Vientiane break
The Mercure is probably at the top end as regards price for hotels in Vientiane, but having said that, it is still far less than I pay for an acceptable hotel in Australia. For the money, what you get is a hotel that is perfect in every way. The staff are friendly, helpful and happy to be there, the hotel itself is clean, elegant, and scrupulously maintained. There is a lovely pool, and coffee/relaxing area. The rooms are large, clean and well furnished, and as an aside, one of the most comfortable beds I have found in Asia, with a clean, excellent bathroom. The breakfast is amazing, the usual Asian free cooked breakfast, but taken to the highest level. All facets of this hotel are perfect, and the staff work to keep it at that level. I cannot think of any criticism of this hotel, except one small point: it is not right on the river, rather a two or three minute tuktuk ride each time you want to go down to the busier river and market areas. Tuktuks are, of course, available at the front of the hotel. All in all, this hotel deserves the very best review I could give it.