Just landed - wondering what gives the better rate in Laos: ATM withdrawal or airport exchange counter?
Best approach in Laos is to withdraw from ATMs inside banks like BCEL or ANZV. Budget LAK 300,000-450,000 per day depending on food and tours. Exchange just $10-20 at the airport for immediate transport. Always withdraw larger sums to offset fixed ATM fees, and keep small kip notes for tuk-tuks and street food. Airport counters should only be used for tiny amounts; ATMs give stronger rates in most cases.
Laos airport exchange counters felt like a rip-off. I swapped $100 and realized later I’d lost enough kip to cover two days of meals. It was frustrating since Laos is cheap, but I was budgeting only LAK 300,000 per day. Starting off by losing value annoyed me. ATMs in Vientiane and Luang Prabang gave much better deals, even with withdrawal fees. If you’re planning to visit waterfalls or take minivans, don’t rely on the airport counters - they’re overpriced.
I changed $20 at Wattay Airport for my taxi into Vientiane, and the rate was poor. Later, I withdrew LAK from a BCEL ATM, and I got noticeably more kip for the same dollars. Meals cost me about LAK 50,000-70,000, and entry to Kuang Si Waterfall was LAK 30,000, so having a stronger exchange rate stretched my budget. I spent about LAK 350,000 daily, and ATMs clearly worked better than airport counters for me.
In Laos, ATMs usually give a better rate than airport exchange counters. Vientiane and Luang Prabang airport desks tend to add big margins, while BCEL and Lao Development Bank ATMs track closer to the real kip rate. If you’re budgeting LAK 300,000-500,000 daily for meals, tuk-tuks, and entry fees at temples or waterfalls, withdrawing cash directly is the smarter choice. Exchange just a little at the airport if you need cash for your first ride or snacks.