Thawee Guesthouse

We stayed for two nights. The staff were nice, the service was faultless, and the rates are very reasonable for the area. The owner’s reply to my star rating got a couple of details wrong: we paid for a balcony room in our booking, so we weren’t upgraded for free, and we’re not from the Netherlands. The bedroom was cleaned to a good standard. The balcony we paid for is only accessible by leaving the room and passing through the shared smoking area for the floor. Neither of us smoke, so we didn’t use it or open the window. WiFi was great during the day and very late at night, but at peak times it got so slow it was completely unusable, so keep that in mind if you rely on it. The bathroom had clearly been cleaned, but poor ventilation has led to a lot of mould and a smell as soon as you walk in. The shower pressure was very low, though adequate for washing. You can’t flush toilet paper here. That’s not unusual in Laos, but worth knowing if you prefer a Western WC. The location is good, near bike rental places, and the staff can help book onward transport. We didn’t try the food, so can’t comment. I originally gave it one star, but since this is Laos, two stars feels fair. We’d love to stay again if these things could be improved.

My room was spacious and comfortable, with a good bed, a nice bathroom and a useful reading light. I’d booked a single, but the owner kindly moved me to a larger room that had opened up, free of charge. Thanks again, that was much appreciated. The guesthouse is centrally located in Vientiane, within walking distance of Laos’s first cat café, several beautiful temples, two night markets, the Presidential Palace, dining for all budgets, and the minivan station. Patuxai is a little farther away. The owner, her partner, and the cleaning and cooking staff work hard to keep guests comfortable and safe. There’s also a small travel agency at reception where you can plan and book the next leg of your trip.

My room was large, clean and perfectly fine for the low price, and the guesthouse is great value in a very central spot. I was pleasantly surprised by how quiet it was at night. The food was delicious, especially the homemade jams and avocado salad, and they easily understood and accommodated my vegetarian diet. I used their visa and border pickup services. They were efficient and good value, and spared me the hassle of dealing with embassies and late-night travel as a woman on my own. Thanks so much, Sita and team, for a very pleasant stay :)

We got to the guesthouse around 11pm, exhausted after a 140km scooter ride and a seven-hour bus trip. They immediately told us we owed more than the amount agreed with Agoda. They charge 3% for credit card payment and even more if you pay cash. We were too tired to argue and paid what they asked. The room they showed us was poor and nowhere near worth the price, though otherwise it was okay, except for the horrible incense smell. I love incense and perfumes, but this was overwhelming. It made us nauseous and gave us an immediate headache; I could hardly breathe without feeling like I might vomit. We asked for a less smelly room. They said we must be sick from the bus, not their rooms, then moved us to another room with the same smell and a bigger window. It was still so strong that we thought about sleeping out on the tiny balcony or leaving. In the end, we stayed and tried to bear it, exhausted, with the window open. The woman at the desk was so unpleasant and rude. I can’t believe anyone could be so angry with the world and aggressive toward people she doesn’t even know. This place isn’t worth your time or money; there are much better deals nearby, so don’t go. The only positives were the good breakfast and a couple of smiley, helpful staff members with good English, but that still didn’t make the stay enjoyable.