Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Costs
Laos is one of the poorest nations is Southeast Asia and consequently one of the cheapest
countries to travel in. Your largest expense is likely to be transport, with journeys usually
costing between 60,000 and 120,000K; accommodation and food are very inexpensive.
By eating at noodle stalls and cheap restaurants, opting for basic accommodation and trav-
elling by public transport, you can travel in Laos on a daily budget of around $20. Staying
in more luxurious hotels and resorts, and eating in the best restaurants will push your budget
up to a very reasonable $40-60 a day - though you'll struggle to find smart accommodation
and restaurants in much of the country. Note, however, that prices are significantly higher in
Vientiane, Pakse and Luang Prabang.
While restaurants and some shops have fixed prices, in general merchandise almost never
has price tags, and the lack of a fixed pricing scheme can take some getting used to. Prices,
unless marked or for food in a market, should usually be negotiated, as should the cost of
chartering transport (as opposed to fares on passenger vehicles, which are non-negotiable).
Hotel and guesthouse operators are usually open to a little bargaining, particularly during off-
peak months.
Bargaining is very much a part of life in Laos, and an art form, requiring a delicate balance
of humour, patience and tact. It's important to remain realistic, as vendors will lose interest
if you've quoted a price that's way out of line, and to keep a sense of perspective: cut-throat
haggling over 1000K only reflects poorly on both buyer and seller. As the Lao in general -
with the exception of drivers of vehicles for hire and souvenir sellers in Vientiane and Luang
Prabang - are less out to rip off tourists than their counterparts in Thailand and Vietnam, they
start off the haggling by quoting a fairly realistic price and expect to come down only a little.
It's worth bearing in mind that the country's dependence on imported goods from its neigh-
bours does push prices up - whether for food, toiletries or transport.
Customs
Lao customs regulations limit visitors to five hundred cigarettes and one litre of distilled al-
cohol per person upon entry, but in practice bags are rarely opened unless a suspiciously large
amount of luggage is being brought in. A customs declaration form must be filled out along
with the arrival form, but typically nobody bothers to check that the information is correct.
There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency you can bring into Laos.
 
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