What a night costs
| 🛏️ Hostel dorm bed | $5–$10/night |
| 🚪 Private room (hostel/guesthouse) | $13–$24/night |
| 🏨 Budget hotel / Airbnb room | $18–$35/night |
Full backpacker daily budget for Laos (bed + food + local transport + fun): about $28/day shoestring or $48/day flashpacker.
Where to stay
Near Nam Phou fountain for the compact centre.
Local tip
💡 Most travellers only need a night or two — it's a transit stop, spend your Laos time in Luang Prabang / Vang Vieng.
The clean-bed formula
Filter to rating ≥ 8.3 with 150+ reviews, then read the recent negative reviews — that's where the cleanliness truth lives. Prefer free-cancellation rates; plans change, especially yours.