Somewhere to stay in Vientiane

Hi there,

I'm a solo female traveller and I arrive in Vientiane tomorrow. My plan is to stop over for a couple of nights before moving on. I'm a total newby to travelling and haven't booked anywhere to stay for when I get there. Has anyone got any advice or even better a decent place to stay, air con, wifi and no bed bugs. Or is the done thing to rock up and if so where should I get dropped off after the aiport? I have searched forums and trip adviser but I can't find somewhere that the reviewers agree or where the reviews are that current. Your help is much appreciated. Oh and budget wise probably $15 but will pay more if what I'm asking for is too much.

Sam

Hi, stayed at the Vongkhamsene Hotel (17/01 Manthathulath Road) while waiting for Thai visas a few months ago and it was pretty good, AC, breakfast, walking distance to river, bars etc, but it was about $25 - Vientiane wasn't as cheap as I hoped !

Good luck

Make sure you book your accommodation as soon as you can, when I was there, there were a number of backpackers with full backpacks on wandering the streets in the late afternoon looking for a room. I saw them, because I was wandering the streets looking as well. I had no problem with walking up and finding accommodation in other towns in Laos, only in Vientiane.

http://www.travelfish.org/accommodation/laos/vientiane_and_surrounds/vientiane/vientiane/all

Getting pretty hard to find clean aircon centrally located rooms for $15. Vientiane is moving upmarket and now starting to see more like $25-40+ for solid accommodation.

If you wish to post this on TA I will answer. I don't bother posting information on TT anymore as there has been no sensible explanation for the changes.

OP - you'll never find reviewers agreeing.
I find TripAdvisor and the like less and less reliable every time I travel.

Vientianeboy -- what do you mean? What's TA? & what changes?

Re #5 TA=TripAdvisor, I presume the changes would refer to the not totally explained period over the Christmas period where Thorntree shut up shop, and then the limited functionality afterwards. It's a shame about Vientianeboy's understandable protest, as he had invaluable insight into Laos and especially Vientiane.

Hi there,

Thank you for your message. Is TA, trip adviser? Sorry I'm new to all this. Your help would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Sam

Ooopps! Last message was to Vientiane boy. But thank you to everyone who replied. Going to get on the case now!! Thanks X

Butch, is there an alternative source you use? I have been going by lonely planet and trip adviser. But when I cross check reviews I'm always put off. How can bed bugs bother someone but then in another review they would recomend?! Makes it so hard to decide.

Booking websites like booking.com or agoda.com are the other obvious ones.

I always used to go a place where 9 out of 10 folks say it was good. There's always one who finds it impossible to enjoy their stay. the odd complaint about bed bugs is just noise. I've never known what bed bugs are... and frankly don't believe in them. Hysterical travelers with allergies might notice them - but if you're not in that category - ignore those sorts of comments.

I find that the "9 out of 10 cats" approach doesn't work for me any more though. Reviews worked when they were not mainstream and had little influence on bookings. As soon as it became obvious that good reviews = more bookings, then what hotelier wouldn't try to spin things to get better results? TA has the power to make or break a business now, and it doesn't have the checks and balances to be able to regulate what get's posted.

I think there's quite a significant proportion of false reviews skewing the results and making them much less useful than say 5yrs ago.

I make bookings based on list of services, location, prices, etc, nowadays rather than look at traveler scores.

Agoda.com . Mixok GH if they have a room. USD17ish. If not book anywhere. You'll be happy you did. Don't waste your time wandering from full GH to full GH.

OP - stayed 2 weeks ago at the "Wonderland 2 Guesthouse" next to That Dam. Big clean double room (without bedbugs), ac and wifi for 130 000 Kip (16 $). They also have rooms for 110 000 Kip. Phone: (856-21) 222-917, Cell Phone (856-20) 551-6929.
AFAIK this guesthouse isn't mentioned in a guidebook so we hadn't a problem to walk in and get a room.

I always try to pre-book accommodation when I’m heading into reasonable sized towns, it gives me piece of mind knowing that I’ve got somewhere to stay without walking the streets looking for something. The only booking agency that I've used is Agoda but there are heaps out there.

Hey Butch Re #10
"I've never known what bed bugs are... and frankly don't believe in them. Hysterical travellers with allergies might notice them"
Wow, you must have a thick skin. Yep, bed bugs are for real. I've only struck them 3 or 4 times, and they will keep you awake all night, nipping away. I don't have a allergenic reaction to them, but they are annoying. I kept the critters at bay by smearing myself with deet to get a good nights sleep.

Jonappleton, yes you are correct on both counts in post #6.

VTboy

Ignore the checkered pants BBC corporate rules. Your insights to Laos are valuable to travelers on this site.

Hi,

Posted something here in support of VT boy. Criticised LP TT guess what? Mods got it.

Im a fan of the Vayakorn Guesthouse. Central, clean, air-con, wi-fi, friendly and helpful. A double is somewhere around $25. bit hotel-ish (I usually like the entire-family-is-involved-in-running-it places, but Vientiane always feels so city-ish and thus inspires a more formal accommodation....

Hi,

Wow at least they posted my one (No.17) post. What happened to the first? Too sensitive to the criticism of your oh so inept performance and information supply of recent?

Vientiane Garden Hotel. - Sihom - check google for details. (Tripadvisor) you'll need to phone ahead to ensure a room.
Looks like a building site in the front but they have totally refurbished this year. The rooms are around a pool out the back and have air, wi-fi (bait) and a small but adequate pool.
Crappy buffet breakfast but you can get a patisserie about 400 meters down the road. Is only a mild walk to the river front tourist area.
Cost about 100 baht (= $30 pn) you might negotiate for more than one night.