Pullman Luang Prabang: an honest hotel review

Travelers looking for a luxury stay in Luang Prabang need look no further than the Pullman. This post outlines all the details of a stay at Pullman Luang Prabang, including its amenities and on-site activities.

Luang Prabang caters beautifully to luxury travelers thanks to its serene setting and kind locals. And, as someone who lived in Luang Prabang for three years, you can trust me when I say no hotel embodies the city’s heritage or hospitality like the Pullman Luang Prabang. In this honest hotel review, I’m spilling the complete details of my stay as a guest of Pullman Luang Prabang in the heart of this sunny UNESCO city.

There is a lot to see and do in Luang Prabang, so finding the right accommodation during your stay is important. You’ll likely want accommodation that highlights the beauty of the town, serves delicious food, offers on-site activities, and is well-located. If these sound like your requirements, then Pullman Luang Prabang is where you should consider starting (and ending) your search.

With 123 rooms, suites, and villas for guests to choose from, Pullman Luang Prabang is a spacious, stylish complex of world-class facilities. The 16-hectare resort features three pools, a gym, a wellness spa, and a restaurant serving a bevy of both local and international cuisines.

Put simply: the Pullman is a tranquil stay in timeless Luang Prabang you will want to splurge on. If Luang Prabang is on your itinerary through Laos, keep reading!

Disclosure: I was a guest of the Pullman Luang Prabang but, as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

when to book your stay ↴

The very best time to visit Luang Prabang in my opinion is in October during the Festival of Lights. If you can’t make a visit in October, consider booking a stay between November and March when the temperatures are relatively cool. June through September is the rainy season in Laos, meaning there can be flash floods. However, typically rainy season means rain at night or in the mornings, but it doesn’t ruin the whole day. The rainy season can be a fun time to visit the city because there are fewer tourists and the temperature isn’t scorching. I would thoroughly avoid April when the temperatures soar and slash-and-burn season commences (air quality is quite poor).

where is the pullman luang prabang located ↴

One of the main deterrents for travelers looking to book a stay at the Pullman Luang Prabang is its location outside of the city center. But, visitors shouldn’t write the Pullman off! The hotel is only 10 minutes from Luang Prabang’s main street and 15 minutes away from the airport. For the sake of ease, there are courtesy shuttle vans that run regularly to and from reception.

One of the benefits of the Pullman’s location out of town is that it’s incredibly peaceful. Every evening, the sun sets over the rice paddies with panoramic mountain views and the quiet of the Pullman makes for a cosy end to a day of exploration.

floating breakfast at Pullman Luang Prabang

activities at the pullman luang prabang ↴

afternoon tea

The Pullman is the only place in Luang Prabang where you can indulge in an afternoon tea experience. You can enjoy afternoon tea set in a private villa, or from the comfort of the hotel’s library. The food included in the tea experience is exceptional, as is the service. Drool-worthy sandwiches, cakes, and traditional scones are paired with a delicious pot of tea. It’s enough to make you feel like you’re on the set of Bridgerton.

BOOK YOUR TEA | USD $20 per set in the library, USD $30 per outdoor setup in a cabana

floating breakfast

Who needs a trip to Bali when you can have a floating breakfast in Laos? The resort now offers floating breakfasts for guests in one of its three pools. This special service can be arranged with the reception upon your arrival. Enjoying a refreshing breakfast in the cool waters of the swimming pool is a new level of reprieve from the Lao heat. Not only was the breakfast a fun deviation from the traditional buffet setting but it was also served in heaping portions. Tea, coffee, toast, pastries, eggs cooked in a multitude of ways, oats, pancakes, and waffles were just some of what bobbed around in the pool basket while I swam and nibbled the morning away.

Lao cooking class

Taking a cooking class is a great way to learn about the culture culminating in a rewarding meal you helped prepare yourself. Pullman Luang Prabang offers a multi-course cooking class that showcases the best of traditional Lao food. Instructed under the guidance of a local chef, the cooking class concludes with you getting a certificate of completion!

BOOK YOUR COOKING CLASS | USD $15 per person, inclusive of a three-course menu

amenities at the pullman luang prabang ↴

Pullman Luang Prabang is an affordable luxury stay, especially when you consider its many on-site amenities. We were welcomed with a refreshing cool drink and then escorted via a golf cart to our room. As we walked through the wooden door of our room, we were greeted by a sunny view of bright green rice paddies. Glass doors opened onto a giant balcony with a large table and comfortable chairs for us to lounge leisurely in.

As we toured the property, we found ourselves in awe. There wasn’t an inch of the property that wasn’t stylish, bright, or airy. The restaurants, the reception, the rooms — all grand and aesthetically appealing. Between the facilities and provided toiletries there’s nothing you’ll be missing during your stay here.

giant, stand alone bath tub
rainfall showers
illuminated bathroom vanities
comfy bathrobes + slippers
stable, free WiFi connection
bicycles for guests to use around the property

3 swimming pools
fitness center
wellness spa
childcare center
sunbathing loungers

who is the pullman recommended for ↴

I recommend the Pullman Luang Prabang for any traveler wanting to have a taste of classic luxury in a quiet environment, in close proximity to the city center without being directly in it.

Overall, I recommend the Pullman specifically for: