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month long visit budget and allergies

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teesa1988
  2/27/2015 21:54 EST

We will be coming to Laos for a month in November of this year. We are planning on taking the train down from Bangkok and then the train over the friendship bridge over into laos. It will be 3 adults and 2 toddlers. Two of the three adults are fluent in lao and thai. Wondering how much spending money we should plan on bringing? Also my youngest has non life threatening food allergies wondering how we should address this. we don't plan on spending extravagantly and I will be looking for a vacation rentals with a kitchen so I can cook for my son if need be.

Milasia1
  2/27/2015 22:24 EST

Teesa1988,
1. Don't feed your son the food(s) he's allergic to. And bring some epipen.
2. I was there for a month I brought $1k for 2 adults and 2 kids, but we stayed with family.
Have fun!

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teesa1988
  2/27/2015 23:10 EST

He is allergic to things that can often be hidden in food so its usually not as simple as just looking at stuff and not feeding it to him. I am wondering about how to address it with family (who i dont want to offend when i ask for the ingredients in dishes) and restaurants? I was thinking of bringing some cards that say he cannot have x,y,z it will make him sick that I can give the server or whomever so its clearly conveyed. Even in the states you find people who think its a food preference so they are not as careful as people who understand it can hurt him. I will of course bring epipens and benedryl just in case he has a unexpected reaction .

Milasia1
  2/28/2015 09:04 EST

Family and friends will not be offended once you explain to them. As far as restaurants from my experience sometime they do get offended when you ask regardless if you're allergic or not. I would cook the food myself and bring it to the restaurant, it's safer that way.
Some suggestions for you. Do visit Luang Prabang, the morning/night market are colorful and smell of the foods are amazing. If you do go in early morning respect the monks and the morning alm givers. Also, stop by the royal palace museum.
Bring lots of snacks, bottle water, and toilet paper whenever you head out of the house/hotel. We only drink bottle water. While you're in Bangkok pickup snacks to bring over to Laos. Bangkok has a lot of retail stores similar to Walmart.
Oh, when you crossover to Laos at the bridge you'll need pictures for Laos visa. Go to Walgreens take a few visa pictures and take it with you. This will save you time, money, and headache. Don't quote me, but the visa is about $40 per person. They do take USD, just make sure you have the exact change for them.
November is a good weather to go, but we go during the summer because the variety of fruits and seafood.
One last thing don't forget to visit Patuxent Monument in Vientiane. It's in the middle of the city. Inside, there are gift shop and museum. Once you're up there you can see the entire city. If you go shopping in Vientiane, bargain, bargain, bargain!
I hope you and your family have a great time.

teesa1988
  2/28/2015 16:35 EST

My husband is lao and we are practicing buddhist so he is super exited about visiting Luang Parabong so we can participate in morning alms with our children. do you know if we can take a train from Vietinien down to luang prabong or do we have to take a bus? My Mil is busy making lots of plans for the trip but doing the morning alms and seeing the unesco world heritage site with the jugs are for sure on our to do list. Also do you think I will have trouble if I pack safe snacks/milk in my luggage from the states for my son? Or do I have to buy in thailand?

ironbark
  2/28/2015 19:25 EST

I am sure the monks will accept alms from you in Luang Prabang. LP is in the north and there is no train. You can fly or catch a bus. The Plain of Jars are interesting but I think Konglor Caves south of VTE is much better. You go for a boat trip for 14 km along an underground river like Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit. The village has several excellent guesthouses in a wonderful peaceful rural environment where you can eat breakfast and watch the locals harvesting tobacco or rice all for about $10 -$20 a night. Plan to spend 2 or 3 days just relaxing.
Overall Laos is not as cheap as it once was, esp. if you plan to spend anytime in VTE. Reasonable accommodation in the city . Will cost 30USD or more a room

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Milasia1
  2/28/2015 19:26 EST

You'll have to take the bus, but we hired a chauffeur for $100 a day to drive us from 9am-10pm for a month.
To see the jugs (Plain of Jars) go with family members to be safe. Go see the Buddha Park in Vientiane, the kids can sit on the statues. Your husband will like Pak Ou Cave in Luang Prabang, it's full of statues.
You won't have trouble packing snacks/milk in luggage. I packed in my carry on as well. The milk over there is sweeter then the states.

teesa1988
  3/1/2015 16:26 EST

You have been so helpful. Thank you so much for all the information and tips. I will have to ask if a relative is free to drive us down to luang prabong if we pay for a car rental if not we will suck it up and take the bus. That is great about the milk one of the things my son is allergic to is dairy so that will help a lot .

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