How To Take Family To Laos For 2 Days ?

[Shrek]

Have read a couple of threads on this and am more confused !

• I am english with uk passport
  
• Wife is Thai with thai passport and ILR visa for UK
  
• Kids (age 7 and 9) are Thai with Thai passport and ILR visa for UK
  
• Old mum and dad in law are thai and just have ID card (dont think they have ever been out of Sakhon nakhon !!!)
  

Want to take them into Laos just for 2 days while we are there in November....they have never slept in a hotel....treat to say thank you for letting me spend my life with their wonderful daughter.

Where can I get into Laos ?

Who needs a visa ?

Can we get them at the border ?

Is Nong Khai the place to take them or is there anywhere worth seeing further south such as near Nakhon Phanom (much nearer our home in Sakhon nakhon) ?

They wont need excitement they are in their 60's just some beautiful scenery and a lovely meal at bedtime I think.

Thanks everyone.

[sjaak327]

Only yourself will need a visa, which can be obtained (at 1500 baht or 35 USD for UK citizens) at any border that is open to foreigners, with the exception of the main border between Laos and Cambodia, at that border, you will need a pre-arranged visa.

Your Children and wife, will get 30 days free of charge, your family in law, will only get a few days, as they only have a thai ID card, I believe the maximum is three days, they might have to pay a small fee for this border pass.

It really depends on what you want to do, Nakhom Phanom indeed is much closer then Nong khai, but it really depends, at Nong Khai, you are very close to Vientiane, the capital. Opposite Nakhom Phanom lies Thak Kaek, which is a nice little town, but not so nice as Vientiane.

Edit: I just read the last few lines of your post, if they like the nice scenery, Thak Kaek might be just for them, I always liked the view from the lime stone montains of Khamouane.

I usually use this border crossing (Nakhon Phanom - Thak Kaek) as it is very close to my in laws (which are Lao).

[Shrek]

Thank you so much great reply.

Are there decent hotels near Thak Kaek ? Dont have to be luxury just clean and fair price...we pay 1000bht per night in sakhon nakhon

Only yourself will need a visa, which can be obtained (at 1500 baht or 35 USD for UK citizens) at any border that is open to foreigners, with the exception of the main border between Laos and Cambodia, at that border, you will need a pre-arranged visa.

Your Children and wife, will get 30 days free of charge, your family in law, will only get a few days, as they only have a thai ID card, I believe the maximum is three days, they might have to pay a small fee for this border pass.

It really depends on what you want to do, Nakhom Phanom indeed is much closer then Nong khai, but it really depends, at Nong Khai, you are very close to Vientiane, the capital. Opposite Nakhom Phanom lies Thak Kaek, which is a nice little town, but not so nice as Vientiane.

Edit: I just read the last few lines of your post, if they like the nice scenery, Thak Kaek might be just for them, I always liked the view from the lime stone montains of Khamouane.

I usually use this border crossing (Nakhon Phanom - Thak Kaek) as it is very close to my in laws (which are Lao).

[sjaak327]

Even though I have never stayed in Thak Kaek, I know there are some decent guesthouses/hotels in that city. Not many though, for that Vientiane is a much better place.

Look here: http://www.travelfish.org/location/laos/so...mmuan/tha_khaek

Vientiane of course has ample accomodation, and might be better then Thak Khaek, more information on Vientiane is

http://www.travelfish.org/location/laos/vi...tiane/vientiane

Regarding travel time, from Sakhon Nakhon to Nong Khai and onwards to Vientiane, will take around 2,5 hours to Nong Khai and then a good half hour to Vientiane, to get from SN to Nakhon Phanom takes 1,5 hours, and a boat ride into Thak Khaek.

[Shrek]

fantastic

thanks

we can decide where to go later

will be nice for them to do some shopping and markets so maybe nong khae ?

might be a once in a lifetime trip out of the village so maybe a disco for old dad ?

take care

graham and kung

by the way, where/who are you

Even though I have never stayed in Thak Kaek, I know there are some decent guesthouses/hotels in that city. Not many though, for that Vientiane is a much better place.

Look here: http://www.travelfish.org/location/laos/so...mmuan/tha_khaek

Vientiane of course has ample accomodation, and might be better then Thak Khaek, more information on Vientiane is

http://www.travelfish.org/location/laos/vi...tiane/vientiane

Regarding travel time, from Sakhon Nakhon to Nong Khai and onwards to Vientiane, will take around 2,5 hours to Nong Khai and then a good half hour to Vientiane, to get from SN to Nakhon Phanom takes 1,5 hours, and a boat ride into Thak Khaek.

[sjaak327]

For shopping and disco, better go to Vientiane, Talat Sao (morning market) is kind of fun.

I'm currently in the Netherlands, but due to get into Thailand/Laos and Cambodia in about 4 weeks

[rak sa_ngop]

For shopping and disco, better go to Vientiane, Talat Sao (morning market) is kind of fun.

I'm currently in the Netherlands, but due to get into Thailand/Laos and Cambodia in about 4 weeks

What about doing a visa run bus trip with one of the visa-run companies. See Bangkok Post classifieds. I believe they take 2days/2 nights. Maybe you can get a discount if you do not actually need the Thai visa they offer.

[Shrek]

I dont think they do visa runs from saknon nakhon

There are no farang !

(well actually I think theres about 10) !

For shopping and disco, better go to Vientiane, Talat Sao (morning market) is kind of fun.

I'm currently in the Netherlands, but due to get into Thailand/Laos and Cambodia in about 4 weeks

What about doing a visa run bus trip with one of the visa-run companies. See Bangkok Post classifieds. I believe they take 2days/2 nights. Maybe you can get a discount if you do not actually need the Thai visa they offer.