stayz...

We stayed in AVILLA PHASOUK HOTEL in VIENTIANE....arriving at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, at 930am local time, we took a minivan (US10 fixed rate from counter at airport arrival) to our first guesthouse.
Location, location , locatio.... quite central in the city, walking distance to their "french cafes" ie Scandinavian Bakery, Le'Croissant cafe etc etc  and food outlets ie Makphet Restaurant, Joma Bakery Cafe, Khop Chai Deu Restaurant etc etc and many massage spa.  

while waiting for Pat to check in, the girls are already on their wifi

breakfast included... broth is very good !

deluxe double room (rm152 per room) not bad, good airconditioning and clean bathroom

nice mozaics !

The only "complaints" we had was ..." O M G !!! we had to climb 3 floors of steps up to our bedrooms... No lifts  " but unaware, it is actually giving us warming-up exercises to our later 20km cycling marathon in Luang Prabang town !! 

cant leave home without it ya ! smartphones !!

Nice toilets n Jacqueline's Mess 

We only stayed one night in Vientiane, checked out next morning for LUANG PRABANG, which is approx 2 hr flight north ( Laos Airline costs rm 603.00 retn pp )

Arriving in LUANG PRABANG, we got a minivan ( 130,000 kips = rm52.00 per van ) head to our little boutique hotel called SALA PRABANG GUESTHOUSE. Its located along the Mekong Riverfront and it has 11 rooms , well decorated to compliment its heritage outlook. We were greeted by the Manager and the co-owner Mr Khoo who explained to us about the history and architectural history of this town and the heritage buildings.

Our rooms are beautiful. Simple and creative. lots of beautiful teak wood with modern facilities. At RM286.00 per double room per nite (incl 21% govt taxes)

the living room @ SALA PRABANG

the bedroom with front balcony

so nice of Alison,  making tea for us 

and we wondered what she was doing !!

WOW !!! not bad picture ya

courtyard

upstairs leading to our rooms

and the front of the Guesthouse SALA PRABANG .......

chit chat 

jus across the road is our breakfast overlooking the Mekong

breakfasting along Mekong River @ Sala Prabang Hotel

getting ready to go walk about town ...

center courtyard inside hotel

reading room 

still getting ready !!!

COUNTING KIP $$$..all the time, actually! 

After spending all our money ( US$,RM$,SIN$,KIP$) we left this little heritage town on Oct 9th, flew back to Vientiane for a last night before departing for KL on 10th 2013.

Last night in Laos, Vientiane accomodation is at MALINAMPHU HOTEL. Location is smack in city opposite a few massage spa (which is badly in need ...after days of cycling and shopping ).At rm114 per room per night (incl bfast, taxes), this accom is not too bad. Huge beds and the attraction is probably its openair courtyard breakfast area within the hotel premise.

Malinamphu Hotel

in the lobby, again...wifi ing ! 

huge double bedroom. good airconditioning

and the breakfast (included in roomrates) setting is the best part..out in the cool morning breeze under the trees in the courtyard. The bfast menu is also very generous. Order two of the 8 items plus coffee/tea n fruits as well.

so much to eat 

so many many hotels and guesthouses ...all so colorful, cute and colonial. A pleasant mix of wood and bricks, ranging from $US20 up to beautiful Villas at US$300. Many of these buildings are lined along the River Mekong and on the other side River Nam Khan.
Countless boutique hotels and guesthouses mushroomed in Luang Prabang since its announcement as a UNESCO HERITAGE SITE in 2005. Majority of these buildings are following traditions, built of wood ( part of the temples are in stone ).

The colonial element of this town is characterised by one or two storey terraced houses built from bricks. They often have balconies and other decorative features in wood.

  











and of course , the little humble HMONG HUT...

and more and more and more .....