Stayed at the Lane Xang for three nights Jan 2012. Had not read any blogs beforehand so no preconceived expectations and just came across it in the taxi on entering VTE. Asked to see the room first before deciding to stay. Seemed fine and so then spent several very pleasant days there.
Positive Points:
Staff: Pleasant and helpful and most speak some English.
Accommodation: Spacious, comfortable and quiet room (2nd floor) with TV, fridge, fresh fruit and water each day, aircon, sheets/towels changed daily. Beds a bit hard by European standards but fairly normal for Asia. Bathroom seemed newly renovated. Own balcony overlooking Mekong.
Position: Great location especially to watch sun setting over the Mekong. Also away from the hustle and bustle in the center of Vientiane although just a short walk up a side road leads to plenty of good restaurants nearby, also banks, travel agencies etc.
Value for Money: Think we paid about 45$ for two per night, including breakfast and free transport to the airport at the end of our visit and felt this was good value.
Negative Points:
Breakfasts: Fair but after all this was not a hotel solely devoted to catering for the tastes of western tourists but also had to cater for the tastes of Thais, Chinese, Koreans and so considering this, think it was reasonable.
Hotel Cleanliness: The lovely ladies who cleaned our bedroom and bathroom did it thoroughly but the landings and even in the bedrooms, areas, e.g. behind the curtains surrounding the windows were grubby. I feel the management should make a thorough inspection of the whole hotel, including every room and perhaps even just once a year,could ensure areas that looked grubby are either thoroughly cleaned or given a fresh coat of paint where needed, particularly to the balconies leading from the bedrooms. Also towels and sheets although clean each day, had seen better days. Just a small investment in time and money could make an enormous difference to visitors' perception of this hotel.
Pool and Surrounding Area: Both pool and surrounding area looked very uninviting. Such a pity as this whole area could become such an added attractive feature to the hotel. Maybe more effort is made here during the hot summer months.
Comment: However,yes, I would certainly stay there again if I were ever to make a return to this lovely country with it's wonderfully warm people. I found it's faded charm appealing and what a wonderful place it must have been in its heyday and who knows, maybe one day it will be returned to it's former glory - that's what it deserves.
- Lane Xang Vientiane
- Hotel Lane Xang
