Timing of Hotel rates

Enjoyed my trip to Laos so much last year that I'm going back again this summer with a few others in tow.

Got quality accommodation in Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang for $15 and $20 respectively per night.

Just took a quick look on booking.com and saw the prices for the same places running 3x as much for the same rainy/low season time period. Did the place explode in popularity or is this just the the hotels trying to see if anyone will bite before they lower the rates?

Anyone experienced anything like this before?

It's true that SEA has gotten more popular in recent years, but I was in Vang Vieng this past September and had no trouble getting a bungalow for $10 (no reservation). Unless I arrive late in the day to a city in SEA, I can always find a room. Usually, I get a better rate when the owner sees I can walk away.

One exception was Si Pan Don. The Lao owner of a guesthouse there took pity on us and put up a tent in her kitchen because we got to the island around sunset. The entire island's rooms were completely filled.

Those that advertise online tend to be much more expensive than the walk-in guesthouses.

We just4weeks ago in vangvieng ..paid about 30.000kip/bungalow and 35000 kip/hostelroom with fan and own bathrm. Just walk in..i think those booking sites take's littlebit money and dont tell the really prizes..

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