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Unless you're in a country bordering Laos, your first mission is to find a flight to Bangkok or Vietnam. Luckily there are plenty of flights to the Thailand or Vietnam capital, but fares fluctuate sharply. Generally, you'll pay less but it will take longer if you fly to Bangkok and Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh with a stop on the way.
For example, if you're flying from the UK you'll probably get a better deal with airlines such as Gulf Air, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Garuda or, for those on the breadline, Biman Bangladesh - all of which involve a stop in the airline's home city - than you would on a direct flight with British Airways or Thai International Airways (THAI). Once you're in Bangkok, there are trains, planes and buses heading to Laos.
Below are cheap way to get flights to Laos:
THAILAND
Bangkok
THAI has one flight daily between Bangkok and Vientiane, while Lao Airlines has two flights in each direction ; discounts are available in THAI.
DEPARTURE TAX
The international departure tax is US$15, payable in kip, baht or US dollars.
Some people save money by flying from Bangkok to Udon Thani in Thailand and then carrying on by road to Nong Khai, over the Friendship Bridge to Vientiane .
Bangkok Airways flies daily between Bangkok and Luang Prabang, and Lao Airlines has three flights.
Bangkok Airways should be flying be tween Bangkok and Pakse by the time you read this.
Chiang Mai
Lao Airlines has five flights a week between Vientiane and Chiang Mai (US$111, 2& hours) via Luang Prabang (US$85, one hour).
VIETNAM
Hanoi
There are 10 flights a week between Vientiane and Hanoi - three on Lao Airline; and the rest on Vietnam Airlines for slightly more. Lao Airline also flies between Hanoi and Luang Prabang.
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam Airlines flies from Ho Chi Minh City to Vientiane
Australia
Qantas, THAI, British Airways and seven other airlines fly to Bangkok from Sydney Melbourne and Perth, with discount fares . For online booking also check www.travel.com.au. Flight Centre (www.flightcentre.com.au) STA Travel ( www.statravel.com.au)
Canada
Fares from Canada are similar to those from the US. Travel Cuts ( www.travelcuts.com) is Canada's national student travel agency.
Continental Europe
Europeans can pick up Middle Eastern airlines are usually cheapest. The following agents are worth a look:
Lastminute (www.lastminute.com) Click through to various national sites.
Nouvelles Frontieres ( wwwnouvelles-frontieres.fr)
STA Travel (01805-456 422; www.statravel.de)
Voyages Wasteels (www.wasteels.fr)
New Zealand
Both Flight Centre (www.flightcentre.co.nz) and STA Travel ( www.statravel.co.nz) have branches throughout the country.
The UK
It's not hard to find a bargain from London to Bangkok, with discount prices with Gulf Air, Emirates, KLM and Lufthansa are worth looking at. Check the weekend broadsheet newspapers, Time Out, the Evening Standard and TNT magazine for offers.
Recommended agencies: North-South Travel ( www .northsouthtravel.co.uk) Donates some profit to projects in the developing world.
STA Travel ( www.statravel.co.uk) ........ Trailfinders ( www.trailfinders.co.uk) Travel Bag ( www.travelbag.co.uk)
The USA
Fares from New York to Bangkok range widely, with the cheapest (via places like Moscow) . From Los Angeles it's cheaper, and more direct, with airlines like Philippine Airlines, China Airlines, Eva Air and American Airlines. The following are good for online comparisons and bookings:
Cheapflights.com (www.cheapflights.com) ............Cheap Tickets (www.cheaptickets.com) ................Expedia (www.expedia.com) .............Orbitz (www.orbitz.com) .................STA Travel (www.statravel.com)
Lao Airlines is the only airline in Laos. It handles all domestic flights, with Vientiane as the main hub. The Laos Air Fares map gives you an idea of all Laos's scheduled air routes and prices, both domestic and international; for the latest fares check Lao Airlines' website (www.laoairlines.com).
Prices have been fairly steady in recent years and are reasonable value. Except at Lao Airlines' offices in Vientiane and Luang Prabang, where credit cards are accepted for both international and domestic tickets, you must pay cash in US dollars.
Lao Airlines schedules are increasingly reliable but flights still get cancelled semi-k regularly. During the holiday season its best 2 to book ahead as flights can fill fast. At other times, when flights are more likely to be cancelled, confirm the flight is still going a day or two before. In its previous incarnation as Lao Aviation, Lao Airlines had a bad reputation and travellers still ask whether it's safe. The answer is 'pretty much'. Almost everything about the airline - the planes, maintenance and pilots -has improved and there haven't been any serious incidents for several years. French ATR-72 planes operate most international routes and many domestic flights; though some of the domestic flights use older and less-reliable Chinese or Russian planes.