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It’s vital that you find the place that’s right for you – a place that fosters the exact type of experience you’d like to have on your trip. Lucky for us all, Luang Prabang offers a range of accommodation types, with each option offering its own unique advantages.
Check out these Luang Prabang accommodation options to get the most out of your trip!
Luang Prabang Hostels
If you’re looking to make friends along the way, we can’t recommend staying at a hostel enough. Hostels offer more than just a bed to sleep in; they offer a unique experience and the chance to absorb a new culture alongside great people who are just as adventurous and curious as you are. The image of the weary traveler, wandering lost and feeling so very alone, does not exist at a hostel. Here, every stranger becomes a friend, and the big world you’re in feels a lot more inviting.
Luang Prabang is a hotspot for backpackers, so you’ll have no trouble finding a bed for your stay. When staying at a hostel, it is common to share a dormitory with other travelers. Dorms will come equipped with either bunk beds or regular, detached beds. Some hostels may allocate female-only dormitories for women who prefer this arrangement. If you’d like more privacy, then search for a hostel offering dorms with fewer beds or private rooms.
If you’re on a budget, a hostel stay will be very kind to your wallet. A night’s stay in Luang Prabang can cost anywhere from $5 – 20. Some of our favorite hostels in town are Mad Monkey, Y Not Laos, and the Sunrise Riverside Pool Hostel.
Luang Prabang Guesthouses
Unlike hostels and hotels, guesthouses usually accommodate a smaller group of people. Expect your stay at a guesthouse to feel more personal and residential compared to other accommodation types on this list. This is an ideal choice for travelers who want to meet people but not too many people, or who want some extra privacy but are on a budget. Many travelers prefer guesthouses because it allows a more intimate experience with the local culture, and avoids the ‘touristy’ atmosphere.
Guesthouses are aplenty in Luang Prabang! While furnishings and decor usually remain fairly humble, many offer gorgeous riverside views matching even those from more expensive hotels. Do your research into your guesthouse of choice, as each one conveys a slightly different vibe. Some will feel more like a hostel, offering shared dormitories for lower prices, and others may feel like a budget hotel, offering only private rooms.
More often than not, guesthouses offer higher prices than hostels, but lower prices than hotels. A night’s stay will cost you between $11 – 60. If this sounds like the way to go, check out Khem Khong, Phone Praseuth, and Souk Lan Xang Guesthouse.
Homestays in Luang Prabang
For a more authentic Lao experience, why not stay with a local in their family home? You can observe their way of life, partake in their activities, and you’ll eat their food the way Lao food is supposed to be eaten. You won’t find homestays advertised as openly as other accommodation types, but there are many homestay families in Laos willing to take visitors in. For many travelers, it’s the best way to get to know a new culture. And who are we to disagree?
Homestays are usually more off-the-beaten-track and it’s always best to prepare for a host that does not speak very good English. It’s essential that you have other accommodation as well since it’s rare that homestays allow guests for more than a few days. For the experience to be positive for all parties, it’s essential that you treat your homestay as the learning opportunity it is, instead of just a bed to sleep in.
If you feel like a homestay might be for you, we advise booking your homestay through a local travel agent or tour provider who speaks the language. This way, any needs you have can be communicated clearly, and all arrangements can be made without confusion. Homestays can be found by going directly to travel agencies in Luang Prabang, or through sites like Trip Advisor or Lonely Planet.
Luang Prabang Hotels
You’re on holiday, why not spoil yourself to one of Luang Prabang’s many beautiful hotels? Hotels in the area are incredibly unique, with many establishments choosing to embrace both French Colonial and traditional Lao styles. It’s safe to say you won’t encounter an aesthetic like this in many other parts of the world.
If what you’re craving is a tropical escape, then we recommend staying at a hotel. Most hotels in Luang Prabang will offer breakfast with your stay and brag of terrace restaurants with gorgeous riverside views. Unlike other types of accommodation, hotels allow guests to feel truly pampered. There’s nothing wrong with a treat now and then! If this is what you’re going for, then this may be the option for you.
Like hotels everywhere in the world, the facilities and general quality of services offered will depend on the hotel – but do you want to know something else fantastic about Luang Prabang? It offers first-class quality for a much lower price than most other hot-spot destinations. During the low season, a room at a top-rated boutique hotel can cost as low as $50 a night. We can’t believe it either!
Vacation Rental Apartments and Villas in Luang Prabang
Room reservations? Why not the entire place? If privacy and space are your top priorities, you may find yourself happier with a rented apartment or villa. This is ideal for families, or groups and couples that need the solitude they’re used to at home. And if you plan on staying long-term, this arrangement certainly makes the most sense.
You’ll have access to a kitchen, a living room, and everything you could possibly need to make yourself at home in this stunning heritage town. Many vacation rentals are serviced, so everything gets cleaned as you go, allowing guests to still feel like they’re being taken care of.
You can book a temporary home through platforms like Airbnb, Agoda or Booking.com. Prices for a rented apartment per night start at about $60.
More information about Luang Prabang accommodation options
Did you enjoy this article about Luang Prabang accommodation? Are you looking for more Luang Prabang hotels or hostels to stay in? Then check out these other articles we’ve rounded up to help plan your Laos trip!
- Where to Stay in Luang Prabang, Laos from The Travel Leaf
- Where to Stay in Luang Prabang Laos: The Best Hotels, Guesthouses and Hostels in Luang Prabang from A Life Without Borders
- Luang Prabang Boutique Luxury Hotels & Resorts from Secret Retreats
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