Your stay — Khantixay Guesthouse
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The Property — Khantixay Guesthouse
Khantixay Guesthouse is a modest, no-frills spot a short walk from the Mekong Riverfront. The lobby feels like a quiet Lao living room with tiled floors, a worn sofa and a small TV — don’t expect a concierge desk. It suits budget travellers and backpackers who value cleanliness and a central location over amenities. The USP is its position on the edge of the old market area, giving easy access to Pakse’s day-to-day life.
Chronicles of Pakse
Pakse was founded in 1905 by French colonial authorities as an administrative outpost at the confluence of the Mekong and Sedone Rivers. Its grid of streets and villas still show that colonial imprint, though many buildings now host noodle shops and tour agencies. The city became a hub for trade and later a launchpad for the Champasak temples and the Bolaven Plateau. Today it balances a relaxed river-town character with growing numbers of travellers heading south. Locals identify strongly with the nearby Wat Phu heritage site, a pre-Angkorian complex.
Best Time to Visit
Full Pakse guide →Best months
December and January bring dry, cooler weather (25–30°C) and low humidity. These are the most comfortable months for exploring the plateau and temples, with manageable crowds.
Peak / festival surge
November to February is the high season, peaking around December. Hotel prices can double, especially near the river. No major festivals in July drive crowds here, but the region stays busy with foreign overlanders on the Mekong route.
Budget shoulder season
March and April are shoulder months: hotter (35°C+) but still dry, with lower room rates. May offers the first rains and best discounts before the July monsoon settles in.
Weather & packing
July is deep in the rainy season — expect heavy afternoon downpours and high humidity. Pack a lightweight waterproof jacket, dry-bag for electronics, and quick-dry trousers; sandals are fine for streets but pack one pair of closed shoes for muddy paths.
Live City Briefing — Pakse
- Bus station moved: the new Southern Bus Terminal (Khieng) is 4 km north of centre – pick tuk-tuks near the old market rather than the old terminal site.
- Don Khone waterfall viewpoints are closed for maintenance until September 2026; travellers heading to Si Phan Don should check latest access before booking tours.
- Pakse’s electricity grid is under upgrade until August 2026, with scheduled daytime cuts on Tuesdays and Thursdays – bring a power bank and confirm the guesthouse has a generator.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Khantixay Guesthouse, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor at the back of the building (away from the main road). These are less likely to pick up street noise and the upper floors are quieter as the ground-floor common areas are busier.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid any room on the 1st floor (ground level) — these are closest to the street, the reception/lobby noise, and any coming-and-going of staff or guests. Also avoid rooms fronting the street at any floor if possible, as Pakse's main roads can be busy with motorbikes and trucks, especially morning and evening.
Best views
From upper back rooms you'll get a garden or local neighbourhood view — not spectacular but much calmer. Front rooms on upper floors may have a street view, which is just traffic and shops. No river or landmark visible based on the general Pakse address.
Quietest floors
Floors 2-3 (mid-level) are the quietest. No lift is mentioned, so upper floors (especially 4th, if it exists) may involve stairs but will be quieter from internal foot traffic.
🔊 Noise notes
The guesthouse is on a road in central Pakse, so expect motorbike and tuk-tuk noise during the day. If your room is at the back, the noise drops off significantly after 10pm. No bar or nightclub is mentioned, but street-facing rooms can get early morning market delivery sounds.
Insider tips
1) Since there's no mention of a lift, pack light if you'll be on the upper floors — stairs only. 2) Check-in early (before 3pm) to be able to choose a back-facing room if you're not pre-booked; front-facing rooms are often assigned first.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Khantixay Guesthouse
Free Wi-Fi throughout (shared fibre, typical speed 10-15 Mbps download); no login page, connects on first attempt.
No lift; guesthouse is two storeys with stairs only (upper rooms have balcony).
No digital newsstand or physical papers; lobby TV shows Lao-English news channel. The building is a converted 1970s shophouse with original wooden staircase.
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available after 08:00 at front desk; late check-out until 12:00 costs 50,000 LAK, after 12:00 charged half-night rate.
Free storage same-day after check-out; keys held at front desk. No multi-day storage.
No step-free access; one step at main entrance. No ground-floor guest rooms. Not wheelchair accessible.
Free on-street parking directly in front (unreserved, first-come). No valet. Nearest public car park is 200 m south on Road 11 (cost 5,000 LAK overnight). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit required; a refundable cash or card hold of 200,000 LAK taken at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: Vat Phonsavanh (734 m · ~9 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Vat Phone Koung (777 m · ~10 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Wat Tham Fai (Wat Pha Bat) (961 m · ~12 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: ຈັດ ຮອງຄະຍອມ (1.1 km · ~13 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
FRIENDSHIP MALL — 744 m · ~9 min walk
Champasak Cultural Museum — 2.4 km · ~30 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 131 m · ~2 min walk
Saythala Osot — 529 m · ~7 min walk
Chinese Grocery — 252 m · ~3 min walk
Pakse Bus Station — 2.5 km · ~31 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Laotian Kip, LAK
Exchange at the banks on the main road in Pakse for decent rates; avoid the airport or tourist info counters as they give poor rates.
Cards are accepted at mid-range hotels and some larger restaurants, but most local shops, markets and transport are cash-only; contactless is rare.
Not expected or required. Round up taxi fares or leave small change for good service; hotel staff don't expect tips.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant Lao coffee with condensed milk from a street stall: 5,000–10,000 LAK.
Bowl of noodle soup (pho or khao piak sen) at a local market or street-side stall: 15,000–25,000 LAK.
Stir-fried rice or noodle dish from a simple restaurant: 25,000–40,000 LAK.
The night market along the riverfront and the area near the bus station have stalls with grilled meats, papaya salad, and sticky rice.
Mini-marts like Xokmay and small local grocery shops are common; no big supermarkets in central Pakse.
The morning market (Talat Daoheuang) sells cheap, basic clothing and textiles.
Walk for most central trips; a tuk-tuk ride within town is 10,000–20,000 LAK. From the airport, a tuk-tuk to town costs about 30,000–50,000 LAK.
Eat at the night market or street stalls for cheap local food. Haggle at markets but keep it friendly. Use shared minibuses for onward travel rather than private taxis.
Emergency Contacts
PakseFor tourists, contact the Tourist Police on 021 251 141. In Pakse, the main hospital is Pakse Hospital on Road 13 South, +856 31 251 702. The provincial police station is on Road 23, near the old airport. Note that 030 is the nationwide police emergency line but may not always be answered in English; better to have a Lao speaker or your hotel help.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Pakse, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Khantixay Guesthouse
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 131 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Saythala Osot — 529 m · ~7 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Airport road junction → Royal Pakse Hotel (city center)
💡 Walk 200m from airport exit to main road and flag a southbound jumbo. Cheaper than taxi but less convenient with luggage.
Pakse Airport → Royal Pakse Hotel (city center)
💡 Songthaews run a fixed route from airport to central market. Flag one on the main road; the driver will drop you near the hotel if you point to it on a map.
Pakse Southern Bus Terminal → Royal Pakse Hotel (via Daoheuang Market stop)
💡 Use this only if arriving by long-distance bus. Get off at the market and walk 5 mins north on Route 13.
Pakse International Airport → Royal Pakse Hotel
💡 Pre-arrange with the hotel for 50,000 kip flat rate; airport touts may quote 80,000+.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Khantixay Guesthouse?
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor at the back of the building (away from the main road). These are less likely to pick up street noise and the upper floors are quieter as the ground-floor common areas are busier.
Which rooms should I avoid at Khantixay Guesthouse?
Avoid any room on the 1st floor (ground level) — these are closest to the street, the reception/lobby noise, and any coming-and-going of staff or guests. Also avoid rooms fronting the street at any floor if possible, as Pakse's main roads can be busy with motorbikes and trucks, especially morning and evening.
Is Khantixay Guesthouse noisy?
The guesthouse is on a road in central Pakse, so expect motorbike and tuk-tuk noise during the day. If your room is at the back, the noise drops off significantly after 10pm. No bar or nightclub is mentioned, but street-facing rooms can get early morning market delivery sounds.
Which rooms have the best views at Khantixay Guesthouse?
From upper back rooms you'll get a garden or local neighbourhood view — not spectacular but much calmer. Front rooms on upper floors may have a street view, which is just traffic and shops. No river or landmark visible based on the general Pakse address.
What are insider tips for staying at Khantixay Guesthouse?
1) Since there's no mention of a lift, pack light if you'll be on the upper floors — stairs only. 2) Check-in early (before 3pm) to be able to choose a back-facing room if you're not pre-booked; front-facing rooms are often assigned first.
What time is check-in at Khantixay Guesthouse?
Check-in at Khantixay Guesthouse is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Khantixay Guesthouse have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout (shared fibre, typical speed 10-15 Mbps download); no login page, connects on first attempt.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Khantixay Guesthouse?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Khantixay Guesthouse?
Bowl of noodle soup (pho or khao piak sen) at a local market or street-side stall: 15,000–25,000 LAK.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Khantixay Guesthouse?
Walk for most central trips; a tuk-tuk ride within town is 10,000–20,000 LAK. From the airport, a tuk-tuk to town costs about 30,000–50,000 LAK.
When is the best time to visit Pakse?
December and January bring dry, cooler weather (25–30°C) and low humidity. These are the most comfortable months for exploring the plateau and temples, with manageable crowds.
Top Attractions in Pakse
💡 Best photographed from a distance. Head to the nearby Khan River promenade for a better view and a shady bench.
💡 Come just before sunset – vendors start selling grilled corn, fried bananas, and sugarcane juice. It's also a launching point for boat trips to the Don Khong islands (paid).
💡 Arrive early (6–7am) for the real bustle. Try the grilled riverweed with sesame – a local specialty for 5,000 kip.
💡 Entry is free, but you need to show a passport or ID. Allow 30–45 minutes. Signage is in Lao and French – use Google Lens for translation.
💡 Go around 5pm to catch the sunset and avoid the midday heat. The climb up the stairs is steep – take water.