IF you're gonna do the visa-run down there by using a bus then I've an option for you...
..every night at around 10.00pm 2 'Transport Co.' buses leave HH bound for Ranong.
One bus is the 1st class jaloppy, the other is the 24 seat VIP.
(I always used the VIP bus due the the drivers always being older & more responsible..never drove like twats).
OK, so you've ordered your ticket 2 days in advance, got on the bus, got down there, but it's only 6.00am in the morning!
Not to worry, I used to use a taxi driver that would come and pick me up from the bus station, deliver me to the quayside & help me at the immigration post, then have a boat waiting for me.
(His number I can get for you).
You would be at the Burmese side as their office opened & back for about 9.15/9.30.
Now at this point I've used the 10.30 2nd class bus from the bus station back to HH.
IF you indeed fancied staying in Ranong this taxi driver could take you to the Thansila Hotel near the hot springs..leaving all day to chill up there (10 mins walk from hotel), near the hotel each night is a 'Korean style BBQ' for 69B..plus basic american breaky is only 100B at the hotel.
A few years ago, BOTH daytime Bangkok-bound 1st class buses left Ranong's 1st class bus station at 8.30am..these buses bypass HH, but the driver WILL drop you off just thru' the traffic lights in the middle of Pranburi right next to the HH bus ticket office..whereupon you can get a bus to HH every 30 mins or so.
Hope this was some help...if you check the 'On the road' section on here, on about page 3 you'll see my report & Buksi's write-up on Ranong titled 'A short stay in Ranong'..
very easy and would only use Ranong if procedure change or I heading south for another reason.
