Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In addition to the following there are a host of bog-standard high-rise hotels near the mar-
ket, none worth writing home about.
Tree Top Ecolodge
( 012 490333;
www.treetop-ecolodge.com
; d US$7, cottage with cold/hot water US$12/15; )
How
do you improve the northeast's best deal? Start by expanding to 17 rooms so it's actually
possible to get a room. 'Mr T's' place boasts rough-hewn walkways leading to huge,
boutique-quality bungalows with mosquito nets, thatch roofs and hammock-strewn veran-
dahs with verdant valley vistas. Like the bungalows, the restaurant is fashioned from hard-
wood and dangles over a lush ravine.
Up-to-date travel advice is plentiful, especially for those Laos bound.
BUNGALOW
$
GUESTHOUSE
$
Banlung Balcony
OFFLINE MAP
(
www.balconyguesthouse.net
; d US$4-7; )
This has survived the recent passing of its expat
owner and remains Ban Lung's best deal at the bargain-basement end. The rooms are ba-
sic but have high ceilings and odour-combating wood floors, and there's a huge public
balcony. The pub-restaurant has decent food and a pool table.
Backpacker Pad
OFFLINE MAP
HOSTEL
$
( 092 785259; banlungbackpackerpad@yahoo.com; dm $US2, d without/with bathroom US$4/5; )
Penny pinchers rejoice, it doesn't get cheaper than this. The rooms are small and dark and
the dorm grubby, but a cosy common area out front makes up for it. A good place to meet
other travellers. Owner Sophat is a great source of info and runs a tour company.
Lakeside Chheng Lok Hotel
HOTEL
$
( 012 957422; lakeside.chhenglokhotel@gmail.com; r with fan/air-con from US$5/15; )
The ever-expanding Lakeside has tacked on a swimming pool, a vast new wing and a sis-
ter hotel (the Lakside Hotel, next door) in recent years. A lot to choose from here, from
large but generic air-con rooms to bare-bones fan-cooled rooms. The original wing is an
afterthought these days, as the newer buildings have the lake views.
