Syri Guesthouse Vientiane Hostel & Cafe

Stayed for 3 nights in a private en-suite room and couldn’t have asked for more. The room was clean, quiet and cool. Bed was on a mezzanine, which was quite cute. The there were two comfy sofas in the main bit of the room. Location was excellent, putting us in walking distance of the key sights and the riverfront. We had breakfast at La Terrace (under 10 mins walk), which had French bread as good as Paris. Loads of eateries nearby, as well as locals going about their daily lives. The tennis club next door was really friendly and had good priced, cold beers. There is a running track next door too, which needs some TLC, but was fine for a morning run. The staff were helpful and the shady terrace was nice to sit at and eat your takeaway (or the guesthouse breakkie if you had it).

I think the review title sums it up. It felt more like a hostel than a guesthouse. While the staff was very friendly, the premises were run-down. The common areas were not so clean and without proper lighting. The bedroom was not as nice as the pictures showed. The room assigned to us had only a glass wall separating the bedroom from the bathroom area, so if you are planning to stay here and need toilet/shower privacy, ask to see the room first. We ended up moving to a hotel after the first night, unfortunately. On the positive side, the resident pets are adorable, the location is great, and the staff is great. I must add that it is hard to find good budget-friendly hotels in this part of Laos.