Okay, here’s my experience with Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Laos, written in a casual, blog-post style:
So, I needed to get to Laos. Flew into Vientiane, the capital, landing at Wattay International Airport. First thing I did? Tried to figure out where the heck I was. The airport’s not huge, which is kind of nice, actually. Less overwhelming than some of those mega-airports.
I gathered my bags – always a bit of a chaotic scene, no matter where you are – and headed towards customs. It was pretty straightforward. Nothing too complicated, just the usual forms and passport checks. I remember thinking it was all pretty chill, which is always a good start to a trip.
Getting Out of the Airport
- Taxi: I spotted a taxi stand right outside. Always a bit wary of airport taxis, but it seemed legit. There was a fixed price list, which is always reassuring – no haggling right after a flight!
- Tuk-tuk: There were a bunch of tuk-tuks, too. I love tuk-tuks. They did try to push the price. You just need to do some small talk, and it will be find.
- Rental Car: If my friend picked me up at the airport, I could skip all these.
I opted for the taxi, just because I was tired and wanted to get to my hotel quickly. The driver was friendly enough, didn’t try to rip me off, which is always a win. I think It took about 15-20 minutes to get into the city center. Not bad at all.
Later, I flew out of Wattay again. Checked in my luggage – again, super easy, no long lines. Security was a breeze. The departure area is pretty basic. Not a ton of shops or restaurants, but enough to grab a coffee and a snack. It’s also a good time to use the wifi. I always remebered that I need to downlaod something before I get in the plane.
Overall, Wattay is a perfectly functional airport. It’s not fancy, but it gets the job done. Easy to navigate, relatively quick to get in and out of, and the staff were generally helpful. Definitely not a stressful airport experience, which is always appreciated!
