Mat Lauer / Today show in Laos

Just saw that Matt Lauer from the Today Show is in Laos today as part of his week tour / show. That is good for Laos tourism!

However, i just read the following on the NBC/Today show site about tourisn costs in Laos

'; It’s a very affordable destination — Geographic Expeditions estimates that you can travel through southern Laos for about $300 a day including meals, accommodations, and a private car and English-speaking guide; Luang Prabang and Vientiane will cost about $400 per person per day as they have higher-end hotels';

I am not sure where these people their information, but that is absolutely ludicrous. $ 400 a day in Vientiane or LPB? That is complete nonsense!

I was at both places in January and one would be hard pressed to spend that kind of money there a day! That is grossly misleading.

Lao is one of the most affordable tourism destinations in South Asia!

Mat Lauer / Today show in Laos

Who the hell is Matt Lauer? he clearly knows not what he is talking about. $400 would last me about 10 days in LP or Vientiane at a pretty reasonable hotel.

Mat Lauer / Today show in Laos

I didn%26#39;t know either.

I found this site I this is what charlie means.

…msn.com/id/21134540/vp/24383713#24384875

That was the link with the Laos costs :

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/24371053/

These folks are clueless! I bet the guy who wrote the article never stepped foot in Vientiane or LPB!

Hmm, $300 or 400/day? I guess it is possible. I spent two weeks last winter touring Laos (and have a trip planned back to Laos this winter). We took the Mekong River slow boat boat overight to LP, ~$700 for 2; several nights in (not the best) very beautiful accomocations, maybe $60/night. Lunch is the price of a latte in the US. Yes, you can spend $25-30 for dinner for two with wine in the best restaurants in LP or VT. Hire a car and driver for (at the most) $35/day if you want to tour the countryside; rent a bike for $1/day in the LP or VT. Yes, it%26#39;s possible, in LP and VT ONLY--provided you stay in the most expensive hotels available and isolate yourselves with other western travelers when you eat, tour and sleep.

You have to realize that Lauer only travels first cabin (after all, The Today show is based in New York City), and Columbia Broadcasting is only following the lead of the New York Times in suggesting this trip to it%26#39;s upper middle class audience. Have you seen some of the ads in the NY Times recently for real estate (almost nothing under USD1,000,000.)! I totally agree that the $400. a day suggestion is inappropriate for SE Asia, but then again these people are used to reporting on trips to places like Nassau and Bermuda.

I have the wrong US network, it%26#39;s NBC. Did you see the price of that one tour? - only $12,000!

you can see all the segments on this laos trip on msnbc.com

Maybe $30-40 a day...but then I guess Matt Lauer stays in nicer hotels then I do.

Hi

Of course you can spend 30-50USD per day, or even less. Depending how you travel, where you tay and what you eat. But you can also spend much more... one of the most beautiful boutique hotel in Vientiane, where rich people can efford (Green Park) is minumim 140 USD up to 450 USD a night.

';every thing available for any pocket';

Who the hell is is catering for and targetting?...oil traders!!!