visa runs

[simon_cook 22]

Has anyone done a 1 day visa run to somewhere other than Poipet and if so what was your experience like?

Do you recommend anywhere else?

I might have to make one next year sometime and hate the thought of going to Poipet again(chaotic,beggars,etc) so if there is an easier alternative that would be great.

 

A few travel firms names who are recommended would be good too.

 

Many Thanks

Edited November 28, 2011 by simon_cook

[bigmick 840]

Has anyone done a 1 day visa run to somewhere other than Poipet and if so what was your experience like?

Do you recommend anywhere else?

I might have to make one next year sometime and hate the thought of going to Poipet again(chaotic,beggars,etc) so if there is an easier alternative that would be great.

 

A few travel firms names who are recommended would be good too.

 

Many Thanks

 

Much depends upon what type of visa you are looking for.

 

Last July i went up to Nong Khai and went over the bridge and stayed in Vientianne for a few days and while there, i got a single entry tourist visa (60 days) as it was all that i needed at the time. They do issue double entry toruist visas (2 x 60 days and then a 30 day, total 150 days) I did the trip with my wife so i drove there myself and it was a nice little break. Vientianne has a small area of very few bars with girls hanging out the front by the river if you want company etc. Alternatively you can do this trip with the help of the visa company in the Queen Vic, soi 6. It is about 12'000 baht for your travel, Lao entry fe, visa fee and one night stay in a hotel there. It is probably the cheapest way to do it if you dont drive yourself.

[Parkwahn 61]

I did one, went with the Sportsman 2500 but if you book 11 days in advance its 2200 .. (I seem to remember) great buses takes 8 but only 4 in ours, you get a breakfast , videos all the way there a packed lunch and a drink when you return, very good indeed only ever did one.

 

I cant see anyone being as good as that, left at 7.00 back by 3.30pm...

[simon_cook 22]

Much depends upon what type of visa you are looking for.

 

Last July i went up to Nong Khai and went over the bridge and stayed in Vientianne for a few days and while there, i got a single entry tourist visa (60 days) as it was all that i needed at the time. They do issue double entry toruist visas (2 x 60 days and then a 30 day, total 150 days) I did the trip with my wife so i drove there myself and it was a nice little break. Vientianne has a small area of very few bars with girls hanging out the front by the river if you want company etc. Alternatively you can do this trip with the help of the visa company in the Queen Vic, soi 6. It is about 12'000 baht for your travel, Lao entry fe, visa fee and one night stay in a hotel there. It is probably the cheapest way to do it if you dont drive yourself.

 

Already have non imm o.Just have to do visa run every 3 months

[bigmick 840]

Already have non imm o.Just have to do visa run every 3 months

 

Gotcha

 

Then the best is to go with either the Sportsman soi 13 or The Queen Vic, soi 6. Both have buses with 6 seats and give you a decent breakfast before you leave, packed lunch and stops for drinks toilets etc. You will usually leave around 6 am and are back in Pattaya by 3pm. Costs about 2500 baht

[simon_cook 22]

I know there are a couple of border crossings near Poipet that are not so busy.Thats what i was thinking of.Dont know where though.

[lovedog100 1,372]

http://www.pattayata...__fromsearch__1 Edited November 29, 2011 by lovedog100

[lovedog100 1,372]

From BKK, you can do Phnom Penh by air, or Malaysia by train.

Edited November 29, 2011 by lovedog100

[papillon 695]

I've done visa runs to a few different crossings and they are all much the same (Pattaya to Cambodia).

 

Easiest one I've done is the Chong Chom/Osmach crossing but that's in Surin so probably not much use to you, LOL. I was doing that run every 14 days for a few months so got to know Osmach fairly well. Decided to stay overnight once. Got a room at one of the casinos and then went on the piss with a Cambo Dude that I had become friends with. Ended up having a 3some with a Khmer and a Viet back at the casino. Got everybody shit faced at one of the local Brothels. Happy days :)

[jacko 8,814]

I didn't think any of the Pattaya visa run guys went to that shit hole Poi-pet.

 

Normally go due East of Pattaya to Had lek and places East of Soi Dao. The little boder posts don't have too may scrounging kids and the majority are kept on the other side of the chicken wire.

[papillon 695]

I didn't think any of the Pattaya visa run guys went to that shit hole Poi-pet.

 

 

They do.

[simon_cook 22]

Jacko,how long does the trip take from Pattaya and can you recommend any travel companies that go there?

 

Just looking online and this seems to be the quietest place.Hsa anyone been here to do visa run?

Pong Nam Ron/Prum Cambodia

Edited November 30, 2011 by simon_cook

[papillon 695]

Just looking online and this seems to be the quietest place.Hsa anyone been here to do visa run?

Pong Nam Ron/Prum Cambodia

 

Yes, what do you want to know?

[redwood13 56]

Past border runs from Pattaya to include Queen Vic and Sportsman runs have been to Chanthaburi and then N. on highway 317 then E. through the town of Pong Nam Ron (site of the immigration office) then to the actual border which can be either Ban Pakard (Packard)/Pailin, Cambodia

 

OR to the N. of there to Ban Laem/Daun Lem, Cambodia.

 

MAP:

http://www.clickthai.de/Bilder/Karten/ThaiO100.gif

 

-redwood

[simon_cook 22]

Yes, what do you want to know?

 

Just wanted to know how much quieter and easier than Poipet and best company to go with

[papillon 695]

Just wanted to know how much quieter and easier than Poipet and best company to go with

 

Just tried to find some pics but can only find a few.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If I remember correctly (It was 2 years ago) this is the quietest crossing I have been to. Really is a 'One Horse Town' apart from the casino which I didn't go to. Very little foot traffic so practically no wait time at the checkpoints.

 

I used two different companys which I booked at two different Travel Agents in the Soi LK Metro area. One was opposite Metro Apartments although I think this has closed and turned into an Agogo now. The other is opposite Robin's Nest on Soi Diana.

 

Think I paid 2100 maybe 2200.

[simon_cook 22]

Just tried to find some pics but can only find a few.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If I remember correctly (It was 2 years ago) this is the quietest crossing I have been to. Really is a 'One Horse Town' apart from the casino which I didn't go to. Very little foot traffic so practically no wait time at the checkpoints.

 

I used two different companys which I booked at two different Travel Agents in the Soi LK Metro area. One was opposite Metro Apartments although I think this has closed and turned into an Agogo now. The other is opposite Robin's Nest on Soi Diana.

 

Think I paid 2100 maybe 2200.

 

Thanks for taking the trouble to show the photos.

Looks a lot better than Poipet

[papillon 695]

If I ever do it again, I'd hire a car for the day and do it at a more leisurely pace. Spend a few hours in Cambo and then another few hours in Ban Chang on the way back.

[papillon 695]

Thanks for taking the trouble to show the photos.

Looks a lot better than Poipet

 

It is tiny compared to Poipet.

[lovedog100 1,372]

Just wanted to know how much quieter and easier than Poipet and best company to go with

The best company is a bit subjective. The people you see selling visa runs, are for the most part just ticket sellers. When they make the first Gas stop just after they leave (Thai's never seem to know in advance that they are taking a long trip) you will find that depending on the time of year, there are 4-10 vans full of people. In talking with them, they bought tickets all over the city, for the same transportation company. It was hard to find two people that bought their ticket at the same place. The ticket seller can charge what they want, so some mark the ticket up considerably. Most tickets however are within 100 Baht of the average. I uses that Irish pub on soi 13 several times. They were average priced, and threw in a free breakfast that was almost a 100 baht value. (you can find a better breakfast all over the city for 100 baht)

 

Be advised that overland to Cambodia will only get you a 15 day visa. If you book your ticket well in advance, you can find a flight to Phnom Penh for about the same price, and receive a 30 day visa. (plus a few days in Phnom Penh if you want) If you need longer, it's best to take a visa run to Lao, there are lots of different options that way. The 180 day double entry being the longest. Do 90 days, and a 30 day extension, re-enter and get another 90 days and a 30 day extension. I've heard that Phnom Penh also has a Thai Embassy where you can get a longer visa, but don't take my word for it.

[jacko 8,814]

Jacko,how long does the trip take from Pattaya and can you recommend any travel companies that go there?

 

Just looking online and this seems to be the quietest place.Hsa anyone been here to do visa run?

Pong Nam Ron/Prum Cambodia

You meet early morning at a pub for breakfast, maybe 06.30, set off at 7 and are normally back about 3pm.

I have used 5 Star Visa Runs, Out of the Sportsman on Soi 13, beach rd.

And more often 1st Class Visa Runs, out of the Queen Vic on the infamous Soi 6.

It is a few years since I used them though as I now have a retirement extension.

[papillon 695]

Be advised that overland to Cambodia will only get you a 15 day visa.

 

I've heard that Phnom Penh also has a Thai Embassy where you can get a longer visa, but don't take my word for it.

 

I was getting 15 Day stamps but others were getting 3 month stamps.

 

Yes, there's a Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh. I once got a 2 month visa stamp there.

[joekicker 53]

Good pics, Paps, thanks. Jeez, it's turned into a metropolis since I was last there. Of course there was a little more shooting back then, heh.

 

I've heard that Phnom Penh also has a Thai Embassy where you can get a longer visa, but don't take my word for it.

 

Jeez LD, there's a Thai Embassy in EVERY country within a thousand miles -- certainly in countries with borders and countries in Asean.

 

I'm trying to think of the nearest country which doesn't have an embassy. Sikkim maybe??? Even in Taiwan there is an embassy equivalent.

 

.

Edited December 1, 2011 by joekicker

[lovedog100 1,372]

Good pics, Paps, thanks. Jeez, it's turned into a metropolis since I was last there. Of course there was a little more shooting back then, heh.

 

 

 

Jeez LD, there's a Thai Embassy in EVERY country within a thousand miles -- certainly in countries with borders and countries in Asean.

 

I'm trying to think of the nearest country which doesn't have an embassy. Sikkim maybe??? Even in Taiwan there is an embassy equivalent.

 

.

I will agree with that. But there isn't an embassy in every city. As I said, I've heard that Phnom Penh has an embassy, however have not seen it with my own eyes, or seen anything official saying that one exist in Phnom Penh. I also have no idea what type of visa is available from the Phnom Penh embassy. Flying from BKK is as cheap as a visa run from Pattaya. Some flights are cheaper. I guess I have to wonder why so many take a van from Pattaya for a 15 day visa, when they could get better flying, and for less. Or why anyone would go on a Lao run, when flying to Phnom Penh would be so much cheaper. Is there something that I am missing?

[CheshireTom 1,377]

I also have no idea what type of visa is available from the Phnom Penh embassy ...

 

Is there something that I am missing?

 

You answered your own question - different attitudes/interpretation of the rules at different embassies/consulates.

 

I guess I have to wonder why so many take a van from Pattaya for a 15 day visa, when they could get better flying, and for less.

 

What are the numbers? I would suspect that most border runs (as opposed to full-blown Visa runs) are guys doing the 90 day stamp on multi-entry O and B-Type visas and/or 60 day stamps on multi-entry tourist visas.