Chato Hostel, Pakse

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Chato Hostel is a cute little hostel in the very center of Pakse; with its living room, kitchen, and patio, it feels like home away from home. It is clearly one of the most popular places with budget backpackers, which is easy to notice when you look at the coaches circulating to pick up tourists from their accommodation. The dominant colours are grey and brown, which might be a bit depressing, but the place compensates with an upbeat atmosphere and amazing customer service.

The Location

While Pakse is not too big, Chato Hostel is right in the centre of it in an excellent location. You have the VIP bus station about five minutes from here, where all the long distance buses from all over Laos are arriving and from where you can leave for Cambodia and Thailand as well. However, if you book your ticket with the hostel, they will come and pick you up from the entrance. It is right on the doorstep to Wat Luang, which is probably the most interesting sight in the town, as well as to the smaller market of Pakse. You will have no problem finding food or money exchange around either.

Rooms and Bathrooms

While the hostel might look small at first sight, it actually has several floors and quite spacious rooms. The dorms accommodate five bunks with ten beds altogether. The beds are huge, comfortable, and have dark curtains around them as well as a reading light and an electronic plug inside. There are plenty of smaller lockers inside the room, which you can use either with your own lock or ask for a key at the reception for free. There are also huge luggage storage cages where you can lock up your entire backpack if you are going down to the 4000 Islands for a few days and then coming back. While these are practical, they look a bit out of place in the cosy living room. The biggest downside of the place is that there is no air conditioning -- only fans -- and it stays incredibly hot throughout the night. There are plenty of showers and toilets on every floor. Shower gel and shampoo are provided free of charge. While washing your clothes is forbidden, the hostel provides a clothes rack on the balcony for drying wet clothes.

Common Spaces

The whole ground floor of the hostel is dedicated to common spaces. In front of the hostel, there is a little patio with a table and chairs, which is a nice place to have your morning coffee. There is plenty of space to sit around the reception area too and a table at which you can have your meals. There is a kitchen at the hostel, even if its stove is only for staff use. Free tea and coffee and available here throughout the day. At the back of the hostel, there is a living room style common area with a TV and a sofa. It is quite cosy but it is not suitable for more than a few people and it is not accessible after 10 p.m.

Summary

Chato Hostel is a great choice in Pakse. Most people only stay here for a day on their way to Cambodia, and the hostel can provide everything you could potentially ask for from such a pit stop. It's impeccably clean and neat, and if you are ok without an air conditioner, you will surely love this place!

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