If you prefer to avoid the hustle and bustle, such as it is in a small yet popular tourist town of Luang Prabang Villa Santi Resort outside of town proper is a good option. The grounds are charming and very well kept with small rice paddy, water Lilly ponds, wooden bridges and pavilions. The resort has its own tidy vegetable gardens on the premises
The rooms are spacious and comfortable. They might smell a bit musty upon arrival, run your air con for a bit to help or ask for a lemon grass mosquito candle from the reception for a nice smell.

Breakfast is plentiful with many choices, fresh egg and omelets as well and including a rarity in this part of the world-yoghurt! There is a big pool, but in the winter it might be too cold to swim. (incidentally don't forget to borrow a pool towel if you want to take a dip in Kuang Si waterfalls- a nice excursion). in the evening there is live traditional music with a beautiful dancer who changes costumes with every new piece of music.
If you stay a few days you might be surprised to find that the nightly menu special does not change-it continued to be cous cous (really, in Laos??) with a glass of wine.

The outside of town location is not a big hindrance as there is a regular open air shuttle that takes people into town and back at regular intervals, first one at 10 am and last one coming back at 10 pm, time enough to have dinner in town after shopping at the Night Market. Should you want to schedule your own departure in particular if you want to see the monks collecting alms at 6 am you can arrange this for $3 per person. There are no village alms collections close by, unfortunately. It is fun to rent bikes in town ($3 per day) as it is easily navigable and pretty flat. There is one rental station right next to drop off shuttle location at Villa Santi hotel in town, though their bikes are not the newest models.

They also pick up and drop of at the airport. You might need a sweater riding in the evening as it is open on the sides.

They can arrange transport to the waterfalls (don't miss the very well set up Sun bear orphanage walking on the way to it). You can also take a tuk there from town but it is quite a distance. We saw some young sporty people riding mountain bikes there from town but it is quite uphill. They will also arrange a boat ride to Pak O caves, but you can probably arrange a cheaper deal with the boatmen at the Mekong river. The ride is lovely, the caves really nothing special. An afternoon ride is nice as the sunset on the river is dry colorful with layers of hills surrounding the river.

Difficult to find better location. When you want o see the monks in the morning receiving food , just step out of the door. Shops restaurants, night market are within walking distance. Hotel is built in an old French colonial style house and belongs to a relative of he ex king. Breakfast on the balcony or the main room in the morning is nice. bedrooms: comfort of beds is ok (although mine was a bit squeaky) . Our room is the lowest category but ok and not too small. Apart from the fridge quite noisy when it starts , the room is comfortable and clean. A place with a soul!

Villa Santi used to be the best hotel in town. It has incredible charm of the old days with a grand entrance hall and traditional Laotian furniture, a courtyard with a fountain, and a wonderful breakfast room upstairs with a balcony to sit outside and see the world go by. The room is spacious and traditional, and has all the comfort one needs. The Beaux Art school is right behind, and a wat across the street, while otherwise located in the less busy part of town, yet still close enough.