Franz ElizThe best accommodation I checked into when I travelled around Laos in 2016 was the Sanhak guest house in Khammouane, a Laos province located in central Laos.
I was happy with my private room’s price – only ₭.50,000 per night. That’s about USD3 only. Amazing. For such a price, one might think, ‘The room must be basic and dirty.’ Not at all!
Today, you won’t find the same price anymore. Expect to pay around USD15/night. For many, that’s still cheap/affordable, considering the guesthouse’s decent amenities.
A 1-Star Hotel Worth Paying For
Check out Booking.com or any hotel booking site for the Sanhak Guesthouse, and you may notice that the accommodation is rated 1-star. But don’t let that fool you. The guesthouse deserves more stars, in my opinion.
Staying at this guesthouse was like staying at some of the 3-star guesthouses in Malaysia or other Southeast Asian countries I’ve travelled to. I’m only speaking from my past experience of spending 4 nights at the guesthouse.
If you stop by Khammouane, consider staying at the Sanhak Guesthouse. I enjoyed my stay there. You might enjoy your time there, too.
You might find a place to play pool just a few kilometres away from the guesthouse. I’m not sure if it’s still around, but it’s worth checking out if you want something fun to do with the locals. As far as I can remember, I had a good time playing pool with the locals.
Address: KM 43, Road No. 0A, Namsanam Road, Nahin/Khounkham Village,Ban Nahin-Nai, Khammoun Province, 01000 Ban Nahin-Nai
What To Expect
Sanhak Guesthouse is a value-for-money, considering its price and the quality of service it offers.
There’s WiFi at the Guesthouse
Good news for those who can’t go a day without WiFi: this small guesthouse has WIFI! Don’t put your hopes too high, though. The WiFI works, but sometimes it doesn’t. The internet connection was alright when I was there, although not always great.
It’s important to note that WiFi isn’t available in all rooms. So be sure to pay attention to this before booking a room if you need WiFi, whether for work or connecting with friends and families.
The Guesthouse Has Its Own Restaurant
There’s a restaurant at the guest house where guests can get together, go online and have breakfast, lunch and dinner. I only dined in the restaurant for tea time. The finger food served at the restaurant was tasty. Oh, I heard their brownies are good. I never tried them, though.
Although the kitchen wasn’t hasty in preparing my orders, I had no problem waiting. The pretty scenery outside the restaurant was enough to compensate for the long wait.
I went to another guest house for lunch and dinner – don’t remember what it’s called, but the food there was slightly cheaper than the ones served at the Sanhak guesthouse. We saw many backpackers there.
The Sanhak Guesthouse’s in-house restaurant is vegetarian-friendly. So if you don’t eat meat, you can always ask the kitchen staff to prepare vegetarian meals.
The Rooms Are Decent
I was satisfied with my private bedroom. There was a wardrobe, television, bathroom, reading table, chair, fridge, bed linen and towels.
Every private room has an air-conditioner. Thank goodness for that. The weather can get really hot in Laos.
In terms of cleanliness, most travellers find it satisfactory. I was pleased with the cleanliness and tidiness of my room. Since the area was quiet and my bed was comfortable, I slept well.
Guests Can Enjoy the Guesthouse’s Warm Hospitality
I was pleased with the guesthouse staff’s friendliness during my visit. The guesthouse staff speak English, so communicating my needs wasn’t difficult. If you need something, don’t hesitate to let the staff know.
The Guesthouse’s Front Porch Is Spacious
Sanhak Guesthouse allows its guests to park their bicycles or motorbikes indoors. Guests can also park their vehicles in the car park. The car park is spacious, hence plenty of space for everyone.
Pets Are Allowed at the Guesthouse
It’s not common for guesthouses to allow pets. The good news is you can bring your pet to the Sanhak Guesthouse. However, charges may apply. You can contact the guesthouse to find out more.
The Guesthouse Has a Laundry Service
You can use the guesthouse’s laundry service if you need to get your clothes cleaned. There’s an additional charge for that. Should you need an extra towel or bed sheet, the guesthouse also provides it for an additional charge.
How I Rate the Sanhak Guesthouse
I would rate the Sanhak Guesthouse 8.5/10 for the following reasons:
- Value-for-money
- Comfortable, clean, and tidy
- Strategic location
- Spacious rooms
- Warm hospitality
Would I Stay at the Sanhak Guesthouse Again?
Considering my good experience at the Sanhak Guesthouse, I would stay there again. I think it’s one of the best budget guesthouses in Laos. Furthermore, Laos is such a beautiful country.
Even though the price has increased significantly in recent years, overall, the guesthouse is considerably affordable for many.
