Satri House

A hundred years ago the compound that’s now home to Satri House, just outside the old Luang Prabang city center, was the residence of the last prince of Laos. The old house, meticulously preserved, still stands as a monument to classic Indochine design — and in fact the hotel’s flagship Satri House suites are found here in the original structure. And while the rest of the accommodations occupy newer additions to the compound, they’re decorated in a similarly genteel colonial-luxe style, full of antiques and artworks, resulting in an atmosphere that’s convincingly regal and absolutely serene.

The deluxe rooms are swanky enough, but the junior suites add more space as well as bathtubs separate from their walk-in showers. A restaurant serves breakfast, a light lunch, and an elaborate dinner, all in a colonial-style space with a terrace overlooking the gardens. Two pools and a small spa turn the Satri House from an elegant boutique hotel into something approximating a resort experience, and you’ve also got ample opportunity to get out and about — Luang Prabang’s famous night market is close by, the Mekong River even closer, and the neighborhood is home to a surprising variety of restaurants and cafés.