The Grand Luang Prabang, Affiliated By Melia Hotel, Luang Prabang

I had a delightful stay at this hotel. The rooms were lovely decorated and offered amazing views of the Mekong River and mountains across. They were clean and comfortable, with all necessary amenities and a nice balcony overlooking the stunning surroundings. The service was exceptional, with staff who were attentive and helpful in every way. The location, though a bit distant from town, was beautifully landscaped in a 1950s French colonial style, giving the place a classic feel by the water. The dining experience, while taking place on a lovely veranda with stunning views over the Mekong River, was average for a Western taste but suited Chinese travelers well. The facilities were enjoyable and well-maintained.

My stay at the hotel was a mix of positives and negatives. The rooms were beautifully decorated with amazing views of the Mekong river, although the lack of insulation meant we could hear our neighbors snoring and housekeeping staff talking in the morning. The location by the water in Luang Prabang was perfect for a quiet and relaxing vacation away from the tourist crowds, but there were issues with the younger staff members struggling with English. The dining experience offered a great variety of freshly cooked Laotian and Western food on a lovely veranda overlooking the river, yet there were some aspects that fell short of expectations. Overall, the hotel presented a good value for money with some areas that could be improved.

My stay at the hotel was overall good. The rooms were spacious but not well insulated, allowing sounds from neighboring rooms to disturb our sleep. It would have been nice to have coffee facilities in the room. Despite a mix-up with the credit card, the booking was confirmed. The service, however, was exceptional, changing our experience from average to excellent. The location by the river outside Luang Prabang was peaceful with a charming historical flair, although slightly morbid. The dining was a mix of basic and inconsistent but had a great variety of freshly cooked local and Western food. The facilities were adequate but could use some improvements.

Staying at this hotel provided me with an amazing introduction to a beautiful country as the rooms open onto an attached veranda with a view over the well-kept grounds and to the Mekong immediately beyond. However, the lack of insulation in the rooms meant we could hear our neighbor snoring and housekeeping staff talking in the morning, which woke us up, and the rooms were smaller than expected.

During our stay, the hotel was spookily quiet as the rooms were being refurbished, making us the only diners one evening and at breakfast. The decor was a bit dated, and the bed creaked, but I must say, the bed was one of the comfiest I've ever slept in. The quilt, however, was more suited for midgets, given that my feet poked out at 5 ft 2 in tall.