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| General Information |
| When to go |
Generally, the best time to travel is from the middle of December to the middle of May because it is off-season for typhoons. During the Christmas and Easter breaks, however, everyone is traveling and you'll have trouble getting a seat on every form of transportation.
January and May have the most colourful festivals, the rice terraces of Luzon look best in March and April, and this is also the best time for island-hopping. |
| Languages |
The national language is Filipino, which is based on the language of Tagalog, although there are at least one or two dialects spoken in every region. English is both spoken and understood throughout the country, especially in business negotiations and in the government. Hokkien, Cantonese and Mandarin are spoken by older members of the Filipino-Chinese community. |
| Religion |
83% Roman Catholic, 9% Protestant, 5% Muslim, 3% Buddhist and other. |
| Visas |
For most foreign visitors visas are not needed for stays of less than 21 days. Three-month visas can be obtained in advance and cost around US$35. Multiple-entry visas (lasting six and 12 months) are also available but are expensive and only allow for stays of 59 days at a time. Visa extensions are possible and generally faster to obtain in regional areas. |
| Health risks |
cholera, hepatitis, malaria, rabies |
| Time |
UTC plus 8 hours |
| Electricity |
220V, 60 Hz |
| Tipping |
Unlike most Asian countries, the culture of tipping in the Laos' service industry is becoming more prevalent with much influence from western countries. Although, nearly all major hotels and restaurants have a policy of automatically adding a 10 percent service charge to your bills, a small token to show you gratitude is still expected in the form of a tip, leaving the amount for the tip to the customer's own discretion. Apart from hotels and restaurants, other smaller service establishments as well as taxi drivers expect a small gratuity in return for the service rendered. |
| Climate and Weather |
March to May is hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from 22 to 32 C. June to October is rainy. November to February is cool; temperatures range from 22 to 28 C. Average humidity year-round is 77%. |
| Money and Currency |
| Currency |
Peso |
| Meals |
Budget: US$2-3
Mid-range: US$3-5
Top-end: US$5-15 |
| Lodging |
Budget: US$10-30
Mid-range: US$30-100
Top-end: US$100-400 |
As with the other Asian Tigers, the Laos economy has been fluctuating fairly wildly in recent years. Generally speaking, however, the Laos are slightly more expensive than other countries in the region. You'll get the best value for money in North Luzon, while you're more likely to shell out in Boracay and Cebu.
The US Dollar is the most recognized currency in the Laos, and is often easier (and cheaper) to change than travelers' cheques. Large denomination US bills will get you a particularly good rate, but only clean banknotes are acceptable. If you want to use checks, the bigger brands will be accepted by most banks throughout the country. ATMs can be found all over the country. and you can use MasterCard and Visa in them. |
| Useful Contact Numbers |
| Emergency services (police, fire and ambulance) throughout the Laos is 166 |
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