Ramada By Wyndham Vientiane Central

They advertised this as a lovely festive place to stay in Vientiane over Christmas, but there was nothing to suggest any Christmas celebrations. It’s in a China town industrial work zone. Metal fabrication was going on nearby, and the noise made it impossible to relax. I checked out within two hours of checking in. When I left, staff said they knew about the ongoing work, but the manager didn’t think customers needed to be told. I was assured I’d be refunded for two of my three nights booked through trip.com, and the trip.com agent confirmed it, but then the Ramada manager declined the offer. This was the worst hotel I’ve ever stayed in.

For this budget, it’s definitely the best place to stay. The rooms are new and clean, and everything is automatic, so you can control it all.

I went to meet some guests there for a business discussion, and they also found the hotel bizarre and unsavoury. The toilets were dark and had no bin, leaving me wondering where to put the tissue after drying my hands. The lobby smelled awful, possibly because of drain problems. The place was messy and unkempt. There were no-smoking signs, but people were smoking without being challenged, with empty ashtrays on the tables. At the entrance lobby there was no entourage, just one girl who wasn’t in uniform, looked like she’d just woken up, and spoke pretty much no English. It’s in China town behind hardware shops where people make lots of noise testing tools. I can only guess it’s an independent Chinese hotel that decided to use the Ramada brand, because surely Ramada wouldn’t let something like this happen?

The pool was a highlight, well maintained and a relaxing place to unwind after a long day. My room felt brand new, with a fresh modern look and thoughtful details that made it comfortable as well as stylish. The staff were warm and attentive, and went out of their way to help. I stayed 24-27 APR and had a fantastic experience. I’d highly recommend the hotel for its style, service, and pool.