And now for something completely useful!!!

To all Loony Planet travellers to Laos here are a few updates on visa on arrival application for those entering the country through Luang Prabang. Most European passport holders are now charged 35 US dollars for a visa on arrival, $36 on weekends, not joking. Refrain from paying in Thai baths since you'll be charged the astronomical amount of 1,500 baths, that is 45 dollars. Even though in the price list at the visa counter it said that German citizens only had to pay $30, the German guy in front me actually had to forked out $36 as a result of not bringing with him a passport size photograph.

According to some travel guides (Laos Footprint April 2006) there is a standard $5 charge for a tuk-tuk, a small pick-up truck really, ride from the airport to the city centre. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE DAYLIGHT ROBBERY!  for a 10 minutes ride, so don't accept it. Regardless of what this guide says you can still negotiate the price and bringing down to 3, or if you are lucky enough 2, dollars per person. Make it cheaper by sharing the truck with other travellers. On the way back you can pay as less as $1 or $1.5 per person.

Again for the airport international departure tax make sure you pay in dollars (10) or kip (10,000). The charge in baths is 450 (more than 13 dollars) To get rid of your small change in kip you could combine them with dollars and even baths for your payment as I did.