Frequently Asked Questions: Laos

* Frequently asked questions on Travel to Teach
* Frequently asked questions on Teaching
* Frequently asked questions on traveling and packing

Frequently asked questions on Travel to Teach

Why should people pay to do volunteer work?
As we state throughout this web site, we are altogether independent and hence have no external funding. Our purpose is to enable people to have this kind of experience without paying a fortune.

Travel to Teach volunteering is conceived as something between traveling and volunteer work, leaving a lot of time for activities and traveling while the volunteer comes in contact with and contributes to society by working.

Why are you so much cheaper than all the others?
The mission of Travel to Teach is to provide valuable work opportunities and chances to come into contact with the host nation's true culture, all at a cost that can be overcome by most people.

We are an international agency but our head quarters are based in Thailand and thus do not have western "overhead costs". We are cheaper than most agencies, but in any way that we can think of, we believe that we have very good arrangements in place and offer a very personal approach.

Why don't you include food in your fees?
The price of food in Laos depends on what you choose to eat. If you eat local you can get by on 60 US cents per meal. If you want Western food, you would have to pay about 3-4 USD per meal.
Therefore, costs are very difficult to calculate. We have found that our participants have very different preferences regarding their food, so we leave it up to them to make their own decisions.
Read more about this on our T2T Costs page.

Living with Travel to Teach Laos
Travel to Teach has one dorm in Vientiane. It is an average town town house with basic facilities. Volunteers live in shared rooms.
The Laos government is very cautious about westerners co-habiting with Laotians. It is even illegal to have relationship with a Laos Lady. They seem to be more relaxed on these rules if its a western lady with a Laos man but not the other way around.

Can I get a room for myself? If you want to live under any other conditions than the ones we provide as standard, it can always be arranged and we can agree on the costs.

Laundry
There are many different ways in which to do your laundry, at different levels of service. If you don't want to do it yourself you can expect an expense of around 2 USD.

Hygiene standards.
Some things in this country can seem strange or questionable to a Westerner at first glance. Since water has not always been, and still often is not, a readily available commodity, many customs and arrangements are different from those which one is probably accustomed to. Nothing dramatic, just a bit different.

FAQ on Teaching

Knowledge
Althoguh a strong working knowledge of English is necessary as well as a basic interest in education volunteers do not have to be a professional teacher or have any expert knowledge of either teaching English or computers. We provide a basic teaching introduction to all volunteers at the start of there placement with advise on teaching tools and methods. Volunteers virtually always find that their knowledge of English or computers is superior to the Laos teachers so all the help the volnuteer can give is appreciated.

Frequently asked questions on traveling and packing

How to get here: Vientiane

Air
Vientiane has an international airport in the city. We can arrange for you to be collected from the airport or the city.

Bus
There are a large range of buses throughout Laos. From large air con coaches to small mini vans. The local mini buses are often over packed with people and can be uncomfortable but are very cheap.

If you arriving by bus you will probably arriving from Nong Khai - Friendship Bride; we will send someone to pick you up, Luang Probang - Northern bus station; phone us on arrival and we will pick you up, or from the south - Southern bus station; phone us on arrival and we will pick you up.

What to bring

Clothes, shoes
You must dress properly and according to Laos tradition and standards. This means that women should keep their shoulders covered in classroom situations and not wear shorts (if your shorts cover your knees, this is acceptable). You should be proper and clean.

General:
Don't bring too much. There is plenty of nice, cheap clothing to buy here and you will want empty space in you bags for the many things that you are likely to purchase here! During the rainy season (from May until September) you might want to bring a raincoat. Don't bring any heavy clothing, as you will only be wearing the lightest things you have.

Medicine
If you rely on any medication, you should, of course, bring it. Also, it is advisable to see your doctor and request a prescription for antibiotics in case you get ill during your stay. Thai doctors and hospitals are generally fairly good, but it is convenient to have your own medication.

Bed linnean, towels etc.
We will provide you with sheets and covers. Please bring your personal towels. You only need a pair. If you want to go trekking on your own you should bring your own sleeping bag. You don't need to buy a mosquito net. We will provide you with one on your bed.

Back to top