Laos forum

You can either fly to Chiang Mai and bus it from there, else boat or bus to the border at Huay Xai / Chiang Khong then bus on from there, perhaps via Chiang Mai.

How long is the bus ride from Luang Prabang? Cost? Is there a bus ride from Huay Xai to Pai ? Cost? It is so much faster to go from Huay Xai to Pai then Huay Xai to Chiang Mai and then to Pai. There has to be a possible way. Does anyone know how much it cost to rent a car in Thailand and if you need an international drivers license.

Any reccomendations on traveling from Siem Reap to Vang Vieng? Bus, (How long) Rental CAR or motorcycle? Or flight?

Glhaskell

I rented a car from Avis 2 years back in Bangkok and it cost about US50 / day. We spent a month driving around Thailand and for us, it was by far the best way to travel because we were independent, could 'save' money by haggling across accommodation providers (ie. we'd go to 1 get a negotiated price, go to another and start at the negotiated price and go further down, etc.) So, given this, and the fact that we could go anywhere for meals etc, we'd probably 'save' about $10 - 15 / day. We likened the cost of fuel to be equal to bus costs.

That said, I doubt you'd get a car at Chiang Khong unless you paid to have it transferred there.

There are options at Chiang Rai, and definately at Chiang Mai (where you'll probably get a better rate eg. from about 12-1500baht/day).

Go see:

http://www.chiangmaieguide.com/carhire.htm

for rentals in Chiang Mai

and

http://www.thailandcarhire.net/chiangraicars/

and

http://www.novacarhire.com/car-hire/Thailand/Chiang_Rai.htm

for Chiang Rai.

Also google 'rent a car chiang mai - rai

cheers