Got to go and sort out my visa next week, just wondering about recent reports regarding the journey. Are the buses running ok, and if anyone can recommend a particular bus company to go with that would be ace.

Also as far as I know the bus doesnt go to the border, is that right..?

nok air have a promo at the moment chiang mai to Udon Thani. 1100 each-way. From there it is one hour bus to the border or two to Vientiane. 12 hour bus journey to Udon makes no appeal!

nok air have a promo at the moment chiang mai to Udon Thani. 1100 each-way. From there it is one hour bus to the border or two to Vientiane. 12 hour bus journey to Udon makes no appeal!

Thanks man

Im really trying to save money at the moment and dont really mind the buses too much, is it possible to get one from the bus station in town? And does anyone know if I can book the bus on the way back in Laos?

Actually can anyone recommend a cheapy cheap guesthouse aswell? Thanks guys

nok air have a promo at the moment chiang mai to Udon Thani. 1100 each-way. From there it is one hour bus to the border or two to Vientiane. 12 hour bus journey to Udon makes no appeal!

Where did you find this information?, I can find nothing on the website. I have to go mid January.

re .. if anyone can recommend a particular bus company to go with that would be ace.

i cant recomend this bus company but i did notice this poster in chiang mai a few days ago

good luck .. dave2

nok air have a promo at the moment chiang mai to Udon Thani. 1100 each-way. From there it is one hour bus to the border or two to Vientiane. 12 hour bus journey to Udon makes no appeal!

Thanks man

Im really trying to save money at the moment and dont really mind the buses too much, is it possible to get one from the bus station in town? And does anyone know if I can book the bus on the way back in Laos?

Actually can anyone recommend a cheapy cheap guesthouse aswell? Thanks guys

The cheap bus is the government bus, not a private company bus. The cheapest place to stay is at a temple, it is free and comes with a free meal too..

Nok Air had it stated on website Monday and Tuesday but website has been down for booking flights most of the time since much to my annoyance. They have now added that the flights must be booked between midnight and 7am for the cheap fares. Promo ends on Nov 28th so may affect the weekend drinking plans!

Thanks guys

Gonna head down the bus station later and see what I can find. As for staying in a temple that does sound like a laugh, Ill check it out when I get there

you can find accomodation in vientiane for as little as 100 - 150 baht but it's not easy to find a decent one.

also with the return bus , what i have done before is when you arrive at the bus station in udon thani early in the morning buy a return ticket for chiang mai , the buses leave udon at 8 pm ish and the vip one is usually full so buying a ticket in advance is good idea, you want the one with less seats on it i think nakaporn or something is the company.

if you don't buy a return ticket and just turn up at the bus station you want to get there many hours before, you don't want to end upon the second class bus back.

you can buy a ticket for the next day as long as you can get to the embassy before noon,

from udon bus station you can get a cheap slow bus to nong khai then a tuk tuk to the border - problem is that slow bus may mean you wont make the embassy that same morning ?

last time i did it there was several of us doing visa runs and we chipped in and hired a guy with a pick up so only cost 100 baht each.

other choice is you can get the vientiene express from the udon city center bus station but you have to get your laos visa before you go.

Is there any tours that would take you right into Laos? Or at least to the border.

you can find accomodation in vientiane for as little as 100 - 150 baht but it's not easy to find a decent one.

also with the return bus , what i have done before is when you arrive at the bus station in udon thani early in the morning buy a return ticket for chiang mai , the buses leave udon at 8 pm ish and the vip one is usually full so buying a ticket in advance is good idea, you want the one with less seats on it i think nakaporn or something is the company.

if you don't buy a return ticket and just turn up at the bus station you want to get there many hours before, you don't want to end upon the second class bus back.

you can buy a ticket for the next day as long as you can get to the embassy before noon,

from udon bus station you can get a cheap slow bus to nong khai then a tuk tuk to the border - problem is that slow bus may mean you wont make the embassy that same morning ?

last time i did it there was several of us doing visa runs and we chipped in and hired a guy with a pick up so only cost 100 baht each.

other choice is you can get the vientiene express from the udon city center bus station but you have to get your laos visa before you go.

cheers, gpnna try and collar some other visa runners and see if we can all chip in