Of cash and restaurants in LP

Hello. We recently returned from 4 restful days in Luang Prabang. Two points that prospective travellers should note: It%26#39;s not obvious that you can get cash in LP and the restaurant reviews in the Lonely Planet Loas guide are out of date.

Cash. In Luang Prabang I found 3 ATMs: One at the airport and 2 on the main drag in town. All 3 are from BCEL, Banque Pour le Commerce Exterior Laos. I carry ATM cards on UnionPay and PLUS and neither card would work. My wife%26#39;s Cirrus-network card did not work either even though other people%26#39;s Cirrus cards worked fine. So I recommend you bring lots of cash. We changed USD, Thai Bahi, %26amp; Chinese RMB with no problem and the rates at the ubiquitous money changers were all reasonable. So bring sufficient cash because most mid-range restaurants don%26#39;t accept credit cards at all, and if they do they levy a 3-5% premium on top of the MC or Visa bill. Amex was not accepted anywhere we went. Our hotel, the excellent Apsara, gladly accepted MasterCard %26amp; Visa.

Restaurants. We used the Lonely Planet and unfortunately the prices have all increased and some of the addresses and menus have changed. Probably best to have a 2nd reference.

Luang Prabang was fun and worth while so have a great time. And enjoy the best coffee and bread in Asia.

Of cash and restaurants in LP

Research for the guidebooks is done one year, and after editing,the book goes to press the next, and by the time we get it the information is 2-3 years old. Expect prices to be 5%-10% higher. LP states this at the beginning of their books.

And yes, some of the restaurant information is recycled, which I is just terrible. If you have any reviews, post them in the reviews section where there is an ';archives'; of reviews on hotels, restaurants, etc, not on a post like this as it will soon get lost in the mass. Cheers.

Of cash and restaurants in LP

Yes, I really dislike the LP Guidebooks because of this. I think a lot of the informations isn%26#39;t checked, just recycled. as a tip -

Travelfish has excellent guides which are current and downloadable. Yiu can tailor your information to what you require. It is a lot cheaper than Lonely Planet as well.

Being that I will be a woman traveling alone %26amp; I do not want to carry a lot of cash.

Is there any problem exchanging US$ TRAVELERS%26#39; CHECKS?

I%26#39;m Canadian, but plan to purchase the TCs in the US.

Please advise.

Guys,

i%26#39;ve just got back from laos recently and prices are now double the price of the guidebook, BUT.....don%26#39;t forget they are GUIDEbooks for a reason. I don%26#39;t care that prices are so much more expensive, because the places of interest are still the same and the guidebook has still got me to an area to find accomm. Why not try to stay in places that aren%26#39;t in the guidebooks, the hype isnt there and you%26#39;re experiences are broader than that of ever other guidebook traveller.

my mate was in laos a year ago and even since then prices have dramatically changed, but...it%26#39;s still dirt cheap and laos is one of my fave destinations from my years of travel through SEA.

jo