Getting money in Laos is incredibly difficult unfortunately. Many cards are not accepted, there is often no cash in the ATM, and many cards are swallowed. It is therefore of extra great importance that you prepare well. Below, we will share the best tips for withdrawing money in Laos and what to consider.
Content of this blog:
What is the best bank to withdraw money from in Laos?
In general, you can withdraw the easiest and most money at the BCEL bank. This is also the only bank in Laos where you can withdraw, usually, a maximum of 2.5 million kip instead of 2 million. Unfortunately, this is no guarantee that BCEL bank’s ATMs will always work. Often there is no money in the ATM and/or the machine is overworked which can cause your card to be swallowed.
My bank card has been swallowed, what do you need to do?
First, try not to worry too much. It is really quite annoying but fortunately, in most cases it can be resolved fairly easily. Look up the bank’s name on Google Maps and see where the nearest physical location is to the bank. Report to the bank that your card has been swallowed and show the exact location of the ATM. In most cases, you can come back a few hours later to pick up your bank card. For this, you do need to bring a passport that matches the name on the bank card.
When your bank card is swallowed at night or on weekends, it can be a bit more annoying. You will then have to wait until the next morning, or even a few days later when the bank reopens. This is the exact reason why we always recommend carrying multiple bank cards while traveling.
Which card is best to use to withdraw money in Laos?
We think the best bank card for when traveling is Wise. It’s clear, uncluttered, you can easily transfer money to local businesses for activities and you always get a good exchange rate. In addition, you can withdraw ā¬200 per month at the ATM with no additional fees. Use this link to apply for a free Wise bank card.
In addition to Wise, Revolut is also widely used by travelers. No major differences between Wise and Revolut can be pointed out. The only difference we personally experience is that we find Revolut a little less user-friendly. But, as we mentioned earlier, it is really important to take at least 2 different bank cards with you when traveling so it is recommended to apply for a Revolut bank card for free through this link as well.
Regular bank cards hardly work in Laos. Credit cards often work reasonably well, but you often pay a huge fee per withdrawal with a regular credit card. Since you can withdraw only ā¬100 at a time, these costs will add up quite a bit. Save yourself time, effort and money and apply for your free Wise bank card here.
More tips on how to withdraw money abroad without extra fees can be found in this article.
What is the maximum amount of money I can withdraw in Laos?
At BCEL Bank, you can withdraw up to 2.5 million kip at one time. This is just over ā¬100. So this means you will have to use debit cards very often during your trip in Laos. All the more reason to prepare this well.
With us, it often happened that we could not get 2.5 million kip, but we could only get 2 million. If it fails, just try to apply for a slightly lower amount on the next transaction. Chances are it will work then. At every bank we tried, we managed to withdraw at least 2 million kip.
Additional tips for withdrawing money in Laos
The last tip is to make sure you carry enough cash in small villages like Nong Khiaw and Don Det so you don’t have to use ATMs there. In fact, we made this mistake in Nong Khiaw where we wanted to withdraw money at 5:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon and our bank card was swallowed on the first attempt. The bank would not reopen until Monday morning. There we were, with no money and no bank pass which meant we had to stay an extra 2 days. Make sure you think a little further ahead and don’t end up in the same situation.
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