Trip Reports - Tips on going from BKK to Laos Boarder

We had the displeasure of taking an overnight bus to the Laos boarder. It was a terrible uncomfortable ride but the price was right. $12.00.
If you're planning on going into Laos here are some tips and things to avoid.

Both the bus and the train stop near the boarder and then you must take a taxi or Tuk tuk to the boarder. You have to bargan and you shouldn't pay more than 50-60 BHT.

The scam is that the driver ask you if you have a visa and since most don't they tell you that they'll look after you and get it all arranged.

They take you to this offical looking building and a visa application is given for you to fill out. My traveling partner asked how much. 2000 bht or over $55 US dollars. The real cost at the boarder is $30. We then said no thanks, now the driver took us to the boarder and asked why we didn't buy the visa and we told him it was too expensive, yes he said sometimes they over charge but I know another place on the way and it's only 1800. Never ever allow yourself to be taken at the boarder in Laos.

Go to the boarder and apply in person for only $30.

Hope this helps you save some money. and Dam the rip off thai specialist.

I've taken a night bus (VIP with 24 seats) to Nong Khai and I thought it was great. I slept the whole way (about 9 hours). The person I was with didn't think the same thing as they were awake all night. 3 Tylenol PM's is all it took and I was asleep before we backed up.

Dinner (which I never ate since I was sleeping) and a Bus attendant, it was the next best thing to C on UA! Plus we didn't have to pay for a hotel room http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by 1K_From_SNA:
I've taken a night bus (VIP with 24 seats) to Nong Khai . . . Dinner (which I never ate since I was sleeping) and a Bus attendant, it was the next best thing to C on UA! Plus we didn't have to pay for a hotel room http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif</font>

Nice, but why not try the train to Nong Khai? It even stops right in front of BKK Airport, and features fully-flat beds in three classes... just make sure to select a class with windows if noise tends to prevent you from sleeping. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by danang:
Nice, but why not try the train to Nong Khai? It even stops right in front of BKK Airport, and features fully-flat beds in three classes... just make sure to select a class with windows if noise tends to prevent you from sleeping. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif</font>

Unfortunately it was sold out. We were told the second class was a sleeper chair vs. a bed anyhow so if your going to be in a chair we figured we may as well pay 1/4 of the price on a bus. Does second class have a flat bed and how many people per room?

Alternatively why not fly on Thai to Udon Thani (2 flights a day?) .. The city and its airport are about 1hr south of the Laotian border on a bus (I think you can get one straight from the airport - I'm sure you could bargain a taxi also) ... faster and pretty cheap too .. there's one or 2 decent hotels (v.v. cheap) in Udon Thani too to stay the night.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by 1K_From_SNA:
Does second class have a flat bed and how many people per room?</font>

It varies on different trains; the nicest express trains have first class sleepers (aircon compartments), and second class berths with aircon, and second class berths with no aircon. Lower berths are slightly more expensive, as they have the window and a bit more space. The berths are open to the passageway down the middle of the train car.

We tried all three sleeper classes; I think first class is a bit overpriced, unless you really value the privacy. I actually liked taking in the sights, sounds, AND smells of the country in non-aircon second class, but I'm sure that would get old after a while.
http://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm has more details including pictures; Seat 61 is an excellent resource for train travel in many countries around the world.

[This message has been edited by danang (edited Feb 23, 2004).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by EvilDoctorK:
...(I think you can get one straight from the airport</font>

3 flights/day on Thai BKK-UTH. 100B aircon bus to NK coordinated with flight arrivals and departures. This method was nicely covered back in August in this forum by B747-437B.
Rich

[This message has been edited by rjh (edited Feb 24, 2004).]