Laos Travel Forum

Have been reading alot on Laos for my up-coming trip but would like an up to date response/advice on this:

In early February, i will be heading to Vientienne, Vah Vieng and Luang Prabang. For accomodation,if it is difficult to make a telephone booking, we may have to walk in. Is it advisable to do this in all these 3 places. We are a group of 3 travelling on a budget hoping to book rooms that can provide an extra bed with attached washroom preferable. As long as it is clean. Fans are fine and away from too much noise so as to get a good night's sleep.

If anyone's in these places and reading this posting,please advice...During that time it is the 2nd week of Chinese New Year which I think is one of the main festivals there but things shouldn't be so busy by then.

Kindly recommend specific places (telephone number/e-mail address would be real handy) if any as well.

My travelmates and I are much more comfortable booking in advance so we don't spend too much time walking around looking for a place to bunk since there are 3 of us.

And to save time, we might take an overnight bus or two along the route of VT-VV-LP then LP-VT in 8 days. But i know one will miss the sights and sounds.What's your take?

Thanks very much in advance.

Bookmark!!!I have the exact same question, but solo traveller, going in March.

Hi...
you will be best off if you avoid backpackers areas such as downtown VTE or LPB. You will be able to find good, cheaper and better accomodation near bus stations.
In VTE I can reccomend you Tawan GH's which is 20-30 min walk right to the centre.
I had it's contact number on my tips page here: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/a4123/135bd7/3/

Vang Vieng it's a bit though if you arrive late afternoons. You better take early morning buses and be there around noon so that you have lot of time to ask for accomodation.

I've found some clean and cheap places in LPB near northern bus station, by tuk tuk won't be long ride to downtown area.

I had in most cases find my accomodation without advance booking, but I really don't mind staying in tourist areas - as you'll be able to see by yourself, Lao town and cities are comfortably small in size unlike many other famous Asian cities.
Good luck,
Vesna

Thanks very much,will look at your pages.

I haven't been able to find a link on this site under Luang Prabang for 'budget accomodation' the links are for upmarket hotels-advertising revenue i suppose. I have had the same problem for some other locations but there are a few which have this option (rare though). Has anyone a tip/shortcut or do we need to go through members' pages one by one? I realised this a while ago, never brought it up :)

Teevee, I'm corresponding with someone outside of VT who is getting back to me with some tips for good, cheap places to stay in LP & hopefully VTE & VV, so when I get a hold of her, I'll email you as soon as I can!!! Still trying to talk her into joining VT....
betska

Alright! Good luck and thanks!!

Given the world economic downturn, right now I don't think you're going to encounter too many problems finding accomodations on short notice. This year in Laos is not as busy as previous years and Chinese or Tet is not as big a factor in Laos as it is in Vietnam or China. Lao New Year/Pi Mai Lao in mid-April is very busy though, especially for Luang Prabang.

The problem you'll encounter though is that you're seeking a triple room which is much harder to come by since most rooms are designed for two people. Probably the best thing to do is to look in a guidebook such as lonelyplanet or rough guides.

Thanks for yr assurance and advice. I do hope that even if it were a little cramped,they have spare beds as extras. Probably need to contact a few places to get a feel of what's possible and available.