We just wanted to get away from things for a couple of days and Pakse seemed to be just the place. I had seen the palace under construction in the 1970s so was keen to stay at the hotel that had arisen from Prince Boun Oum's grandiose dream. A very attractive low season price was available. The hotel is certainly different. Huge, spread over three main wings and four storeys, all rooms back on to wide verandahs that provide really nice views over the Sedone river or Pakse township with the Mekong behind it. We had the hotel virtually to ourselves for the first couple of days and roamed the hotel inside and out taking photos and admiring the vistas. It was very enjoyable The room we had was fairly standard, but perfectly acceptable. It was really a 4 star room. I've given an overall 3 stars because the services and catering only warranted that many. Staff were lovely, but not very informative. We were able to get information we needed about excursions and return transport options from samlor (trishaw) drivers and a fellow traveler. Reception didn't have a clue, and there was no tourism desk. Breakfast was adequate and service very pleasant. There weren't enough guests to have a buffet, but the a la carte was swift and acceptable. The last morning catered for a large group of Vietnamese tourists on their way to Thailand, so an extensive buffet...We just wanted to get away from things for a couple of days and Pakse seemed to be just the place. I had seen the palace under construction in the 1970s so was keen to stay at the hotel that had arisen from Prince Boun Oum's grandiose dream. A very attractive low season price was available.

The hotel is certainly different. Huge, spread over three main wings and four storeys, all rooms back on to wide verandahs that provide really nice views over the Sedone river or Pakse township with the Mekong behind it. We had the hotel virtually to ourselves for the first couple of days and roamed the hotel inside and out taking photos and admiring the vistas. It was very enjoyable

The room we had was fairly standard, but perfectly acceptable. It was really a 4 star room. I've given an overall 3 stars because the services and catering only warranted that many. Staff were lovely, but not very informative. We were able to get information we needed about excursions and return transport options from samlor (trishaw) drivers and a fellow traveler. Reception didn't have a clue, and there was no tourism desk. Breakfast was adequate and service very pleasant. There weren't enough guests to have a buffet, but the a la carte was swift and acceptable. The last morning catered for a large group of Vietnamese tourists on their way to Thailand, so an extensive buffet was put on, but it was all Asian food.

I'd like to give the hotel more than 3 stars as it had such a nice feel to it and the staff were so relaxed and pleasant (we both speak Lao, so that would have helped, I guess), but the hotel, other than the rooms themselves, is run down and neglected. I would stay there again, probably because it feels like the Laos I used to know - slow, a bit shabby, but oh, so charming.More