February 4Feb 4 I am off to LuAng Prabang for five days with my new sweetie. It’s her fifth visit there, probably my 15th.As a getaway, it has lots of quiet places to walk and beautiful restaurants. The sheer beauty of the place is romantic in itself.Also, my partner is very devout, so we will visit every single temple for some merit.Where do you go? What do you do when you get there? How often do you plan getaways?Do you go deluxe, do something more moderate?I’m in the middle on this trip. Our room costs $70. Call it 2 high end restaurants like Le Elephant, and the other meals on the fly. We also get a free breakfast coupon at Joma bakery.If anyone has any LP suggestions, feel free to list them.
February 4Feb 4 If coffee is your thing, fantastic Lao catimor coffee to your roast level riverside at DaDa cafe. I went full dark...amazing first thing in morning.Coffee Express off the peninsula also.
February 4Feb 4 Author I’m a longtime fan of Dada Café, and with Obama coconut mere steps away, it is a rehydration must do.Nearby, they show the black-and-white classic, Chang! nightly.Filmed in Pak Beng in 1933. It’s about elephants on the rampage. The director’s next film was King Kong.My GF remembers it fondly from childhood and is dying to see it again.
February 4Feb 4 I've an idea to do when you arrive in LP. Find the biggest piece of dog poop that you can find, drop down to the main police station, ask to see the boss and then throw it in his face and say "That's a late New Year's present from Simon" lol
February 5Feb 5 11 hours ago, Prubangboy said:I am off to LuAng Prabang for five days with my new sweetie. It’s her fifth visit there, probably my 15th.As a getaway, it has lots of quiet places to walk and beautiful restaurants. The sheer beauty of the place is romantic in itself.Also, my partner is very devout, so we will visit every single temple for some merit.Where do you go? What do you do when you get there? How often do you plan getaways?Do you go deluxe, do something more moderate?I’m in the middle on this trip. Our room costs $70. Call it 2 high end restaurants like Le Elephant, and the other meals on the fly. We also get a free breakfast coupon at Joma bakery.If anyone has any LP suggestions, feel free to list them.Where do you live now and how do you travel there ?
February 5Feb 5 14 minutes ago, YorkshireTyke said:Where do you live now and how do you travel there ?Whatever you do don't go on the overnight "sleeper bus" from Houayxay. It is ghastly - you would be more comfortable in the back of a 4 ton Bedford army truck!16 minutes ago, YorkshireTyke said:Where do you live now and how do you travel there ?
February 5Feb 5 14 hours ago, Prubangboy said:Filmed in Pak Beng in 1933. It’s about elephants on the rampage. The director’s next film was King Kong.My GF remembers it fondly from childhood and is dying to see it again.Hope you're not saying she's 100 years old.
February 5Feb 5 Popular Post 7 hours ago, Harrisfan said:Cafes, restaurants, motorbikes.Absolutely mind blowing insight. Truly, next level, that is.
February 5Feb 5 4 hours ago, 123Stodg said:Absolutely mind blowing insight. Truly, next level, that is.Mind blowing troll guy. If you ride a bike around you will see the highlights go figure. But who needs that?
February 7Feb 7 Three Nagas is a nice stylish place for a meal, coffee or drinks, I always seem to find myself there at some point during a visit. Le Calao is another upscale dining place, more for the view and ambience than the food, but a cool place. Real coffee shops, have sprouted like mushrooms after a monsoons rain. Walk down the street and take your pick. I used to have breakfast and happily type on laptop at one of the restaurants/hotels, on the backside road, facing the Nom Kham river. Seating area is across the street from the hotel or restaurant, next to the river.The buddha caves, Pak Ouv for a day trip. I like the morning 'food' market for local color. Wat Wisunarat, on the other side of Phousi hill is nice, besides the obligatory temples on the peninsula. I forget the names, but the temples across the Mekong, you can walk to, have a nice view of the Luang Prabang peninsula in mid to late afternoon. They may have done something with the French headquarters on the south west slope of Phousi hill. Quick glance pulled up Wilayluck Guesthouse ????. The Lao government used to shoo people away. Guys with AK 47 can do that. Figured they would turn it into a tourist site eventually.I went to LP a LOT in the aughts/noughts, big gap then went with the wife in late 2019, a month before Wuhan flu. Stayed in the Wat Thot area for old times’ sake, at a Guest house I used to frequent and good to see them again. I like that area, but nothing to recommend. If and when I go again would stay at one of the upscale boutique hotelsLike hanging out, walking the peninsula, the ambiance of the town. OTOH the river is a lake now because of the dams, or was when I was there last. Lastly, by all accounts you have a lot of Chinese tourists taking the train in now. Post up a review when you return. Luang Prabang has always been a favorite-------------------------------------------------------------------------------I like Hanoi for a getaway. Romantic getaway meaning we are not there to hit all the obligatory tourist sites, and a shorter 3-to-6-day visit. Trip based in three areas; The Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake area & French Area, which are adjacent to each other. Nice boutique hotels, restaurants & coffee shops. Try to avoid crossing streets with moving rivers of motorcycles. Up2U if you want a day trip to Halong Bay. The drive down and back is a PAIN and the times I went less than spectacular. Air Asia makes it an easy and affordable trip. Probably several other carriers do as well.
February 7Feb 7 Author Stayed on Mekong side for $70 a night in place stylishly done up in 70’s style wicker; that’s the choice: war era or colonial for decor.The simple Lao food of dips and soups Is it done well everywhere, there’s no need to seek out a specific place. L’elephant was the dress up meal, very French With improbable dishes like artichoke Au gratin.We had a few days of peeking in the little shops, looking at the last of the old souvenirs. She bought a vintage jacket and an Elaborately woven skirt. Cartoonish sticky rice tee shirts for her staff. I bought the second to last copy of a book about the architecture.Did the mediocre dinner cruise and the trip out to the Buddha cave to Drop one off with our names written on the bottom.If you don’t love the beach, this costs about the same. I wouldn’t run back, but I would definitely put it in the rotation since we have both been multiple times. And we really like the routine of a wander, sex, and craft cocktails and dinner. This is the most beautiful collection of old buildings in Asia and you will usually find yourself as the only tourist walking down the street.Definitely no Chinese invasion. No restaurant is more than a quarter full. I put the Chinese at about 5% of the visitors.
February 8Feb 8 On 2/5/2026 at 1:06 AM, simon43 said:I've an idea to do when you arrive in LP. Find the biggest piece of dog poop that you can find, drop down to the main police station, ask to see the boss and then throw it in his face and say "That's a late New Year's present from Simon" lolSend him some of your own through the post.Cut out the middle man and the dog.
February 8Feb 8 On 2/4/2026 at 8:40 PM, Prubangboy said:I am off to LuAng Prabang for five days with my new sweetie. It’s her fifth visit there, probably my 15th.As a getaway, it has lots of quiet places to walk and beautiful restaurants. The sheer beauty of the place is romantic in itself.Also, my partner is very devout, so we will visit every single temple for some merit.Where do you go? What do you do when you get there? How often do you plan getaways?Do you go deluxe, do something more moderate?I’m in the middle on this trip. Our room costs $70. Call it 2 high end restaurants like Le Elephant, and the other meals on the fly. We also get a free breakfast coupon at Joma bakery.If anyone has any LP suggestions, feel free to list them.I quite like Rumours from Fleetwood-Mac.
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