Best Places to Stay in Laos | Ultimate List of Hotels & Hostels

written by local expert Jane Elmets

Jane always knew she wasn't destined for a desk job... She has travelled all over the world and is passionate about noodles, sloths and her hiking boots! When she isn't busy adventuring around the world, you can find her reviewing travel gear and dishing out travel tips to all the places she's visited.

Headed to Laos and looking for where to stay? We’ve got you covered with this article on the best places to stay in Laos!

For us, Laos is an extremely underrated country with lots to offer to those that are willing to explore. It has lush jungles, beautiful waterfalls, and stunning scenery.

If you are willing to go beyond tubing in Vang Vieng, Laos has a lot to offer to travelers! Ride a motorbike around their famous motorbike loops in the South, visit and relax for a few days in Luang Prabang, spend a few days in their lush jungles, or chill out in Don Det as you practice the art of doing nothing.

You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the number of things to do — even if you stray away from the normal tourist routes.

Where to Stay in Laos

luang prabang laos

Similar to the Philippines, dorm beds aren’t so common in Laos unless you are in the big cities.

That said, you can usually find cheap guesthouse rooms with a fan for around $7. AC rooms run for around $10-15 a night. Naturally, in the more popular tourist destinations, you will find a wider range of accommodation all the way to four and five-star hotels where you can indulge in spoiling yourself for a night or two.

Listed below are our personal recommendations on the best places to stay in Laos to suit every type of travel budget. From fun party hostels all the way to quiet and serene hotels, here’s where you should stay in Laos.

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Best Places to Stay in Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is one of the most lovely places in Laos, with a sweet little town full of street food and cafes as well as some outstanding nature just a little way outside the city.

One of the biggest draws to Luang Prabang is that it’s home to some of the most magnificent waterfalls in all of Southeast Asia. At the base of the falls are pools of gem-colored water, rushing down tiers until it disappears. It’s an unmissable spot to visit on your way through Laos!

Laos

Besides the unreal nature, Luang Prabang is a chilled out place to spend some time, with plenty of accommodation suiting a wide range of budgets and needs.

Here’s where to stay in Luang Prabang, Laos.

Smile LuangPrabang Hostel


Room Type: 6 Bed Dorm | 6 Bed Female Dorm | 8 Bed Dorm

WiFi: Yes

Near: Night Market, National Museum, Was Xieng Thong

Price Range: $5 – $7 per night

Sitting on the banks of the Mekong River, you’ll find the ever-charming Smile Hostel, an outstanding budget option in Luang Prabang. The hostel is in a prime location, just an eight-minute walk from Mount Phousy and nearby the night market, National Museum, and Wat Vieng Thong.

Smile Hostel offers bunks in dorms for an unbeatable price, with a great deal of privacy as well. Each bed has a privacy curtain, reading light and outlet, as well as a locker for valuables. Each dorm also has its own bathroom so you won’t have to wait in long lines every time you want to shower.

Smile Hostel has a lovely little courtyard with tables and a small pond, a tour desk on-site and staff who are around 24/7 to assist with anything you may need during your stay. And did I mention there’s free breakfast? What a deal!

To see prices and read reviews, check: Booking.com | Agoda

Sanctuary Hotel Luang Prabang


Room Type: Superior Double or Twin | Superior Double or Twin Unesco | Deluxe Double or Twin | Deluxe Double or Twin Unesco | Suite with Garden View | Suite Unesco

WiFi: Yes

Near: Night Market, Ethnic Museum

Price Range: $81 – $200 per night

Located just outside the historic district of Luang Prabang, Sanctuary Hotel offers chic stays at a mid-range price point. It’s a quick walk away from the Dara Market, Ethnic Museum, and Night Market and surrounded by many temples waiting to be explored.

The rooms here are simply stunning, majorly crafted from wood and featuring modern amenities. Fully outfitted with air conditioning, a mini-bar, flat-screen TV, and comfortable beds, you can’t really ask for much more! The rooms are also quite spacious, with lots of windows if you want a breath of fresh air.

Sanctuary Hotel sits on large grounds, with grassy areas filled with tables, chairs and umbrellas for lounging about. If you feel like catching some rays, spread out at the hotel pool or opt for a drink at the bar. When you wake up in the morning, head to the restaurant for a huge breakfast spread before taking off for town!

To see prices and read reviews, check: Booking.com | Agoda

Satri House Secret Retreats


Room Type: Deluxe Double | Deluxe Twin | Junior Suite Double | Junior Suite Twin | Satri House Suite

WiFi: Yes

Near: Dara Market, restaurants, bars

Price Range: $170 – $270 per night

If you’re looking for luxury during your stay in Luang Prabang, Satri House is the place to be. It’s located just outside of the town center, steps from the Mekong River, in a beautiful colonial house… What could be better?

This retreat was once the residence of a prince so you know it’s going to be swanky. The rooms are quite large, with the biggest ones coming complete with four-poster canopy beds, allowing you to really feel like royalty during your stay.

The property has not one but two pools, with plenty of lounge chairs surrounded by lush gardening and spacious grounds. Satri House also has an on-site spa and a fantastic restaurant serving up meals worthy of the royal family.

To see prices and read reviews, check: Booking.com | Agoda

Need more recommendations? Check out our full guide!

Where to Stay in Luang Prabang

Best Places to Stay in Vang Vieng

A party-town-turned-nature-lovers-central, Vang Vieng is completely different from what it once was.

Vang Vieng used to be a premier party destination in Southeast Asia, with travelers coming a long way to get rowdy. However, since the Lao government’s crackdown on drugs, Vang Vieng has transformed into a sleepy paradise-like town, with unforgettable scenery and plenty of the fresh outdoors.

river surrounded by trees and Rocky Mountains in Vang Vieng Laos

There are still places to party in Vang Vieng, but overall, you’ll find it’s a beautiful place to enjoy the famous Lao landscapes.

Here are the top places to stay in Vang Vieng, Laos.

Nana Backpackers Hostel

Room Type: 6 Bed Mixed Dorm | Double Room | Budget Twin Room | Deluxe Family Room | Family Studio | Family Room

WiFi: Yes

Near: Post Office, Night Market

Price Range: $6 – $45 per night

For party central in Vang Vieng, Nana Backpackers Hostel is the obvious choice. It’s located right on Main Street along the Nam Song River, within walking distance of plenty of convenience stores, restaurants, bars, and the Night Market.

The ultra budget-priced dorm rooms are filled with travelers eager to meet new people and make friends. The dorms are simple (and super cheap), but if you’re looking for some space to yourself, Nana also offers private rooms with your own bathroom and balcony.

During the day, you can find people socializing around the hostel’s pool, and at night the bar is serving up drinks to everyone who stays. Besides the wild party atmosphere, Nana Backpackers Hostel also helps organize all sorts of activities – tubing being a favorite by many past guests.

If you’re looking to make new friends and have some fun, Nana Backpackers won’t let you down.

To see prices and read reviews, check: Booking.com | Agoda

Amari Vang Vieng


Room Type: Superior Twin w/ City View | Superior Twin w/ River View | Superior King w/ River View | Deluxe King w/ City View | Deluxe King w/ River View | Twin w/ Balcony | King w/ Balcony | Double w/ Terrace | One-Bedroom Suite | Executive Suite

WiFi: Yes

Near: Main Street, restaurants, bars

Price Range: $72 – $441 per night

Amari Hotel is one of the most stylish hotels in Vang Vieng, with some of the most amazing views in the world. From the hotel, you’ll be able to feast your eyes on the undulating rocky mountains spanning as far as the eye can see. While Amari offers nature-forward stays, it’s still on the Main Street, with easy access to restaurants, bars, etc.

Their guest rooms are contemporary, with plush beds and sparkling bathrooms filled with mini toiletries, bathrobes and fluffy towels. The larger rooms have terraces, many of which look out over the mountains, perfect for a sunset drink.

If you’re looking for even more space, the suites are practically one-bedroom apartments, with spa tubs (with a view) and plenty of seating areas.

During your stay, be sure to take a dip in the pool surrounded by tropical trees and of course, those mountains. Or hit the fitness center for a good sweat. There’s also a bar and restaurant at Amari, which serves a delicious breakfast every morning.

I’m not kidding when I say this stay is what dreams are made of!

To see prices and read reviews, check: Booking.com | Agoda

Riverside Boutique Resort


Room Type: Standard Double | Standard Twin | Deluxe Double Mountain View | Deluxe Twin Mountain View | Riverside Suite

WiFi: Yes

Near: Nam Song River

Price Range: $115 – $305 per night

Another mind-blowingly beautiful hotel set to the backdrop of the Vang Vieng mountains, the Riverside Boutique Resort is a luxurious option sitting on the banks of the Nam Song River.

The resort is a blend of French colonial architecture and classic Asian flair, with wooden structures and accents throughout the property and the rooms. Guests have their choice of simple but expansive rooms with Asian decorations and balconies. Each bathroom has a tub, robe, and slippers, ideal for a cozy night in, admiring the view from your room.

When it comes to relaxing, there’s no better place than poolside at the foot of the mountains. If you feel like having a bite to eat, head to the resort’s restaurant which serves a mix of Lao and French cuisine.

P.S. If you’re a wine lover, they have an impressive list with bottles from France and Chile!

To see prices and read reviews, check: Booking.com | Agoda

For more Vang Vieng hotel recommendations, read our guide!

Where to Stay in Vang Vieng

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Best Places to Stay in Vientiane

As the capital of Laos, a stop in Vientiane is a great place to visit to learn about culture, history, and Lao life. There are some wonderful museums and more temples and wats than you could ever imagine.

vientiane-lead

It’s a really nice city that doesn’t come with the crazy hustle and bustle you get in most metropolitan Southeast Asian centers. Instead, the streets are wide and lined with lush trees, and there’s a more laid-back atmosphere than you’d think.

Being the largest city in Laos, there are of course a boatload of places to stay, with a huge range of prices and offerings. Here are the best places to stay in Vientiane, Laos.

SYRI Guesthouse Vientiane Hostel & Cafe



Room Type: 6 Bed Female Dorm | 8 Bed Mixed Dorm | 10 Bed Mixed Dorm

WiFi: Yes

Near: National Museum, Night Market

Price Range: $8 per night

A beautiful, modern, and clean hostel, SYRI Guesthouse is certainly the best place to stay in Vientiane if you’re visiting on a budget. It’s located in the town center near bars and restaurants, as well as popular points of interest like the Laos National Museum, Chaofa Ngum Statue, Night Market, and a large shopping mall.

The dorms are well-made and stylish, with white bunk beds with colorful privacy curtains and pillows. Under each extra comfortable bed, there’s a locker for valuables. Each dorm also comes with its own balcony for some fresh air!

Past guests rave that this is among the best hostels they’ve ever stayed in, and it’s no wonder why. Around the hostel, there’s a large seating area to hang out and a leisure area with a billiards table and banquet table if you feel like sharing a meal.

When you wake up in the morning, be sure to grab a delicious breakfast at the hostel before heading out for the day!

To see prices and read reviews, check: Booking.com | Agoda

Lao Poet Hotel



Room Type: Urban Classic | Urban Deluxe | Urban Deluxe Twin | Business Double w/ Gym Access | Urban Executive | Exclusive Twin | Poet Suite | Exclusive Suite

WiFi: Yes

Near: National Museum, shopping mall

Price Range: $85 – $187 per night

A traveler favorite in Vientiane, the Lao Poet Hotel will not disappoint. Sitting just minutes from the Laos National Museum and Talat Sao Shopping Mall, this hotel is pretty much in the center of everything! It’s in the perfect location for exploring the city and beyond.

This four-star hotel is grandiose and funky, to say the least! You’ll love their colorfully-decorated rooms, velvet bedspreads, and patterned rugs. The rooms also are laden with wooden details and come fully equipped with a spacious marble bathroom for primping.

If you have more in your budget to spare, check out their suites! The suites at Lao Poet come with expansive views of the city and a large seating area with velvet couches and lots of room to spread out.

Lao Poet Hotel does not skimp on the amenities, with a huge infinity pool on the roof overlooking the city, a luxurious restaurant and bar, and a 24-hour front desk, on call for anything you may need.

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind stay in the center of Vientiane, you’ll love the Lao Poet Hotel!

To see prices and read reviews, check: Booking.com | Agoda

La Seine Hotel by Burasari


Room Type: Superior | Deluxe Twin | Grand Deluxe | Deluxe River View | Pomerol Suite | Deluxe Family Room

WiFi: Yes

Near: Mekong River, city center

Price Range: $90 – $235 per night

La Seine Hotel is a luxurious accommodation option in Vientiane, offering world-class service and celebrity-style treatment to guests. It sits along the banks of the Mekong River with the town center behind, perfect location for enjoying both nature and the comforts of the city.

The rooms here are spacious, with wooden floors, plush white beds, and a single color used to decorate the rest of the space. You’ll find the twin rooms outfitted in a deep forest green, from the headboard to the seating area to the curtains, while the grand deluxe rooms are a bright orange.

It’s a fun atmosphere with five-star details like deep soaking bathtubs, huge vanities, and free (!!!!) mini bar!

If you can ever pull yourself away from the gorgeous rooms, head to the rooftop restaurant for a meal, the lounge for a drink or simply stay put and call for room service. Now that’s what I’m talking about!

To see prices and read reviews, check: Booking.com | Agoda

Our Vientiane hotel guide has more top picks for you!

Where to Stay in Vientiane

Best Places to Stay in Don Det

A backpackers haven, Don Det is an island in the middle of the Mekong River that draws a diverse crowd looking for something that’s off the beaten path.

river with trees on the bank with house in them in Don Det Laos

Don Det has grown in popularity in recent years, with crowded bars and an abundance of cheap hostels. Luckily, the natural beauty remains largely untouched and it’s a fantastic place to enjoy the fruits of the Mekong.

You won’t find luxury accommodation in this little town but what is available is inexpensive and has everything you’ll need.

Here are the best places to stay in Don Det, Laos.

Champa Mekong Bungalows

Room Type: Budget Double Room

WiFi: Yes

Near: Old French Port

Price Range: $12 – $15 per night

A sleepy little guesthouse that sits right on the water, Champa Mekong Bungalows makes for the ultimate budget escape in Don Det. The property boasts river views and is located just next to the Old French Port and a few restaurants.

The accommodations here are ultra simple but have everything you need for a basic stay like a comfortable bed, mosquito net, fan, and private bathroom. Plus, don’t forget the views of the river right from your room!

A delicious breakfast is included with your stay at Champa Mekong Bungalows. The property is lush, with hammocks spread out on the grounds, inviting you to relax. But the best thing about this guesthouse is the lovely staff and owner who will do everything they can to ensure you have a pleasant stay.

To see prices and read reviews, check: Booking.com | Agoda

Senesothxuen Hotel



Room Type: Standard Twin w/ Garden View | Deluxe Double w/ River View

WiFi: Yes

Near: Mekong River, Don Khong History Museum

Price Range: $45 – $55 per night

Senesothxuen Hotel is a basic yet comfortable accommodation option that’s as close to the Mekong as you can get. The hotel sits just on the river and offers guests glorious views and nature around the clock.

The rooms here are modest with an Asian flair, featuring wooden furniture and simple bathrooms. The larger rooms come complete with bathtubs and balconies overlooking the garden, delightful for sunset.

The restaurant on site serves up breakfast and dinner every day, and Senesothxuen has a pool for basking by when the sun is high in the sky. If you feel like exploring the surrounding areas, the hotel has a tour desk, or simply stay around the property and enjoy this relaxing retreat.

To see prices and read reviews, check: Booking.com | Agoda

Golden Hotel Don Det

Room Type: Standard Double or Twin | Waterfront Bungalow | King Room w/ Pool View

WiFi: Yes

Near: Restaurants, bars

Price Range: $45 – $65 per night

A lovely place to stay on any trip to Don Det, Golden Hotel offers a serene getaway on the west side of the island, right on the riverbanks. It’s minutes away from the majority of the restaurants and bars on the island, so Golden Hotel is a top choice in terms of location.

Rooms are a good size and each comes with a balcony which is awesome. But if you’re looking for an upgrade, spring for an entire bungalow on the waterfront! The rooms are clean with wooden floors, have cozy furniture and simple decorations, but let’s be real, you probably won’t be spending too much time in there anyways.

Golden Hotel has a massive pool for guest use, as well as a spacious garden and a 24-hour front desk. Breakfast is offered every day and if you’re looking for transportation around the island, you can rent a bike or a car right from the property!

To see prices and read reviews, check: Booking.com | Agoda

Want more recommendations? Read our Don Det hotel guide!

Where to Stay in Don Det

Headed to Laos? Check out a few of our guides to help you get planning

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