nous sommes à Kratie actuellement et nous allons bientôt passer la frontière .
Quelqu'un qui aurait passer cette frontière récemment pourrait il me dire si il existe un bureau de change avant l'embarcadère pour les 4000 iles ???
Et le prix "presque" 🙂 officiel du visa Laotien ....?
Y a t'il moyen après le poste frontière Laotien de rejoindre l'embarcadère par nos propres moyens: taxi, tuk tuk....etc car nous n'avons pas envie de prendre un "Package" bus-frontiere-bus depuis kratie ou stung treng ?
1- Il y a un « bureau de change » dont le taux n'est pas très avantageux à la frontière. Les personnes qui le gèrent vous diront qu'il n'y a pas moyen d'obtenir des kips sur les iles. En ce qui concerne Don Det (je n'ai pas visité les autres iles), c'est complètement faux. Il y a plusieurs particuliers et commerces sur cette ile qui changent notamment les euros, les dollars et les baths en kips. Il est vrai cependant qu'il n'y a pas de guichet sur l'ile (il n'y en avait pas il y a un an en tout cas), mais il y en a un à Ban Nakasang, le petit port duquel partent les bateau pour les iles.
2- Le prix du visa lao varie entre 20 et 42$ selon votre nationalité (la liste des nationalités et les prix correspondants sont affichés). Comme je ne me suis pas battue pour éviter les frais supplémentaires, j'ai donné ce qu'on m'a demandé, à savoir 2$ en sortant du Cambodge et 2$ en entrant au Laos, dans les deux cas, des « frais administratifs ». Je sais que certaines personnes s'opposent fermement à payer des frais et qu'ils obtiennent généralement gain de cause après quelques heures.
3. Il n'y a pas de moyens de transport disponibles du côté lao du poste frontalier. Comme on nous en avait avisées, nous avions pris le fameux package dont vous parlez: une van devait nous emmener de Stung Treng à la frontière, puis une autre du côté lao de la frontière à Ban Nakasang. Nous avions payé pour l'ensemble de ce trajet au début (billet de la compagnie AVT vendu par la Riverside Guesthouse). De l'autre côté de la frontière (le passage s'est déroulé sans anicroche), nous avons vu plusieurs personnes embarquer dans la van qui les attendait grâce à leur « package », mais la nôtre nous avait fait faux bon. Nous avons attendu un tuk-tuk, un taxi ou un bus en vain pendant deux heures, jusqu'à ce qu'un bon samaritain nous embarque. Même si notre expérience du package n'est pas heureuse du tout, cela semble être la seule façon de faire, puisqu'il n'y a rien qui vous attend de l'autre côté.
Alors voici quelques éléments de réponses, s'ils te sont encore utiles au cas où tu n'aurais pas encore passé la frontière, nous l'avons passé le 20 février 2015.
- Nous n'avons pas eu connaissance de bureau de change au laos pour avoir des kip. A stung treng, quand tu attends le bus qui t'amènes à la frontière un mec te proposera certainement un échange de 1$ pour 7800 kip. Pas intéressant. Une fois dans le bus, un autre mec propose 1$ pour 8000 kip, ce qui est plus ou moins le taux officiel. cette option me parait raisonnable pour avoir de quoi démarrer au Laos. Sinon à Ban Nakasang il y a 2 distributeurs de billets.
- Concernant le prix du visa, nous avions de notre côté préparé le visa à phnom penh, espérant s'éviter des emmerdes à la frontière, on a pas tout évité. (Le visa coûte 5$ de plus à l'ambassade qu'à la frontière). Qd tu descends du bus, un type réunit tout le monde pour faire remplir les papiers, et collecte les passeports. Il se charge de faire toutes les démarches et prend sa commission évidement. Une française dans notre bus a payé son visa 40$ en passant par ce type, sans s'occuper de rien à la frontière. Si tu te débrouilles en solo, les frais sont : 30$ de visa (français), +1$ de frais sup avant 8h ou après 16h. pr le tampon de sortie du cambodge, les gardes vont te réclamer de l'argent, 2$ au départ. Après avoir discuté bien 10 min avec eux, on est tombé d'accord sur 1$. Pour avoir le tampon d'entrée au Laos, les gardes réclament 2$ également, et ceux-là sont bcp plus coriaces. J'ai bataillé 30 min avec eux sans succès et j'ai fini par céder... Je pense sincèrement qu'on ne peut rien obtenir d'eux, ils ont même finis par m'insulter en Lao, ça donne le ton quand tu rentres au Laos ...
- nous avions pris un package depuis Banlung, dans le ratanakiri. 16$ tout inclus, de Banlung à Don Det. En solo, tu ne trouveras rien côté Laotien je pense. Comme nous avions nos visa, nous avons été bcp plus rapide pour passer la frontière que le reste du groupe, et nous avons attendu presque 2h côté laotien que l'ensemble des gens aient leur visa. Et en 2h, on a vu 2 bus, qui étaient pour des voyages organisés. sinon rien, et c'était au milieu de l'aprem. Je confirme donc le post précédent. Après, de la frontière à Ban nakasang, c'est 10km, si tu es motivé, 2 bonnes heures à pieds !
Voici les dernières informations à jour concernant le passage de la frontière entre le Cambodge et le Laos (valable aussi dans l'autre sens à priori).
Nous avons passé la frontière en NOVEMBRE 2015. Prix du visa officiel pour le Laos : 30$ pour les ressortissants français (se renseigner au préalable pour les autres nationalités).
L'agence, guesthouse, ou tout intermédiaire avec qui vous passerez, demandera au moins 5$ de plus, qui correspondent à des bakchichs...
J'invite tous ceux qui doivent passer la frontière à ne PAS SE LAISSER MANIPULER une fois arrivés à la frontière, malgré tous les stratèges inventés : heure de fermeture des bureaux (18h officiellement et pas avant !!), pseudo jour férié, démarches facilités, bus qui ne vous attendra pas et probablement d'autres en fonction de l'imagination du moment, du jour et de l'heure de votre passage.
En effet, la frontière se passe quoi qu'il en soit à pied (vous passerez donc devant les 2 bureaux!). Les bakchichs peuvent être évités si vous tenez tête aux douaniers (qui jouent un rôle pour vous faire croire que le tampon d'entrée ou de sortie coûte bien 2$), car ce frais inventé n'est pas légal. La technique : insister (quitte à perdre du temps), demander un reçu officiel, dire que vous savez que le tampon est gratuit etc...
Il en va de même pour les soi-disant visites médicales, elles n'existent que pour piquer 1$ de plus. Si on vous interpelle, ne vous arrêtez surtout pas, passez votre chemin.
NOTRE EXPERIENCE : nous nous étions bien renseignés sur internet (ne pas hésiter à potasser les blogs de voyage!), et savions que les bakchichs pouvaient être évités.
A notre arrivée à la frontière, on nous a demandé 10$ de plus par personne...!! Sous prétexte d'un jour férié + les fameux 5$ habituels de bakchichs (2$ de tampon de chaque côté + 1$ de visite médicale, qui d'ailleurs ne pouvait pas avoir lieu ce jour là car personne ne se tenait au "stand médical"). Nous étions un petit groupe à avoir voulu nous débrouiller pour passer la frontière. L'union fait la force, il ne faut pas hésiter à parler aux gens autour de soi. Au final, nous avons tenu tête aux douaniers, sans payer de supplément et en perdant 10-15mn par rapport aux autres personnes du bus, qui eux, ont payé 10$ DE PLUS par personne. Nous avons pu repartir avec le même car qui nous a attendu...
Ce message a pour but de renseigner, pour éviter que les gens se fassent avoir et pour qu'un jour les bakchichs cessent (car l'illégalité n'aide pas la politique d'un pays!).
En espérant que ces informations puissent être utile aux baroudeurs!
I have two questions about applying for a Non-Immigrant O Visa at the Thai embassy in France for someone over 50:
- - Do I need to provide the address(es) of stay in Thailand (hotels, staying with a Thai friend)?
- - Financial proof: Is a retirement statement showing over 2,000 € per month sufficient, or are bank statements also required?
I know there’s already a lot of information about the visa requirements on the embassy’s website, but from my experience—having dealt with embassies in other countries in previous years—I know that the information is sometimes (!) incomplete or inconsistent. So, I’d rather hear from people who’ve recently gone through this process to avoid any surprises after submitting my application, which could cause unpleasant delays.
Hi there,
I’m heading to Senegal in January for a month and was wondering if I just need my French driver’s license or if I should get an international permit?
Thanks!
JL
I’m heading to Laos next spring, but I have a question about the Thai arrival/departure form. I’ll be flying PAR-BKK, then taking the train to Laos (so exiting Thailand), and later re-entering Thailand by train to catch my return flight. Do I need to fill out two forms in this case?
Hi,
I’m writing to ask for some info—I’ve heard that you **must** have travel insurance to land in Zanzibar.
What’s the process, and which insurance should I get?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Best,
Seb
Hi,
I’m planning a trip to Laos from France with a transit through Thailand involving 2 entries. I might spend up to 7 days max in Thailand (round trip).
The flight I’ve spotted: arrival at BKK and return to France 31 days later.
With the new regulations/visa:
"Starting September 15, 2026, French nationals holding an ordinary passport will be able to stay in Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism purposes only, down from the previous 60 days."
How do you think the counting is done?
- Number of days spent in Thai territory?
- Entry and exit dates: number of days between the two?
I’m leaning toward the first option, but to avoid any administrative hassles with Thailand (fines, etc.) and before booking my ticket, your input would really help.
Hi there,
I’m explaining our situation—my daughter and her young family have just moved to Polynesia, specifically to the island of Raiatea. That’s great, of course, and my wife and I are planning to visit them. However, flights that go through the United States are causing us a problem because we’ve been to Cuba. I think we’ll need a visa because of that.
Has anyone else dealt with this situation before? Any advice on flights and visas would be really helpful.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Hi there,
we’re planning our trip to the North Cape this summer. We bought a new vehicle for it. Unfortunately, the registration document is still being processed, and the delay seems long—I don’t think I’ll have it in time for our departure...
I have the transfer documents, insurance in my name, and all the supporting paperwork, but not the registration document. So my question is: does the ferry company require the registration document *mandatorily* when boarding in Denmark or not?
Thanks for any insights...
Hi everyone,
I bought a new apartment in Pattaya that will be finished at the end of 2013, and I’d like to buy more later...
I think it’s a good investment idea, but I’d love to hear from those of you with experience—what do you think? I’d also like to know how to handle rentals... Should I go through agencies, or are they usually rented out directly by the building management companies?
Thanks in advance for your replies! 🙂
Hi everyone,
I have to leave for Perth, Australia in a week, for 7 days, and I couldn’t get my international driver’s permit due to processing and delivery delays.
The information I’ve found about whether an international permit is required is contradictory. Some sources say you need one, others say you don’t.
Could anyone let me know if an international driver’s permit is necessary to rent a car in Australia (Perth), or if a French license is enough for a 7-day rental?
hi everyone,
I need to apply for a new eTA for Canada.
do I need the number from my old eTA or not?
because I can’t find my old eTA number anymore.
thanks for your replies, have a great weekend
Hi there,
I know there are similar topics here and elsewhere, but they’re a few years old, and I need an up-to-date answer to make sure I don’t throw over 1000 € out the window. Thanks for your patience.
I’m planning a trip from France to Alberta/British Columbia, and I’m unsure about which bank card to use for the security deposit with the rental company (I’m thinking of going with AVIS).
I contacted Avis Canada, and they told me a credit card is absolutely required. I asked my bank for a credit card (a *real* credit card), but they only offered me a deferred debit card.
My question: For a rental with Avis Canada, is a Gold International Mastercard deferred debit card usable for the security deposit needed to finalize the rental? Is the "CREDIT" label enough? (Some cards say "CREDIT" and others say "CARTE DE CREDIT"—seems minor, but it’s actually a big deal in how the card works.)
I’ve seen conflicting info everywhere I look... My bank says it’s *usually* okay (the deferred debit card), while Avis Canada insists it *must* be a credit card, not debit—even when I mention the deferred debit card.
I know the whole credit card concept is already confusing, and on top of that, some sites say a deferred debit card counts as a credit card, while others say it doesn’t.
Thanks to anyone who can share a recent experience!
Have a great day
Hi,
I’m bringing Seresta, an anxiolytic (tranquilizer) from the benzodiazepine family,
to help me sleep.
I’ll have the prescription with me.
Will this be a problem at customs, and do I need to declare it?
Same question for antibiotics?
Thanks a bunch!
Hi everyone,
I’ll explain my situation.
Unfortunately, I lost my passport, and I only realized it two weeks before my departure for a humanitarian mission in Libya. I’m a nurse, and this mission really means a lot to me.
First, I applied for an emergency passport, but it was denied by the Val-d'Oise prefecture on the grounds that a planned humanitarian mission wasn’t considered an urgent reason.
So, I submitted a biometric passport application on July 20th. Since then, the tracking has been stuck, and the town hall can’t (or won’t) give me any clear information. Every time I call, I get a different story. The last update I received was that the passport had been produced since July 23rd with a status of "about to be shipped," but nothing since then.
I’ve managed to push my departure back to next Tuesday at the latest, but I’m starting to really panic.
Have any of you submitted an application around July 20th, especially in Val-d'Oise (95)? How long did you wait between the passport being produced and it being available at the town hall? Is it normal for this step to take this long?
This mission means so much to me. I had everything organized, and I’m also supposed to attend a friend’s wedding right after near the border.
Thanks so much to those who take the time to respond or share their experience. 😔
Can anyone tell me exactly if a passport "valid for the duration of the stay" is enough, or does it need to be valid for 6 months after the trip?
I checked the embassy’s website, but that info is missing.
Hi there,
I’ll be arriving in Seoul on November 18th after spending about a month in India.
Do you know if I’ll need to fill out any additional documents besides the e-arrival card?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
I’m a bit embarrassed because I need to travel to Quebec from February 27th to March 13th. I’m a regular visitor to Canada—this will be my 10th trip since 1997, plus a year as a permanent resident (2000–2001) and a cross-country run from Vancouver to Halifax in 2011. So, I’m definitely not a terrorist!
But since our last trip in July 2015, they’ve introduced this eTA thing. Seems more like a way to make money than to actually secure Canada, if you ask me, but anyway, that’s not the point.
I applied for an eTA for myself, my wife, and our two kids. They all got approved within hours, but not me! I was asked to create a GC key and then an IRCC account, which I did. Normally, you get news within 72 hours, but since Monday, January 15th, nothing!
In the "message" section of the account, it says "explanation letter (required)" with a deadline of January 25th, but I can’t find any explanation anywhere—despite searching the Canadian government website and Google. No links, nothing!
I’ve emailed them but haven’t heard back yet. I’m thinking of calling the Canadian embassy in Paris tomorrow. Even though I’m not stressing yet, it’d be a bummer if everyone else got to go without me!
If anyone’s had this issue before or knows what this explanation letter is about, I’d love to hear more.
hi there
I’m heading to Seoul in September, and to do that I need to get a travel authorization that we apply for through K-ETA....... turns out I can (barely, I admit) fill out the form up to the address of our "stay location," but every address I’ve entered has been rejected by the system. I’ve tried my hotel, the Lotte Hotel (which is well-known in Seoul), the airport—basically, I’ve entered at least 20 addresses, all rejected....
So, to anyone who’s successfully gotten the authorization, could you tell me which address you used to get that "elusive" approval?...
Hi there,
I have a 9-seater passenger vehicle that I use for my business in Paris, transporting people.
I’m planning to go to Algeria with my family.
The vehicle registration lists my company as the owner.
Can I get a TPD (Temporary Admission Document)?
Will I need a KBis extract or a power of attorney?!?
Thanks for your help.
Worst case, I can add my personal name as a co-owner on the registration, but that would be a real shame!
Hi, are there any travelers who’ve recently crossed the border between Karakalpakstan (Uzbekistan) and Beineu in Kazakhstan?
It was closed for a while.
Thanks for any info!
I bought a one-way flight (Ryanair) and a return flight (EasyJet) to spend a week in Morocco in April.
My passport expires 3 weeks after the return date.
Some websites say the passport must be valid for 3 months at the time of entry.
However, it will still be valid both on entry and return, but its validity will only be 1 month at the time of entry (and 3 weeks on the return date, everything prepaid).
It's an individual family trip.
The consulate can't give me an answer—they're still looking into it (really!)
Last year, we stayed for 3 months in Thailand, north of Khao Lak, and were able to benefit from the 2-month visa exemption, renewable for one month by going to Takua Pa to validate a 1-month extension (1,900 baht).
This year, it’s a disaster for us—not only were we planning a 4-month stay, adding a visa run in between (which some say is quite risky), but the law is apparently changing in the coming months with the return of the 1-month exemption (plus the usual 1-month option). So, we looked into applying for a 6-month multiple-entry visa, allowing a maximum of 60 consecutive days in Thailand. However, I can’t find anywhere the minimum time required outside Thailand between two stays—do any of you have an idea?
Thanks for the info! If you’d like tips on Khao Lak and the surrounding areas, we’ve got some experience, though things change fast!
Cheers,
Bruno.
My partner, our 8-year-old daughter, and I are going on vacation to Gex.
We’ve decided to spend one day in Switzerland and another in Italy. Will we need ID (national ID card or passport)? Do we also need ID for our daughter?
Hello,
We’ll soon be moving to Madagascar long-term.
As a French national, I need to obtain a short-stay visa that can be converted to a long-stay one. To do this, I have to send the required documents to the Madagascar embassy in Paris.
No issues with that procedure so far.
If I get this visa, once I arrive in Madagascar, I’ll need to provide the same documents to the Ministry of the Interior in Anosy. I’m trying to find an email address or website for the Ministry to check which documents I need to submit (I think they ask for additional ones).
If you have any info on this, I’d appreciate your replies.
Best regards,
M. Buisson Eric
I’d like to know if anyone has already applied for a private visa to Russia with an invitation from a Russian resident.
I traveled earlier this year with an e-visa, but since I want to stay longer, I’ll be visiting my friend who lives in eastern Russia.
For the visa application, does the invitation need to be on an official paper form issued by the Russian ministry? And most importantly, do I need to present the original for the application, or is there an electronic version that can be sent directly to the consulate in France?
Thanks for any info if you’ve gone through this process before!
I filled out the B2 form to apply for a visa, created an account on Atvis to pay the visa fees and schedule a meet-up, but every time I try to pay with my Boursobank Visa 1st card, they refuse the payment with a message telling me to check my details (address), even though everything is correct. Does anyone know why this is happening, or maybe they don’t accept Visa cards? Are you aware of this?
Thanks for your feedback!
Elisabeth
There are rumors going around about the ETA: it must absolutely be on your smartphone in the "ETA" app.
Paper documents might not be accepted.
Is this real or just a hoax?
Thanks, I’m leaving in 3 weeks. My passport is good to go and my ETA is still valid for a year, but I only printed the email I received.
Thanks everyone.
Hi there,
We need to apply for a B2 visa because we visited Iran in 2018. It currently costs $185, but they’re planning an additional $250 fee per person for the same visa—it’s been approved but not yet implemented. Does anyone know when this fee will take effect?
Thanks in advance!
Elisabeth
Hi there,
In November, we're heading off on a 4-month trip. We'll be landing in China and plan to leave the country via a land border into Vietnam.
I’ve read that China may ask for proof of exit within 30 days (flight ticket or other reservation). Since we’d be leaving by land, I’m wondering how this works in practice.
Has anyone here been in this situation recently?
Did the airline ask for an exit ticket before boarding?
Did Chinese authorities require proof upon arrival?
Is a train/bus ticket to Vietnam sufficient?
Is a cancelable or flexible reservation accepted?
