The Luang Say Residence

The Luang Say is stately and stylish, from the minute you arrive through the gates and enter the French colonial pavilion that houses the lobby and the upper floor Explorator Suites. The hotel is themed upon the early French explorers who traveled through this part of Indochina, and there are photos on the wall of travels of yesteryear, old maps, and artifacts -- from ancient ethnic hunting weapons, to cases of butterflies from collections, to lots of eye-catching art pieces. The lobby has a checkered floor, with a wooden staircase leading up to the open balcony above, from where one can look down on the lobby. 

The elegant Belle Epoque restaurant is entered through large glass shuttered doors from the lobby, which then leads out into the gardens and on to the other colonial buildings which house the Pioneer Suites. In the manicured gardens one can find statues of the old French explorers, along with an organic garden where they grow produce for the restaurant. Add on the exquisite pool which reflects the sophisticated buildings and you start to get a sense of just how attentive to detail every aspect of the property has been made. 

The Luang Say Residence is located slightly outside of the town center of Luang Prabang. It is too far to walk to the old historic district and main temple area, but it's only a 10-minute bicycle ride or one can take the free tuk tuk shuttle service the hotel provides. It is a 15-minute drive to the airport from here. The hotel is on a quiet street that sees little traffic, especially at night, and it is a great escape from the crowds, yet still not too far removed. One blemish on the location is that there are not many restaurants or bars right in the neighborhood, so one needs to go to town for this. 

There are only 24 suites at the Luang Say Residence, with 20 of them being Pioneer Suites and then there are 4 upscale Explorator Suites. The rooms are all incredibly spacious, with fine wood Lao floors and French colonial decor. There are large poster beds in every suite, elegant sofas, rattan topped tables, wood writing desks, high ceilings, and a choice of both air-conditioning and fans. Paintings and art objects decorate the rooms, and even the enormous flat-screen televisions have wooden painting frames around them. Other amenities include hot water kettles for coffee and tea (with French presses for making the provided gourmet coffee), stocked mini-fridges, safe boxes, robes and slippers, and plenty of closet space. There are terraces to relax on looking over the gardens, and beds come with giant mosquito netting to ensure undisturbed sleep. The bathrooms are some of the largest in town, and have plenty of Luang Say toiletries, rainfall showers, and lots of mirrors. The facilities are truly luxurious, although for the pricetag, there ought to be large bathtubs included in all -- but only the higher-end Explorator Suites have them. Those suites also have lounge areas, double vanity units, and private garden terraces overlooking the property, plus almost double the space of the Pioneer suites. All suites come with free Wi-Fi and breakfast.

The Luang Say has one of the best swimming pools in Luang Prabang, big enough to swim some laps, with a spacious area with sun loungers to relax in. There is the upscale Belle Epoque restaurant here, which serves Lao cuisine as well as international dishes. The restaurant serves up Lao specialties like pla ob samun prai (fish filet in parchment) and also offers items like foie gras and pan-seared scallops on the extensive menu. The free breakfasts for guests include excellent eggs benedict. The 1861 Bar has a colonial feel, with a marble fireplace, plush armchairs, and ethnic hunting weapons and regalia of the early explorers that came to the area. The resort has lush grounds and there is even an organic garden out back which grows vegetables and spices that the restaurant uses for its dishes. The hotel also has free bicycles for guests to use, as well as a free tuk tuk shuttle service on call.