When I arrived in Vientiane, I did not expect to stay at the Golden Sun Hotel. In fact, I had booked a hostel not too far away, but when I arrived they had given away my room to someone else. To make up for it, and to ensure I wasn't homeless, they provided a ride to the Golden Sun Hotel where I spent two nights while visiting the capital city of Laos.
The Room
Upon arrival, I was promptly shown to my room. After a long day of traveling, I was most excited for a comfortable bed, and the hotel did not disappoint. Once I had showered, I quickly jumped into bed and immediately sunk back into the many pillows. The hotel had a flat screen Tv in the room with English channels (they even had HBO!), so I watched a movie before slipping in to a deep and very restful sleep. The room came with the following:
- Free wifi
- Ensuite bathroom
- Balcony (though mine was a bit blocked by the entrance of the hotel outside)
- Flat Screen TV (with English channels)
- Fridge
- Safe
- Fresh water (replenished daily)
- Air conditioning unit
- Toothbrush/toothpaste, shaving kit, shower cap provided in bathroom
The Amenities/Facilities
The Golden Sun Hotel has several amenities and facilities for their guests.
- Pools: Yes, that is pools plural! The Golden Sun Hotel has not one but two outdoor swimming pools. One is located at ground level outside of the restaurant, the other on a third floor balcony with a view of the neighborhood. I enjoyed a refreshing dip in both pools after a day out exploring the city. The upper level pool gets the best sun in the morning.
- Complimentary breakfast: The hotel also serves breakfast daily from 6:30 Am until 10:00 AM. They offer a buffet of hot and cold foods as well as omelettes made-to-order. The cold buffet included fresh fruit, breads, jams, butter, a toaster for the bread, cakes, banana crepes, and yogurt. The hot food options changed daily but included noodle, sausages, bacon, even BBQ chicken one day. Everything I ate was delicious and I never left feeling hungry.
- Free parking: If you happen to arrive with a car or motor bike, the hotel has a spacious parking lot in the front for guests to use.
- Gym: Located next to the pool, the hotel has a gym with a few machines inside. It is not state-of-the-art, but it gets the job done.
- Computers: If you do not have a tablet or laptop with you, the hotel has computers in the lobby for guests to use at their leisure.
- Location: The hotel is located a short walk to the city centre. It is in a quieter neighborhood, so noise level is low during the evening and night. There are local restaurants nearby and even a bowling alley a few minutes away.
- Complimentary airport pickup: If arranged in advance, the hotel staff will pick you up at the airport free of charge.
- Tour/Transportation Booking: The front desk can easily book a tour to the sights or a bus ticket to locations in Laos. I booked a bus ticket to Vang Vieng through the hotel and got picked up on time right the next morning, which was very convenient.
- Friendly Staff: The staff at the Golden Sun Hotel go above and beyond to make sure your stay is comfortable. When I arrived, the bell boy made sure the TV and AC were working right away. When the AC remote turned out not to work, he went back down and got brand new batteries to install and tested it out before leaving me to unpack and unwind. I was always greeted with a smile and any question I had was quickly answered.
Final Verdict
While I originally did not pick it for myself, I had a pleasant stay at the Golden Sun Hotel and would recommend it. Their proximity to the center of the city as well as some of the monuments made their location ideal. Complimentary breakfast every day was delicious and the fact that we could book our bus tickets right with them was an added bonus. The architecture of the building is also beautiful, and makes you feel like you are at a much more expensive place than what a room cost! Great bang for your buck; I recommend it!
Looking for things to do in Vientiane? Make sure to check out my post on 10 Things to Do in Vientiane, Laos.
Hotel Info
Golden Sun Hotel
Kun Bu Lom Road, Saylom Village
Vientiane, Laos
Have you stayed at the Golden Sun Hotel? Share your experiences in the comments below!