Traveling to Laos from Thailand

[stoli]

I will be taking a bus to the Laos border { Vientiene } with my son, from Chaiyaphum. We both have Thai drivers licenses. Want to enter Laos and either rent motorbikes at Vientiene or take bus to Luang Prabang and start our travels on rented motorbikes from there.

My questions are:

Is it simple to obtain Visa for Laos at the border? We will be there about one week if that makes a difference. I don't look forward to going to the Laos Embassy in Bangkok if I don't have to, plus I cannot find their official website for their embassy in Bangkok.

I have looked on the internet for bike rentals. I would love to have just a couple of PCX 150's, but all I can find is bikes 250cc or larger. Not to my liking. I am used to my own Yamaha Nouvo.

Will the Thai DL be accepted in Laos?

Any special laws in Laos, like in Cambodia where the headlights on bikes must be off during the day?

Any problem with finding rooms as we travel, or do we need to book everything in advance? Recommended hotels in Luang Prabang in the 1,000 baht range? Don't need pools. We are there to see everything, not lounge around.

Any special stops off the beaten path that are not on the travel websites? I have seen enough temples, but love waterfalls, rivers, and such, great dining.

Thank you in advance to all positive replies.

Edited October 25, 2015 by stoli

[KhunBENQ]

What is your and your sons nationality?

Visa regulations for Laos (as most countries) depends on nationality.

Your son has a passport?

Most western countries get a 15 day visa on arrival. Easy to get at the border, cost is 30 Dollars (?).

Swiss e.g. don't need a visa, visa exempt entry at no cost.

Longer stays usually need a visa.

Right hand drive. Many roads in bad condition. Problems with fuel supply (experience from 2011).

Edited October 25, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[stoli]

I should have mentioned we are US citizens. Yes, all passports are up to date. One other question I should have asked. He is coming to Thailand for 34 days, and not obtaining a Tourist Visa this time, since we are going to spend a week in Laos during that time. Will he have a problem getting on the plane in the states with the 34 day total visit. Can he just explain that we are traveling to Laos for a week?

[KhunBENQ]

Can he just explain that we are traveling to Laos for a week?

Risky business.

Some airlines don't care, others are nitpicking and want to see proof of onward travel.

By the rules they can refuse boarding (which they will happily do e.g. when they have overbooked).

Check the rules here (same source for other airlines [timatic]):

http://www.staralliance.com/en/services/visa-and-health/

Visa required, except for Nationals of USA with a normal passport for a maximum stay of 30 days.

Edited October 25, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[canopus1969]

but love waterfalls, rivers, and such, great dining.

[phuketrichard]

Laos visa for US $35 valid for 30 days voa at all land borders/airports

Khun Benq is wrong

I have never heard of a 15 day visa on arrival for free for any westerner. Most Asians get a 30 day visa exempt ( thai, Khmers, Singaporeans etc) and Russians

Visas for Laos are needed for all passports except Japan, Republic of Korea, Russia, Luxembourg and Switzerland. According to agreements made since 2005, ASEAN country citizens should be given free entry for 15 days. However, visitors from Indonesia and other ASEAN countries are being charged for entry into Laos. This may also apply at other ASEAN country border control where the free entry agreement has not been implemented or is being ignored.

easy to rent bikes in Vientiane (100/125 cc) just ask at ur hotel there are a few places near the fountain that rent them

Thai 5 year license is good.

roads are a treat to drive on but on a bike ur open game for bus's and trucks

DO NOT drive at night

the only real bad road is between Udomaxi and Luang Prabang up north an that's 80kms of bad shot (took us 4 hours)

I drove up in 2011, 12 & 13

If ur heading up now , easy to find rooms.

Dec 20th-end of march book in advance especially LP

i usually pay around $15-25/night ( off season) all the places i have visited in Laos, ( air con,wifi,hot water)

Vientiane, Savankhet, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, Phonsavan, Luang Namtha, and other small places

In Vientiane i stay at the Souphaphone GH , in LP i stay at either Alounsavath or Laos style gh, both on the river

IN LP take the river bat tip up to the caves at Tham Ting

Plenty of places in Vang Vieng for under $20 (400-600 baht) right on the river.

IF u have the time and willing to do the extra trip head to Phonsavan ( plain of jars) its worth it!

Edited October 25, 2015 by phuketrichard

[stoli]

Laos visa for US $35 valid for 30 days voa at all land borders/airports

Khun Benq is wrong

I have never heard of a 15 day visa on arrival for free for any westerner. Most Asians get a 30 day visa exempt ( thai, Khmers, Singaporeans etc) and Russians

Visas for Laos are needed for all passports except Japan, Republic of Korea, Russia, Luxembourg and Switzerland. According to agreements made since 2005, ASEAN country citizens should be given free entry for 15 days. However, visitors from Indonesia and other ASEAN countries are being charged for entry into Laos. This may also apply at other ASEAN country border control where the free entry agreement has not been implemented or is being ignored.

easy to rent bikes in Vientiane (100/125 cc) just ask at ur hotel there are a few places near the fountain that rent them

Thai 5 year license is good.

roads are a treat to drive on but on a bike ur open game for bus's and trucks

DO NOT drive at night

the only real bad road is between Udomaxi and Luang Prabang up north an that's 80kms of bad shot (took us 4 hours)

I drove up in 2011, 12 & 13

If ur heading up now , easy to find rooms.

Dec 20th-end of march book in advance especially LP

i usually pay around $15-25/night ( off season) all the places i have visited in Laos, ( air con,wifi,hot water)

Vientiane, Savankhet, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, Phonsavan, Luang Namtha, and other small places

In Vientiane i stay at the Souphaphone GH , in LP i stay at either Alounsavath or Laos style gh, both on the river

IN LP take the river bat tip up to the caves at Tham Ting

Plenty of places in Vang Vieng for under $20 (400-600 baht) right on the river.

IF u have the time and willing to do the extra trip head to Phonsavan ( plain of jars) its worth it!

Thanks for all of the info. That is what I was looking for.

[dddave]

The 10 hour bus trip from Vientiane to LP is quite spectacular. The buses aren't great but OK. Bring along something to clean your bus window with as the mountain views and the passing villages are snapshot worthy but the windows can get dirty. The road is narrow with a lot of switchbacks and a LOT of trucks. They all seem to adhere to some arcane telepathic code and just manage to get out of one another's way but it can be a bit puckering at times.

LP is really a touristy town; no way around it. The boat trip up the Mekong to either the caves or the waterfalls is nice but don't expect solitude. The waterfall trail was lined with tour groups having catered banquets, backpackers swing diving from trees into the pools and waiting lines at choke points on the trail.

The caves were not quite as crowded and you can get away from the worst of it.

We rented bicycles and were happy with them. There have been many reports of nasty moto rental scams in LP wherein thrives use duplicate keys to steal bikes and hold them for ransom. I suggest you Google "Motorbike scam luang prabang" If you do decide to go ahead and rent, bring along your own solid locks.

I understand the crackdown on riverside bars and tubing rentals is continuing in Vang Vieng...not quite the party town it had become 5 years ago.

In LP, we stayed at the Mekong Villa Hotel along the river and liked it. Decent rooms and a nice terrace for the free morning breakfast. Many restaurants opposite on the river bank but we also enjoyed buying hot food at the nearby market and eating on the terrace

Nice area for walking about 10 minutes from city center.

Ohh, BTW. Visa at the border is $35 for US citizens but B1500 if you pay in Baht. Also, $2 for "Overtime". (No matter what time of day)

Edited October 25, 2015 by dddave

[KhunBENQ]

I have never heard of a 15 day visa on arrival for free for any westerner. Most Asians get a 30 day visa exempt ( thai, Khmers, Singaporeans etc) and Russians

I am Swiss and consider to be a westener

And its not a "visa on arrival for free for any westerner" but a visa exempt entry. Just a small stamp at no cost.

Edited October 25, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[stoli]

The 10 hour bus trip from Vientiane to LP is quite spectacular. The buses aren't great but OK. Bring along something to clean your bus window with as the mountain views and the passing villages are snapshot worthy but the windows can get dirty. The road is narrow with a lot of switchbacks and a LOT of trucks. They all seem to adhere to some arcane telepathic code and just manage to get out of one another's way but it can be a bit puckering at times.

LP is really a touristy town; no way around it. The boat trip up the Mekong to either the caves or the waterfalls is nice but don't expect solitude. The waterfall trail was lined with tour groups having catered banquets, backpackers swing diving from trees into the pools and waiting lines at choke points on the trail.

The caves were not quite as crowded and you can get away from the worst of it.

We rented bicycles and were happy with them. There have been many reports of nasty moto rental scams in LP wherein thrives use duplicate keys to steal bikes and hold them for ransom. I suggest you Google "Motorbike scam luang prabang" If you do decide to go ahead and rent, bring along your own solid locks.

I understand the crackdown on riverside bars and tubing rentals is continuing in Vang Vieng...not quite the party town it had become 5 years ago.

In LP, we stayed at the Mekong Villa Hotel along the river and liked it. Decent rooms and a nice terrace for the free morning breakfast. Many restaurants opposite on the river bank but we also enjoyed buying hot food at the nearby market and eating on the terrace

Nice area for walking about 10 minutes from city center.

Ohh, BTW. Visa at the border is $35 for US citizens but B1500 if you pay in Baht. Also, $2 for "Overtime". (No matter what time of day)

Thank you. More great info. I had no idea that it was a 10 hour bus trip. I think we will wait until we get to LP before we rent bikes then.

[phuketrichard]

I have never heard of a 15 day visa on arrival for free for any westerner. Most Asians get a 30 day visa exempt ( thai, Khmers, Singaporeans etc) and Russians

I am Swiss and consider to be a westener

And its not a "visa on arrival for free for any westerner" but a visa exempt entry. Just a small stamp at no cost.

ahh ok BUT u said, Most western countries get a 15 day visa on arrival which is NOT what you get but u do get a visa exempt stamp

and in truth the only westerners that do are Swiss and those from Luxembourg...."Visas for Laos are needed for all passports except Japan, Republic of Korea, Russia, Luxembourg and Switzerland".. hardly most :-)

NO reason to go all the way to LP, stop at Vang Vieng, it s delightful town an fantastic scenery and cheap food , a bit overrun with Korean tourists but at least not all the drunk, dope smoking party goers of back in 2012.

in fact when i was last there in 2013 the town pretty much shut down at 10 pm except for a few places to eat, not more loud music.

Edited October 25, 2015 by phuketrichard

[bendejo]

n/a

Edited October 25, 2015 by bendejo

[Spaniel]

In Luang Prabang you might want to check out the Manichan Guest House.

[anotheruser]

Make sure you get stamped into the country at the border...

[Too]

I should have mentioned we are US citizens. Yes, all passports are up to date. One other question I should have asked. He is coming to Thailand for 34 days, and not obtaining a Tourist Visa this time, since we are going to spend a week in Laos during that time. Will he have a problem getting on the plane in the states with the 34 day total visit. Can he just explain that we are traveling to Laos for a week?

You should be alright because you can extend a 30-day visa-exempt entry

for 30 days at the immigration office (for 1,900B) once you're in Thailand.

This means that you're allowed to stay in the kingdom for a total of up to

60 consecutive days without a visa once you're in the country, technically

speaking.