The tranquil Rosewood Luang Prabang with a stream flowing through
It's hard to imagine that Luang Prabang, a small city in what seems like a poor country like Laos, would have so many luxury hotels opening one after another. Following the minimalist luxury style of Aman Group (I'm not an Aman fan, so I won't elaborate), which is the most selective in location, came the Rosewood designed by my favorite designer Bill Bensley.
If anyone still calls this place poor, I'll make you book me a week's stay at this hotel!
With only 23 suites/villas/glamping tents, a small waterfall runs through the property, and the soothing white noise of flowing water can be heard in every room, ensuring superb sleep quality.
Each room has its own theme, from the first person to draw a world map to celebrities who have visited Laos. My favorite is the tent villa filled with ethnic costumes and red lanterns hanging from the beams. The bar is set on the balcony, supported by a dozen wooden poles, with transparent plastic raincloth replacing one wall. The bathtub and outdoor sofa facing the jungle truly captured my heart.
To understand Bill Bensley's design, you must consider three aspects:
1 More is more, there is never too much more.
The layering of multiple colors and objects is one of his signatures. This intricate stacking actually tests the skill of coordination and aesthetics—how to blend high-saturation colors without being tacky, and how to arrange objects in a way that feels chaotic yet stylish, forming a distinctive style. Cloisonné-patterned porcelain, colorful stools, tiger-print carpets, and the interplay of sapphire blue, bright red, pink, and yellow create a sense of "fullness" without clutter, and "richness" without gaudiness.
2 The embodiment of geometric shapes, from large to small.
Geometry is always Bill's language. From the geometric collage of private pools in villas to the mosaic patterns in bathrooms, the framed geometric shapes on walls, and the arched lines of Middle Eastern-style screens dividing bedrooms and living spaces—these elements create an Arabian Nights atmosphere, transitioning from form to spirit.
3 Carefully crafted botanical language.
The hotel has flat areas, steps, and suspension bridges... Rooms are scattered across the hillside. While Bill's landscaping might seem limited here, his unique eye for selecting plants shines through. Each plant serves a purpose—some for privacy screening, others for outlining outdoor visual lines, or low bamboo filling exposed soil on slopes. Every plant is thoughtfully placed. Of course, luxury means spending on details you might not notice—maintaining these plants, keeping them at the right height, and replacing them annually incurs significant costs. Post-construction upkeep is challenging.
Of course, the hotel has obvious drawbacks: 1 Built on mountainous terrain, many rooms are only accessible on foot, with no golf cart service. But when you check into such a hotel, you should just stay put and not go anywhere. 2 With only one restaurant and one bar, staying for a night or two is fine, but venturing out for meals becomes inconvenient due to the distance from downtown. 3 Construction noise from a new luxury hotel being built by Chinese investors on the opposite hill might disturb guests. 4 While the rooms are beautiful, they're expensive (starting at $1,000+), and the 50+ sqm size feels somewhat small.
Honestly, this place is solid. A truly secluded hotel in an already remote small town—right up my alley!