I had such high hopes for the Sala, and was so disappointed. If you're a solo traveler, make sure they don't stick you in the first-floor rooms, which don't begin to be worth the amount your paying for. When I asked for another room, I was told the place was full up. Funny then, that a couple that came in not five minutes later was shown a second-floor room right before my eyes. (They took it). If I had to do it all over again, I'd fly into Luang Prabang and try my luck with the guesthouses (cute one around the corner quoted me $10, as opposed to the Sala's $75-80.) The Sala just did not justify its rates in my case, and added insult to injury by lying about availability of other rooms and just generally blowing me off. I desperately wanted to leave, but the travel agent in Vientiane would not refund my money, so I was stuck. The whole place gave me a bad vibe -- the surface was all chi-chi hotel, but there was no heart behind it. Blech.

We stayed in the Sala Prabang for three nights in November 2007. We chose this hotel based on the reviews found in Trip Advisor. The hotel is located on the river (but there is a street in between it and the hotel’s restaurant). So you really cannot see the river from the hotel room. Our room was a Mekong View room – well the view was very limited due to the restaurant and the trees. However the balcony was very nice and the street was not overly noisy.

The hotel is built in beautiful teak wood. We were asked to take our shoes off when going upstairs to our room. The wood is beautiful and adds a very nice atmosphere to the hotel. Our room was large and very clean. Our floor was teak as well and polished to a beautiful shine. The bed though was the hardest of any hotel on our trip – it was like sleeping on a board! The atmosphere and decorations more than made up for this though. The staff was helpful and friendly (like most Laotians). The hotel provided free safety deposit at the main desk.

Breakfast was in the restaurant across the street. The food was hot and varied. Do not miss out when they bring the mixed fruit drink out – it is exquisite and is quickly consumed!

So if you are looking for a boutique hotel along the Mekong with atmosphere, beautiful wood and good breakfast choose the Sala Prabang. Note though that the room had no television and no coffee or tea amenities. This hotel is for those searching for a Laotian experience in a quiet setting. We are very happy that we chose this hotel.

Stayed at Sala Prabang just before Christmas with my wife and 13 year old son. Luang Prabang in itself has created a sort of setting for the hotels there. The hotel itself is a converted shophouse facing the river (although you cannot actually see the river itself even with the rooms with balconies) divided into the old wing where the reception is and a new wing, which also has an attendant at the front desk at all times. The staff was friendly and very helpful from the moment we arrived, which is true of most reviews you read. The rooms however were quite small for the price but adequate. We were told that an extra bed would cost USD30, which we found a bit steep. At any rate there was not much room in which one could fit in the extra bed. There was not much room for luggage and no cupboard space. We were told that the original wing had bigger rooms but cannot confirm.

With 3 in a room, it was a bit of a squeeze. My wife knocked over a cup in our trying to avoid each other with the shopping in the room and we were made to pay for the cup - USD1! We did not argue at all as I personally think it is fair but the wife thought that it was a wee bit petty.

The rooms were not heated but there is split unit air conditioning for the hotter periods. We found no need for any heating whilst we were there. The good thing was that the hotel is not on the main street which can be a bit busy at times. The peace and quiet was good and breakfast was across the road separating the steep river bank and the hotel. Breakfast was something we enjoyed very much. It is in the open with views of the Mekong and we could observe some locals going about their daily chores at the river below (if you get the tables closest to the edge before the slope down the river). This was something we looked forward to every morning.

Everything else was within very short walking distance, yet you feel as if the hotel was away from it all. You can even charter an entire boat (USD25) to the Pak Ou caves just 50 metres away. Apart form the small rooms and the price we have no other complaints at all. Room and the bathroom was clean and the bed comfy. After all we had come to Luang Prabang to get away from all the glitzy big hotels, etc. All in all, we had an enjoyable stay.

Sala Prabang is a colonial villa which has been sympathetically restored with the emphasis on exposed stone and polished wood. The rooms are simply, but comfortably furnished with balconies and cool linen bedding. If you can get one of the two rooms on the top floor overlooking the river, it is well worth it. Some reviews seem a bit disappointed with the cupboard space, but unless you are traveling with an extensive wardrobe you should manage

Meals, including an excellent breakfast, are taken on the terrace from where you can watch the mighty Mekong slip past languorously a few feet away. The staff is charming and efficient and everything in Luang Prabang is a few minutes away on foot.

There are two rivers in LP and the Mekong is far more impressive than its tributary - we wandered over to the Apsara on the other side of town which looked very reasonable, but the Nam Khan had all, but disappeared.

Although there is actually quite a lot to see and do in LP, it is also a sublime destination for doing absolutely nothing. There are a couple of excellent restaurants and if you walk up to the main road from Sala Prabang, there is a wonderful cafe called Ban Wat Sene with ample supplies of Pastis and some excellent food...