We stayed in this resort in March while on holiday from Singapore. While not on the scale of the big resorts of Phuket and Krabi, it was lovely anyway. Our rooms were large wtih fresh linens, and cushy duvets and our balconies overlooked the fields beyong where water buffalo grazed. The spa is simple but well appointed and I enjoyed an hour long massage there as the rain poured down outside. The pool was a draw for our children, though a tad cold due to the cool evenings. The food is not the hotel's best feature however it was always safe, tasty and prompt. If you would like a place to relax before seeing the sites of Luang Prabang and the Mekong, this little spot is inviting and tranquilizing.

The setting for this hotel is lovely, and the swimming pool is beautiful. However, the restaurant is its weakest point, with poor, slow service and not the most inspiring cuisine. The english ( or any language other than laotian) of the staff is also poor, so be prepared for some communication difficulties ( a problem not unique to this hotel in Laos).

Our room arrangements were messed up, despite being sorted in advance, and it took 24 hours for them to be sorted. However, the rooms were clean and well presented, though showing signs of age. Unfortunately these niggles let down the overall experience of the hotel, but it was still of an adequate quality, and probably one of the better places to stay in Luang Prabang.

Had a wonderful stay at the Villa Santi. This was my second time - I was also there for 3 days in November 2005. I had such a good stay that I came back! Beautiful setting and lovely rooms. Fabulous breakfasts. Only stayed there at night - during the days I went to the Kuang Si Waterfalls and for a ride down the Mekong.

Luang Prabang is enchanting. I will make my way there again. I have already recommended the Villa Santi to friends.

Villa Santi Resort
Luang Prabang
Lao

The brochure pictures, in a welcome change from many ads, are accurate as the pool, room, and grounds lived up to expectations. Well, the bathroom could use some tile work and the showerhead had a tendency to spray water in interesting directions, but the pool is an oasis of relief when the temperature reaches the high 30 C regions, and the grounds are alive with butterflies, birds, and reptiles. The food is average, but that is not a problem because there are several restaurants in Luang Prabang that are superb so there is no need to limit eating to the resort. A shuttle between the resort and the Villa Santi Hotel in town make the trip easy.

If only the above-mentioned features are considered, I could give Villa Santi Resort four stars (out of five); unfortunately, the management and desk staff worked hard to make our two-week stay miserable. It began when we were not picked up at the airport, as promised. My wife was ill, and the 30-minute unfruitful wait at the airport did not help. I finally hired a taxi, but when I told the person at the desk about the problem, he simply ignored me. Fill out the registration card was the only thing he said. I wrote to the manager about the situation, but he never replied. When the cable television or email didn’t work I was told, “The engineer has been called.” Gee, it took the engineer three days to arrive. They must have called MIT or Waterloo University for the engineer. Our request for joining others on a tour was met with a cold, “You must pay the rate for two.” We saved 30 dollars US by joining a tour set up by an agency in town. I’ve stayed at hotels throughout the world, but never have I met a staff and management so inept and callous. I talked to several other guests throughout our stay who experienced similar treatment. The final insult occurred when we checked out. I asked the woman at the desk if our taxi from the airport would be deducted from the bill; she asked for a receipt. A taxi receipt in Luang Prabang? I thought she was joking, but I knew no one on the hotel staff had a sense of humour.

Two stars (out of five) is generous. Suggestion: fire the manager and desk staff, and Villa Santi indeed would rate four stars.

Larry Miller
Kingston, Ontario
Canada