Visa run recommendation?

[BeerBelly 1,026]

My original plans to head out of the country before my current stamp expires fell through, so now I need to do a visa run to activate my next 60 days. Can anyone recommend a comfortable visa run company. I'm not a fan of staying in a minibus all day, so comfort is of utmost importance.

[jacko 8,866]

My original plans to head out of the country before my current stamp expires fell through, so now I need to do a visa run to activate my next 60 days. Can anyone recommend a comfortable visa run company. I'm not a fan of staying in a minibus all day, so comfort is of utmost importance.

Usual contenders,

Five Star Visa Runs

Ist Class Visa Runs

 

Presuming you are in Pattaya.......?

Edited December 11, 2013 by jacko

[BeerBelly 1,026]

Usual contenders,

Five Star Visa Runs

Ist Class Visa Runs

 

Presuming you are in Pattaya.......?

 

Thanks, the Queen Vic one looks good. Only six passengers per van.

Edited December 11, 2013 by BeerBelly

[bigmick 840]

6 Passengers per van, breakfast before you go and a small meal when you get back, usually back by 3pm. The best of them all.

 

Thanks, the Queen Vic one looks good. Only passengers per van.

[Grandpollo 366]

Fly to Siem Reap from U-Tapao , see Angkor Wat and come back.

[9cisco999 107]

Fly to Siem Reap from U-Tapao , see Angkor Wat and come back.

.

 

 

 

Outstanding suggestion that would make it a worthwhile and memorable experience.

[nkped 1,208]

Fly to Siem Reap from U-Tapao , see Angkor Wat and come back.

Which carrier?

[jacko 8,866]

Fly to Siem Reap from U-Tapao , see Angkor Wat and come back.

Which airline is that?

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

 

Thanks, the Queen Vic one looks good. Only six passengers per van.

 

I've never done a visa run with them, but Ist Class has been extremely helpful for me regarding other visa matters. They are well regarded by everyone who's dealt with them - at least I've never heard or read a negative word.

 

Evil

[BeerBelly 1,026]

Fly to Siem Reap from U-Tapao , see Angkor Wat and come back.

 

That was my original plan that fell through. If I were to try to make the trip now, it would cost $1100 just for the plane ticket. I will do Angkor Wat for my next visa run.

[Trvlr 50]

I spent a night in Bangkok and took the 9 a.m. direct bus to Siem Reap from Mochit. Spent a nice three nights there and returned on the same bus. On the way back the bus gets into Mochit about 4 p.m., so I just hopped on a bus to Pattaya.

The direct bus has become popular enough that reservations ahead of time are now needed.

The total cost is a bit more than a day visa run, but it is far more pleasant. And it is not all that much more expensive.

[jacko 8,866]

I spent a night in Bangkok and took the 9 a.m. direct bus to Siem Reap from Mochit. Spent a nice three nights there and returned on the same bus. On the way back the bus gets into Mochit about 4 p.m., so I just hopped on a bus to Pattaya.

The direct bus has become popular enough that reservations ahead of time are now needed.

The total cost is a bit more than a day visa run, but it is far more pleasant. And it is not all that much more expensive.

How long is the travel time?

Which border crossing did you use and was that smooth....obviously a change of vehicle.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

How long is the travel time?

Which border crossing did you use and was that smooth....obviously a change of vehicle.

 

There is a direct bus service from Mo Chit ... no change of vehicle. Cost is 750 Baht one-way, goes via Aranyaphet and takes approx 8 hours including the border procedures .

 

A good report of the actual journey is here ... (not my pics)

 

 

 

 

Edited December 14, 2013 by CheshireTom

[Trvlr 50]

How long is the travel time?

Which border crossing did you use and was that smooth....obviously a change of vehicle.

 

It IS a direct service, so no change of vehicles. the bus waits with all your luggage. On the way back luggage has to be taken out because Thailand wants to x-ray everything.

BKK-Siem Reap is closer to 9 hours - the time depends on the wait at the border. When I went it was a two-hour wait. Returning is about an hour quicker.

I had posted a more detailed report here in July - maybe search if you need to know more.

[jacko 8,866]

It IS a direct service, so no change of vehicles. the bus waits with all your luggage. On the way back luggage has to be taken out because Thailand wants to x-ray everything.

BKK-Siem Reap is closer to 9 hours - the time depends on the wait at the border. When I went it was a two-hour wait. Returning is about an hour quicker.

I had posted a more detailed report here in July - maybe search if you need to know more.

Found it thanks... Edited December 14, 2013 by jacko

[harro1 256]

I've never done a visa run with them, but Ist Class has been extremely helpful for me regarding other visa matters. They are well regarded by everyone who's dealt with them - at least I've never heard or read a negative word.

 

Evil

Done a few visa runs with them. Mini van drivers are fucking insane. Feared for my life on many occasions.

 

Last time a got a private car through 1st class. 4,500฿ so only an extra $60 to not risk my life.

 

The lady boss tried to get me to go on the bus again. I told her no your drivers are unsafe. She said have different driver. I told her I have been with a few different drivers, they are all crazy, I'm not doing it. She laughed and so ok.

 

Doing 140km/hr over taking on the wrong side of the road around a blind bend is not fun.

[jacko 8,866]

Done a few visa runs with them. Mini van drivers are fucking insane. Feared for my life on many occasions.

 

Last time a got a private car through 1st class. 4,500฿ so only an extra $60 to not risk my life.

 

The lady boss tried to get me to go on the bus again. I told her no your drivers are unsafe. She said have different driver. I told her I have been with a few different drivers, they are all crazy, I'm not doing it. She laughed and so ok.

 

Doing 140km/hr over taking on the wrong side of the road around a blind bend is not fun.

You are meant to put the headphones on and watch the film and pretend you are on a roller coaster!

Yes a car is better, or what I used to do, go to Singapore for a few days from the airport. But I doubt any one outfit is better than another where minibus drivers are concerned. Perhaps a coach would be safer, or drive there yourself.

[BeerBelly 1,026]

I stopped by Queen Vic yesterday to book for tomorrow, but tomorrow was full so I paid and she booked me for today.

 

I showed up just after 6am and had their breakfast. Eggs, ham, sausage (not hot dogs either), a slice of toast and coffee.

 

They took my passport and filled out all the required forms asking me to sign in five locations. They gave me a bottle of water here as well.

The bus left promptly at 6:45 with seven passengers, six in the back and one up front. The seats were very large and comfortable and each passenger had wireless headphones for the fairly large display. (The front passenger had a small in dash screen). The bus seemed to be in good shape.

 

Over an hour into the journey, he stopped at at PTT/7-11 for a piss/smoke/drink break.

 

Just before 10am, we arrived at the Cambodian border. There were only a few people in line to exit the country.

 

While in no man's land he collected all of our passports and took them to sort out the Cambodian visas. I was told to expect a 100 baht fee for not having a photo for the visa with me, but I was never asked for money or to sit for a photo.

Once our visas were sorted, he gave the passports to a guy on a motorbike who ran then down to the Cambodian entry point about 1/4 mile away.

While we were waiting, a few of the passengers lined up to buy duty free cigarettes. Afterwards, the driver took an inventory to see who didn't have any and purchased a carton for each of us that didn't. He must be quite the smoker. Then he handed anyone without a carton, one for them to bring back into Thailand (without asking). I would have purchased a carton, but while they did have Mild Seven Sky Blue, they didn't have Wind Blue.

 

When our passports got back, it was time to re-enter Thailand. By this time there was about a ten minute queue. But all in all, we were at the border for less than an hour.

 

On the way back, we stopped about 1 1/2 hours outside of Pattaya for another break. Traffic was worse, so it took a little longer to get back than to get to the border.

Once at Queen Vic, we were given a choice of meals. I had the bangers and mash to somewhat satisfy my sausage and rosti craving, drinks not included.

The movies that were shown were:

 

2 Guns (Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg)

World's End (Simon Pegg)

The Family (Robert Di Nero and a very hot Belle Blake)

Paranoia (Harrison Ford), but didn't finish.

 

While at the border, the front passenger asked what I thought of the driver. Personally, I thought he was standard Thai aggressive, but nothing too harry. The roads were bumpier than I expected them to be.

Thanks for the recommendations. I will use 1st class visa runs again.

Edited December 14, 2013 by BeerBelly

[harro1 256]

You are meant to put the headphones on and watch the film and pretend you are on a roller coaster!Yes a car is better, or what I used to do, go to Singapore for a few days from the airport. But I doubt any one outfit is better than another where minibus drivers are concerned. Perhaps a coach would be safer, or drive there yourself.

Yeah I used another company once and the driver was just as crazy.

 

The drivers seem to rush to get back by 2 / 2:30 pm.

[harro1 256]

I stopped by Queen Vic yesterday to book for tomorrow, but tomorrow was full so I paid and she booked me for today.

 

I showed up just after 6am and had their breakfast. Eggs, ham, sausage (not hot dogs either), a slice of toast and coffee.

 

They took my passport and filled out all the required forms asking me to sign in five locations. They gave me a bottle of water here as well.

The bus left promptly at 6:45 with seven passengers, six in the back and one up front. The seats were very large and comfortable and each passenger had wireless headphones for the fairly large display. (The front passenger had a small in dash screen). The bus seemed to be in good shape.

 

Over an hour into the journey, he stopped at at PTT/7-11 for a piss/smoke/drink break.

 

Just before 10am, we arrived at the Cambodian border. There were only a few people in line to exit the country.

 

While in no man's land he collected all of our passports and took them to sort out the Cambodian visas. I was told to expect a 100 baht fee for not having a photo for the visa with me, but I was never asked for money or to sit for a photo.

Once our visas were sorted, he gave the passports to a guy on a motorbike who ran then down to the Cambodian entry point about 1/4 mile away.

While we were waiting, a few of the passengers lined up to buy duty free cigarettes. Afterwards, the driver took an inventory to see who didn't have any and purchased a carton for each of us that didn't. He must be quite the smoker. Then he handed anyone without a carton, one for them to bring back into Thailand (without asking). I would have purchased a carton, but while they did have Mild Seven Sky Blue, they didn't have Wind Blue.

 

When our passports got back, it was time to re-enter Thailand. By this time there was about a ten minute queue. But all in all, we were at the border for less than an hour.

 

On the way back, we stopped about 1 1/2 hours outside of Pattaya for another break. Traffic was worse, so it took a little longer to get back than to get to the border.

Once at Queen Vic, we were given a choice of meals. I had the bangers and mash to somewhat satisfy my sausage and rosti craving, drinks not included.

The movies that were shown were:

 

2 Guns (Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg)

World's End (Simon Pegg)

The Family (Robert Di Nero and a very hot Belle Blake)

Paranoia (Harrison Ford), but didn't finish.

 

While at the border, the front passenger asked what I thought of the driver. Personally, I thought he was standard Thai aggressive, but nothing too harry. The roads were bumpier than I expected them to be.

Thanks for the recommendations. I will use 1st class visa runs again.

Yep, the front seat is the scariest, you can really see the stupid risks the driver is taking. Maybe you didn't notice so much because you we're watching the movies. Glad you got back in one piece.

 

I will never do a visa run in a mini bus again. Only a matter of time before one of them kills a group of people.

[Huggybearman 3]

Which airline is that?

Legacy Air. www.legacyair.biz

 

Seem to have just one flight a day. Departs 10am from U-Tapao and 12pm from Siem Reap

 

 

Edited due predictive text fail!

Edited December 15, 2013 by Huggybearman

[jacko 8,866]

Legacy Air. www.legacyair.biz

 

Seem to have just one flight a day. Departs 10am from U-Tapao and 12pm from Siem Reap

 

 

Edited due predictive text fail!

First flight was Sept 13th and the schedule, although hard to find, appears to be odd-dates both ways....10AM from UTP and midday return.

Thanks for that.

[9cisco999 107]

Done a few visa runs with them. Mini van drivers are fucking insane. Feared for my life on many occasions.

 

Last time a got a private car through 1st class. 4,500฿ so only an extra $60 to not risk my life.

 

The lady boss tried to get me to go on the bus again. I told her no your drivers are unsafe. She said have different driver. I told her I have been with a few different drivers, they are all crazy, I'm not doing it. She laughed and so ok.

 

Doing 140km/hr over taking on the wrong side of the road around a blind bend is not fun.

.

 

 

 

 

.

 

 

 

 

I guarantee I'll never again be a passenger of a mini bus. They are possessed and have no reasoning ability. The only way to end the cycle is to not be a customer.

 

 

 

I'd rather take the regular transit bus or drive myself.

[nkped 1,208]

Legacy Air. www.legacyair.biz

 

Seem to have just one flight a day. Departs 10am from U-Tapao and 12pm from Siem Reap

 

 

Edited due predictive text fail!

 

 

First flight was Sept 13th and the schedule, although hard to find, appears to be odd-dates both ways....10AM from UTP and midday return.

Thanks for that.

According to their web site, their fleet is one Saab 340 turboprop.

[papillon 695]

I think the bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap sounds like a great option. Not much longer in duration than a border run from Pattaya to the Cambo border and back to Pattaya. More comfortable than a cramped minibus and cheaper too. Even with the added cost of a one night stay in a Cambo Hotel it's probably still cheaper than a Pattaya border run. Obviously you'd spend a night of your vacation in Siem Reap as opposed to Pattaya but that's a bonus from my POV. Spend two nights in Siem Reap and you're not paying for a hotel in Pattaya so it works out even better.

 

Angkor Wat has to be somewhere to see before you die? It's still on my to do list even though I stayed in Surin Province for a few months just a 4 hour drive from Angkor Wat. Still kicking myself for not going. Leo beer has a lot to answer for!