Which hotel in Luang Prabang? Amantaka/Rosewood/Belmond?
 

For those who have been/TA's with clients who have been, what is the general consensus for hotels in Luang Prabang?

Briefly looking at pricing (standard room) on hotel website:

Amantaka: Average price US$880 - Low price US$690 (August/September) - High price US$1630 (late December)

Rosewood: Average price US$785 - Low price US$540 (April/May) - High price US$935 (mid-September)

Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao: Average price US$225 - Low price US$200 (Fall & Spring) - High price US$527 (late December)

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Virtuoso benefits for each:

Amantaka: Upgrade on arrival, daily breakfast, 1x 60 minute massage for one person per room per stay, free Wi-Fi

Rosewood: None (can't find it on Virtuoso website)

Belmond: Upgrade on arrival, daily breakfast, 1x 50 minute massage for two people per stay, airport transfer on arrival, free Wi-Fi

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Found Telegraph travel reviews which are usually pretty good. They don't favour Amantaka...

Amantaka: 8/10 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/d...mantaka-hotel/

Rosewood: 9/10 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/d...prabang-hotel/

Belmond: 9/10 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/d...hou-vao-hotel/

I'd appreciate if anyone could share their experiences from these hotels and which you would recommend. Is Amantaka 3 or 4 times better than the Belmond to warrant a rate 3-4x as much? Any complaints from any of the properties (I know the Rosewood has lots of stairs - it's a non-issue for me)?

Agree Telegraph reviews can be useful but the points are useless in my eyes. Often properties gets 8 points which are without doubt miles above some 9 points properties in a city.

Absolutely true!

Don't forget to check brand program offers.

Rosewood Elite rates apply at Luang Prabang for example which include confirmed upgrade at booking (not all categories), US$125 credit, breakfast, early check-in/late check-out, etc.

Belmond Bellini will apply at their property.

I just visited LP and stayed at the Amantaka. Some thoughts:

1) I'd spring for at least a pool suite at the Amantaka. The private pool is worth it, IMO.
2) Management at Amantaka was extremely friendly and helpful. There were a number of activities available via the hotel, some of which you could plan on your own for a 10th of the price. Personnel at the hotel didn't try to push us in one direction or the other, and tried their best to give unbiased advice about which path makes sense.
3) Rooms were high quality with exceptional finishes.
4) Location was great. It's bang in the middle of where you want to be, and the hotel has free bikes at your disposal to make getting around that much easier.

Overall an amazing stay. I think the rate includes half board, but honestly I used only half of the half board. Local cuisine outside the hotel is good and worth eating, and it's so cheap it doesn't really make a difference.

I don't have much to say about the Rosewood, other than that when we went to the waterfalls one day, we were driving out of the city and about 10-15 minutes into the drive we drove past the Rosewood, which is to say that the hotel is pretty far from the city (in relative terms). If you plan to stay at the hotel/country the whole time and not really venture into the city, I guess that's fine. But it would otherwise be pretty hectic to have to go between the two with any regularity.

The Aman, despite being in the middle of the city, still felt like a sanctuary in the inside.

Can't comment on the Belmond.

That's very high praise! Has anyone here stayed at both Amantaka and the Rosewood (or TAs with clients who have)?? Great things I'm hearing about Amantaka, but no comparison from anyone who has actually stayed at both. Hard product looks great at Amantaka, and you make the soft product sound very enticing. Rosewood looks stunning, but how does the soft product hold up?

Don't have clients who have stayed at both, but echoing some comments here re: distance from town and also a key thing to consider re: Rosewood is that many of the rooms require lots of climbing up and down due to how the resort is built.

Any recent reports? Looking to visit Luang Prabang for the first time for ~3-4 days during Christmas / NY, and looking at hotel locations and reviews it appears Amantaka remains the best option in town given Rosewood's distance from the town center and it's impressive (from my quick cursory research) array of experiences offered. Given the price delta between a like-for-like pool suite at Amantaka and a suite at the Rosewood with a private pool is only ~10%, I'm inclined to go for the Amantaka but open to hearing otherwise.

The other option appears to be the Belmond, but the reviews look more mixed albeit rates are only ~50% of what the Rosewood and Aman are asking - is the Rosewood and Amantaka worth 2x more than the Belmond? The Amantaka and Rosewood rates are basically what a standard room in London or NYC would go for, and given this is Laos in SE Asia that does cause me to wince a little.

I’m at Taka next week and will report back. For my dates, everything was similarly priced, which made Amantaka seem like the best choice.

Pre-arrival communication has been great so far.

I've stayed at belmond, and a 4* property in town. Of your 3, I'd probably suggest aman. LP is one of the most charming towns in se Asia, you really want to be in the centre of it all.

We had a wonderful stay at Amantaka in January. We booked the cultural package which was great value. I don't know if it is available during the festive season.

Currently enjoying Suite 11 at Taka (just took a dip to escape the heat!) We’ve been having a great stay so far - food and service are fantastic, and the short distance to the Main Street has been very nice (take a bike ride if you dare :cool:)

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Unrelated question but what have you found is the best way to get Luang Prabang? I see there are flights but it seems like none of the planes that go there have business class. Is one relegated to an economy class flight to visit?

Vietnam Airlines have a passable business class in case you're coming through Hanoi. When I was looking that seemed the easiest way. It's a pretty short flight so I wouldn't stress out if taking that option (I took Lao Airlines on the way out), but if a large comfy chair is important, then Vietnam Airlines will do the trick.