Vang Vieng Boutique Resort

We left before our stay was over because it didn’t feel safe to remain. On two separate occasions, we got electric shocks using phone chargers and hair dryers, apparently because the sockets were wired so poorly. The hotel offered no solution or compensation. The air conditioner had black mould inside, so we couldn’t use it, and the bathroom smelled strongly of eggs. Its sink was cracked in half and leaked water everywhere. The whole resort looked very run down, and the photos seemed at least 10 years old. It was just very sad looking. If zero stars were an option, that’s what I’d choose.

We checked out without spending the night and paid half the price for a private room at a clean hostel instead. The hotel did refund what we’d paid for our stay, which was the one upside. We’d booked expecting a nice room at a resort, but the photos seemed about 20 years old. Maybe the place used to be nice, but now it feels neglected. Our room was dirty, the door handle was broken, the sheets didn’t look freshly cleaned, there were ceiling leaks, and the pillows on the bed were dirty.

I ended up in two rooms. The first was decent and I’d have given it four stars: big, with good facilities, though they supplied a kettle without tea or coffee. The TV didn’t work, but I only tried it because I was curious about Laos TV. There wasn’t a balcony, just a table and chair outside the room, which was fine until another guest began harassing me and I had nowhere private to smoke. Then a different guest, a sex pest, knocked on my door drunk at 4am and woke me up. I asked to change rooms, and they moved me. But the second room was awful: no kettle, fridge, or safe, the little magnifying bathroom mirror was missing, and the electrical points were hanging off the wall. Having to move for my safety and then getting a much worse room made me feel doubly victimised. The hotel didn’t even ask who had been harassing me so they could keep an eye on him and protect the other female guests. The pool was clean and breakfast passable.

The rooms were spacious and clean, and the staff were friendly and accommodating. It was peaceful, with incredible views and a really good price for the quality. The location was nicely placed, and mopeds, tours, and activities were all easy to book and well priced.