You can try to enter Laos if you dont pay ! "Entrancefee" is only a Word i use to tell people that it cost money to enter Laos ! I have been in Laos many times and also find out that you dont pay the same amounth if you use usd.
Laos is a nice country and Vientiane is a nice City,so why not ? Air Asia to Udon Thani and a taxi 25 minutts to the Laos Border where you pay entrancefee( visa on arrival). Then 20 min taxi to Vientiane where you already have booked rom at Trivago.com .Tasty and cheap food,nice Girls and many dancehalls to visit,,,just like in Thailand.. one week there wont hurt anyone !
Never trust a thai when it comes to money,never ! Thats why i never pay deposit to a thai person when and if i rent an apartment. Better to stay in a hotel or rent from a foreigner !
Its not supposed to be easy ? Its not enough that Thailand want you to come to them and use your money to live,they also want you to pay for beeing there and use your money .