Bangkok And Beyond...

[sillybilly]

I am thinking about heading to Loas after looking around Bangkok and am looking for any info or opinions or tips regarding ther best way to get there, visas, where to go and what to see.... Any ideas would be very welcomed thanks...

Should I organise my visa here in Aust or wait until I am in Bangkok?? Any idea of cost?? Thanks

[chownah]

I suggest taking the night train from Hualamphong train depot in Bangkok all the way to Nong Khai. Get a second class air con sleeper unless its in the cool season in which case a second class fan sleeper is fine...or aircon..whichever.

Then if you want spend a day or two in Nong Khai because it is a nice relaxed place to hang for a day or two...I'd say at the Mutt Mee guest house which is where I always stay in Nong Khai but there are other options as well.

After a couple of days in Nong Khai I would get to the border early in the morning and cross over to Lao. You can get a Lao visa right there...it might be a few dollars cheaper to get your visa overseas or at the Lao embassy in Bangkok but I have heard that its kind of a hassle and will take alot of time since the Lao embassy is sort of a long ways from the center of Bangkok but I don't know for sure since I've never done it that way...I always get the visa right at the border and spend the extra dollar or three.

In Vientianne I would stay at a guest house called Huen Lao. This means "Lao house"....you can also call the place "Baan Lao" which is the Thai equivalent to "Huen Lao"....the tuk tuk drivers all seem to know where this one is. Its not the cheapest place but it is very relaxed and quiet but still not far from the attractions.

I don't like Vientianne much but if you've never seen it you should probably stay a couple days...I would say three days max...its not a very interesting place in my opinion.

From there you could go north or south...up to you.