Who to deal wtih for visa runs - for the new guy here.

[Wannabe 2]

As a newbie here (both on the forums and in Thailand), I have read quite a bit regarding types of visas, visa runs, extensions, etc. Unfortunately, trying to sort out the best way for me to extend my stay has been quite irritating, not to mention very time consuming.

 

Seasoned members, I'm sure, already have their connections established which allows them a worry free stay. But, for the new guy, making his own way is often a must. So, after arriving last month, I began going to places to deal with concerning visa extensions, types of visas I may be eligible for, and the most efficient, economical way to extend my stay in Thailand.

 

After visiting many of businesses that dealt with these issues, ones I had been referred to on this forum and by others who live here, I saved the best two (and I believe the most popular ones mentioned on this forum) for last. They were 1st Class Visa Runs and 5 Star Visa Runs. I visited both, after another lengthy day of dealing with other, similar companies.

 

My personal observation - 1st Class is the most professional and organized company to deal with. Not to mention, it is also the cheapest I have found. The company is located inside the Queen Victoria Inn, located on Soi 6. This is between Beach and 2nd Roads. The young lady in the office is Pa. Her English skills are very good, which also makes life a bit easier for people like me, a non-Thai speaking foreigner.

 

I hope this helps other first time visitors who may wish to extend their stay in Thailand.

Edited February 4, 2012 by Wannabe

[Idefix 2,275]

1st Class is the most professional and organized company to deal with. Not to mention, it is also the cheapest I have found.

Is it a joke? or a disguised advertising?

This place must make you pay something like 2,500 baht for a visarun.

Just try Cambodia Inter or one of the many places on Soi Buakaho and it will cost you 1,800 baht.

Include a small Thai food + drink lunch.

 

I made my last visarun with Cambodia Inter at end of December. Took me at my condo at 6:30am and was back at 2:30pm.

The only interest - I think - of 1st-Class and similar places is for too-big guys because they have bigger/larger seats,

but if you are a "standard" guy all other places are ok too.

Edited February 4, 2012 by Idefix

[jacko 8,813]

Or you might prefer not to be packed into a little minibus and sweating profusely for 6 hours.

I have grown out of putting up with that for the sake of a 1000 baht.

I used to enjoy the fry-up breakfast too.

[Idefix 2,275]

Or you might prefer not to be packed into a little minibus and sweating profusely for 6 hours.

Unfair...

Nearly all visarun agencies use the same model of recent minibus, white with darked window, larger than the small ones going to Bangkok, and it's really not a problem to sit 3 on a row; you have a lot of place.

Sweating in these minibus? never, but you often have to ask them to reduce the air-con

"fry-up breakfast": that reduces this option to British guys only

BTW my answer was no to be cheap but an answer to "the cheapest I have found": you can find cheaper :)

[Wannabe 2]

Some members here are real pieces of work. I post something I find, which I believe to be helpful to new members on this forum, and you resort to a reply like that.

 

From France? A Frenchmen? Or just a Frog want to be?

 

Incidentally, you may wish to learn to read English. I never posted that I went anywhere.

 

As stated, it was the cheapest that I had found.

Edited February 4, 2012 by Wannabe

[lovedog100 1,372]

My experience is that the places you go, are nothing more than an ticketing agency. The vans are a separate Thai company. When your van arrives, you will find people that bought tickets all over Pattaya. Just like a travel agent that doesn't own the plane you fly on. It should be noted that who is cheapest today, doesn't mean they will be cheapest next month. How much time and effort is saving 100 - 300 baht worth? Is it worth visiting 3 agency's? Six? It's your holiday, that is for you to decide. The Cambodia runs for the 15 day visa are all about the same price everywhere. For the Lao runs for the 90 and 180 visa, there is room for different prices. You can get a visa run from any travel agent, however I would recommend a place that specializes in visa runs like the OP said. They want repeat business and referrals. It's a sideline for a travel agent.

 

When I first got to Pattaya someone in my hotel highly recommended going to Koh Larn for the day, and recommended a travel agent to get a ticket. I checked several travel agents as I was walking around town, prices were 500 - 2500 baht. What a big surprise I got when a bar girl told me that I could go to Bali high pier and get a round trip ticket for 40 baht. (60 baht now)

[jacko 8,813]

Unfair...

Nearly all visarun agencies use the same model of recent minibus, white with darked window, larger than the small ones going to Bangkok, and it's really not a problem to sit 3 on a row; you have a lot of place.

Sweating in these minibus? never, but you often have to ask them to reduce the air-con

"fry-up breakfast": that reduces this option to British guys only

BTW my answer was no to be cheap but an answer to "the cheapest I have found": you can find cheaper :)

Sorry, not my experineces... the habit was to pack them in 13+...whereas 5 Star and 1st Class only carry 6 passengers in a large Biz Class seat.

Much better than the crap fold down seat that wobbles as the bus hurtles along at 140kph.

Mostly I have found the AC to be insufficient when these minibuses are full, stop at lights in the sun and the temperature is going up.

Plus some drivers switch the AC low as they are on some fiddle with fuel buying.

 

Fry up breakfast just for the British... I think the Ozzies and even Americans enjoy it too surely!

 

Anyhow, we give the guy options.... as you get older discomfort is harder to take, backpackers will put up with anything.

 

I disiked the visa run to Cambodia so much, I often booked a taxi to the airport and spent a few days in Singapore, now that exceeded the 2500 baht,but it was a nice 'change'. Now I have the retirement extension, no need for visa runs, but I don't like going to immigration too much either....

Edited February 5, 2012 by jacko

[buzzfuzz1 5]

just pay 5000B and get your 1 month extention. No need to leave the country and no need to get up at 6! This is the easy solution if you are looking for the cheapest thats another thing!

[Idefix 2,275]

just pay 5000B and get your 1 month extention. No need to leave the country and no need to get up at 6! This is the easy solution if you are looking for the cheapest thats another thing!

"the easy solution"... yes, for a free stay at the Bangkok Deportation Center !

Do not use this kind of illegal solutions ! NEVER !

 

I disiked the visa run to Cambodia so much, ...

So am I. I did them for more than 5 years

I am currently looking for a school to get an ED visa, mainly to stop visaruns !

 

 

BTW It could be good to post the name of your bad visarun agency so that nobody goes there.

Minibus are nearly always full (optimisation) but that means 3x3 + 1 near driver = 10 customers max.

 

Now I have the retirement extension, no need for visa runs, but I don't like going to immigration too much either....

No sure for Pattaya, but in some areas you can do your 90-days address report by mail.

[jacko 8,813]

 

 

BTW It could be good to post the name of your bad visarun agency so that nobody goes there.

Minibus are nearly always full (optimisation) but that means 3x3 + 1 near driver = 10 customers max.

 

Well for sure the minibus I used had a row of 4 at the back... and 4 rows...and sometimes they tried to squeeze 2 next to the driver!

No point naming names now... long time ago and I soon decided to pay more and get the 1st Class or 5 Star treatment.

[simon_cook 22]

Does anyone know a place to book a visa run that goes to the border somewhere other than Poipet?I want to go to a quieter place like Ban Pakard but dont know which companies go there instead,

[jacko 8,813]

Non of the ones I suggested go to Poipet... only went to that shithole once years ago.

They tend to go further South, East of Soi Dao, Ban Laem is one I recall using, but they change when a new faster one becomes available.