After spending a couple of days in Hanoi, Vietnam, it was time to move on to the next leg of our Southeast Asia trip: Laos.
We flew directly into Vientiane, Laos, and headed straight to the Crowne Plaza Vientiane.
Review: Crowne Plaza Vientiane
Image: ihg.com
The IHG Rewards Club Booking
Average Price Per Night During Stay: $136.79 [Non-Refundable/Advance], $178.17 [Refundable]
Room Type: “Two Single Beds Crowne Plaza Club Non-Smoking”
IHG Rewards Club Points Required: 20,000 points (per night) for a Non-Club room, or a Chase IHG credit card free award night
CPP for Redemption for a $100 Non-Club Room: About .5 CPP (based on a rate of $100)
Point Redemption Value: Average to Good
We opted to “just pay cash” due to the low advance rate on a Crowne Plaza Club room in hopes that the value we got from the food and drinks at the Crowne Plaza Club would be worth it.
The Location & Arrival
The first thing of note was the Crowne Plaza Vientiane was located very close to the airport.
The taxi ride took just over 5 minutes (even with traffic).
While it wasn’t technically located in the heart of Vientiane (the section near the Wat Ong Teu temple), it was located just a short 20-minute walk (or a 5-minute drive) away; the hotel was also about a 5-minute walk from the banks of the Mekong River.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by a friendly team of staffers eager to assist us carry our luggage and escort us to the front desk.
The hotel entrance and lobby
The Lobby
The lobby was far more modern and luxurious than I expected.
In my mind, I thought of the Crowne Plaza as a brand that mostly catered to the business traveler/convention set.
However, surprisingly, the Crowne Plaza Vientiane felt more on par with the upscale luxury found at something like IHG’s Intercontinental Hotel brand or even the St. Regis Bangkok.
Three elephants in the lobby
The Front Desk & Check-In
We were given a warm welcome in both Lao and English and thanked for choosing to stay at the Crowne Plaza.
I was recognized (and thanked again) for my IHG loyalty and notified I had been given an upgrade to a top floor with a view of the Mekong River (and the border with Thailand) and city.
I was handed a welcome letter, a welcome package with several 15% off coupons and a free drink voucher, and given directions on how to access the Crowne Plaza Club Lounge.
The front desk (and the elephants)
The Welcome Letter & Coupons
The Elevator Area
From the moment we exited the elevators on our floor, it was clear we were in for a luxurious experience.
The Hallway
The Two Single Beds Crowne Plaza Club Non-Smoking Room (Upgrade)
We were please to find our room large, open, and beaming with natural light.
The room was clean, modern, and upscale.
The Entertainment Area
The Office Area
Room Amenities
The room came with top-shelf amenities (such as a Nespresso machine, high-end teas, a stocked refrigerator, and a mini-bar drawer stuffed with alcohol).
The closet had two robes and a pair of slippers.
The Bathroom
The bathroom, with its open plan, stand-alone bathtub, and Elemis toiletries, really reminded me of the bathroom at the St. Regis Bangkok.
It was cleaned immaculately and polished to a reflective shine.
The View From The Room
Turns out the woman at the front desk was right, we had a wonderful view from our room of Vientiane, the Mekong River, and the swimming pool below.
Vientiane
The Mekong River (running through the city in the top left of the photo)
The rooftop swimming pool
The Crowne Plaza Club
After checking out the room, our next order of business was to head to the Crowne Plaza Club for some coffee and snacks.
As it turned out, this Crowne Plaza Club was one of the best lounges we had encountered in all of Southeast Asia.
We returned for cocktail hour, dinner, and breakfast.
Image: ihg.com
Image: ihg.com
The Fitness Center
Image: ihg.com
Image: ihg.com
The Swimming Pool
Aside from the Crowne Plaza Club, our next favorite place to hangout was the beautiful rooftop swimming pool.
The weather was perfect and the service was excellent (they sure knew how to keep the drinks coming).
Image: ihg.com
Image: ihg.com
The Elephant Lounge
The Backdoor
The Bottom-Line Review: Crowne Plaza Vientiane
What an incredible stay! The Crowne Plaza Vientiane was excellent by any measure.
The service was excellent, the location was convenient (they even arranged for their own Crowne Plaza Taxi to tour us around the City for a nominal fee), the Crowne Plaza Club was one of the best lounges we had ever been to (with an amazingly awesome staff, stiff drinks and excellent food), the dining and bar options were wonderful, and the swimming pool was “the place to be“.
The Crowne Plaza Vientiane was luxurious, upscale, and modern (and, best of all, affordable on a point-hacker/tourist’s budget).
We pretty much loved everything about the Crowne Plaza Vientiane, so much so, that I can’t really imagine staying anywhere else in Vientiane.
Final Rating: 9.5 out of 10.
