Christopher Elliott

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can't. He's the author of numerous books on consumer advocacy and writes three nationally syndicated columns. He also publishes the Elliott Report, a news site for consumers, and Elliott Confidential, a critically acclaimed newsletter about customer service. If you have a consumer problem you can't solve, contact him directly through his advocacy website. You can also follow him on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or sign up for his daily newsletter.
UNESCO-protected Luang Prabang is one of Southeast Asia’s most picturesque cities—but its rising tourism comes with environmental costs. From a plastic-free hotel to methane-reducing buffalo blocks, local innovators are pushing for a model of sustainability that preserves culture and empowers the community. Can these efforts shape a more responsible future for Laos?

Can a green hotel (and a side of buffalo milk) save Luang Prabang?

A visit to Luang Prabang in Laos feels like stepping back in time. French colonial buildings line streets next to the slow-moving Mekong River. Buddhist monks in their saffron robes collect alms at dawn. The famous night market, with its street food vendors, beckons you with traditional Lao dishes like Khao Niaw, a sticky rice, or steamed fish.