Vientiane Visa run ASAP

[seeker108]

Anyone know what are the phone numbers for the best buses to Vientiane? Also any suggestions on which is better - just take a simple VIP bus or sign up with a more complete package where they take you right to the consulate? I don't mind paying a little more for the extra convenience and comfort, but I am not in the fly there category unless that is only a few hundred more baht per person.

I need to escort a Nepali friend of the gf there as she would be clueless otherwise. Checked out some older threads, but they seemed both out of date and not as informative as I would hope for. And last date of her already twice extended visa is day after tomorrow. For me not a real problem as I have a 90 day OA that I will convert to retirement in the next days or weeks.

Also any idea of the approximate cost of the bus and hotel and 2 month tourist visa would be greatly apppreciated

[seeker108]

Ah also, what is the general schedule? What times buses go and arrive there and is just one overnight all that is required?

Thanks for any help on all of this

[Konini]

Several buses to Udon Thani, you should go to Arcade bus station or check out Nakonchai Air Bus as a more expensive but much safer way to get there, then mini bus to the border. The website is in Thai, but you may be able to make sense out of it or you can phone them - (+66) 1624 is the call centre (written in English so presumably someone will speak English) or their head off ice 02 936 0009. Nok Air usually has good deals, but last minute who knows? Ditto Air Asia, I think they fly direct also.

Haven't been for years so can't help you there as I have no idea of current prices. Visa's are usually in the range of 1,000 baht per entry, so a double entry would be around 2,000. Probably more info on hotels in the visa forum, or at least latest reports of getting a visa there.

[JulieM]

I think I paid about $25 a night at the Vientiane Star Hotel (or something like that) booked via Agoda. It's a lovely city and I like going there every year. I've always flown with Nok Air booked far in advance. They do sell out those small planes. Never tried a bus. I don't trust them.

Visa should be about $40 per entry, or 1,200 THB but they may charge a premium.

[seeker108]

Thank you gentlemen.

Yes a minivan has no appeal. I did that once to Mai Sai years back and even for such a short trip once was enough. If the big buses only go to Udon Thani then I guess one must get something there to Vientiane. How much more time consuming does that become? I thought I had seen something on an older post about direct service right to the embassy or was it to a hotel?

I think I figured that driving directly would take about 11 hours, so I guess this is all the overnight kind of bus if one is to arrive during business hours. Hmm tomorrow I will look to see about discount flights. What is the cost of bus or airline?

[JulieM]

Buses from the Udon Thani bus station to Vientiane bus station will be dead cheap. A buck or two. They will be frequent as well, I'm guessing. There is going to be a delay at the border so travel time might be two hours or so. I've never done this so please double check if you can.