Flights
Both Vientiane and Luang Prabang have international airports.  Both are relatively small with limited facilities but they now have ATM's and currency exchange (dispensing Lao Kip).  Flights from Australia and most other international destinations outside of Asia will mean you need to fly through one of the major South East Asian airport hubs such as Singapore, Bangkok, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur to get to Vientiane.  There is a host of other small airports flying the various domestic routes in Laos.  Luang Prabang is an international airport however the size of the runway limits the size of the aircraft and as such only a small number of international carriers use this airport.  International flights in and out of Lunag Prabang are limited to Hanoi, Siem Reap and Bangkok at this time.

Climate
There are three main seasons: hot in March to May, rainy between May and November, and dry and relatively cool from November to March. The annual monsoon cycle gives Laos two distinct seasons: May to October is wet and November to April is dry. Southern Laos gets the most rain overall. In the some of the mountain areas December/January nights can easily fall to OºC. In mountainous provinces of lesser elevation, temperatures may be a few degrees higher. During most of the rainy season, daytime averages are about 29ºC in the lowlands and around 25ºC in mountain valleys.



Food
Rice is the foundation for all Lao meals, and almost all dishes are cooked with fresh ingredients such as vegetables, freshwater fish, poultry, duck, pork, beef or water buffalo. Lime juice, lemon grass and fresh coriander give the food its characteristic tang, and various fermented fish concoctions are used to salt the food. Hot chillies, garlic, mint, ground peanuts, tamarind juice, ginger and coconut milk are other seasonings. Dishes are often served with an accompanying plate of lettuce, mint, coriander, mung-bean sprouts, lime wedges or basil. French Baguettes are found in the larger towns, served for breakfast, filled as a sandwich with pate, vegetables, and chili sauce.

Money
Lao Kip (LAK; symbol ₭) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of ₭50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1. Thai Baht and US Dollars are the easiest currencies to exchange. They are also widely accepted in shops, markets and hotels in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Major credit cards are accepted in the more upmarket hotels and restaurants only.  Although USD are widely accepted in the larger towns, the local KIP currency is the best in out of the way destinations. Traveler's Cheques have limited acceptance.   There are now a number of ATM's in Vientiane and Luang Prabang dispensing Lao KIP.  Keep in mind that power outages still occur on a regular basis in Luang Prabang - and when there is no power - there is no ATM's.  Be aware that some denominations of KIP look vary similar so its a good idea to check your change and take the time to get to know your notes!

Phones & the Internet
The international access code for Laos is +856. International Direct Dial is available in the major towns, but the service is expensive and inefficient. Hotels sometimes add a hefty surcharge to their telephone bills: check before making long-distance calls.

The mobile phone network around Laos is relatively good and is not as expensive as Cambodia however it is advisable to check the coverage with your service provider before leaving as the local mobile phone companies have few active roaming agreements with other network operators. Internet cafes are widely available in tourist areas.  Beware that internet speeds are VERY slow in Luang Prabang so patience is needed.  It is relatively easy these days to buy a local SIM card which will save you on incountry and international calls.  These can be bought from local shopkeepers around town.