Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
there are enough passengers, it may stop
numerous times to pick up people (and
food) along the road, and you'll often find
yourself crammed in with more people
(and animals) than you would normally
think could fit into the space. Be patient
and good-humoured, however, and the
experience will be more than worthwhile.
three-wheelers consisting of a
two-wheeled carriage welded to the side
of a motorcycle; these days, they're seen
rather infrequently outside Pakse.
Tuk-tuks are just bigger, sturdier jumbos,
with up to eight passengers crammed
into the back. To catch one, flag it down
and tell the driver where you're going.
You pay at the end of the ride, but make
sure you agree the fare before you get in.
Rates vary according to the number of
passengers, the distance travelled and
your bargaining skills.
5
MINIBUSES
In major tourist centres - most of the
places listed in this chapter, in fact - it's
also possible to travel to your next
destination by minibus . hese are popular
with locals and tourists, though
depending on the number of people on
board (drivers love to fill their seats), they
may not actually be any more
comfortable than travelling by local bus.
Tickets can be bought from guesthouses,
travel agents and minibus stations, and
usually include pick-up from your
accommodation. Travelling by minibus is
generally a little quicker (and more
dangerous) than travelling by local bus,
and you will normally have to pay a small
premium for the privilege - usually
10,000-50,000K extra per journey.
VEHICLE RENTAL
Renting a car can be prohibitively
expensive, and though self-drive car
rental is possible in Laos, it's easier (and
safer) to hire a car and driver . In most
major towns, tour agencies have
air-conditioned vans and 4WD pick-up
trucks, and can provide drivers as well.
Prices can be as much as $80 to $100 per
day, plus fuel. Always clarify who pays for
petrol and repairs, as well as the driver's
food and lodging, and be sure to ask what
happens in case of a major breakdown or
accident. A much cheaper alternative for
short distances or day-trips is to charter a
tuk-tuk or sawngthaew.
Renting a motorbike costs 50,000-
100,000K per day. 250cc dirt bikes are
available in larger cities, but elsewhere
you'll be limited to 100cc step-throughs
such as the Honda Dream. A licence is
not required and insurance is not
available, so make sure you have travel
insurance coverage. Before zooming off,
check the bike thoroughly for any
damage and take it for a test run. Few
rental places will have a helmet on offer,
but it doesn't hurt to ask. Bicycles can be
rented from guesthouses and tourist-
oriented shops in most towns for around
10,000-15,000K per day, depending on
the quality.
SAWNGTHAEWS
In most provinces, the local bus network
is complemented by sawngthaews
- converted pick-up trucks - into which
drivers cram as many passengers as they
can get onto two benches in the back.
hey usually depart from the regular bus
station and, though they will have
scheduled hours, often only leave when
there are enough passengers to make the
trip worthwhile. Sometimes the fare is
paid towards the end of the ride, but if
you get on at a bus station you will often
be asked to pay before you leave. To catch
a sawngthaew in remote areas simply flag
it down from the side of the road and tell
the driver where you're headed.
JUMBOS AND TUK TUKS
Transport within Lao towns is by
motorized samlors (literally “three
wheels”), which function as shared
taxis for up to four or five passengers.
here are two types of samlor: jumbos
and tuk-tuks . Jumbos are home-made
ACCOMMODATION
Inexpensive accommodation can be
found all over Laos. For a basic double
room, prices start at around 40,000K in
smaller towns, but in Vientiane and
Luang Prabang you can expect to pay
 
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