Visa runs from Pattaya

[Phlogiston 0]

I have to do visa run by next week and am thinking of doing it from Pattaya instead of Bangkok, because I'll be in Patters the day before the run is due.

 

I've never done a run from Pattaya before, so can anyone please provide the names and numbers of a decent, reliable company?

 

I know of one which charges 2400 baht, which seems a bit steep. I'm assuming 2,000 baht is the going rate, as it is in Bangkok. Is this right?

[LocalYokul 177]

yes, 2k is the rate, which includes the visa to Cambo, and the lunch at the casino

 

there's a travel company on the corner of 2nd and South Pattaya road that is ok

 

I think the name is C.T. Travel

[Phlogiston 0]

yes, 2k is the rate, which includes the visa to Cambo, and the lunch at the casino

 

there's a travel company on the corner of 2nd and South Pattaya road that is ok

 

I think the name is C.T. Travel

Thanks for the reply.

 

Ah, they go to Poi Pet then, do they? Or do they go to Pong Nam Rong? I didn't think there was a casino at the latter.

 

Do you have a number for these people?

[LocalYokul 177]

Ponge Nahm Rawn, Juntaburi

 

much less crowded, and easy to get to

 

[MC_Ldop 40]

I've used First Class and VIP. Both were fine. I'd five first class a slight edge.

 

My recommendation is to get blitzed the night before and sleep on the van. Sunglasses are also highly recommended.

[thegrogmonster 102]

I have used a company called Sea Air Land (SAL) Tours for visa runs.

They charge 2000 baht and go to Poi Pet. You leave at 6 in the morning in a bus and get back around 5pm. After you get your visa you have lunch at a restaurant just outside the Thai town at the border.

 

This company is located in Soi Post Office.

 

I could not fault this company.

[kdc1899 1]

Do (you) have to use a company for the visa run?

Can I just drive to Cambodia (with personal Thai driver) and enter Cambodia, eat lunch and return?

Do I need a visa to enter cambodia?

To the original poster; I have to go next week also. If you want to share the cost (1,500 baht on your end) we can go together (Brand new 4 door Hilux with good fully insured driver).

[LocalYokul 177]

sure you can go on your own, but do you know the way ?

 

Ponge Nahm Rawn is not easy to find IMHO

 

and the fuel to get there and back, buy the visa to Cambo (1k Baht) will cost more than the 2k the companies are doing it for.

 

[Phlogiston 0]

sure you can go on your own, but do you know the way ?

 

Ponge Nahm Rawn is not easy to find IMHO

 

and the fuel to get there and back, buy the visa to Cambo (1k Baht) will cost more than the 2k the companies are doing it for.

 

Yes, I'd agree with that statement. I'd rather let the visa run company take the hassle away.

[Phlogiston 0]

Ponge Nahm Rawn, Juntaburi

 

much less crowded, and easy to get to

 

Yeah, been there a few times now. Much better than Poi Pet, where I queued for 2 and a half hours in the sun last year!

[kdc1899 1]

sure you can go on your own, but do you know the way ?

 

Ponge Nahm Rawn is not easy to find IMHO

 

and the fuel to get there and back, buy the visa to Cambo (1k Baht) will cost more than the 2k the companies are doing it for.

 

I did not know ya had 2 buy a visa. I thought ya just went to the casino, hung out for a bit and returned.

Does ThaiGirl need Visa?

[007cableguy 10]

The best run from pattaya is Pong Nam Ron near chanthaburi ,decent road and easy to find ,just been there today ,left at 9am back in pattaya at 3pm .just took 15 mins at the border ,get the visa at the cambodian checkpoint cost 1000 baht then you pay 300 baht for the exit stamp ( tea money )

loads less hassle then poipet as not busy and no beggars giving you grief !! ...and quicker

[LocalYokul 177]

if you don't have a photograph , the visa to Cambo costs 1,100b

 

and you don't have to pay the tea money if you just walk into the casino, have lunch and come back out, that easy

 

or if you don't need lunch, just walk around in the little market there where they have perfume and FAKE (really fake) viagra pills

 

and Ponge Nahm Rawn isn't near Juntaburi, it's IN the province of Juntaburi

 

I didn't think it was that easy to find, but the last time I went the road was AFU and under construction

 

IMHO, if you really want to do the run on your own, either take someone who's been there before along, or take the tour van the first time and make a little map on the way, or mark up a proper commercial map

 

[LocalYokul 177]

not sure if TGs need a visa, but they do need a passport, unlike Laos and Malay

 

my opinion of the Cambo border is that it STINKS. I never got hassled at Vientiane or Padang Bazar, but I dure did by the Cambo fuckers when I went there on my own

 

they have no receipt for the fuckin' Cambo visa, and I got really fed up with the begging children and the guys insisting they "help you" get a visa , or help you to get laid, etc.

[ronpet 0]

i use jr travel jomtien they charge 2000bht and come to collect the money from me,6.30am back 14.30 and i use my ex pats card a get it for 1900bht they are on the recommended site of pattaya ex pats

[007cableguy 10]

oops sorry .....mr information ....i must perfect my posts ....i should have stated head for chanthaburi...instead of near....

[windsors420 1]

Without a doubt use the 5 Star Visa Run operated out of the Sportsman on Soi 13. I used it last week. It was fantastic. I don't know the name of the border crossing they used (not the one with the casino), but there was a quick turnnover at the border. Sat at a wooden table while the company did the rest. (Passport in Sight at all times) Try to avoid Fri-Sat and Sunday.

[kdc1899 1]

The best run from pattaya is Pong Nam Ron near chanthaburi ,decent road and easy to find ,just been there today ,left at 9am back in pattaya at 3pm .just took 15 mins at the border ,get the visa at the cambodian checkpoint cost 1000 baht then you pay 300 baht for the exit stamp ( tea money )

loads less hassle then poipet as not busy and no beggars giving you grief !! ...and quicker

Whom did you use?

What is the road number?

Thanks

Edited August 3, 2006 by kdc1899

[007cableguy 10]

hi .i just drove down on my own , from pattaya get on to road 36 which leads you on to the 3 road until you get to chanthaburi then onto the 317 to pong nam ron ,then on the 3193 which takes you to the border ,its all signposted in english .at pong nam ron head for the border market ,its all straight forward ...you can fill your forms in no problem ,

[kolobos 0]

hi .i just drove down on my own , from pattaya get on to road 36 which leads you on to the 3 road until you get to chanthaburi then onto the 317 to pong nam ron ,then on the 3193 which takes you to the border ,its all signposted in english .at pong nam ron head for the border market ,its all straight forward ...you can fill your forms in no problem ,

Cableguy,

 

I normally go to PRUM which is 215 klms each way? Do you know how far your journey was?

[yogibear 0]

If you are a golfer I would suggest stopping by Lewinskis bar on Soi Pattayaland 2. They advertise the slowest visa run in town. Includes transport, hotel, breakfast, and two green fees at Soi Doa for about 3000B.

[Phlogiston 0]

I eventually used Bri-Enjoy, who I think are located on Soi Buakhow.

 

They were crap. Never again.

 

I was told they picked up at Big C, (though not sure which one), but when I called they said they'd pick me up wherever I wanted. They didn't say they were going to do the same for EVERY other passenger. I was collected from Wat Chaimongkron at 6.20 am, then we criss-crossed Pattaya for another hour and 40 minutes collecting the others. I was second to be picked up, so we had another dozen to get. This was VERY annoying as I'd expected an early start and return.

 

One daft old German was clever enough to wait for the van then discover that although he'd remembered his passport, he'd forgotten some other bloody essential papers so we had to wait 10 minutes while he shuffled back to his apartment and rummaged around for them

 

We eventually made a start about 5 past 8am, and arrived about 11 am at the border at Ban Laem. The driver was a lunatic and there was one incident where the van swerved wildly all over the road with a squeal of brakes, to gasps from the passengers in the front. I was dozing so didn't see what happened but there were gasps and groans of concern from those who did see.

 

When we arrived at the border, we were given a sticky badge to wear and shown to the exit stamp windows, but when I had been stamped out, there was no-one from the company in sight. I had no idea where to go next so just wandered over the bridge and poked about. Luckily a Cambodian saw my badge and waved me along somewhere, then another and another. I eventually saw the casino (which I had not known about before, despite previous trips) and was waved in. There I could see there was lunch provided (pretty crap too) and the 3 staff from the company were stuffing their faces.

 

None of them waited at the border to show anyone where to go or explained anything. We were just dumped at the exit window and left to get on with it. I assumed they wanted their free lunch as soon as possible.

 

We left about mid-day and on the return journey, I asked what time we would be back in Pattaya. 'About 3.30', I was told. Sure, we DID arrive back about then, but then we started dropping everyone off in turn again! As I was the second to be picked up, I could see me spending yet another hour aimlessly criss-crossing Pattaya dropping others off in reverse sequence. The Turkish chap in front of me had been the the first in the morning and was pretty fed up by then. We both decided to get off the van as soon as we saw a familiar location. Other passengers were also grumbling about the delay once they realised what was happening, yet the staff just smirked in that irritating Thai way one they realsied how pissed off people were.

 

They didn't seem to understand that sitting in the van for an hour and forty minute delay before setting off, adding to the 3 hours sitting down to the border, then the reverse of another 4 1/2 + hours return was well pissing people off by then.

 

In the event, I saw we were close to Soi Bhuakow which was convenient for me, so I made them stop. I left the van alomg wit the Turkish chap and a German guy, all of us might pissed off with a bunch of cowboys.

 

Why on EARTH they could not have made passengers meet at a central location and make their own way there and return I just don't know. They just don't seem to have thought it out at all. The constant criss-crossing Pattaya at the start and end added over 50% to the day - 6 hours to and from the border, and over 3 hours just aimlessly driving round Pattaya collecting and dropping people off.

 

Never again. Fucking tossers.

[davethailand 91]

You could also try Witherspoon pub on soi bukeow, they have a visa run service also.

[Phlogiston 0]

You could also try Witherspoon pub on soi bukeow, they have a visa run service also.

Thanks for the info, but I doubt I'll do a run from Pattaya again. I'll stick with my tried and tested Bangkok people. I

 

It was just convenient to go from Patters last Monday. I'll try the people you mentioned if I ever have to do one from Patters again, though. Ta.