Sunset Bungalows & GH

We had to leave in the middle of the night and find another place so we could get away from the owner. When it was time to pay the rent, which was meant to be settled at the end of the rental period, he became threatening, unfriendly, and frightening. Before that, he’d made us wait to check in without apologizing and acted incredibly arrogant. Things had started off well. The village is charming, though very touristy, and the surroundings are beautiful and peaceful. Then everything fell apart after we met him. This was the worst rental experience of my life. You can find much better accommodation in Muang Ngoi. Avoid this place.

You don’t need to book accommodation ahead in this village. Arrive, take a look around for yourself, visit places, check the prices, then book. We stayed four nights at The Sunset Bungalows at the end of the village road. The balcony and hammock had a lovely view, and you can pay by Visa card. The bungalow was dirty and worn, though it had air conditioning and a fan. There was no room service during our four nights, with no toilet paper, drinking water, clean towels, or cleaning, and nobody even asked. The price was too high for what you get, as you can find better places from locals in the village. There was rubbish and general mess around the bungalows, which looked rather neglected. We didn’t feel welcome, and the owners, called “Penny” and her white husband, gave off strange vibes. There was no warm hospitality and they seemed uninterested. Maybe the man has a small drug problem, since there were large marijuana plants in the bungalow garden that he earns from. They rent bicycles and also run a Backpacker hostel at the intersection as you come up from the pier, plus a restaurant. They have a really lovely cat that talks a lot and likes meat from the street market and eggs. Muang Ngoi is a small, cosy village where you can hike a lot. There are amazing caves and viewpoints, Mount Pha Boom, and places to relax and chill.

The place is run down and doesn’t look like the photos. Gabriel and his wife Penny were aggressive and rude to guests. They have many bad reviews for their other properties, and it looks like they may have opened a new place under a new name to avoid those past reviews. They’re still extremely rude to guests. I wouldn’t stay here.

The room was clean, the location was great, and the owners were super friendly. I had a lovely vegetable garden behind my room. It’s a great place in the more local part of the village, and I’d highly recommend staying there. Before writing this, I saw a lot of hateful reviews. We all get to choose whether to focus on what’s good or what’s bad. That’s a life decision.