The Bright Lotus Guesthouse

The location couldn’t be better, and the views from the top floor were great. For the price, the stay was about what you’d expect, and we were only there for one night. There wasn’t much storage in the room. It smelled bad, and the AC barely worked, so we had to use the fan, which made the smell more noticeable. The wallpaper was peeling, the room looked quite dirty, and music played until the early hours.

The location is amazing, with great terrace views and tourist attractions within easy walking distance. Prices are more than decent, but those were the only good parts of the stay. The room smelled awful, like damp and mold. Black mold covered the bathroom walls, the shower water barely warmed up, and the sheets were dirty, with blood stains all over them. The AC was dirty, struggling, and constantly leaking water onto the floor. It stopped turning on on our second day, though the staff dealt with that quickly. Two nights there were horrific. I couldn’t have stayed longer. There are probably better places nearby, and it’s worth paying a bit more for somewhere much more decent.

Restaurants are right downstairs, and there’s a view of the palace out front. The Mekong River, old market, and riverside eateries are all within walking distance, so the location is extremely convenient. There are no lifts or elevators, and the narrow, tiny stairs were tough for me with knee problems, especially with a 20 kg suitcase. The staff were accommodating, though, and moved us to the first floor. I’ll definitely come back.

This family-run guest house is close to the waterfront and probably around a two-star place. For a budget trip, it’s a good location at a good price, and I wouldn’t hesitate to stay again. The family staff are very friendly, answered all my questions, and even helped me print a document. It had just about everything you’d need: a refrigerator, a safe deposit box, and a flat-screen TV, though the TV was very small at 24 inches. The air conditioning was good. Internet worked both up and down, but wasn’t very reliable.