This hotel was built by the Prince Boun Oum as his residence, however, it was abandoned in 1974 when he escaped to France. It was later converted into a hotel. Thus, it looks magnificant with a huge compound. However, when you take a closer look, it is very rundown with many places that requires a new paint job.

The rooms are huge and really clean. We took a double room and it cost about USD 35 per night which is very reasonable. The room has a backdoor that leads to a nice view of Sedone River.

The hotel provides airport transfer, but it is very unreliable. We had informed the hotel of our flight and pick up timing from the airport a few weeks before the trip, and gotten a reply that the driver will be there to pick us up. No one was at the airport when we arrived! I had to borrow a phone from the information centre at the airport to call the hotel, and the receptionist just asked whether we are already at the airport, and told us to wait 15 minutes for them to pick up us. If you take a taxi to the hotel, it cost USD 10 from the airport.

Receptionists are generally friendly and helpful, their English is not amazing though, and it is sometimes difficult to ask them questions.

Overall, I think it is pretty good value for the price that we pay. I gave an average rating because I was quite disappointed about the airport transfer.

The purpose for going to Pakse was to take a 3-day trip on the Vat Phou Mekong River Cruise through parts of Champasak Province. We flew into Pakse a day before the cruise and checked into the historic Champasak Palace Hotel. We also spent 1-night there at the completion of the cruise.

The building was originally built as the palace for the last king of Laos and is described by some as looking like the top of a wedding cake. In fact the picture we've included is actually of the central part of the 4th, 5th & top floor of the hotel. We booked one of the larger rooms on the 4th floor and while a little worn, it was full of charm and lovely furnishings. The bathroom had been recently updated and our room had large double doors opening out onto a terrace overlooking the city.

We had read some negative comments about the breakfast at the hotel but to be perfectly honest, it suited us. While service at the front desk was a little inconsistent, I would chalk that up more to a lack of communication more than a poor attitude.

All-in-all, we got the historical experience we were looking for.

Despite the reviews, and because we wanted a unique experience, we stayed we stayed in the Champasak Palace for 3 nights in late May 2012, 3 people in the two Princess rooms. Staff were so attentive, the bellboy was great as we had a lot of coming and going on tours, the hotel looked after our suitcases and gave us the same room each of the three nights we returned.
The laundry was cheap and beautifully packaged.
Breakfast was very good value.
Wifi was good. Bed was comfortable. Great views. The shower was a joy after days of travelling.
We loved the hotel, although parts of it need a bit of a revamp, it is like staying in a fairytale.
On advice from TA we wanted to have dinner on a boat on the Mekong, and the hotel arranged this for us. They also provided shopping advice.
There was always someone in reception who spoke some English.
DarwinGranny