Laos forum

hi marian,

i see from your other posts that you are really getting geared up for your trip.

for the LP-VV bus ride, pam sat on her pashmina, and i just suffered through it. you are right that the bus ride is bumpy, but the scenery is beautiful and it just may be the best bus trip i've ever taken.

i've got two tips for you. the first is to get to the bus station early. we arrived about 45 minutes before the bus was scheduled to depart, and had our pick of seats as a result. the poor folks who arrived right at departure time wound up sitting on plastic stools in the aisle, adding insult to the injury of their hangovers from the night before.

the second is to consider paying the extra for the real VIP bus. i think that cost $11 no matter if you went all the way to VTE or got off at Vang Vieng. we paid $7 for the semi-VIP bus from LP to VV, but the bus was really crowded and overloaded, and the bus driver refused to turn on the a/c for most of the trip. the real VIP bus looked much nicer, departed on time, and we never saw them again, meaning they made the trip is less time too. that might make the trip less bouncey while still getting to enjoy all the views out the window.

also, you can save $1 by buying your bus tickets at the station the morning you depart. but we were travelling in the low season too, so saving that $1 might not be worth the risk of an oversold bus.

i hope that helps. have a great trip.

What a website! You guys are fabulous. My trip is in Nov- still sorting it all out. But now this bus to Vientiane-sounds real good-the VIP bus. Can you find out about it right in LP? And how long does it take?
I gather making reservations in advance is necessary if going in Nov/Dec?
I want to go to Siem Reap from Vientiane- can I just book when I get there or will I have to stay over in VN? Or can I book it from LP?
The other thing is the air pass- what is the airline that has it? Is it Laos Air?
I am getting closer to having it all fall together-your help is invaluable.

Hi yogamomma

The air pass is booked through Bangkok Airways, although it depends on what country you will be in when you fly the first leg. If your first leg is in Laos book through Lao Air. But all the info on the Discovery Airpass is available on the Bangkokair site plus a route map etc. But you must purchase it outside of the region or you pay the normal prices.

There are bus trip times in the trip planners. Have you read Exacto's trip report for this section?. I'm finding that only so much can be organised out of country when travelling independently and I've hit the point where I will have to arrive somewhere and then make the ongoing arrangements.

Regards

Marian