Mekong Riverview Boutique Hotel, Laos - Hotel Review

Three word summary: Charming, tranquil, cosy

Luang Prabang is one of my favourite cities in South East Asia. Listed as a UNESCO world heritage town and located in the North of Laos, there is so much to see and explore in this city.

Centred around the Mekong River, Luang Prabang and surrounded by beautiful scenery and nature. The Mekong River is also one of the best places to stay in Laos, and one such hotel in this area is The Mekong Riverview Hotel.

Location 5/5

Mekong Riverview Hotel has the perfect location in Luang Prabang. Located on the tip of the peninsula, the hotel has stunning views of the confluence of Mekong and Nam Khan River. Many of the rooms have a large balcony space from which to enjoy the view, and especially the setting sun.

It is also a few minutes walk from the main street and the key tourist sites in the city. In fact it is next door to the former royal temple of Wat Xieng Thong and within walking distance from many other temples, as well as cafes and restaurants.

Hotel Transfers

Mekong Riverview Hotel can arrange transfers to and from the airport, or any other destination in the city. We arranged a transfer from the airport to the hotel and it was convenient and comfortable.

Style and Character

Mekong Riverview Hotel is a welcoming and comfortable hotel with a very rustic, lodge-like feel to it. This is mainly due to the prominence of the use of wood, in the buildings, rooms and furniture. The hotel also has an abundance of lush foliage around it, which combined with the lodge like rooms, gives a very exotic feel to the property.

The main hotel is made up of 5 building which all retain the classic French colonial architecture that the city is so renowned for. Even though there are 24 rooms in this hotel, it still retains a very personal feel to it.

Rooms

Mekong Riverview Hotel offer 6 different types of rooms, of varying sizes and views, but all of which are equipped to a high standard and include air-conditioning, fan and flat-screen TV. We stayed in the Superior Mekong Riverview room which had a large bathroom, balcony and plenty of space within the room too.

• Shower and Bath

Our room had a large walk-in shower which was very powerful and had easy to control temperature. Free local toiletries are provided as well as a hair dryer. Some rooms are also fitted with an in-room spa bath.

• Tea making facilities and mini-bar

Rooms come equipped with a mini-fridge with water, which is replenished daily. There is also an electric kettle in the room with tea and coffee.

• Bed and sleep quality

Rooms at Mekong Riverview Hotel come furnished with very impressive Swedish-made beds, which are remote controlled and can be adjusted to whichever position suits you best. This is a great, comforting addition to the rooms and something which I haven’t seen in any other hotel yet.

The best results in a very good nights sleep, however some of the rooms are close to a bar next door, which can be quite loud on certain nights. However due to the local curfew this doesn’t last very long into the night.

Breakfast and meals

Breakfast at Mekong Riverview Hotel is another highlight. Located about a minute walk away and right by the riverbank, I enjoyed the morning ritual of leisurely strolling to the Viewpoint Restaurant for breakfast.

With stunning views of the Mekong and Nam Khan River, we always choose a table closest to the river and enjoyed the beautiful scenery over breakfast.

Breakfast is composed of a buffet as well as an a la carte menu for hot food which can be ordered. There is both Western and Laos dishes as well as desserts on the menu. I particularly enjoyed the Laos breakfast options, which included vegetable fried rice and noodles too. My favourite was also the freshly made fruit juices which were a perfect way to quench your thirst.

The buffet had a great assortment of juices, breads, cheese, meats and cereal too. Tea and coffee can also be ordered.

Service and Hospitality

The service from all the staff at Mekong Riverview Hotel was exceptional. Everyone was always friendly and professional and very happy to help with any requests you might have. There is a 24-hour front desk how are able to help with tour information, booking details and ticketing.

We also enjoyed meeting the Swedish owner Urban Paulsson who is always on site and aims to welcome and talk to all he’s guest. He had some great tips about the local area which were very handy!

Facilities and Activities

The hotel’s Palm Tree Health Spa has a large natural salt water swimming pool and spa facilities which are located on the other side of Nam Khan River. This can be reached via the ingenious bamboo bridge, which is a sight worth seeing in itself! Once you reach the banks on the other side head up some stairs towards a small temple a little golf buggy will be waiting to whisk you to the pool, which is a few minutes away.

The process of getting there may be a bit cumbersome for some people, but we really enjoyed the experience, and the facilities were certainly worth it. As swimming pools are not allowed on the historic peninsula due to World Heritage regulations, this is the only way Urban could incorporate the pool with he’s hotel.

As well as a large pool, there are 2 smaller pools, covered outdoor massage rooms and a bar area too. Guests can easily spend a comfortable few hours in this peaceful environment, and they are sure to be well looked after by the friendly and hospitable staff.

The hotel also has a cosy reception area which is open all day and has tea and coffee as well as many books to enjoy. This is a nice space to relax in if you need to get out of your room but don’t want to go too far.

Value for money

Mekong Riverside Hotel offers a high quality experience, with their service and hospitality being the highlight. This combined with the facilities on offer make it very good value for money.

Overall 4/5

Mekong Riverview Hotel was the first place I stayed in my trip to Laos and it really put me at ease about my trip. The staff instantly made me feel comfortable from the moment we were picked up at the airport through till we checked out. I was also very impressed with the facilities on offer in the rooms and would recommend this hotel for those who want a personal touch during their trip to Luang Prabang.

Book your stay at the Mekong Riverview Hotel
Address: Mekong Riverside Road, Luang Prabang Old Town, Luang Prabang 06000, Laos
Phone: +856 71 254 900

Have you been to Laos? Let me know where you stayed and what you thought about it!

Her Favourite Food & Travel x

Our stay at Mekong Riverview Hotel was complimentary - all opinions are my own.