visa runs

[fi33er 1]

i am thinking of locating to cha am later on this year, the smog in chiang mai is too much, where is the nearest border to cha am for visas runs

 

cheers fi33er

[joekicker 53]

Just repeating what I heard the other day, still unconfirmed but pretty reliable:

 

The Cambodia border crossing at Aranyaprathet (Poipet) will NOT allow you into Thailand if you do not have a visa for Thailand.

 

That is: If you are extending those one-month stamps into living here without a visa, it won't work at that border.

 

If you have a visa (or if the above is wrong), Aran may be your most convenient from Cha-Am. Another possibility is through Trat in the far southeast of Thailand, up and around past Pattaya and Chanthaburi.

[Gonzo 419]

i am thinking of locating to cha am later on this year, the smog in chiang mai is too much, where is the nearest border to cha am for visas runs

 

cheers fi33er

I have a few friends in Hua Hin, not far from Cha'am. They go by bus to Ranong and from there by longboat over to Myanmar (Burma). The bus from Hua Hin to Ranong takes about seven hours.

[jacko 8,697]

I have a few friends in Hua Hin, not far from Cha'am. They go by bus to Ranong and from there by longboat over to Myanmar (Burma). The bus from Hua Hin to Ranong takes about seven hours.

Quite a trip to Ranong over the hills, but interesting. Perhaps from Cha-Am you could get onto the train to the Southern border with Malaysia... if it doesn't get blown off the tracks.

[iceman 0]

I was under the impression that the days of visa runs ended.

[jacko 8,697]

I was under the impression that the days of visa runs ended.

Not at all. A multiple tourist visa or a non Imm 'O' would also require trips every 60 or 90 days. I believe the combination of 3 x30 day and a tourist visa from Malaysia is being used by some visa run specialists.

[lvreggie 0]

Now I'm a bit confused!

 

I will be in Thailand for 21 days in Sept., and then travel over to Phnom Penh for about 10 days to have a look around Cambodia for the first time. I will then return to Bangkok for the last week of my holiday visit.

 

I will receive a standard 30 day visa upon my first entry in Sept.,

 

I can get a Cambodian tourist visa on the internet, cost about 25usd and takes 3 days.

 

Now the part I am confused about is the re-entry to Thailand. The 30 day visa will have expired already,

so can I just get another 30 day tourist vist, or do I have to get a multiple entry visa to start with?

 

Hope I didn't confuse you!!!!

[joekicker 53]

I will be in Thailand for 21 days in Sept., and then travel over to Phnom Penh for about 10 days to have a look around Cambodia for the first time. I will then return to Bangkok for the last week of my holiday visit.

 

I'm reading this that you have a Thai visa stamped in your passport. If so, you want a multiple-entry one. I don't know if the consulate will exchange it or what?

 

If you mean you do NOT have a visa and expect 30 days on arrival, that's OK. You'll get another 30 days when you come back to Thailand. Again, be aware of the unconfirmed-but-reasonably-reliable warning that you will not be allowed back to Thailand at Aranyaprathet or, perhaps, at other land crossings. On a plane, for sure no boblam.

[jacko 8,697]

I'm reading this that you have a Thai visa stamped in your passport. If so, you want a multiple-entry one. I don't know if the consulate will exchange it or what?

 

If you mean you do NOT have a visa and expect 30 days on arrival, that's OK. You'll get another 30 days when you come back to Thailand. Again, be aware of the unconfirmed-but-reasonably-reliable warning that you will not be allowed back to Thailand at Aranyaprathet or, perhaps, at other land crossings. On a plane, for sure no boblam.

I thought the famous Joe was mistaken...yes maybe..the question posed clearly states '30 day visa on arrival!.. But the second paragraph is 'on the money'

[fi33er 1]

i will have a non o visa multiple entry cheers for the replies i am used to getting my visa at maynmar only 3 1/2 hours each way from chiangmai, the move to cha am will be worth it i'm sure

 

 

fi33er

[Gonzo 419]

Quite a trip to Ranong over the hills, but interesting. Perhaps from Cha-Am you could get onto the train to the Southern border with Malaysia... if it doesn't get blown off the tracks.

I love going by train from Hualumpong in BKK to Hua Hin. Last time I went by RAPID train 3. Class/Fan. The ticket was a bit over 200 Baht and the trip was comfortable and took a bit over 4 hours in the afternoon. The seats were comfortable, the toilets were clean and they sold beer and food at very cheap prices.

 

Most of the passengers were Thai Muslims going back to Hat Yai and Yala. I was the only bloke who got off at Hua Hin station with my TG. The train station is only a short walk, about 15-20 min. from the central Night Bazaar area and cheap hotels. I first stayed at the Siripetchkasem Hotel (450 Baht), right next to the bus station to BKK and later moved to the Limelight Hotel in the bar area. I like Hua Hin.

 

If I lived in Hua Hin or Cha'am I would not consider the train ride to Buttersworth (EXPRESS train). It think it leaves Hua Hin around 6PM and gets to Buttersworth the following day at 12 AM. The return train from Buttersworth leaves about 1 PM and gets back to Hua Hin at 4.30 AM the following morning. I think I would feel knackered after such a long train ride. I think that would be doing a border run the hard way. I think that is why my mates from Hua Hin take the bus to Ranong instead.

 

Next time I go to Bangkok I will go to the Hualumpong train station and pick up some fresh time tables for all the destinations in Thailand.

[torrenova 644]

Timetable and stuff here:

 

http://www.railway.co.th/english/index.asp

[Gonzo 419]

Timetable and stuff here:

 

http://www.railway.co.th/english/index.asp

Thanks for the useful link.