Mixay Guesthouse

I had planned to stay elsewhere but all the other guesthouses were full when I arrived in Vientiane in the middle of a festival. At first I thought the Mixay was quite good. The rooms were basic but the showers were deliciously hot and there was a reasonably helpful reception. The three dorm rooms were right at the top of the building so you did have to climb two stories but there was a private balcony up to the top with space to sit and relax. There was also a wonderful garden at the back of the building that a number of other houses seemed to share with the guesthouse. There were places here to sit or dry your laundry. The guesthouse was located centrally, on a road coming off from the river that also led to a street filled with internet, restaurants and other guesthouses. It was good that it was close to the action but a little quieter.

Unfortunately however there was no interaction between guests. There was a TV in the lounge but the reception and their friends were always sitting there watching Laos TV and eating their meals so you didn't feel you could join them. Some of the other guests were also really noisy and one evening I had to go into the hallway in the early hours of the morning to tell some drunk tourists to be quiet.

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review