Your stay — Stay hostel
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Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Stay hostel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the upper floors (3rd or 4th) at the back of the building, away from the street-facing side. These rooms will be quieter and have less foot traffic from the common areas.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the reception or entrance, as they can be noisy from guests coming and going. Also avoid rooms directly facing the street, as the front of the hotel may pick up local motorbike and truck noise.
Best views
Thakhek is a small town, so views are modest. Upper-floor rooms at the back may overlook local rooftops and trees; street-facing rooms offer a view of the road and passing traffic, which is less appealing.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are likely the quietest, being furthest from street level and any ground-floor common areas.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise on the front side can be significant, especially from trucks and motorbikes on the main road. If there is a bar or restaurant on the ground floor, expect some noise until around 10-11pm. The hotel's own air-conditioning units might also hum on the lower walls.
Insider tips
1) Check in early if possible to secure a back-facing upper room — these are usually the first to go. 2) If you're on a motorbike, ask if there's secure parking around the back or in a locked area at night, as street parking is not always safe.
- 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 — Stay hostel
Free for all guests, speed about 10 Mbps down, no login; one device per room, ask for extra code if needed.
No lift; all rooms on ground and first floors accessed by stairs only.
Free digital Laos daily news link sent to your phone each morning; building is a converted 1950s shophouse with original wooden shutters.
Check-in 14:00–22:00, earlier bag drop possible; late checkout until 12:00 costs 30,000 LAK, 12:00–14:00 costs 50,000 LAK, after 14:00 charges full night.
Free for same-day before check-in and after checkout; overnight storage 10,000 LAK per bag.
No step-free access; two steps at main entrance and stairs to upper rooms; ground-floor rooms available but have a small step into bathroom.
On-site free parking for 4 scooters; street parking for cars available (no charge, but unsecured). Nearest public car park: Thakhek Bus Terminal lot, free, 5 min walk.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full advance payment via bank transfer or card; incidentals hold 50,000 LAK per person at check-in, refunded on checkout.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: Wat Nabo (461 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Saint Louis Cathedral (565 m · ~7 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: วัดมหาธาตุ (1.7 km · ~22 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: วัดพระอินทร์แปลง (1.8 km · ~22 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Fountain Square — 105 m · ~1 min walk
MAG UXO Visitor Centre — 214 m · ~3 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 486 m · ~6 min walk
Chantaly — 268 m · ~3 min walk
Mrs. Nangsbsundry — 185 m · ~2 min walk
Thakhek — 506 m · ~6 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Lao Kip, LAK
Exchange cash at the many private exchange booths along the main street in Thakhek town; banks and ATMs give a poorer rate and airport bureaux are scarce.
Cards are accepted only at mid-range hotels and a handful of larger restaurants; most shops, guesthouses, and street stalls require cash.
Tipping is not expected but small change ( 5,000–10,000 Kip) for good service at a sit-down meal or a few thousand Kip for a driver is appreciated.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant coffee or a basic Lao iced coffee from a street stall costs around 8,000–12,000 Kip.
A bowl of noodle soup (pho or khao piak) from a local market stall is about 15,000–20,000 Kip.
A simple stir-fry or fried rice with a drink from a neighbourhood eatery runs 25,000–40,000 Kip.
The main evening market along the Mekong riverfront and the central Thakhek morning market have the densest cheap-eats stalls.
Local minimarts like Phimphone and the larger Thakhek Supermarket on the main road stock basics at low prices.
The Thakhek morning market sells local clothing and cheap imported casual wear; no dedicated budget high street.
A tuk-tuk ride within town starts at 10,000 Kip per person; renting a bicycle ( 20,000–30,000 Kip/day) is the cheapest way to get around. From the airport (Thakhek Airport) a shared songthaew into town is about 30,000 Kip per person.
1) Always carry small bills (1,000–10,000 Kip) as change is often scarce. 2) Buy bottled water and snacks from the minimarts, not stalls at tourist spots. 3) Eat at the morning market for the cheapest meals.
Emergency Contacts
ThakhekThese numbers are local to Thakhek. For all Laos emergencies, 1195 works for ambulance, 1190 for police, 1198 for fire – but reach may be patchy. Keep your hotel front desk number handy; they often have direct contacts. The district hospital is at the north end of town on Route 13.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Thakhek, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Stay hostel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 486 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Chantaly — 268 m · ~3 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
→
💡 Thakhek has no trams or metro. For short trips, consider renting a bicycle (10,000-15,000 LAK/day) from a shop near the river – the town is compact and flat.
Nakhon Phanom Airport (KOP), Thailand → Mouthong Guesthouse, Thakhek
💡 Book through the guesthouse for a fixed rate and to ensure the driver knows the unpaved road near the Mekong. Cross the border at Thakhek Friendship Bridge; the driver handles immigration paperwork.
Thakhek Central Market (Talat Lao) → Mouthong Guesthouse
💡 Negotiate the fare before getting in – drivers start at 50,000 LAK. If you're coming from the bus station, walk 200m south to the main road to avoid inflated 'station taxis'. Most tuk-tuks are three-wheeled converted motorcycles.
Thakhek Bus Station (central terminal) → Mouthong Guesthouse (near the Mekong riverfront)
💡 Flag down the bus on Tha Nang Road heading south towards the river. Ask the driver to stop at the 'Mouthong' turn-off – it's a dirt track down to the guesthouse, a 2-minute walk. Buses are rare after 17:00.
About Thakhek
Wikipedia ↗
Thakhek (Lao: ທ່າແຂກ, pronounced [tʰāː kʰɛ̏ːk]), the capital of Khammouane Province, is a town in south-central Laos on the Mekong River and the administrative centre of the district with the same name. The Third Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge, linking Thakhek and Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, across the riv...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Stay hostel?
Request a room on the upper floors (3rd or 4th) at the back of the building, away from the street-facing side. These rooms will be quieter and have less foot traffic from the common areas.
Which rooms should I avoid at Stay hostel?
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the reception or entrance, as they can be noisy from guests coming and going. Also avoid rooms directly facing the street, as the front of the hotel may pick up local motorbike and truck noise.
Is Stay hostel noisy?
Street noise on the front side can be significant, especially from trucks and motorbikes on the main road. If there is a bar or restaurant on the ground floor, expect some noise until around 10-11pm. The hotel's own air-conditioning units might also hum on the lower walls.
Which rooms have the best views at Stay hostel?
Thakhek is a small town, so views are modest. Upper-floor rooms at the back may overlook local rooftops and trees; street-facing rooms offer a view of the road and passing traffic, which is less appealing.
What are insider tips for staying at Stay hostel?
1) Check in early if possible to secure a back-facing upper room — these are usually the first to go. 2) If you're on a motorbike, ask if there's secure parking around the back or in a locked area at night, as street parking is not always safe.
What time is check-in at Stay hostel?
Check-in at Stay hostel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Stay hostel have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests, speed about 10 Mbps down, no login; one device per room, ask for extra code if needed.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Stay hostel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Stay hostel?
A bowl of noodle soup (pho or khao piak) from a local market stall is about 15,000–20,000 Kip.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Stay hostel?
A tuk-tuk ride within town starts at 10,000 Kip per person; renting a bicycle ( 20,000–30,000 Kip/day) is the cheapest way to get around. From the airport (Thakhek Airport) a shared songthaew into town is about 30,000 Kip per person.
Top Attractions in Thakhek
💡 Bring a tin of beer from a shop for 5,000 kip and sit on the concrete steps. The sun sets around 6:30pm year-round.
💡 The main stupa is closed to tourists, but walk behind it to see the small Buddha statues and get a view over the Mekong.
💡 Buy a bag of sticky rice with grilled fish for breakfast—costs about 10,000 kip. Opens at 5am when the boats arrive.
💡 Combine with a walk along the riverfront path to the north—you'll spot old French colonial buildings along the way.
💡 Go early (8am) to avoid crowds. Hire the boat from the village directly, not a tour agent in town—half the price.