Tourist Bus versus the Real bus

Recently on a trip to Laos, I was lazy or perhaps not thinking and jumped on a tourist bus instead of my regular way of taking a regular bus.

Well, the tourist bus dropped us off away from the city center, in the bay of taxis and tuk tuks(three wheeled taxi's) who wanted play games with getting into the center.

Tourist buses assume that you will be taking that bus once in your life, so they are quite willing to take money from people willing to make a fast buck off you.

Other typical things they like to do is drop you off at the wrong hotel, certain hotels.

The tourist bus=full of other foreigners
Local bus full of locals, usually cheaper.