Laos Visa on arrival
 

Does anyone have experiences with getting an Visa on arrival at Luang Prabang airport in Laos? Any issues or hazzles?

Thanks,
Christian

We did it when visiting LPQ a few years ago (2004? something like that). Just be sure to have passport photos with you - otherwise it's very quick and easy.

Hopefully someone else can provide more up-to-date information.

- Michael

I did it in November, 2006. I flew Lao Airlines from Chang Mai to Luang Prabang. They charge an extra $5 or $10 if you arrive after a certain hour at night (total scam) but it was quick and painless.

chsommerhh, welcome to FlyerTalk. For added replies, let me move this to our Travel->Asia forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

Hello,you might also try this question on the Lonely Planet thorn tree board.Very often someone who is currently in Laos can give you todays info

My experience arriving in Laos at LPQ in late November 2007 - $30 and two photos, immigration forms filled out on the flight in, very quick and easy, no extortion noted. 15-20 minutes.

Now US$35 for USA and most of Europe. $1 extra for weekends and holidays. I thought it was 1 photo, but you should always have several with you anyway.

I did this in July 2007 without problems. Just have the photos and the cash (USD) and it should be easy.

(BTW, you should have the cash regardless - most places geared towards tourists quote prices in dollars. Have lots of singles, and change just a small amount into the Lao currency for small purchases.)

Yeah, carry a lot of US$1, 5, and 20. And, especially in Vientiane, some Thai baht.

My first trip to Lao I changed too much US$ at the border into kip and got a brick of bills, but no one wants kip, except maybe at the market. You'll get kip anyway as change.

In December we got visas at the land border outside of Udon Thani close to Vientiane. Paid $32 cash, didn't have passport photos but no problem as the scanned passport for additional $1.

This was back in December 2007 when the USD was somewhat less weak, but I noted that exchange rates for Thai Baht were worse than kip or USD (even in Vientiane) . USD are best for paying for things US $20 and up, but kip are better for other things. ATMs were a racket because they charge a transaction fee ( in addition to that of your home bank) and had a withdrawal limit of $70. Laos, where employees routinely had to consult calculators to determine how much change to issue from a 10k kip note for a 5k purchase, doesn't seem the best candidate for using 3 currencies.

Credit cards were surprisingly useful for some things and all charged in USD - so no conversion fees if that is your home currency.

I was totally impressed with the country and its affordability. In luang prabang, for example for $20 one can get a great riverside hotel with nice en-suite bath and A/C. The roads seem much less chaotic than elsewhere in Asia, and at least route 13 was in great shape (again, relative to other countries at that GDP level). In LP, its fantastic to have a good cup of coffee and pastry (by any standard, not relative!) for $2.

I was surprised -- even though it was in the LP guidebook - to see how openly "happy" (marijuana) and opiate/mushroom (forgot the descriptive adjective for each) food and drinks are routinely on the menu at tourist type places.

I had to smile at this comment. Lao PDR is so laid back that it's about the only place in the world where you could fall asleep at a riot. Not that they have any, for pretty obvious reasons.

I spent some time in Luang Prabang in November 2007. It was wonderful after the intensity of a couple of weeks in Vietnam. We stayed in town first, then moved to a bungalow about 5km out in the country, out past the Villa Santi Resort. $15 a night, including breakfast. There is no better place than Laos to relax and just be, IME.

I had heard that debit Mastercard was more accepted in LP than debit Visa, and brought both. The ATM in the tourist area only took Mastercard. I think Visa was accepted in some banks, but I never used the debit Visa in LP.

I had no problems using a Visa credit card for purchases, but for cash withdrawals from the most convenient ATM, a debit Mastercard was necessary.

Any recent experience obtaining a Laos Visa on arrival at the airport? I'm flying into VTE from BKK, arriving at 9pm. I assume TG does not insist on a visa in order to get a BP at BKK. Do I need 2 passport photos or can I get these taken at the airport? Do I need to get Laos kip from the ATM at the airport to get a taxi/bus into town? Thanks for any advice. :)

You do not need to bring two photographs, they will make a copy of your passport for you (and charge you a small fee). You will have no problems getting on the plane at BKK.

I would just hit the ATM at the airport to avoid stopping in town to get some cash to pay the driver.

Penguinmoon - Thank you for your advice. :)