The world is a vast place and many of us want to experience as much of it as we can. Laos can provide an interesting and unique experience for the world traveler but it's first important to understand what it can and can't present you with to determine if it's just the type of place you'd like to visit. While there are many adjectives to describe countries in this region, Laos often gets slapped with the label "forgotten". But this isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Laos lends itself to those people who enjoy a laid back lifestyle and love the concept of throwing back a few cold ones while taking in the sunset. Although it used to be known as Laos PDR, meaning Lao People's Democratic Republic, it's been adopted to really mean Laos - Please Don't Rush. This is often the best way to describe what awaits you on your journey and there are some magnificent things to take in along the way. The first question that is often raised, though, is how you get in. You will need a tourist visa which can be obtained when you arrive. You'll also need to bring one passport photo for this as well.

Once you are in the country, what are the best things to do and what should you know about Laos? First, you should understand the currency. Due to its economic situation, things can be purchased for dirt cheap and the rule of thumb is that $20US can usually get you by comfortably per day. Even $10US can get you by fairly comfortably. Laos' form of currency is known as the kip but is only usable in country. The going exchange rate is about 8500 kip to the US dollar but the US dollar is accepted by most people. Just be prepared for less than ideal exchange rates, sometimes up to 10% below the market.

Be sure to definitely take a dip in an herbal sauna on your journey. At only 10,000 kip, it can be quite enjoyable and affordable. Also, many people enjoy trekking the mountainous regions of northern Laos. Your meals vary from city to city, but usually $5US can purchase even the most elaborate courses. Lodging is inexpensive as well, where you can shack up for as little as $2US in a shared room. Even travelling by bus is cheap, usually coming in at around $2.50US to get from Vientiane to Vang Vieng. Be sure to pay Laos a visit you wont regret it.

Sebastian has been traveling around South East Asia for some time and has put together a number of articles on the subject. If your interested in Laos then visit http://www.laoscares.com.