A handsome contemporary retreat in the heart of heritage Luang Prabang.
Once the site of a French garrison, Avani+’s grand footprint straddles a major town corner facing the night market, and tourism office, and is a three-minute stroll to the banks of the Mekong River. Guests staying at the Avani+ really couldn’t hope for a better location with all of Luang Prabang’s beautiful highlights within walking distance, and some of its best bars and restaurants a parasol’s throw away.
In keeping with its zen-like atmosphere — enhanced by a palette of dove grey, taupe, and milk white — the heart of the hotel is an inner sanctum with rooms focused around a central court featuring the pool, palms, and gardens which cocoon rooms, protecting them from the noise and traffic of the city.
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Choice rooms are on the first floor with louvred shutters and balconies overlooking the pool, although ground floor garden rooms — with patio sun loungers — offer complete privacy.
The Avani+’s 53 open-plan rooms evoke calm with their broad brush of neutral tones: white linens, light wood furniture, teak floors, plus his and her sinks and separate rain showers and toilet cubicles. Constantly refilled jars of mini cookies and banana chips are a thoughtful touch for a snack after night market browsing for handicrafts and lanterns. Turn-down gifts are thoughtful, too: tiny bags of rice for your return home, an animal figure woven from fiber — a bookmark, perhaps, or ornament.
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Speaking of books, the Avani+’s library area, although not cosy itself as a place to sit, has an impressive collection of Lao history books and tomes on the French period in Indochina. The library is only a few steps from the pool (one of only a few central hotels with this feature), pluck a few pages from the shelves for your sun lounger, and soak up the tropical heat under the parasols and palms while a waiter takes orders for poolside drinks. Sun worshippers, it’s worth noting, you’ll need to set aside mornings as by late afternoon the sun’s rays have moved on.
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Main Street Bar and Grill are set in a building facing a main road. Eating breakfast or lunch at alfresco tables on the roadside terrace is a tad noisy; cocktails on the upstairs terrace of the bar by night is more atmospheric. Avani+’s breakfast, taken in a sheltered courtyard surrounded by the hotel’s own herb terrace, or in the Main Street restaurant itself is more enjoyable. We liked the fact that the huge breakfast buffet spread, plus a la carte choices, features dishes firmly rooted in Laos: a thoroughly warming traditional hot porridge in hot local buffalo milk with dried apricot and almond was a perfect wake-up for a winter’s morning. Lunch and evening menus appeal to those looking for easy bites with a nod to local flavors: Mekong fish burger with turmeric butter, buffalo burger with fries, or an unfiltered introduction to local cuisine — the local spicy papaya salad — a fiery hit!
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Not enough downtime? Book into the spa, and enjoy the weekly Sunday yoga classes in the hotel’s dedicated pavilion.
Getting there:
Lao Airlines flies daily to Luang Prabang from Bangkok,
Vientiane, Hanoi, Siem Reap, and Chiang Mai.
For reservations: avanihotels.com/en/luang-prabang.