Villa Santi Hotel, Louangphrabang

The Villa Santi is a charming, attractive hotel; well decorated and staffed with a smiling, friendly staff. It's location on the main road in town is very convenient. The location also means that you hear street noise and traffic through the walls and windows. Luang Prabang seems like a peaceful, tranquil place, but if you're a light sleeper -- bring earplugs. The food at breakfast is superb, but avoid the "Jazz bar" at night -- it's overpriced, the selection is mediocre, and the music isn't live. And it's not quite jazz, either. I think they have one CD they play on repeat. Make sure to book your room in advance, as the hotel is so small that it fills up quickly, especially in the high season.

a great experience! the service is excellent and always smiling. the location is perfect. free transportation to/from the airport, great high level royal-lao cuisine in the restaurant, the restaurant itself being located in a large colonial room overlooking onto a terrace upon the villa entrance and allowing to see all the 'village' life on the main street downstairs, great french art déco furnishing in the main areas, while the rooms being furnished in french-colonial style with a lao ethnic touch. the 'down' side of the hotel (main building, the old, original one, the one with the best atmosphere; the annexe being nice but new)is the size of the rooms (very small) and especially of the bathrooms (extremely small, almost train-toilet-sized). but forget these negative points and enjoy a small, luxurious, elegant, unforgettable french-colonial villa. by the way...forget about pool and TV sets!!! pity no french spoken at all.