Spicylaos Backpackers in Luang Prabang

zuletzt aktualisiert am 05.01.2010

Spicylaos Backpackers, Luang Prabang opened its door on 7th June 2008.   >>The History of the House   The house is situated in the former royal residence area in Luang Prabang. The house itself was a residence of prince Sang-Kaew Wongkot who left the country in 1975 after Laos had changed the government from monarchy to republic. The house was rented out to Luang Prabang hospital for hospital director, Mr Buntan Bualapa. And it was sold out to him in 1986. In 1999, the house was converted to be Oudalon Guesthouse and changed to Spicylaos Backpackers in June 2008. We have an agreement under the new management, the family are still living in the house and helping out in the hostel.   >>The Social Aspect   We believe in sustaining tourism, to understand, to respect and to give something back to the country will help Laos’s tourism and culture become more sustainable. So we provide information on Laos’s history and culture (such as giving talks on Laos’s history and on Buddhism) and occasionally organize cultural trips to visit villages and to join local ceremonies and festivities. We also make donations such as donating our recycling to the recycle bank at The Children Cultural Centre (CCC) or providing scholarships to Buddhist schools and asking people to participate in the actions.   >>The Management   We would prefer to live in an old but fun and social house rather than to live in a brand new house but separately and lonely. So we concentrated our spending on providing facilities, which are totally different from other guesthouses, rather than on renovating this UNESCO house (Don’t expect a palace! It was, but it is not). Our delicious continental breakfast and the home theater system in our movie room are some of the things that people really enjoy in Spicylaos.   We created Spicylaos to be our home and family. And we run this hostel with Honesty, Trust and Care which are what we need in a family. Spicylaos is the only place where you will always get cool cheap Beer Laos from our honest system (There are no 24 hrs shop, all the bars are closed at 11:30 pm, even the latest bowling alley is closed at 3 pm). You can hang out in the common areas, drinking, chatting or watching a movie as long as you respect and care about the others by not creating any annoyances. We also need people to trust that we quote a reasonable price to keep Spicylaos running and to offer the best we can for our budget backpackers friends. Please note that we have to deal with such high expectations since lots of people have just come from Thailand or Vietnam where things are a lot cheaper than Laos.   >>The Achievements   -Spicylaos was voted by Hostelworld’s customers as The Best Hostel in Laos, Hostel Worldwide 2008. -Spicylaos gains its reputation among travelers for hostelling excellence within a very short time. -Above all, we are very proud that we can manage a modern hostel in Laos and get the family who still own and live in the house involved in running the hostel as a family business.     --------------End of Spicylaos Description------------------   >>What made you start Spicyhostels?   “Well, I worked as a tour guide after I finished university in English and tourism. It is a great job - I took people to visit a lot of tourist attractions, to eat in top restaurants, to stay in beautiful 4 or 5 stars hotels. It was a luxurious and well paid job. But after 9 years of working, I felt like I should have something of my own, something that I can do with my tour guide job. And I have to do it now while I am still young because if I get older, I am not going to start doing anything risky.   I had backpacked 3 months in Australia where I stayed in many hostels. I really liked the style of hostels: with common areas, facilities and activities organized to create fun and social atmosphere. This was so much different from what I had experienced from staying in budget guesthouses or luxury hotels. Then I knew I wanted to start a hostel. …As a country boy growing up on a farm and in the countryside, as an ex-novice monk learning, practicing and teaching Buddhism in temples for 6 years, and with my tour guide skills as well as friends in tourist businesses, I know I can add a lot more to my hostel.   So I started the Spicythai Backpackers in Chiang Mai on the 7th of September 2006. …It was incredible! Spicythai gained the great achievement for its first year with “Top 10 Overall hostels”, “Top 10 Facilities” and “The Best Atmosphere Awards” from Hostelbookers.com, recommended by Lonely Planet on a Shoestring, March 2008, and awarded “Top 3 Best Hostels in Asia 2007” by Hostelworld.com.   I have my business partner, my friend Noom, who will keep Spicythai running nice and spicy! Then I moved on to spread the spicy world to the next backpackers stop on SE Asia route, Luang Prabang. Spicylaos Backpackers has been here since 7th of June 2008.”   >>How does Spicyhostels gain its reputation for hostelling excellence among backpackers traveling in SE Asia within a very short time?   It is not only because it was set up by a backpacker who understands backpacking, but also because it is run by locals who understand their people, culture and country. We spice up the Spicyhostels with many different spices founded in the country to make it nice and spicy like its name.

Wegbeschreibung

Spicylaos (Former Oudalon Guesthouse which taxi drivers familiar with) is 300m south of Dara Market on Samsenthai Rd. next to the old hospital. It is only 15 minutes walk to the ferry pier and only 15 minutes to the airport or bus station by taxi.

5,000 Kips from the pier, 10,000 Kips from the bus station and 50,000 Kips from the airport.