I stayed at Settha Palace Hotel during my visit to Vientiane, and overall, it was a decent experience with a mix of positives and areas for improvement.
The hotel’s location is definitely one of its biggest strengths. It’s right in the middle of everything, close to the river and within easy reach of the main Songkran celebration areas, which made getting around very convenient.
The property itself has a charming Lao-French colonial style. While it is an older hotel, it has been maintained reasonably well and retains a certain classic character. The staff were excellent, professional, friendly, and always willing to assist, which added positively to the stay.
However, the room was somewhat disappointing. While the minibar was well stocked, basic amenities were missing, not even essentials like a toothbrush or shampoo were provided, which was surprising for a hotel of this category. There were also some maintenance issues: the bathroom had leaking pipes, and the air conditioning wasn’t working initially, though to their credit, they promptly sent a technician to fix it.
The pool area is visually quite pleasant, surrounded by greenery, giving it a relaxing vibe. That said, there were quite a few frogs around the pool, which became a bit irritating. While I personally didn’t mind, some other guests, especially European travelers, were clearly uncomfortable.
Overall, it’s a good property with great location and strong potential, but it could significantly improve with better room maintenance and attention to guest amenities.
