Hi all.
A few details first: I have recently taken slightly early retirement, and am flying out to LOS on Dec 1, for a 5-month holiday - partly a celebration trip, partly a trial for spending more time out there on a more permanent basis.
I have a 3-entry Tourist Visa, and hope to do 60 days/30 day extension/VISA RUN/and then hopefully the second 60 day entry should do me until it’s Swampy Time again.
FIRST QUESTION: This should work, yes?
MY REAL QUESTION, however, is about the VISA RUN, which I am hoping to make part of the whole experience, given that one day soon it might have to be part of my regular lifestyle.
For my proposed, but as yet unplanned itinerary I will be basing myself at different times in Hua Hin and Pattaya, so 2 of my VISA RUN options may depend on where I am at the time, which may in turn depend on any good answers to my real question, which is this:
If you had the option of making a run from either Hua Hin, or Pattaya, which I understand can be done relatively cheaply via an organised trip, or doing it yourself, at greater expense, eg flying up to Vientiane for a few days as a side trip - WHICH DO YOU THINK would be the better option, in terms of the time, convenience, value for money and enjoyable day out factor? How long, for example, does a typical organised visa run from HH take? Do i have to be up for 6am? etc.
I will be asking a similar question on a Pattaya board, but for now I’ll be seriously grateful for any advice about this based on your practical experience.
Thanks, Ian.
Are Visa Runs Fun?
Are Visa Runs Fun?
"Is a dream a lie if it don't come true?" - Bruce Springsteen
Yes, your visa will cover you for the 5 months in Thailand with one exit after 90 days (60 day entry+30 day extension and then repeat - edited).
I've always done visa runs on my own. From HH to Ranong and over to Burma, it's cheaper that way but takes longer.
From Pattaya, I'm not sure of cost, but the main crossing into Cambodia is at Aranya Prathet.
If you wanted to spend a bit of time in the county you enter, then Cambodia or Laos would be the best bets, IMO. The border town in Burma isn't too attractive.
Cost wise, there isn't probably too much difference between Pattaya-Cambodia or HH- Ranong/Burma.
You havn't said how old you are or whether you're married to a Thai. One word of caution I'd give is that making endless border runs (without a proper visa) is now pretty difficult and time-consuming. Enjoy your 5 months (they won't be a problem), but if you're thinking of settling here for a much longer time, Immigration laws can be restrictive, no matter how much money you've got.
I've always done visa runs on my own. From HH to Ranong and over to Burma, it's cheaper that way but takes longer.
From Pattaya, I'm not sure of cost, but the main crossing into Cambodia is at Aranya Prathet.
If you wanted to spend a bit of time in the county you enter, then Cambodia or Laos would be the best bets, IMO. The border town in Burma isn't too attractive.
Cost wise, there isn't probably too much difference between Pattaya-Cambodia or HH- Ranong/Burma.
You havn't said how old you are or whether you're married to a Thai. One word of caution I'd give is that making endless border runs (without a proper visa) is now pretty difficult and time-consuming. Enjoy your 5 months (they won't be a problem), but if you're thinking of settling here for a much longer time, Immigration laws can be restrictive, no matter how much money you've got.
If you really want to make your visa run fun then I would suggest flying out of Bangkok to a near by country. Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia-Bali. Spend a few days outside of Thailand and get a look at other Asian countries. I have done the visa run to Burma and Cambodia. Usually takes all day. Leave at 8:00 return 7:00. This was far from fun. You should be able to fly to any of these countries and stay for two or three nights with flight for under $400. Worth the extra money if fun is what you are looking for.
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loverboy44
- Specialist
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2008 8:44 pm
I agree with Dude. But it depends on the money you got.
The big advantage in Bangkok is that you can travel easily to Hongkong, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Phom Phen with Air Asia or another low cost carrier. Laos is ok but a bit boring for me.
I would recommend such trips as Thailand is not the navel of the world and just to make up your mind where is the best place to stay.
In Malaysia i find the people more, how can i say, more easy and outgoing than in Thailand. Maybe for you it's the Phillipines?
By the way you can own the land of your house in Malaysia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had some border runs before i got my work permit and they were not really nice because that time i had not much money.
Anyway good luck to you!
The big advantage in Bangkok is that you can travel easily to Hongkong, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Phom Phen with Air Asia or another low cost carrier. Laos is ok but a bit boring for me.
I would recommend such trips as Thailand is not the navel of the world and just to make up your mind where is the best place to stay.
In Malaysia i find the people more, how can i say, more easy and outgoing than in Thailand. Maybe for you it's the Phillipines?
By the way you can own the land of your house in Malaysia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had some border runs before i got my work permit and they were not really nice because that time i had not much money.
Anyway good luck to you!
I have been having a down memory lane on this topic 
I have done four visa runs in my 12 years here three to Ranong and Myanmar
with Mags and Billy (superb hosts supplying a vital service)
the trip consisted of leave 6 am, 6 hours on ones butt in a mini bus, half an hour immigration, half an hour in a boat sat on ones butt 15/20 minutes to take in the whole town followed by an hour on ones butt in a bar
Part 2
half an hour in a boat sat on ones butt, half an hour immigration, 6 to 8 hours on ones butt in a mini bus (to be fair an hour or two of the return journey was sitting in a mini bus on ones butt waiting for the drunks to urinate)
To show how bad it was i told Mrs Sarge if i had to do one more visa run i would go back to England
I would walk to HULL on sharpened molten glass before doing that trip again
My last visa run some five years ago was to Vientienne on the night train from BKK and an overnight in Loas
Super but not something i would like to do again
I have done four visa runs in my 12 years here three to Ranong and Myanmar
with Mags and Billy (superb hosts supplying a vital service)
the trip consisted of leave 6 am, 6 hours on ones butt in a mini bus, half an hour immigration, half an hour in a boat sat on ones butt 15/20 minutes to take in the whole town followed by an hour on ones butt in a bar
Part 2
half an hour in a boat sat on ones butt, half an hour immigration, 6 to 8 hours on ones butt in a mini bus (to be fair an hour or two of the return journey was sitting in a mini bus on ones butt waiting for the drunks to urinate)
To show how bad it was i told Mrs Sarge if i had to do one more visa run i would go back to England
I would walk to HULL on sharpened molten glass before doing that trip again
My last visa run some five years ago was to Vientienne on the night train from BKK and an overnight in Loas
Super but not something i would like to do again
A Greatfull Guest of Thailand
When I first started working in Jakarta we used to do day trips to Singapore for visas which wouldn't be a bad option if you can get a cheap flight.
It's a pretty compact city and we would get a flight in the morning, wander around the sights and shops for a few hours followed by lunch and a few beers in the afternoon and a flight in the evening.
It was a nice day and avoided the expense of a night out and hotel.
It's a pretty compact city and we would get a flight in the morning, wander around the sights and shops for a few hours followed by lunch and a few beers in the afternoon and a flight in the evening.
It was a nice day and avoided the expense of a night out and hotel.
RESPECT man RESPECT 
I am considering a trip either to Ranong or to Ventiane. In view of the distance I might as well stay overnight.
Where in any of those towns should one go for a casual lady acquaintance? Bordellos, bars, parlors ?? Names and addresses of places, prices and recommendations would be appreciated.
Where in any of those towns should one go for a casual lady acquaintance? Bordellos, bars, parlors ?? Names and addresses of places, prices and recommendations would be appreciated.
A friend is only one click away
May be it's fun in the beginning!
You can choose to visit different places in different countries around Thailand, especially when you have to apply for a brand-new visa.
The one day trips to cross a borderline aren't that bad, too.
If you stay in BKK, you even can do a one-day-trip by plane to Singapore, KL or elsewhere nearby...of course, the use of private taxi, minivan or bus-service to Ranong, Cambodian-border is the usual way...all depends on your money.
I've done the plane trips, but mostly used private taxis to Ranong, so I could decide when the driver has to stop or not, and had a little bit more comfort over the whole day.
But after a while you'll feel that the fun is gone, because you know everything already and these visa-runs are nothing else but a disturbance of your daily life.
Since the first big visa-crackdown in 2003 (Asean Summit in BKK/Mr. T was in charge), I had the dubious honor to visit neighbor-countries every 3 months...and this after 9 years living in Thailand already without the need of any visa-run.
If i take a look to the costs and all the money I was forced to spent in those neighbor-countries for visa runs and new visa-applications in the last 6 years (widower of a Thai-spouse/no need to work/not 50 years-boat), I could buy a small condo/studio in Thailand already.
This fact is really not funny!
Anyway, Thailand isn't a poor country anymore, but it still has a very poor management !
Therefore I'm nearly sure that visa-regulations won't be smart and proper in future, too.
So try to be always in a good mood, whenever you're forced to do your visa-runs...don't think too deep about the ridiculously rules...and try to have fun, even if there isn't any logical reason to feel so...
You can choose to visit different places in different countries around Thailand, especially when you have to apply for a brand-new visa.
The one day trips to cross a borderline aren't that bad, too.
If you stay in BKK, you even can do a one-day-trip by plane to Singapore, KL or elsewhere nearby...of course, the use of private taxi, minivan or bus-service to Ranong, Cambodian-border is the usual way...all depends on your money.
I've done the plane trips, but mostly used private taxis to Ranong, so I could decide when the driver has to stop or not, and had a little bit more comfort over the whole day.
But after a while you'll feel that the fun is gone, because you know everything already and these visa-runs are nothing else but a disturbance of your daily life.
Since the first big visa-crackdown in 2003 (Asean Summit in BKK/Mr. T was in charge), I had the dubious honor to visit neighbor-countries every 3 months...and this after 9 years living in Thailand already without the need of any visa-run.
If i take a look to the costs and all the money I was forced to spent in those neighbor-countries for visa runs and new visa-applications in the last 6 years (widower of a Thai-spouse/no need to work/not 50 years-boat), I could buy a small condo/studio in Thailand already.
This fact is really not funny!
Anyway, Thailand isn't a poor country anymore, but it still has a very poor management !
Therefore I'm nearly sure that visa-regulations won't be smart and proper in future, too.
So try to be always in a good mood, whenever you're forced to do your visa-runs...don't think too deep about the ridiculously rules...and try to have fun, even if there isn't any logical reason to feel so...
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sandman67
- Rock Star
- Posts: 4398
- Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:11 pm
- Location: I thought you had the map?
hmmmm.....are visa runs fun? I dont know....here...stick your hand on the table, I'll smash it with a 2 pound lump hammer and you can tell me whether you are enjoying it.
Visa runs from here are 12 hours of highway hell with a half time break for getting in and out of leaky longboats by clambering up piers that are dangerous for Edmund Hillary, dealing with grim faced immigration staff, and being hassled to hell by touts. In monsoon season the whole experience gets really interesting.... in the way Chinese people mean interesting that is.
Oh....and when you do get to Burma you will find Point Victoria as picturesque fragrant friendly and attractive as the Lebanon on a bad day. In between being hassled to buy illicit goods from touts, wondering what sort of desparate perverts stay in the hideous Hunny Bear Hotel and trying to drink a quiet beer you can play a game of "Spot the plainclothes policeman who is following me". Point Victoria pier should have a big welcome mat on it - that way I could wipe my feet as I leave.
You can make the half time break more pleasant by taking the Andaman Club ferry option - sameish cost but less hassle and a whole lot safer, no touts and no need for a brand new 10 dollar bill.
If you think shelling out about a hundred quid once every three months, wasting a whole day driving up and down, and dealing with Thai stupidity at its best is fun you will have a ball.
Otherwise........
NO
Visa runs from here are 12 hours of highway hell with a half time break for getting in and out of leaky longboats by clambering up piers that are dangerous for Edmund Hillary, dealing with grim faced immigration staff, and being hassled to hell by touts. In monsoon season the whole experience gets really interesting.... in the way Chinese people mean interesting that is.
Oh....and when you do get to Burma you will find Point Victoria as picturesque fragrant friendly and attractive as the Lebanon on a bad day. In between being hassled to buy illicit goods from touts, wondering what sort of desparate perverts stay in the hideous Hunny Bear Hotel and trying to drink a quiet beer you can play a game of "Spot the plainclothes policeman who is following me". Point Victoria pier should have a big welcome mat on it - that way I could wipe my feet as I leave.
You can make the half time break more pleasant by taking the Andaman Club ferry option - sameish cost but less hassle and a whole lot safer, no touts and no need for a brand new 10 dollar bill.
If you think shelling out about a hundred quid once every three months, wasting a whole day driving up and down, and dealing with Thai stupidity at its best is fun you will have a ball.
Otherwise........
NO
"Science flew men to the moon. Religion flew men into buildings."
"To sin by silence makes cowards of men."
"To sin by silence makes cowards of men."