/254-900. Fax 071/254-890. www.mekongriverview.com. 7 units. $190
double. MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant, breakfast only; Internet; room service. In room: A/C, TV, fridge,
minibar.
Villa Maly The newest super-deluxe option in Luang Prabang (along with the soon
to be opened Amantaka), the Villa Maly opened in October 2008. Housed in the former
home of Prince Khamtan (built in 1938), it offers 33 rooms in 7 buildings, set among
lush gardens. Rooms feature wooden parquet floors and four-poster beds. Le Vetiver
restaurant offers dining al fresco, and there is also a spa, pool, and gift shop. The company
that owns Villa Maly also runs lunch and dinner boat tours along the Mekong for
$35; ask them to book a trip for you. Breakfast is included in the room rate.
BP 78. & 071/253-902. Fax 071/254-912. www.villa-maly.com. 33 units. $200-$350 deluxe double; $250
standard double; $300 superior double; $200-$350 deluxe double. MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant, concierge;
Internet; outdoor pool; room service. In room: A/C, TV, hair dryer; minibar.
Villa Santi Hotel For charm and convenience, the Villa Santi is the top in-town
residence. Formerly the home of Lao princess Manilay, this low-key villa reopened in
1992. Whether in the original building, in the nearby annex, or at the latest venture some
6km (33 ⁄4 miles) from town (see Villa Santi Resort, below), you’ll find peaceful elegance
and a connection with culture and nature. The decor is deluxe colonial, with overstuffed
pillows, fine linens, mosquito netting, local weaving, parquet floors, and rosewood furniture.
The tile bathrooms are small but neat. Nice touches include old-fashioned sun
umbrellas available for borrowing, plus fresh flowers in every room. The newer annex just
across the street has common balcony sitting areas and a charm all its own. Only four
rooms have king-size beds, so be sure to specify when you book if that’s what you want.
The staff is friendly and professional. The downtown location is terrific, right in the thick
of things.
Sakkarine Rd. & 071/252-157. Fax 071/252-158. www.villasantihotel.com. 25 units. $170 deluxe double;
$250 suite. MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; Internet; room service. In room: A/C, fridge, minibar.
Villa Santi Resort This resort is a roomier rural companion to the popular
downtown Villa Santi and similarly sophisticated, without being stuffy. Tucked among