Immerse yourself in the Luang Prabang UNESCO experience by staying at a hotel reflecting the city’s heritage. Enjoy morning coffee from a personal terrace overlooking a garden with lotus ponds or a balcony perched on the Mekong Riverbank. The price range for the 300-plus establishments covers $300 villas in residential grounds to 3-star guesthouse rooms for $75 in French colonial buildings inside the world heritage site. As one visitor noted, “Where you choose to stay in Luang Prabang is as important as what you do and where you go.”
Imagine waking up in the heart of Luang Prabang’s “Old City” at the door of the most notable temples and heritage sites, along with stores and restaurants in French colonial shop houses. Most 5-star properties on The Peninsula sit along the Mekong, though a few occupy key areas in town, with rooms ranging from $275-600. Solid 4-stars run between $125-250, while 3-plus-star rooms can be found for $65-150. Many offer swimming pools, spas, and gourmet restaurants. The architecture meets strict UNESCO guidelines, and all offer fully decked out rooms and airport transfers.
Take a short step away from The Peninsula and its heritage attractions to the quiet residential area of Luang Prabang. You’ll find an equally high level of service, facilities, and in-room amenities at similar prices, though the atmosphere shifts to sprawling lawns, gardens, and ponds. Those searching for poolside and garden villas, or a room in an old provincial residence, will uncover a wide choice in neighbourhoods mixed with local homes and shops. One property overlooks the town from a hill. Along with airport transfers, many of these hotels offer regular transportation to The Peninsula.
All areas in Luang Prabang present budget travellers with a variety of clean and comfortable, though somewhat small, guesthouse and budget hotel rooms. Many reasonably priced establishments offer restaurants and complimentary breakfast as well as in-room Wi-Fi and cable TVs, and some with balcony views and gardens. Prices generally range between $25-60, though $15 rooms can be found on the outer edge of town.
If you’re looking for a more natural setting, you’ll discover resorts and bungalows hiding in the surrounding mountains and along rivers. You can also find simple accommodation in Nong Khiaw in the province’s north on the Pak Ou River. And don’t forget to take advantage of Green Season (May-September) deals at high-end hotels.
