Information about visa runs

[expat71NL]

Can someone please give me information about visa runs? What are the options from Hua Hin (which countries, which border towns, how long does the journey take, etc.)? Is there anything to do in the border towns or is it just a case of getting a stamp and coming back? Does anyone know how long the drive to the Malaysian border takes? I know there are 2 nice golf courses there and a night in Danok costs almost nothing.

[lomuamart]

The closest point to HH is Ranong and over to Burma. A bus will take you 6-7 hours and a car/taxi about 4. There's not much on the Burmese side (at least for me), so it was always stamp and return. There are markets, but Thais I've been with don't reckon they're any cheaper than Thai ones for clothes and so on.
I'm not sure how long it takes to drive to the Malaysian border at Pedang Besar/Sadao, but the train takes about 10-12 hours. I stayed once in Sadao and again didn't find much to do.
Remember that if you're just doing a visa exempt stamp run, you'll only get 15 days entry at a land or sea crossing. If you're doing a run to activate a further entry on a tourist or Non Imm visa, you'll get the full entitlement of 60/90 days.

[expat71NL]

Thanks. I will need a new entry on a none immigrant visa.

[lomuamart]

That's fine then. You'll get your 90 days.

[Name Taken]

I usually go to the Mae Sot Thailand/Myanmar(Burma) border crossing whenever i need to make a visa run, but i have heard that the Mae Sot border crossing is now closed.
Does anyone know the reason why the Mae Sot border crossing is currently closed?

[Korkenzieher]

Refugees. The Burmese Army launched an offensive / crackdown against the Karenni during the recent election. They are attempting to push them out of parts of the river valley, one of their traditional homelands, in order to build a hydro-electric dam there. Chinese money, with Thailand the intended market for the power produced. Choice crossing point into Thailand for the refugees was Mae Sot.

[Rider]

Can someone please give me information about visa runs? What are the options from Hua Hin (which countries, which border towns, how long does the journey take, etc.)? Is there anything to do in the border towns or is it just a case of getting a stamp and coming back? Does anyone know how long the drive to the Malaysian border takes? I know there are 2 nice golf courses there and a night in Danok costs almost nothing.

Well the malay border is a long blast that's for sure.
Ranong is closer, that'll take about 5-6 hrs in a car or a fast bike. The wendin' windin' roads sure are something I can tell you!
Anything to do in the border towns?
Depends which one you're at old fruit!

Ranong's got a few ragged bars with mostly ragged women in them.
Penang's about the same.

[velboy]

Can some recommend a cheap taxi service to ranong and back.

I have asked around and the prices vary the best I have got so far for 2 people is 4000Baht.

Does that sound about right. Last year it cost me only 2500Baht. I put it down to inflation but 1500baht up on last year seem a bit high

[Super Joe]

Visa run options:
Quick & Hassle free - via Ranong: But over to the Andaman Club hotel island on a ferry, rather than those rat-infested long tail boats over to that scum-infested mainland crossing point. Just stroll around the hotel for an hour, or longer, and get the next boat back. It's got a duty free shop, casino, snooker room, massive bar with panoramic views over the sea, you don't get hassled to spend money or anything, like you do at the rancid puss-ridden mainland port where those cockroach-infested kids are constantly shoving their hands in your pockets. If you're unlucky enough to get a leper you'll usually find a fingertip or two when you get home and turn your pockets out.

I'd forget overnight's in either Ranong or Chumpon if you're looking for nightlife of any description. Link to Andaman Club: http://www.andamanclub.com/




Overnight in Bangkok - via Aranyaprathet, Cambodia: If you leave Hua Hin about 7am, car or taxi, you get their about lunchtime, have quick lunch then should get visa all done by 2pm latest, then with a following wind be in a Sukhumvit hotel around 18:30-19:30pm. Mother of a drive but that's soon forgotten once you start the evening. Four or so people in a minibus makes it comfortable & affordable.

Next day breakfast and return at your leisure, or alternatively check-out, then back in the Dynasty Inn 3 days on the trot, leaving the staff thinking you are scamming them somehow but can't for the life of them work out wtf's going on. You can't afford to arrive at the border crossing after say 1pm, otherwise you hit BKK outskirts a bit later and traffic is hell.

SJ

[JimmyGreaves]

Visa run options:
Quick & Hassle free - via Ranong: But over to the Andaman Club hotel island on a ferry, rather than those rat-infested long tail boats over to that scum-infested mainland crossing point. Just stroll around the hotel for an hour, or longer, and get the next boat back. It's got a duty free shop, casino, snooker room, massive bar with panoramic views over the sea, you don't get hassled to spend money or anything, like you do at the rancid puss-ridden mainland port where those cockroach-infested kids are constantly shoving their hands in your pockets. If you're unlucky enough to get a leper you'll usually find a fingertip or two when you get home and turn your pockets out.

I'd forget overnight's in either Ranong or Chumpon if you're looking for nightlife of any description. Link to Andaman Club: http://www.andamanclub.com/
SJ

How does the Andaman club work if you want to get there and back same day?

Catch the ferry to the club - How much and How frequent?

What happens when your at the hotel? How do you get stamped and how much over the 10 dollars?

How quick can you get it all done and back on the road to Hua Hin?

Cheers!

[lomuamart]

I did it in a day before without any problem. It was a while ago though, so I'm not sure if this info is correct.
The ferries over were pretty frequent but there's a chance that you'll have to be at the resort in Burma for two hours. When I did it, it was almost mandatory as they want you to have a little flutter. Maybe you can now just get stamped in and out and be going back on the same ferry you came over on? I'm not sure about that.
It was 10 USD for the stamps and then extra for the ferry - can't remember how much now. It used to be that if you were just doing a visa exempt stamp, they charged you more. If going to activate another entry on TV or non Imm then there was no extra charge.
As said, if you get there early then you'll be heading back to HH within 3-4 hours I should think. Hopefully someone else will have more up-to-date info.

[Takiap]

The ferry runs every hour. Pay 900 baht all inclusive (no $10 required). Usually the ferry you arrive on has left by the time you get through immigration, so you just get the next one back.

Haven't read this entire thread, but yes, you can do the whole thing in a day. If by bus, catch the night bus from the clock tower - get to Ranong at about 5:30 in the morning, taxi to Anderman plus all expenses and return to bus station= 1000. Get back to HH about 19:00

[velboy]

Did it today (Shared a Car comfortable; quick; and stops when every you want him to stop, Night bus NIGHTMARE!)

Cost for 2 people total 3800BAHT

Left at 6am
Return to Hua Hin 7pm


Anderman Club Ferry runs every hour 850Baht includes the visa stamp. No $10 required. No passport photo's required

Cross over to the island can get a quick stamp and jump back on the ferry back or take the free minibus 100metres to hotel.

Do some duty free shopping if you wish Smirnoff Vodka 280Baht 75cl. Cigs 480 for a box of 10 packs FYI.

Wait 25minutes man comes round ring a bell back on a minibus and back on the other ferry.

Get stamped in an jump in you waiting car. Easy

[Terry]

..............Malaysian border at Pedang Besar/Sadao, but the train takes about 10-12 hours. I stayed once in Sadao and again didn't find much to do.
...............

Back in 2002/3 I was working in Kuala Lumpur. I had to escort some Malaysian Government guys on a 'survey' of the existing railway from Pedang Besar down to Ipoh. In other words an all expenses paid 'jolly' for them, courtesy of my employers.
We travelled up by car one afternoon to the border at Pedang Besar and I stupidly thought that we would be staying the night on the Malay side to make an early start in the morning heading South.
The 'jolly' trip had been organised by the office 'Mr Fixit' and needless to say we crosed the border to spend the night in Thailand.
Booze, nightlife and wild wild women ...is the best that I can describe it. The Malay guys filling their boots at my company's expense.
The Thai side of Pedang Besar can only be described as a mini Patpong, Nana Plaza etc etc...........Interesting

[Noz]

I haven't done the Andaman trip since 2009 (when I had been doing it for a couple of years continually every 3 months) and each time I went through immigration on the island I just turned straight back and was always able to get back on the same ferry I had arrived on. Although I made sure I was near first off the boat and first through immigration, they're always waiting for staff from the island for the trip back and I've always had a short wait anyway. But the boats are very regular, so no problems.

I always left Hua Hin at 8am and was back around 5pm. Maybe an hour and a half in there for the visa stuff plus half an hour for stops and some lunch. My taxi driver is fast but safe and used to charge 3,400 baht return. Probably still does. I used him from Suvarnabhumi last night, leaving 10pm on quiet roads, and was in Hua Hin at midnight. I can post contact details if anyone wants them.