Le Sen Boutique Hotel in Luang Prabang, Laos: a hotel review
Sustainability meets Lao hospitality at Le Sen Boutique Hotel, a zen oasis in Luang Prabang. This post contains all of the details of my stay, what’s in the area, and my honest opinion.
Tucked away in a (relatively) quiet corner of Luang Prabang is Le Sen Boutique Hotel, an oasis of zen. Sustainability and Lao hospitality meet at Le Sen, a 100% Laotian-owned and managed accommodation not far from the heart of the city.
Walking through the lobby doors, you’ll feel instantly more relaxed the minute the welcome drink hits your lips. The pool is symmetrically framed with plants, a gentle nod to Le Sen’s commitment to sustainability. It’s the beauty of the property that makes booking Le Sen most enticing, but, for me, it was the hospitality and serene environment that sold me on a stay here. Read on for all the details and my honest review of my stay at Le Sen Boutique Hotel.
where is le sen boutique hotel located ↴
Location is a primary booking factor for most travelers, and so it’s fortunate that Le Sen Boutique Hotel is located far enough away from the main street that you’ll find rest and respite, but not so far away that you are totally removed from everything. Le Sen sits approximately 2 kilometers from the center of Luang Prabang. The hotel also offers a shuttle to the post office, near the night market on the main road, any time you want. This makes it easy to get to the city center without the added cost (or hassle) of a tuk-tuk. There is also an airport transfer provided to guests.
Psst…I’ve pinned my favorite temples, eateries, and attractions near Le Sen on the map below, including:
📍 UXO Lao Visitor Center
📍 Wat Mano
📍 Nam Dong Park (~7km)
📍Two Little Birds Café
📍 U Like Ice Cream
📍 Le Petit Prince Café
📍 Atsalin Restaurant
room options ↴
The room options are a little confusing on Le Sen’s booking site, but you can essentially narrow down the types of rooms into three categories: villas, suites, and rooms. Luke and I stayed in a villa at Le Sen. The villa was large, inclusive of a dressing area, a toilet room, a lounge, and a large bed. The villa’s bath and shower were located outside of the main room in what’s referred to as an “outdoor concept bathroom”. While still private thanks to gorgeous bamboo fencing, the outdoor shower felt divine with the Lao sunshine shining as I lathered, rinsed, and repeated. The same goes for the jacuzzi bathtub! Filling up that giant white tub with water and bubbles at golden hour felt indulgent in the best possible way. As the sun set, I dried off and cozied myself into the comfort of the memory foam mattress awaiting me. The villa was great for the two of us— a real couple’s retreat! However, I could see this room option working for a family with a small child. The privacy of the villa’s garden paired with the general size of the space would make a delightful getaway for parents traveling with a young one.
OTHER ROOM OPTIONS INCLUDE:
🛏️ Sen Luxe- incluse of private onsen
🛏️ Le Luxe - ground floor with pool access from back door
🛏️ Suite- inclusive of giant tub in room
amenities at le sen boutique hotel ↴
Le Sen has mastered the idea of understated luxury, and that’s what I loved most about it. We had everything we needed, plus some nice little touches that gave our overall time at Le Sen a little “oof". The villa we stayed in included a hair dryer (with a diffuser), an iron and ironing board, linen robes and cozy slippers, safe drinking water (in sealed glass bottles), and shower toiletries that were supplied in refillable ceramic containers (a big win for the environment). We also had a Nespresso machine and a kettle with complimentary teas at the ready.
Central to Le Sen’s aesthetic is its blue-tiled, unheated swimming pool, which guests can enjoy whenever they like. On hot days, which are the norm in Laos, access to a pool is a wonderful way to cool down and unwind. Poolside towels are provided on the sun loungers nearby, and you can order food and drink poolside from the hotel restaurant.
There’s also a gym! Air-conditioning keeps you cool while you work up a sweat in Le Sen’s tucked-away fitness center. The gym features a variety of equipment and machines, including weighted medicine balls, dumbells, treadmills, ellipticals, a bench press, and more.
By far the most convenient service provided to guests is the aforementioned shuttle. This free amenity takes you straight to the main road where the night market is located, as are a number of eateries and cafés.
AT A GLANCE:
🏊♀️ swimming pool
🚌 shuttle into town
🏍️ free parking
🍳 included breakfast
💻 free WiFi
☕ complimentary tea + coffee
🏋️ fitness center
dining at le sen boutique hotel ↴
Some hotels look pretty, but offer little to no dining experience— Le Sen is not one of them. In lieu of the typical breakfast buffet, Le Sen offers hotel guests a selection of fresh hot and cold breakfast items from a carefully curated menu, which ties in the property’s organic garden produce and focus on wellness. The overnight oats with chia seeds and a drizzle of honey became something I looked forward to every morning, as well as the gorgeous manual brew coffee provided by the onsite café, Brr. Luke loved the sauteed mushrooms and fried eggs to kickstart his morning, while I was a fiend for the juicy dragonfruit. The Lao food on Le Sen’s lunch and dinner menu is also done beautifully. The organic garden at Le Sen is the perfect atmosphere for a special dinner. Private dining in this area can be arranged with the staff in advance.
who i’d recommend le sen to ↴
Overall, I’d recommend Le Sen Boutique Hotel to most travelers. It’s definitely less suited to young children, simply because it is such a calm, quiet atmosphere, although there were children’s blocks in our villa! I wouldn’t recommend Le Sen for those looking to be right amongst the noise of the city center, hoping to participate in Luang Prabang’s limited nightlife. It really is best suited to couples and travelers seeking a space to unwind.
Primarily, I’d recommend Le Sen to/for:
couples/ those looking for a romantic getaway
a solo retreat
travelers who prioritize sustainability
travelers looking for upscale amenities (think organic dining, private onsens, an onsite spa, etc.)
groups seeking a zen environment (like friends looking for a quiet place to catch up, hang poolside, and chill)
book your stay ↴
Have I convinced you to book a stay? If yes, then click the link here to book your own incredible Le Sen Boutique Hotel stay.
