Please advise concerning which currency is used in Luang Prabang. Specifically, are US dollars the prefered form of cash when conducting transactions (as is true in Siem Riep)? Are there ATM's in LP? Do they dispense dollars or Kip? Thanks.

I was able to use U.S. dollars in Laos. Often a price for an item was marked in dollars.

Make sure you have some small denominations available for low price purchases. Some hotels can take some larger denominations when you pay your bill.

Also change some dollars over to Kip for really cheap purchases or there may be no change returned!

Don't leave Laos with any Kip - you can't exchange it once you are out of the country!

When I was there last there were no ATM's in most of the country. Recent info I have read has mentioned that there are some ATM's available but with limited use. Someone who has been there recently can better help you. Think I read that Maestro and Visa may work - can't personally verify it though!

I forgot this. Thai baht is often accepted on the border areas with Thailand.

There are no ATMs in LP. Bring US$ to exchange. Here, you want denominations no more than US$20 as even that much kip entirely filled my waistpack. I used US$ only once in LP, when a craftsperson asked specifically for it. When I was there, there was no bank, but the post office did currency exchange.

there are atm's in LP, two of them, but they only take mastercard debit cards, not visa cards.

if you have a visa debit card, no big deal to go into the bank and take a withdrawal on it, just takes a minute. Have your passport.

there are atm's in LP, two of them, but they only take mastercard debit cards, not visa cards.

if you have a visa debit card, no big deal to go into the bank and take a withdrawal on it, just takes a minute. Have your passport.

Kip or dollars, I never found anyone who had a preference. Dollars easier to carry. Don't need a donkey.

Thanks everyone. Sounds like I should just take dollars as in Cambodia. I need to save the Kip to pay any penalty that may be assessed.

Lori, there are now ATMs in LP? wow I knew there was now a bank (no bank when I was there).

Do you know which network they are a part of - cirrus, plus, interlink?

You know, I didn't take much notice about which networks, since I carry a visa debit card and there was a big note on the atm that said "this machine only works with mastercard debit cards NO VISA"...so I just proceeding into the bank to withdraw the money. But I saw others using them with no difficulties...sorry I didn't take better notice.

I too, was amazed to see them, They weren't there in March.