Questions About Laos

Replies: 6 - Last Post: Mar 23, 2013 6:19 AM Last Post By: Giora

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Mar 21, 2013 6:28 AM
Posts: 11

Questions About Laos

Been round South East Asia and fell in love with Laos - now I'd like to spend a month or so exploring the entire country.

I'd like to get around by motorbike. I know it's technically against the law not to have a license but is this enforced? Will I be stopped by police? And if so how much would I have to pay in fines/bribes to get away? Also, where would I rent from if I wanted to explore the whole of Laos over a period of a month?

Secondly, which travel guide should I bring with me? I know Rough Guide, Lonely Planet and Footprint all do one exclusively for Laos - but I'm not sure which one to get (bearing in mind I want to go "off the beaten track" and will be travelling on a budget).

Thanks in advance for any advice!

surfboy

Mar 21, 2013 9:00 AM
Posts: 3,136

Rented a motorbike in Vietiane and rode up to Vang Vieng then to Luang Prabang without any problems from local Police, more problems from local drivers not knowing any road sense. Go carefully and try to anticipate any problems cos for sure they wont..

AnneWidde

Mar 21, 2013 10:06 AM
Posts: 11

Thanks man. So did the company you rented from in the capital give you a certain time period in which to return the bike? Do you think I could rent a motorbike for 2-4 weeks?

Siamdaze

Mar 21, 2013 11:09 AM
Posts: 72

A fake international drivers license from Kho San Road in Bkk is usually sufficient for Laos.
I'd be less confident using it in Thailand.

A mate with decent bargaining skills recently paid 450 baht for one just off Kho San.

somsai

Mar 21, 2013 3:50 PM
Posts: 233

I wouldn't even attempt a bribe, might backfire. A driver's license from my home country is all I've ever used. I've been stopped 3 times over the years and never even had to pay a fine.

I like Lonely Planet best because it has the best writing about other stuff. Golden Triangle map for the roads. You can still go to very large well established towns that are in the guidebook and find no other tourists. Two steps off the banana pancake trail and you can have all of Laos to yourself. Sam Nua, Phongsali, and the SE.

malvolio

Mar 21, 2013 9:55 PM
Posts: 1,126

Only time I've ever been stopped by the police in a foreign country, I got shaken down by a cop in Vientiane. $15 or he would take my bike.

The guy who rented me the bike told me later I could have told the cop to call him. Apparently, he had all the cops pre-bribed.

Giora

Mar 23, 2013 6:19 AM
Posts: 1,033

I think the Lonely Planet Laos is one of their best guidebooks. It's very thorough, and has plenty of suggestions and information on off-the-beaten track travel. I'm not a big fan of most of the Lonely Planet's guidebooks for Asia that I've used, but I think Laos is a rare gem.

I've never motorbiked in the country personally, but I did meet some bikers who'd rented bikes in Vientiane and were biking northern Laos for a couple of weeks. You shouldn't have too many problems finding yourself a multi-week rental.

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