1) Looking for a guesthouse in Phonsavanh. Travelfish and LP posts give mostly backpacker rooms.
Any experience with a nice GH in the $15-$30 range? There's Auberge de Plain de Jarres 1km out of the town--anyone been there?
2) Has anyone stayed at the hot springs (Phuchan Resort or Hot Springs Resort or other?) or is that too far away from the Plain of Jars Sites?
Thanks in advance for any ideas... nabejero


I loved the nicer rooms at the Maly Hotel, though it's not very charming -- modern functional Thai style, I'd call it--but was very warm and comfortable and a good standard. I loved the owners and staff and was well taken care of. Someone else on here hated the place. Was around US$20-25. Didn't look at those other places, they sound worth checking out if you want some luxury, but I don'tknow if it would be faded luxury. Doesn't really matter if you're not too near the Jars, you'll need to drive out to them anyway.

Auberge de PDJ is real nice, wooden bungalows with fireplace, nice decor, resto with fireplace, all wood, on top of hill coverd with pine trees, certainly worth the money. Throw in few extra bucks for car service to town, hire tuk-tuk to go back.
Phuchan is very similar, pine hill with wooden bungolaws, chalet type resto with terrace, view. About same distance from town centre. For the sites zou will need transport anyway, closest site is about 8km from city center one way.
There's nothing that comes close to hill top resorts above, best near there is Vansana Hotel, nice place with good rooms, but modern style rooms and on a hill near new market, about 1,5km away from town centre...
**

Thanks for the recs! We took a look at these and decided to stay at the Maly guesthouse because of the owner's involvement with the Jars excavation and efforts in demining. We planned on staying one day just to see all three jar sites, but we liked the area so much we ended up leaving four days later...
nabejero