Villa Santi, is a heritage hotel (former home of a Lao princess) with a great location in the middle of plenty of good restaurants, cafes and activities.

Around 200 monks walk past the front gate around dawn gathering alms from locals, but then continue to walk past all day in ones and twos. It is lovely to watch this as well as daily life, over breakfast, from the balcony that over looks the street.

Breakfast is included in the price and is a nice buffet offering a good range of options that include eggs and Asian soups cooked to your liking.

Prices in the restaurant are high for lunch and dinner and the quality is not great. That is not a problem, as there very good alternatives close, such as Tamnak Lao across the road.

Rooms start from around $120 per night

Deluxe room 26 &25 (overlooking school).

 

Six royal suites (quite expensive (>$200) but lovely if you are upgraded) are located in the main building overlooking the main road that also houses the restaurant as well as a small pool that’s nice for a dip after getting back in the afternoons.

Pool

Across the road in another building that houses the deluxe suites and the two, junior suites.

Junior suites (around $150) are good for more room if you are staying a while, but not really necessary. Both are fairly dark rooms, but stay cool. There is also a nice set of seating upstairs.

Junior suites

       

The hot water can take a while to warm up, but it’s ok if you run it before you get in.

Wifi is poor all over the hotel.

Price includes return airport transfer (it is about $8US in a taxi otherwise).

A bonus is the shuttle out to the sister hotel Santi Resort and Spa, just out if town, for a swim in a lovely big pool. But apart from a good swim it’s not worth a special trip. Sadly, the restaurant at this sister resort has the same menu as in town, although it is nicely set in a garden.

Villa Santi service is helpful and staff are friendly.

It’s a great option if you want a hotel with a bit more luxury ( small pool, buffet breakfast) and a great outlook at breakfast, at a good price, in a heritage property, but if the weather is good, there are also lots of guest house options that are also heritage properties and lovely, at a fraction of the price, but with more limited breakfast options, no pool and fewer services.