Hotel Recommendations In Korat And Udon

[limbos]

Any tips on medium range hotels on Korat and Udon?

How about crossing into Laos, does need a visa or can you get it at the border, for both Thais and West Europeans. Thinking about visiting Vientaine.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Any tips on medium range hotels on Korat and Udon?

How about crossing into Laos, does need a visa or can you get it at the border, for both Thais and West Europeans. Thinking about visiting Vientaine.

For Korat I usually stay at the Sripattana Hotel, sure ain't fancy but it's adequate.  A relatively "new" place, built in 1968 I believe, right on top of the Lucky Seven Bar.  FYI, I was U.S. Army in Korat in '64, which makes the time "relative."  http://www.sripatana.com/

For Udorn, I like the Charoen Hotel, not sure when it was built, circa 1970 or so I'd bet.  Stay in the "old" wing on the right side.  Good restaurant for dinner, not all that great for breakfast.  http://www.udonthani.com/charoen/

Crossing over to Laos no problem, Visa On Arrival for farangs, Thai with passport, visa FREE.  Was just over there a couple weeks ago.

Mac

[limbos]

Cheers for that,

Do you know how much the visa fee is? The Thai passport visa is valid for how long?

Cheers,

Camille

[sutnyod]

Cheers for that,

Do you know how much the visa fee is? The Thai passport visa is valid for how long?

Cheers,

Camille

The fee depends on your nationality, but is usually approx. 30 USD. Bring a passport photograph for the application form. A single photocopy would cost you 1 USD.

I agree on the Charoen Hotel (not to be mixed up with Charoensri hotel, which is more expensive, loud and falling apart) for Udorn. When in Korat, I stay at K.C. Hotel (gosh, was it K.C.? something with a K and very close to "The Mall"). There is another hotel, very new, very cheap and very good right near the bus station (the one at Big C, the new one). Just cross the main road and continue. You'll see it. It's called Sabai or so. Haven't tried it, but heard good things about it.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Cheers for that,

Do you know how much the visa fee is? The Thai passport visa is valid for how long?

Cheers,

Camille

Lao visa fee was $36 for me, an American, as it was Sunday, $35 regular.  30 day stamp, same for my Thai wife on her free stamp.

Taxi runs baht 250-300 on into town.  If you want to charter the taxi for the day, probably get it for baht 1,000 +-.

Staying the night?  Mali Namphu guest house may be the best deal for th $$$ but often to usually FULL.  We've not made it in the door three times now w/o a reservation, which we didn't have.  Also looking very good is the Paris Hotel, right around the corner.

Mac

[limbos]

Thanks Thanyaburimac,

The Thai visa is on a Thai passport? Same location for application or do the Thais go somehwere else?

Any idea how easy or not it is to take your car into Laos, just to visit Vientainne?

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Thanks Thanyaburimac,

The Thai visa is on a Thai passport? Same location for application or do the Thais go somehwere else?

Any idea how easy or not it is to take your car into Laos, just to visit Vientainne?

Actually for Thai, it's a "visa free" entry, no Lao visa glued into the passport, just the entry and later the exit stamps on a page.

You'll queue at the Visa On Arrival window to fill out the form and wait for your visa.  She can wait with you.

Next both of you go on about 20 m to the 2-3 entry booths for your entry stamps.  After that there's another booth to pay a small fee, baht 10-20, but sometimes not even charged.  Then pass on towards the exit where a cop will look at your passports to verify that you've got an entry stamp, and out to the area to arrange your taxi, tuk tuk, van, whatever, on into Vientiane.

I've not tried to take my car on into Vientiane.  Obviously can be done as there's a lot of people doing so but does add to the paperwork.  To start with need a vehicle "passport" for your Thai registered car.  I really don't know the process for this.

I leave my car in the secure parking area on the Thai side in the back of the area where you catch the van/bus across the bridge.  Baht 100/day.  Never had a problem in 10++ years of doing so.

Mac

[limbos]

Thanks Mac,

You've been very helpfull, very much appreciated!

[abdulrahman]

Thanks Thanyaburimac,

Any idea how easy or not it is to take your car into Laos, just to visit Vientainne?

Not worth the effort if you stay in Vientiane for a few days.

If you want to visit the Country,Lao busses are cheap,but slow and umconfortable.

To bring the car,the owner must go to the Transport Office in NongKhai,they will issue a purple booklet with the vehicle number etc.,cost 180 Baht,it will be stamped at the border by Thai and Lao immigration,usual paperwork for export and import,250 Baht on the Lao side for car and driver,additional 50 Baht for every passenger,children 10 Baht.Lao insurance recommended,gasoline prices about the same as Thailand.

Have a nice trip!

[Spaniel]

On our last visit to Vientianne we stayed at the Mali Namphu Guest House. Here is their contact info and suggest you make a reservation: www.malinamphu.com e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]