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Hotels in Thailand and Laos are both cheap in price and plentiful
in number. Below are some recommended places to stay in some
of the more popular tourist destinations.
Bangkok - Khao San Road
This street in the heart of Bangkok has come a long way since
its early dabble in tourism in 1982, when overcrowded hotels
led to some budget travellers asking the residents of Thanon
Khao San to rent out their spare rooms to them. Pay it a visit
now, and you will have to agree with Alex Garland's assessment
in his best-selling novel 'The Beach' - Khao San Road truly
is "backpacker land". The road is lined with guesthouses,
restaurant, internet cafes, souvenir shops and travel agents.
Market stalls sell everything from sarongs to bootleg DVDs
to amazingly authentic-looking, fake student id cards. The
place teems with backpackers, yet somehow manages to retain
a relaxed, laid back atmosphere.
Lucky Guesthouse is a typical Khao San Road residence:
basic but clean rooms with a large bed, fan and no furniture
cost as little as 70B ($1.50). Toilets and showers are shared
and good food and drink is served all day.
New Joe's Guesthouse is on the slightly quieter Trok
Mayom, parallel to Khao San Road, and offers a higher
standard of accommodation with attached showers and toilets
and an air-con option for about $10 a night. Staff are helpful
and the food comes highly recommended.
Shanti Lodge on Sri Ayuthya Road is about 20
minutes walk from Khao San Road, providing a welcome respite
from the madding crowd. Its traditional teak architecture
and delicious green curry constitutes a heady mix for a tired
tourist!
Chiang Mai
Most places to stay here are situated within the 'old town',
bounded by the pristine waters of the moat.
Smile Guesthouse on Soi 2 off Rachmunka Road is situated
in its own quiet and leafy courtyard, providing spacious rooms
with fan or air con and attached bathroom. Staff offer a wealth
of advice, as well as a booking service for tours, transport,
treks and courses. Prices range from $6 - $10 a night.
Rendez-vous Guesthouse on Soi 5 off Ratchadamnoen
Road is a quiet, well-run place with every amenity for little
cost. It is also next door to Kanjana's restaurant, which
serves perhaps the tastiest authentic Thai food in town.
Karen Nature Lodge is in fact nearer to Chiang Rai
than Chiang Mai, but is worth mentioning as a unique spot
in which to enjoy rural Thailand. A small complex of rustic
bungalows is surrounded by padi fields and rolling hills,
far removed from the towns. Take a bus from Chiang Mai or
Chiang Rai to Mae Suai and arrange a pick up to Ban Thung
Phrao by calling on +66 1 885 7620/7621 or email: karenguesthouse
*at* hotmail.com.
The newer bungalows cost $7 with attached shower, $2 without.
Vientiane
A range of 'mini-hotels' have sprung up in the centre of
this little town, offering all the amenities of a large hotel
for a fraction of the cost. Head for the Fountain Circle for
the pick of the bunch.
Phonepaseuth Guesthouse on Thanon Pangkham is a typical
example of a 'mini-hotel', offering spacious clean rooms with
attached bathroom, air con, satellite television and in-room
phone for US$15 per night. Bargaining often reduces the price
by a few dollars if staying for more than one night.
Luang Prabang
The best way to appreciate this beautiful little town is
to walk round it; thus the location of your accommodation
is really not an issue.
Vanvisa Guesthouse is a quiet, well-established place
run by a very friendly Lao lady with excellent cooking abilities!
The hot shower, comfortable mattress and beautiful dark wood
panelling makes US$10 a very reasonable price.
Villa Santi is for those who wish to splash out on
some luxury. Once the palace of a Lao princess, this gorgeous
mansion has been carefully preserved, and both staff and restaurant
come highly recommended.
Muang Sing
A tiny village in northern Laos, Muang Sing has become a
popular place from which to organise a trek from, or simply
somewhere to sit and watch the world go by. The mini-hotels
along the main street are all similar in price, standard and
attitude - cheap, basic and easy-going.
Admia Guesthouse offers an alternative to the village
lifestyle. A few miles further out from Muang Sing, it is
advisable to arrange a lift here instead of lugging heavy
rucksacks on a hot day. Here, a complex of rustic stilt houses
overlooks the luminous green padi fields near the Chinese
border, and you will find it impossible to do anything but
take time out and relax.
As featuring in Treks in a Wild World - Trekking in Laos
Novotel
Vientiane
Bountang Guest House (Vang Vieng)
Pansea Phou
Vao Hotel (Luang Pra Bang)
Villa
Santi Hotel (Luang Pra Bang)
The
Boat Landing (Luang Namtha)
Tel: (86) 312 398 |
