Singharat Place Hotel

The laundry came back dirtier than when we handed it in. We paid 50,000 KIP, while a regular laundry service costs 25,000 KIP, so that was especially disappointing. For our onward trip, the manager offered to arrange train tickets and said only VIP tickets were available for $28 per person. They turned out to be regular first-class tickets that cost just $16 at another hotel. There was also a catering company next door holding parties every day. One night the music went on until 8 a.m., the bed was vibrating, and we couldn’t sleep. When we asked to move rooms, the manager yelled at us. After a long discussion, he reluctantly gave us another room. The service was very disappointing, and I can’t recommend it.

The location is great, but the room didn’t feel worth what we paid. We booked king rooms and were first given tiny, uncomfortable ones. The receptionist changed them after we asked, but I was still disappointed. I stayed just one night and didn’t shower because there was no water. I told the receptionist, but nothing changed. The noisy air conditioner kept me from sleeping. I wouldn’t recommend this place.

We arrived in the rain, soaked and exhausted, and ended up staying in a third hostel because it was already late. The room there was in poor condition: the sheets and towels weren’t clean, and the toilet door was broken and wouldn’t close. The staff member who brought us there had said it was a three-star place, Jasmine Place House, and that we’d get a discount for the trouble. He contrasted it with the first place, Singharat Boutique House, which he called two-star. This all started with a booking through Booking.com, made about a month before Lao New Year. On our check-in date, the first hostel told us our room had been given to someone else. The staff member apologized and said the owner had changed and she hadn’t known about the online booking. I said that if they couldn’t honor it, they should have told us by email or phone before we arrived, especially in high season when finding another place is difficult. She said she’d arrange another hostel and that, although it cost more, they would cover it because it was their fault. But when we got there, we were told there was no room for us. They said she had misunderstood the situation, so we had to move again. We accepted the arrangements because the weather was bad and it was high season, not because we thought this was okay. The way this was handled felt unprofessional and poorly managed, and the whole situation made our stay in Luang Prabang a very bad experience. Everything I’ve described is true.

Hung at reception made this visit special. He welcomed us so warmly, helped with all our questions, and even got up early to make breakfast for us to take on the road. Thanks for all your hard work, Hung! The room was comfortable, and there was free water, coffee, and tea. Breakfast was nice too. It’s about a 12-minute walk to the night market.