Lao Pride Forum - My trip to Laos.

chuck

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My trip to Laos.
21^st Mar, 2011 at 2:15pm

Hi guys,

As some of you guys already know Im making a trip to Laos this April or May, I really need some info about accommodation, food, transportation and just about anything I need to know.

I really wonder if there is any budget hotel below $20 USD? I found some at about 30 to 50 USD which is over my budget if I stay for 3 days or more.

How much is enough for 3 meals a day?

I've checked with ministry of foreign affair of Malaysia and visa is not required for visitting any ASEAN countries except Myanmar. I supposed there shouldn't be a problem with my arrival? If visa is required I believe I can have my visa done on arrival according to many websites? Yes?

I can't think of any other questions now but Im sure I will have more questions later

Hopefully someone can help me with this

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Admin Saovaluck

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Re: My trip to Laos.
Reply #1 - 21^st Mar, 2011 at 5:40pm

Laong Dao 1 Hotel is affordable for you. The cheapest rooms cost 100,000 kip ($13 US) per night. Laong Dao 2 Hotel is also not too far away, at 150,000 kip ($19 US) per night. You may also want to consider guesthouses, if you are on a tight budget.

Cost of meals depends if you are having them alone or with your girlfriend. Speaking of her, why won't she cook for you, and provide accommodation at her place, so that you spend less?

If you're required to have a visa in the worst case scenerio, then yes it can be done on arrival.

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chuck

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Re: My trip to Laos.
Reply #2 - 22^nd Mar, 2011 at 9:31am

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 21^st Mar, 2011 at 5:40pm:

Hi Admin,

Thank you for such valuable info. Well upon my arrival at Vientiane I will meet up with my girlfriend and check into a hotel because it will be quite late and she said there wont be any buses to her village by that time.

She is from Bolikhamxay province, the next day I will go to Ministry of Foreign Affair to get some information about Single Status Letter and what need to be done etc. If everything goes well then we will be on our way to her village. Averagely how much for 3 meals a day?

I would like to buy the costume for wedding though if my budget is sufficient for that.

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Admin Saovaluck

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Re: My trip to Laos.
Reply #3 - 22^nd Mar, 2011 at 10:25am

I'm surprised you don't know the average prices of meals in Laos because I thought you said you've met your girlfriend, or did you meet her in another country?

You can get by with $10 US for 3 meals a day for yourself. That's if you know where to buy your food, and you don't go to pricey restaurants.

Just to give you the average price of some foods at mid-range restaurants:

Fried rice with chicken, pork or beef = $1.70 US
Fried rice with prawns = $2 US
Noodle dish = $1.50 US
Lao style sandwich = $1 US
Hamburger = $2.50 US
A piece of fried chicken and chips = $1 US
Buffet style meals = $6 US

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chuck

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Re: My trip to Laos.
Reply #4 - 22^nd Mar, 2011 at 10:35am

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 22^nd Mar, 2011 at 10:25am:

Hi there,

Haha! Yes! I met her in Thailand the southern town which is by the border of Thailand and Malaysia. That is why

$10 USD for 3 meals a day in Vientiane is a bit higher than Malaysia.
Oh I need help with telecommunication, I don't have a Laos number and Im still trying to figure out how to call my girlfriend when I reach there. Is it possible to get a Lao sim pack in the airport?

I thought Thai number works in Vientiane because I've called my girlfriend's Thai number when she reached Vientiane but when she got further out of Vientiane there's no more reception. I guess this is because Vientiane is very close by the Thai border with small towns below Vientiane that is why the Thai number still works in Vientiane.

I was thinking about getting a Thai number if it works so that I can still call her when I reach Vientiane just in case it wont work I will have to get a Lao number as soon as I reach Vientiane.
How much it cost for a starter sim pack then?

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Admin Saovaluck

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Re: My trip to Laos.
Reply #5 - 22^nd Mar, 2011 at 11:06am

You want to eat something decent, that's why I gave you the average cost of $10 US.

It sounds like you're on a very tight budget. You can spend $3-$5 USD for 3 meals, but you have to be willing to eat like the locals. And that I mean buy roadside foods that are exposed to dust, flies and other insects.

Yes, the phone reception outside of Vientiane can be poor. You can buy a sim card in Laos and use a Lao number, they're not too expensive. Tigo sim cards are the cheapest at about $3 US, but the reception is not as good as other companies such as Enterprise of Telecommunications (ETL) and M-Phone.

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chuck

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Re: My trip to Laos.
Reply #6 - 22^nd Mar, 2011 at 11:11am

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 22^nd Mar, 2011 at 11:06am:

Well, not really on a very tight budget that is just a comparison of the living cost of Vientiane and Malaysia. Are there 24hours convenient stores like 7-11 or K-Mart in Laos? Where can I get the sim cards?

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Admin Saovaluck

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Re: My trip to Laos.
Reply #7 - 22^nd Mar, 2011 at 11:26am

They are sold in a phone shop. We have Mini Marts and Chemists that are open late, but I'm not sure if they sell sim cards.

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llX God Member Offline "Absolute power corrupt." Posts: 2685 Gender: Age: 36 Awards: 2	Re: My trip to Laos. Reply #8 - 22^nd Mar, 2011 at 5:26pm Good infor and great prices. Thank. Admin Saovaluck wrote on 22^nd Mar, 2011 at 10:25am: Fried rice with chicken, pork or beef = $1.70 US Fried rice with prawns = $2 US Noodle dish = $1.50 US Lao style sandwich = $1 US Hamburger = $2.50 US A piece of fried chicken and chips = $1 US Buffet style meals = $6 US
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Tee

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Re: My trip to Laos.
Reply #9 - 22^nd Mar, 2011 at 7:57pm

chuck wrote on 21^st Mar, 2011 at 2:15pm:

Hopefully someone can help me with this

Hi Chuck

Thank you for plan to visit my birth place! May I suggest a nice place to stay..I was there last November. Avolon hotel. a single room is $15 per night and break-first is include. Hire a motor-bike for a few day.($6-7)per day. this will work out cheaper to catch the local Tuk-Tuk and a freedom to go every where.

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chuck

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Re: My trip to Laos.
Reply #10 - 24^th Mar, 2011 at 9:30am

Tee wrote on 22^nd Mar, 2011 at 7:57pm:

chuck wrote on 21^st Mar, 2011 at 2:15pm:

Hopefully someone can help me with this

Hi Tee,

Thank you for such usefull info

Single room as in single bed? I'll be staying with my girlfriend for a night or two.

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chuck Junior Member Offline I Love Laos! Posts: 66	Re: My trip to Laos. Reply #11 - 24^th Mar, 2011 at 9:32am Is anyone familiar with Pha Muang, Bolikhamxay?
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William Kelley Ex Member	Re: My trip to Laos. Reply #12 - 24^th Mar, 2011 at 9:53am I'm not. Is this where your girlfriend is from? Why haven't you put a picture of her on here yet?
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chuck Junior Member Offline I Love Laos! Posts: 66	Re: My trip to Laos. Reply #13 - 24^th Mar, 2011 at 6:41pm I will put 1 when I have it in my pc. The picture I have is in an old Nokia phone and it's not even clear.
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chuck Junior Member Offline I Love Laos! Posts: 66	Re: My trip to Laos. Reply #14 - 3^rd Apr, 2011 at 5:48pm Hey there, Ive been away for some time. I was wondering whether there is a money changer in the airport? Im sure there must be a few money changers in Vientiane. Can anyone give me the USD to Lao Kip exchange rate now in Vientiane?
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