Settha Palace Hotel - Vientiene

[samran]

Am thinking of taking the wife there for a short weekend break that doesn't involve a monsooned beach!

But, I'm also wondering if there are any similar places in Vientiene, or is the Settha Palace the only one of its kind there?

[sjaak327]

That's upper range, probably the most expensive in all of Vientiane, another upper range is Lao Plaza hotel, right on Samsenthai, close to the river.

[luckyluke]

That's upper range, probably the most expensive in all of Vientiane, another upper range is Lao Plaza hotel, right on Samsenthai, close to the river.

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Novotel (about 70 $ )also Sasenthairoad.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Am thinking of taking the wife there for a short weekend break that doesn't involve a monsooned beach!

But, I'm also wondering if there are any similar places in Vientiene, or is the Settha Palace the only one of its kind there?

Never stayed at the Settha Palace but used to eat at their Rathskeller restaurant and sip suds and hold my ears at The Spot disco. This prior to the takeover of the hotel by the Joint Mixed Police, I think it was, circa 1973.

The hotel was derelict for lots of years, at least through about 1995 or so when it was really fixed up,

rooms when it reopened were about $195 a night! Guess not many customers so they came down in price.

My wife & I've stayed several times at the Lane Xang Hotel, another one from long before 1975, and one of the few that didn't close down after the change in government. It's probably 3 star these days, but I like it. And it is right on the river,  Try:

http://www.lanexang.com/

Couldn't get this url to open so just google: lane xang hotel vientiane

Next trip will probably stay at the Mali Nam Phou Guest House:

http://www.travelfish.org/accommodation_pr...ntiane/all/1121

Stuck my head in it for a looksee this past June when we were up there, looked fine, but RESERVATIONS needed as the only room available that afternoon was on the 4th floor, we opted out!

http://www.malinamphu.com/MSindex.htm

More here and via google:  http://www.travelfish.org/accommodation_profile/laos/vientiane_and_surrounds/vientiane/vientiane/all/1121

The Khop Chai Deu Restaurant (http://www.khopchaideu.com/) is right handy.  And the Tex-Mex place is just down to the river and to the right, upstream, one block.  Think I'll try the combo plate next time there.

Mac

[sutnyod]

Am thinking of taking the wife there for a short weekend break that doesn't involve a monsooned beach!

But, I'm also wondering if there are any similar places in Vientiene, or is the Settha Palace the only one of its kind there?

I am sure if you ask for 'similar places' you don't mean the price range, but the service, the lay-out and maybe the location (or the airport pick-up ?) as well. There is no other place like the Settha Palace in Vientiane. It's unique. Try to negotiate a discount before booking.

Have fun.

[technocracy]

No it's not unique - actually there is also the Green Park Boutique hotel.

Green Park

The Green Park is a further from the centre of town that the Settha Palace - but a short ride in a tuk tuk or even 10 minutes walk you can get to the Morning market.

Also the newish (a year or so old) Beau Rivage Boutique hotel that is on the road overlooking the mekong - however this doesn't have a swimming pool - neither a restaurant - however on the road by the Mekhong there is many a bar and restaurant with in a few short strides from the place. However this place isn't a high classed as either the Settha or Green Park. There is also another hotel a bit further along from the Beau Rivage but I can't remember it's name!

Alternatively you could go to the Don Chan Palace which you could get a 9th floor room with a perfect view out over the Mekhong and Si Chang Mai. But it's an international multi storey hotel and you're as faceless as the next person - unlike the smaller places.

Don't even consider the Lane Xang - dilapidated I think would be the optimal word here!

There is many a decent place that not many folks seem to know about here! If you go away from the centre there is many 'Resort' styled places (one infact just down the road from my house!).

If you just want a cheap cheerful and clean hotel which isn't full of backpackers I can also tell you some places.

As for the Tex-Mex place - a con - very expensive and crap food . .. . I wouldn't bother - sad really it's in an ideal place and could be something really good but they are just letting it decay.

You could even visit Wat Pa Keo and tell the wife this is where Thailand stole the emerald buddha from . .. .

How is that . . . better than Lonely Planet eh!

[sutnyod]

No it's not unique - actually there is also the Green Park Boutique hotel.

Green Park!

Have been to both and have to say that Settha Palace beats the Green Park easily. Settha got STYLE. Green Park is just a sorry pretense...

(my criteria: food, decor, location, airport pick-up, history, swimming pool).

[lanny]

Personally, I like the Day Inn Hotel. Not in a class with Settha Palace but I find it friendly and cheap. It is rather small and not new but clean and the staff is very friendly and helpful and the rooms are fairly large. I had been there twice, over two years, and returned after and absence of two years -- when I approached the desk, the young man behind the counter called me by name!

I was there the night the electrical junction box exploded -- not more than 15 feet from the table where I was waiting for my dinner. Without power, of course, I never got my meal. Spent the next few hours drinking beer outside while power was being restored. Beer on the house! Some one on the staff had to take a motorcycle to the fire department because no one answered the phone!

[technocracy]

No it's not unique - actually there is also the Green Park Boutique hotel.

Green Park!

Have been to both and have to say that Settha Palace beats the Green Park easily. Settha got STYLE. Green Park is just a sorry pretense...

(my criteria: food, decor, location, airport pick-up, history, swimming pool).

It's all about choice . .. . the point is the Settha Palace isn't the only Boutique hotel in Vientiane.

Upto people - personal choice and all that ....

In my opinion the Settha Palace is a great place - although the restaurant should be serving real Lao food unlike the bland crud they do - and it's stupidly expensive.

The Green Park is new and is a nicely laid out place - although never stayed there but walked around it and drive past it at least once a week. The main drawback to the Green Park is the location - not the greatest - but it will improve when the water park which is underconstruction just down the road from it is finished.

But then again if I was staying in hotels in Vientiane - I wouldn't stay in either of them!!

[redhat99]

<br />No it's not unique - actually there is also the Green Park Boutique hotel.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.greenparkvientiane.com/" target="_blank">Green Park</a><br /><br />The Green Park is a further from the centre of town that the Settha Palace - but a short ride in a tuk tuk or even 10 minutes walk you can get to the Morning market. <br /><br />Also the newish (a year or so old) Beau Rivage Boutique hotel that is on the road overlooking the mekong - however this doesn't have a swimming pool - neither a restaurant - however on the road by the Mekhong there is many a bar and restaurant with in a few short strides from the place. However this place isn't a high classed as either the Settha or Green Park. There is also another hotel a bit further along from the Beau Rivage but I can't remember it's name!<br /><br />Alternatively you could go to the Don Chan Palace which you could get a 9th floor room with a perfect view out over the Mekhong and Si Chang Mai. But it's an international multi storey hotel and you're as faceless as the next person - unlike the smaller places.<br /><br />Don't even consider the Lane Xang - dilapidated I think would be the optimal word here!<br /><br />There is many a decent place that not many folks seem to know about here! If you go away from the centre there is many 'Resort' styled places (one infact just down the road from my house!).<br /><br />If you just want a cheap cheerful and clean hotel which isn't full of backpackers I can also tell you some places.<br /><br />As for the Tex-Mex place - a con - very expensive and crap food . .. . I wouldn't bother - sad really it's in an ideal place and could be something really good but they are just letting it decay.<br /><br />You could even visit Wat Pa Keo and tell the wife this is where Thailand stole the emerald buddha from . .. . <img src="style_emoticons/default/wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="wink.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> <br /><br />How is that . . . better than Lonely Planet eh! <img src="style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /><br />

<br /><br /><br />

I just returned from Vientiane and I can say that it is a pleasant change from here. The Settha Palace is the place to stay but you can save a lot by staying elsewhere. There are quite a few hotels around the $15-$25 range that are new and clean. The Riverine is one and there is another I believe which just opened called The Riverside Hotel or Guest House for $16. The Lao Plaza is also a good choice due to it's location. The Novotel is fine but is in a quiet area away from the center. Food is average there but the price is good about $70 per night.

For food you can do very well as long as you stay away from The Tex Mex place which is basically toxic poison and the extremely overpriced and tasteless food in the Opera in Nam Phu, which I feel deserves a comment for having the most impolite Italian running it that I have ever seen. How this man can ever get a return customer is beyond me. Rest Room cleaners in Rome's Termini station are more polite. It also is one of the worst restaurants I have ever been to in the world and you are paying more than most Five Star Hotels. A great place is Rashmi's an Indian place opposite the Lao Plaza with the Bombay, not Northern, style of Indian food. Buffet lunch is $3.50 and Buffet Dinner is $6.50 and it is excellent with a wide choice of food.

I have my doubts about the beef(?) in Laos so I would avoid it. However if you do want to try it there is a steak House called SC Steaks in an area away from the center that is not bad in an area with a few nice hotels also that seem new from the outside at least.

[Florin]

Stayed at the Novotel a couple of weeks ago and it was very nice...the Settha Palace is clearly more luxurious, but I quite liked the French chic of the Novotel as well. As for restaurants, "La Terasse" near Nam Phou is EXCELLENT...the food, bread, creme brulee...yum!

[technocracy]

I just returned from Vientiane and I can say that it is a pleasant change from here. The Settha Palace is the place to stay but you can save a lot by staying elsewhere. There are quite a few hotels around the $15-$25 range that are new and clean. The Riverine is one and there is another I believe which just opened called The Riverside Hotel or Guest House for $16. The Lao Plaza is also a good choice due to it's location. The Novotel is fine but is in a quiet area away from the center. Food is average there but the price is good about $70 per night.

For food you can do very well as long as you stay away from The Tex Mex place which is basically toxic poison and the extremely overpriced and tasteless food in the Opera in Nam Phu, which I feel deserves a comment for having the most impolite Italian running it that I have ever seen. How this man can ever get a return customer is beyond me. Rest Room cleaners in Rome's Termini station are more polite. It also is one of the worst restaurants I have ever been to in the world and you are paying more than most Five Star Hotels. A great place is Rashmi's an Indian place opposite the Lao Plaza with the Bombay, not Northern, style of Indian food. Buffet lunch is $3.50 and Buffet Dinner is $6.50 and it is excellent with a wide choice of food.

I have my doubts about the beef(?) in Laos so I would avoid it. However if you do want to try it there is a steak House called SC Steaks in an area away from the center that is not bad in an area with a few nice hotels also that seem new from the outside at least.

The Riverside Hotel - is the one just a few doors down from the Minimart on Fa Ngum road - it does look like they've done a decent job in renovating the place - it was a dive prior to that.

There is also the Intercity not much further down the same road which has also recently been renovated - again looks good from the outside, haven't been inside to comment further.

Also there is the Chaleunxay hotel which is about 2 minutes walk from the Morning market - nothing outstanding but is clean with aircon (and fan) decent shower and hot water all for $15. The bonus of staying here is the fact that the whords of backpackers don't go there mainly Viet and Thai's stay here. The one big bonus if you drive over from Thailand also is they have a car park which is free - all for $15 . . .

On the note beef in Laos - nothing wrong with it, eat it regularly.

In short all the restaurants around the Nam Pu square are expensive and in general serve up poor food the only reason they are there is to get the tourists, although as above the La Terasse is one I've heard a few people say is decent. Kop Jai Deu has a decent selection of western food (although not tried any) along with decent enough Lao food and there Indian is in very good since they don't cook it! They have an agreement with a small indian restaurant just round the corner from them who cook it for them. If you don't believe me - if you go in and order indian food keep and eye on your waiter he'll reach for a walkie talkie then he'll disappear out of the restaurant to get the food.

Edited July 18, 2007 by technocracy

[samran]

thanks for the replies and all the options.

Have booked the Settha palace, $95 per night, which I think is great value for some French colonial grandure. Looking forward to change gears for a couple of days, and Vientiene is sufficiently boring a place to do it in. No offence intended, we like the place alot, but we want to do it very comforably. Guest houses aren't what we are looking for to be honest, and if we want to spend the entire day in bed (watching TV), then we need a comfy room.

Doing a road trip up there...cannot wait!

[technocracy]

thanks for the replies and all the options.

Have booked the Settha palace, $95 per night, which I think is great value for some French colonial grandure. Looking forward to change gears for a couple of days, and Vientiene is sufficiently boring a place to do it in. No offence intended, we like the place alot, but we want to do it very comforably. Guest houses aren't what we are looking for to be honest, and if we want to spend the entire day in bed (watching TV), then we need a comfy room.

Doing a road trip up there...cannot wait!

None taken!! That's why I love it here . . you can't help but relax and Beer Lao is the perfect assistant!

[redhat99]

Just a quick note for all travellers to Vientiene and posting experts etc. <br /><br />The Rashmi's Indian restaurant is not the same as the one you mention and has an interesting menu as well as the buffet. It is fairly new and puts most Indian Places in this region of Asia to shame. Of course the place you mention is no comparison and correct they get their food from the Taj Mahal restaurant, a dump around the corner. All the food in there is pretty bad and it was from there that my opinion regarding Lao beef originated from. Avoid eating at Khop Jai Du and save the stomach ache. My opinion of the beef was the same when I went to Na Dao, one of the top French restaurants in Vientiane. It tasted BAD!!!<br /><br />Re: The Riverside and Riverine. They are 2 different places. One that is mentioned that used to be bad was the Riverine ($15 to $40) tel no. 214643, the other appears to be brand new and is NOT on the main drag but around the corner and is called The Riverside ($16 for all rooms) tel. no 244390.<br /><br />I travel to Vientiane regularly and this info is as of yesterday.

Edited July 18, 2007 by redhat99

[technocracy]

Just a quick note for all travellers to Vientiene and posting experts etc. <br /><br />The Rashmi's Indian restaurant is not the same as the one you mention and has an interesting menu as well as the buffet. It is fairly new and puts most Indian Places in this region of Asia to shame. Of course the place you mention is no comparison and correct they get their food from the Taj Mahal restaurant, a dump around the corner. All the food in there is pretty bad and it was from there that my opinion regarding Lao beef originated from. Avoid eating at Khop Jai Du and save the stomach ache. My opinion of the beef was the same when I went to Na Dao, one of the top French restaurants in Vientiane. It tasted BAD!!!<br /><br />Re: The Riverside and Riverine. They are 2 different places. One that is mentioned that used to be bad was the Riverine ($15 to $40) tel no. 214643, the other appears to be brand new and is NOT on the main drag but around the corner and is called The Riverside ($16 for all rooms) tel. no 244390.<br /><br />I travel to Vientiane regularly and this info is as of yesterday.

Dear me don't be such a self righteous

Oh you travel here regularly .... oh good .... I live here and have done for nearly the past 3 years . .. . ooooh my info is as of today. If I've confused the names of hotels well hey I don't stay in them just drive past them regularly and on that road and further up on the dirt track parallel with the mekhong there is about 5 or so hotels called River-something-or-other. You might notice I was actually

Yes the Rashmi Indian restaurant opposite Lao Plaza - is the multi-storey fast food joint with neon lights all over it - unlike the Taj Mahal round the corner from Kop Jai Deu - never been in the Rashmi I prefer Lao restaurants, if we go anywhere we'll eat at a small Sin dat restaurant which is down a small road near to Tat Kaao.

As for beef in Lao I am commenting on what we buy from the market - from where in fact I've just returned with a kilo of prime beef ($3.50) - never had any problems.

Oh forgot to say - it isn't a competition to prove who knows the most it's all about trying to provide folks assistance rather than opinions. But who cares I've got a cold beer lao waiting and a Family Guy DVD to watch. . .

Edited July 18, 2007 by technocracy