January 8, 2026
Looking for the best SIM card in Laos? This 2026 guide compares local SIMs and eSIMs, real prices, coverage, 5G availability, USSD codes and insider tips from someone living in Laos.
In Laos, things work quite similar to other Southeast Asian countries when it comes to booking accommodation, flight bookings, best options to withdraw money, etc. But there are also some important differences which travelers don’t expect. Knowing these in advance saves you time & money and can make your Laos trip much smoother.Â
Our Laos Travel Resources & Tools lists useful tools & services I personally use and would therefore recommend for a trip to Laos. My aim is to provide the most authentic travel information about Laos. Services that do not work in Laos or are simply not helpful here, I would never recommend! So whether you are booking hotels, searching for flight connections, choosing a VPN or figuring out the best way to pay in Laos, this simple page gives you the most reliable options for Laos. This list of travel resources & tools for Laos will be permanently extended whenever we discover some new essential tools, apps or booking sites for fellow travelers. I still see so many blogs writing articles about Laos with information which are simply wrong or with recommend services, which just do not work for in Laos, such as one of the most popular app/website for booking transportation: 12Go Asia – Yes, you heard correctly, do not rely and use this service in Laos. It does not list many connections, is way too overpriced and unreliable in Laos. Go to the bus station or ask your hotel for transportation bookings.
To be honest: Laos is a country, where pre-booking your accommodation is not always necessary. Walk-ins in Laos are very common and can sometimes also give you a better deal. However, tourist hotspots such as Luang Prabang, Nong Khiaw or Vang Vieng can reach their max. capacity during high season. Some people have a tight schedule and prefer peace of mind by booking their hotel before arriving, which is also totally fine and common in the Lao PDR. For online booking a hotel or guesthouse in Laos, I personally use Agoda or only sometimes Booking.com. While Booking.com is also common, Agoda is more popular in Southeast Asia in general. It belongs to Booking.com anyway. When comparing hotel prices, I find better deals on Agoda. Thats why my preferred choice of online booking accommodation in Laos is Agoda.Â
Trip.com is another great website you should add to your Laos Travel Resources & Tools List. I mainly use it to book flights, but with Trip.com you can not only compare & book flights, but also hotels or rental cars. What I like is, that they have loyalty points, which means that by any booking made via Trip.com you earn Rewards. The rewards can be used for anything on on their platform for discounts on your next booking. Pro-Tip for Trip.com: If you book a flight with one of Asia’s low cost airlines, book without luggage, doesn’t matter if you need it or not. Checked baggage can be more expensive on Trip.com compared to direct booking via the airline itself. BUT: The flight ticket prices are among the cheapest I’ve found, including flights to Laos. So you can book your flight without baggage on Trip.com and then log into the airline’s website for choosing additional luggage because its cheaper this way.Â
An app which made traveling to foreign countries so much easier, is Wise (formerly known as TransferWise). It is an app I can recommend by heart. I’ve been using it for 7+ years now as well for personal & business banking. Currently it is still the banking app on the market with the best exchange rates. Wise works perfectly fine in Laos to withdraw money from any ATM. But there are some things that you need to know about using Wise in Laos. If you want to use Wise for withdrawing cash in Laos, you can do so, but it is not possible to exchange into the local currency (LAK) within the application itself. Once you withdraw Lao Kip from an ATM in Laos, Wise will automatically give you the best mid-market exchange rate. Wise is great, works at any ATM in Laos and will give you a better exchange rate than your traditional home bank for sure! Another service I am using myself and would recommend to anyone visiting Laos. It’s always good to have a backup card and not just only one. As a backup debit travel card I would recommend Revolut – they have similar rates like Wise and their service is free.Â
 A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is another important tool you should add to your Laos Travel Planner. Public Wi-Fi in Laos (guesthouses, cafés, airports) is often slow and often unsecured. With a VPN you protect your personal data, you browse privately, and you can access the websites and services you normally use back home. I personally use Nord VPN because it’s fast, stable and works well across Southeast Asia, including Laos. Some banks or other websites block logins from Laos. A VPN helps you avoid these issues by letting you log in from a secure server location of your choice. Pro-Tip for using a VPN in Laos: Always connect to a nearby server, like Thailand, Singapore, or Vietnam. These servers are usually the fastest and give you the best browsing experience while still keeping your connection protected.
GetYourGuide is another helpful website to add to your Laos Travel Planner. It’s mainly useful if you prefer booking activities and day trips online instead of arranging everything last minute. In Laos, the offer on GetYourGuide is smaller compared to places like Thailand or Vietnam, but they still have some great options, especially in Luang Prabang like Kuang Si Falls tours, cooking classes, and temple walks. What I like about GetYourGuide is that everything is easy to book and prices are clear. If anything goes wrong, their customer support is usually fast and reliable. It’s a good option if you want to organize parts of your Laos trip in advance or if you’re looking for something special to do. The tours are usually run by local tour operators in Laos, which means you’re supporting local businesses. For those who don’t like to book activities in advance, also fine because it is quite easy to do so in Laos once you’re there. Also Tripadvisor can help you planning your trips and activities in Laos.Â
Having proper travel insurance is something many people overlook when coming to Laos, but it’s actually very important. Medical facilities in Laos are not on the same level as in Thailand or Vietnam. If you plan to rent a motorbike, do outdoor activities, or travel to more remote areas, having good insurance can save you a lot of stress.
For short-term travelers, a simple travel health insurance that covers accidents, emergencies and hospital visits is usually enough. These plans are easy to book online and start right away. They are also helpful if your airline loses your luggage or if you need to cancel your trip. If you are staying longer in Laos, things are a bit different. Long-term visitors, expats or digital nomads usually need a proper international health insurance, because regular travel insurance will not cover you for several months or years.Â
What I like about working with a good insurance broker is that they help you understand what you really need specifically for Laos and other Southeast Asian countries and what you don’t need. Many people buy the wrong plan because they don’t know the difference between travel insurance and long-term health insurance. A quick call can avoid a lot of confusion and help you find the right coverage for your situation.
If you want personal advice or need help choosing the best insurance for your trip or long-term stay in Laos and all of Southeast Asia, you can book a free call with our insurance partner below. They will help you choosing the right plan – perfect for long-term travelers. If you travel only for a short period to Laos or Southeast Asia, the short- to medium-term policy from SafetyWing might be the better option.Â
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Looking for the best SIM card in Laos? This 2026 guide compares local SIMs and eSIMs, real prices, coverage, 5G availability, USSD codes and insider tips from someone living in Laos.
Discover everything you need to know about renting and riding a motorbike in Laos. From prices, licenses and police checkpoints to road conditions, safety tips, repairs and the best motorbike routes. A complete, experience-based guide for exploring Laos on two wheels.