Taidam Guesthouse

We had no contact with the host. It wasn’t all bad, and having a boiling machine outside the rooms was a big plus. As in many places in Laos, the cleaning could use a bit more care. We booked one night, then another in the same room two days later, and the bedding was exactly the same. The sink also still had a lot of hair from another guest’s shave, and nobody had cleaned it.

We ended up staying six nights instead of three and had a great time. It’s a quiet spot facing rice paddies, with local life all around, and could make a romantic getaway. The center is an eight-minute walk and the local market, with very cheap food, is five minutes away. I didn’t mind the animals, bugs, roosters, or other sounds of nature, since that’s part of the experience. There’s free water refills and a water heater in the room. The receptionist speaks decent English and was helpful and friendly. If you’re not into nature, you might prefer somewhere else.

The internet and the view were the good parts, though the lake looked more like a muddy swamp when we got there. The room was kind of gross, with cobwebs and spiders everywhere, and the bedsheets smelled damp and strange. The photos make the place look much nicer than it really is.

Taidam is a lovely family-run guesthouse. The rooms are simple, with incredible views across rice fields and a small pond. The whole family is wonderful and kind.