Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
popular stopovers on backpacker routes, tend to lag far behind, with small towns on
well-travelled highways offering at best one or two rather rustic guesthouses.
Outside Luang Prabang, Pakse, Vang Vieng and the capital, finding a place to stay is a far
simpler process than in most Southeast Asian countries - often because there are only one or
two places in town and they're just a short walk from one another. Few towns have touts or
taxi drivers trying to influence your decision.
Once you've found a spot, ask to see a number of rooms before reaching a decision, as
standards and room types can vary widely within the same establishment. En-suite showers
and flush toilets are found in all but the most basic of accommodation.
Establishments that do not quote their prices in dollars or baht keep a close eye on the ex-
change rates and change their prices accordingly, keeping the room rate at roughly the same
dollar value. Many establishments will allow you to pay in Lao kip, US dollars or Thai baht,
regardless of which currency their rates are quoted in; exchange rates are generally fairly
close to the official rate. Count on being able to use credit cards only at higher-end establish-
ments in cities.
Prices
for the most basic double rooms start at around 50,000K in the provinces and
60,000-70,000K in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Dorm beds (only usually found in the main
tourist areas) can be had for as little as 30,000K per night. At these prices rooms can be pretty
shabby, although there are a few diamonds in the rough.
For 100,000-200,000K you can buy yourself considerably more comfort, whether it's the
luxuries of a standard hotel or the cosiness and hospitality of a smart guesthouse with a
garden, tucked away in a quiet side street. If you're willing and able to spend around $25,
you can actually get something quite luxurious, with wi-fi and a flat-screen TV.
Further up the scale, a whole host of expensive hotels has appeared on the scene, and with
many of them struggling to fill rooms, managers can be amenable to discounts, especially in
low season. Before settling on a price at mid-range and high-end hotels, check whether ser-
vice charge and tax are included in the quoted price.
Most places are open to
negotiation
, especially in the low season, so it's a good idea to try
and bargain; your case will be helped if you are staying for several days.
Throughout the Guide, we've listed prices for the
cheapest double room in high season
,
unless otherwise stated. Not all accommodation places have
phones
, which is why some
listings in this Guide don't have numbers alongside. Online booking services include
Budget accommodation
The distinction between a
guesthouse
and a
budget hotel
is rather blurry in Laos. Either
can denote anything ranging from a bamboo-and-thatch hut to a multi-storey concrete mon-
