10 Best Hotels in Laos

A small boutique hotel on a quiet lane near the Mekong River, the Ansara is convenient to local attractions. Its 28 upscale rooms come equipped with complimentary minibars and free laptops for guest use. The adjoining La Signature, which serves French cuisine, is one of Vientiane's best restaurants.

Its prime position on Phou Vao (Kite Hill) gives this sumptuous hotel the best views in town. Traditional Lao touches are everywhere, creating a sense of exotic luxury in the rosewood-furnished rooms. In the evening you can relax over cocktails at the Dok Champa Bar and soak in the restful garden surroundings. The restaurant ($$$$) is among Luang Prabang's best, serving authentic Lao food and rich French dishes. Seven different therapies are available at the spa; stay a full week and you can try a different treatment each day. The hotel provides a free shuttle service into town for its guests. At $380 for the lowest-price rooms, the hotel is very expensive during the high season, but substantial discounts are offered during slower periods.

Vientiane's newest, and arguably best, chain hotel blends traditional Lao touches with modern conveniences like super-fast Wi-Fi. Rooms have both showers and bathtubs, as well as views over the city. The hotel has two restaurants, a lounge, and a pool bar, so you'll be well taken care of. The staff here are definitely some of the best-trained in Laos. 

For a luxury Robinson Crusoe experience, nothing surpasses La Folie. The spacious bungalows have stunning views of the Mekong, as well as Wat Phou across the way, and they front the largest sandy beach in the 4,000 Islands area. With tourism on Don Daeng still in its infancy, the island and its locals offer unparalleled unspoiled charm. The unique arrival boat trip and bicycles to get around the island are included in the price. Rooms go for a substantial discount in the off-season.

Situated around UNESCO-protected ponds, Maison Dalabua is a peaceful escape, while still in the city. With a deceptively modest entrance that blends into the neighborhood, the property opens up into an expansive complex teeming with foliage. Decorated in fine Lao textiles, the comfortable rooms are equipped with bathtubs and verandas. Breakfast is served on a pond-side deck. The hotel's restaurant, Manda de Laos, is also highly recommended. 

It's well worth spending several nights at this luxurious lodge located above natural hot springs. There is also a swimming pool on an island in the river, accessible by a suspension bridge. The hotel also operates 4WD tours, complete with a delicious picnic lunch, into the surrounding mountains to visit authentic ethnic minority villages. Some touring is included in the price of the rooms. 

With the best riverside viewpoint in town, overlooking fabulous mountain scenery and an atmospheric wooden bridge, this upscale boutique hotel is blissfully, beautifully serene. The suites overlook the river and have huge balconies and sun loungers. The swimming pool is a big draw on hot afternoons, and the on-site Restaurant du Crabe d'Or is Vang Vieng's swankiest eatery.

Formerly a prince's residence, this century-old property has been refurbished and expanded into a series of French colonial homes surrounded by pools and gardens and is one of Luang Prabang's best-kept secrets. The owner, a serious collector, has furnished every nook and cranny with fine-art pieces, paintings, and antiques she's come across during her global wanderings. The rooms and suites are spacious and decked out in superior wood furniture, with poster beds and writing desks. All accommodations have either terraces or garden views. In the spirit of keeping modern touches to a minimum there are no TVs, though they are available upon request, and Satri House has excellent Wi-Fi throughout. Other amenities include two swimming pools, a spa, and a well-regarded French-Lao restaurant. The hotel is a member of the prestigious Secret Retreats boutique lodging collection.

Rooms at this landmark property have high ceilings, hardwood floors, Oriental rugs, and period pieces that reflect its many histories—from its inception in the French colonial period to its life as a hotel in the 1930s and again in the 90s (with a period of expropriation by the Communist government in between). Lush gardens surround a large pool, and the lobby, decorated with fine antiques, is adjacent to a small bar and elegant restaurant, La Belle Epoque, which specializes in Lao and French cuisine. City tours are available via the hotel's London taxi.

This gorgeous riverfront boutique resort with outdoor rain-style showers and truly cool air-conditioning is the perfect spot to start or end a southern Laos excursion. A bit north of Champasak Town, secluded from the road, the resort has two swimming pools, a spa, and a fantastic restaurant. Extras include Mekong sunset cruises and trips to the Bolaven Plateau and Si Phan Don.