Mekong Hotel

It's right by the Mekong, with views of Thailand, and very conveniently located. The room was clean and comfortable, the staff were friendly, and there was secure parking for my motorbike. Good restaurants are only a short walk away.

I stayed two nights in room 304. The toilet wouldn't work unless I filled it with water to flush, and when I told the attendants, they said I'd have to deal with it. The blanket still smelled after I asked for another one, and the sheets had stains.

The room was spacious and comfortable, with good air conditioning, hot water, reliable Wi-Fi, and a little balcony overlooking the river. The hotel is simple, but had what we needed. Staff were friendly and helped with local suggestions and transport. The Mekong Hotel is right beside the river, with lovely sunset views. The night market, local restaurants, and ferry terminal are all a short walk away, so it was easy to get around. For the price, it's great value. I'd recommend it if you're after a clean, affordable place in a convenient part of Thakhek.

I booked after my bus arrived in Thakhek, so I didn't have many options. Still, I'd strongly advise finding somewhere else. Even a hostel would have had better standards. The room was dreadful, with decor that felt like an old Soviet building. The sheets had hairs and dirt on them, so they clearly hadn't been changed after the previous guests. I went into town and got drunk, which at least made for a good night. Back after 1am, I kept my socks on and changed into a jumper and long trousers so my skin wouldn't touch the filthy sheets. I put a towel over the pillow too, so my head wouldn't touch it. The dogs people mention really do chase you back to the hotel and bark all night. At check-in, the receptionist didn't say a word, smile, or even Sabaidee. She asked to see the reservation number on my phone, then snatched the phone and started photographing my booking email. I asked what she was doing and took it back. She still said nothing. She was a disgrace as the face of this depressing place and needs to learn manners and customer service. When I went out for coffee the next morning, housekeeping came into my room and remade the bed, leaving new towels and water bottles for the next unfortunate guests. I hadn't checked out and all my things were still there, so they had no authority to enter. I know they hadn't changed the bed again either, since the same pillows, sheets, and blankets were used. You get what you pay for, but some basic standards should still apply.