The far south - The Rough Guide to Laos - page 343

GETTING AROUND
By tuk-tuk Pakse is compact enough to get around on foot, but for getting out to the bus
stations or the museum, tuk-tuks and jumbos can be flagged down just about anywhere, es-
pecially on Route 13, which serves as the town's main boulevard. Expect to pay 10,000K per
person for short inner-city journeys.
Bybikeormotorcycle Guesthouses and cafés around town rent out bikes (15,000K/day) and
motorbikes (60,000K/day).
ACCOMMODATION
Pakse isn't chock-full of cheap hotels, but there's something to choose from in nearly every
price bracket. Note that budget hotels are very poor value compared with the north of the
country - a basic double room with its own en-suite bathroom, which might cost 60,000K in
Vientiane, can go for as much as 100,000K or more in Pakse.
Champasak Grand South of the New Market, next to the Japanese Bridge 031 255111,
champasakgrand.com . More luxurious than the Champasak Palace , with prices to match.
It's a way out of town, and pretty soulless, but $80 buys you a modern room with spectacular
rive r vi ews, a quality buffet breakfast, and access to the blissfully cool pool. Minibar, a/c &
TV. $80
Champasak Palace Route 13, just west of Wat Phabat 031 212263, champasakpalace-
hotel.com . Though he didn't actually live here, this extraordinary building was once a palace
built for Prince Boun Oum, who fled to France after the 1975 revolution. Royal-sized rooms
lead onto wide terraces with sweeping views of the Xe Don river. The cheapest rooms in the
ugly “new” block out back are best avoided in favour of those in t he main hotel ($35). No
longer the fanciest place in town, but still the most atmospheric. $25
KhameseGuesthouse Up a narrow track off No. 21 Rd, north of the school 030 571 2963.
The cheapest double rooms in town can be found at this very basic riverside guesthouse,
which has lovely views over the Xe Don. For 30,000K you get a mattress on the floor of a
box room, pl us acces s to a shared (cold) shower. More expensive en-suite rooms (60,000K)
are available. 30,000K
Pakse Hotel No. 5 Rd, near the shopping centre 031 212131, hotelpakse.com . The
city's best-value mid-range hotel, offering spotlessly clean rooms in a central location. This
former cinema is well managed by Jérôme, a Frenchman, and food served in the panoramic
rooftop restaurant is good, if a little pr icey. “Ec o” rooms are cheapest, but you'll have to forgo
a view of the city. Bookings advised. 250,000K
PakseMekongHotel No. 11 Rd 020 2230 9889. Gleaming-new, Lao-run hotel, just across
the road from the Mekong, and a short stroll to the dozens of riverside restaurants. The good-