Villa Namkhan River

A budget hotel that gave me everything I needed. The staff were lovely, and breakfast was tasty and substantial. Rooms are spotless when cleaned daily, if you ask for service. The nearby swimming pool was a welcome extra. Shops, a supermarket, night markets, and Nam Khan River are close by, with the river leading to the Mekong. Thank you.

Average, and I wouldn't stay again. It was hard to sleep with noise from the nearby Red Bull bar. Our room was very dark, and opening the window didn't help because hotel towels drying outside blocked the light. The pool is tiny and shared by three hotels. Breakfast was okay, but they didn't explain clearly what we could order: one day we were allowed two dishes, then the next day we were rudely told we could only have one. The woman at reception wasn't very friendly or welcoming.

The location is perfect, the bed was comfortable, and I enjoyed the breakfast. Still, I wasn't happy with the management or the room. At first they said there were no rooms available, but when I showed them Booking.com listing a single room, one was suddenly available. The room cost 20 dollars, which felt too expensive compared with nearby hotels, especially given the problems. The AC didn't work well, one window had no curtains, and the room was right beside the kitchen and reception, so noise and smells could disturb sleep. Without curtains, morning sun and heat woke me up. The next day I asked to change rooms and was again told none were available, even though Booking.com showed otherwise. Staff spoke limited English, which made communication difficult.

Breakfast was a highlight, served from 7:30 to 10:00 a.m. There was an incredible passion fruit and rich, strong coffee, with hot water on the side so I could dilute it. You can order from a menu and have the meal brought to your table by the pool or straight to your room. The food was delicious and well balanced, and satisfying. The Namkhan River views and mountain scenery were breathtaking. There was some construction here and there, but it was much quieter than along the Mekong. There are two pools, one sunny and one shaded. In October and November they get sun until around 3:30 p.m., and people actually use them. The reception is near the pool, though it was a little hard to find the first time. On arrival, poke your head into the first corner area and someone will direct you to the desk. It's easy to grab a tuktuk nearby, and everything is a short walk away. They can help arrange tours and transfers to the train station or airport. The rooms were clean and spacious, with an open-layout bathroom and consistently hot water. I especially liked the soap's pleasant scent. If you want, they'll service the room daily and provide water in refillable glass bottles, instant coffee, and tea bags. There's also what looks like a rice cooker, but it's for boiling water for coffee or tea. Someone was always at the front desk, greeting me with a warm smile, and it made me feel welcome. I had some trouble with the safe because there were no instructions, and I accidentally set off the alarm. I heard another room's safe go off too, haha. I'm sure staff would be happy to help set it up if you ask. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay. Attentive service and wonderful amenities, thank you!