Visa Run

[Guest Asmerom]

The first time I went on a Visa Run I went South from Pattaya,with Bri and Joy's to Cambodia,paid 2000baht and it all went smoothly without a hitch.

 

I'm wondering if I can do it myself just as efficiently in a hired car. There did seem to be a good deal of form-filling but I can write, so that shouldn't be too difficult, should it? Do I need to obtain forms before I go?

 

The first problem is where exactly is the immigration post we visited. I can't find it on the map but its in my Passport as "PONG NAM RON", Thailand. its just a little further on than TRAT but I cannot remember if its signposted and there were a lot of twists and turns. The main border crossing down there appears to be HAT LEK according to my Guidebook. I'm sure we didn't go that far South.I won't have a Thai speakig companion.

 

I'll need my Passport, two passport photos, some money to pay for the Visa (1200baht??) and I suppose a good deal of patience.

 

Can anyone warn me of likely problems or offer any advice? Perhaps its all been covered in previous posts.

 

[Guest lvdkeyes]

You will pay a great deal more than 2000 baht to hire a car to go to Cambodia.

 

[Guest laurence]

Asmerom, It sure seems you have a good handle on how to do it yourself visa run! I don't think you need any advice from members of this forum. Just rent a car and head south!

[Guest Asmerom]

You will pay a great deal more than 2000 baht to hire a car to go to Cambodia.

 

Not at all. I often hire a very good small newish car for 1300baht per day. Are you thinking of a chauffeur driven car?

 

As for not needing any advice and just muddling through, as laurence suggests,it looks as if that's how its going to be ,judging from the less than entusiastic response. I'm sure your'e right but a word about the location of this specific frontier post would be helpful.

 

And I cannot imagine the trip will be problem-free. I might get stuck in Cambodia 'cos I haven't got the right form. On the other hand, hundreds of tourists cross the border both ways without help from members of this board. Though a "Visa Run" might have its own specific problems.

 

[Guest joseph44]

Not at all. I often hire a very good small newish car for 1300baht per day. Are you thinking of a chauffeur driven car?

 

As for not needing any advice and just muddling through, as laurence suggests,it looks as if that's how its going to be ,judging from the less than entusiastic response. I'm sure your'e right but a word about the location of this specific frontier post would be helpful.

 

And I cannot imagine the trip will be problem-free. I might get stuck in Cambodia 'cos I haven't got the right form. On the other hand, hundreds of tourists cross the border both ways without help from members of this board. Though a "Visa Run" might have its own specific problems.

 

Car rent: THB 1,300

Fuel: THB 900 (250 km x 2 / 15 x THB 28)

Visa cambodja: THB 650/person

F&B: THB 250/person

 

Just take the visa run companies, no hustle and just THB 2,000 - THB 2,500

 

 

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Not at all. I often hire a very good small newish car for 1300baht per day. Are you thinking of a chauffeur driven car?

 

As for not needing any advice and just muddling through, as laurence suggests,it looks as if that's how its going to be ,judging from the less than entusiastic response. I'm sure your'e right but a word about the location of this specific frontier post would be helpful.

 

And I cannot imagine the trip will be problem-free. I might get stuck in Cambodia 'cos I haven't got the right form. On the other hand, hundreds of tourists cross the border both ways without help from members of this board. Though a "Visa Run" might have its own specific problems.

 

 

How much do you think you will pay for gas to Cambodia and back? Add that to the 1300 baht for car rental and it will come to much more than 2000 -2500 baht.

[Guest lester1]

I once rather impolitely called you 'Isamoron' so hoped that this thought would not cross my mind again. Alas, it did as soon as I read your post.

To almost quote you ' I paid 2000 baht and it went without a hitch.'

You now want to do it again under your own steam and add that you dont quite know where the border post is, that you wont have a Thai speaker with you, you dont know what forms you will need. My advice is to stick to the specialist visa run company.

Having said that, I once took a friend to the border post beyond Trat and it took him about 30 minutes to return with a new visa. Mind you, he is fluent Thai and Cambodian speaker.

My key piece of advice is to be prepared for one or two army security checks on the way back. They stop private cars and lorries looking for illegals. We were far more worried about what the soldiers might 'add' to the car during their search so that it could be 'rediscovered' at the next check point. We watched them like hawks when they first stopped us.

You will also need dollars for the cambodian side.

[Guest Asmerom]

Car rent: THB 1,300

Fuel: THB 900 (250 km x 2 / 15 x THB 28)

Visa cambodja: THB 650/person

F&B: THB 250/person

 

Just take the visa run companies, no hustle and just THB 2,000 - THB 2,500

 

Thanks for that carefully crafted breakdown of costs involved. It actually encourages me in my venture. I will happily pay 800baht more to have my own transport, free to stop and start as I wish rather than be cooped up with 8 or so complete strangers for 8 hours, all at the mercy of the driver. Though I have no complaints about that Company which performed excellently.

 

After picking me up in their new People Carrier they spent about an hour roaming the outer limits of Pattaya searching in the most unlikely places for other visa runners booked on the journey.Admittedly, once on the road we hurtled South at high speed but it was no picnic.

 

And the" hassle" of the paperwork might be quite good fun.All provided I can find this frontier post.Its just a bit more adventurous than travelling with the herd but not quite so indulgent and expensive as going for a few days holiday to a country whose capitol I cannot spell.

 

A quick Google has just revealed some interesting maps. I will study them.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Thanks for that carefully crafted breakdown of costs involved. It actually encourages me in my venture. I will happily pay 800baht more to have my own transport, free to stop and start as I wish rather than be cooped up with 8 or so complete strangers for 8 hours, all at the mercy of the driver. Though I have no complaints about that Company which performed excellently.

 

After picking me up in their new People Carrier they spent about an hour roaming the outer limits of Pattaya searching in the most unlikely places for other visa runners booked on the journey.Admittedly, once on the road we hurtled South at high speed but it was no picnic.

 

And the" hassle" of the paperwork might be quite good fun.All provided I can find this frontier post.Its just a bit more adventurous than travelling with the herd but not quite so indulgent and expensive as going for a few days holiday to a country whose capitol I cannot spell.

 

A quick Google has just revealed some interesting maps. I will study them.

 

 

Don't say you have not been amply warned.

[Guest]

I used a private car from one of the Visa companies a month ago. She picked me up, stopped when I wanted, did all the paperwork and was fast in and out. The cost was 4k baht and extremely worth the extra money to lay down in the back and relax and be able to stop and go at my own time and schedule. I think we left at 1PM and were back by 7PM.

 

The Visa company I used last was 1,800 baht and the van was filled full and there was no room to breath or relax. On the return trip, they drop off 3 people on the outskirks of Pattaya and thatadded to us over 45 min which I was not happy about. If an extra 50 USD is not a problem for a day of comfort, go for your own car or a private driver. IMHO

[Guest jtrack33]

Pong Nam Ron is about 65 kms north east of Chantaburi. From Chantaburi, take highway 317. After 41 kms turn right onto the 3193 at Pong Nam Ron town [there may be a good place to ask...have some one write down in Thai "where is the border crossing visa office?" before you leave]. Follow the 3193 for 45 kms and then turn right onto the 3248 whch will take you about 5 kms to the Pong Nam Ron border.

 

Had Lek is south east of Trat at the end of highway 318 after about 75 kms and much further overall from Pattaya.

 

 

[Guest Asmerom]

Pong Nam Ron is about 65 kms north east of Chantaburi. From Chantaburi, take highway 317. After 41 kms turn right onto the 3193 at Pong Nam Ron town [there may be a good place to ask...have some one write down in Thai "where is the border crossing visa office?" before you leave]. Follow the 3193 for 45 kms and then turn right onto the 3248 whch will take you about 5 kms to the Pong Nam Ron border.

 

At last, someone with an answer to the nitty-gritty of my question with real facts and figures. Great. I'm much obliged. But it doesn't half confuse me. Initially, at least. I knew the name Ban Laem was a town near this crossing and I had thought we went South through Trat and, lo and behold, there,on the map, is a town named Ban Laem Klad on the frontier 20 kms South of Trat. So, I was thinking that must be the place.

 

Now, you kindly inform me that Pong Nam Ron is nowhere near TRAT ,but 65kms NE of Chantaburi where, confusingly is another town named, Ban Laem.So it seems we didn't go South from Chantaburi but turned North.

 

I do believe you are right and are bourne out by a map I found when googling Cambodia+Border+Crossings. Its listed as Ban Laem/Duan Lem to Battenbang,Cambodia.

 

There seems to be a bit of confusion as to whether the Charge for the Visa is $20 or 1000, baht,or 1200 baht. My Lonely planet guidebook,which doesn't mention this crossing says at Hat Lek only baht are acceptable (1200) not dollars.

 

Many thanks for that valuable piece of information though I do hope I wouldn't have gone steaming South past Trat without making doubly sure I was on the right path. But I wouldn't bet on it. You may have saved me a great deal of frustration. Thanks.

 

I must get a better map- A Bartholomew World Travel Map 1:1,500,000 is hardly ideal!

 

 

 

 

[Guest jtrack33]

I always use a CD map by ThinkNet (they have an office in United Building on Silom). The CDs are generaly available at SE-ED stores and maybe Bookazine and etc.. Also the names and roads were shown on Google Earth which also shows the road crossing border point is at Ban Laem town in at amphore Pong Nam Ron. The exact border crossing point is at Longitude is 102 deg, 26 mins, 43 secs. The Latitude is 13 deg, 5 mins, 11 secs. These references can be seen both on the ThinkNet mapmagic CD map and Google Earth. But Google Earth shows the spot really well and you can easily see the gate itself and the little river and bridge at the crossing. Both sides of the crossing have big covered markets laid out for travellers. The Cambodian side looks decidely dusty. Picture attached. My early road detail needs to be modified somewhat..Google earth shows road 3455 going to the border/Ban Laem. (Mapmagic doesn't show the road). The 3455 turns right off the 3193 I mentioned before. Before I said turn off on the 3248, but that is too early.

 

Pong Nam Ron is shown as a legitimate immigration check point on the government's web site:

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/ba...hp?page=central

You might want to ask a Thai friend to call the Pong Nam Ron office on 0-3938-7127 to ask about directions and forms and charges although Thailand shouldn't require any forms but they may be able to tell you Cambodia's requirement.

[Guest Asmerom]

Well,I can't thank you enough for that wonderfully detailed explanation of getting to the Border crossing of PONG NAM RON. My confidence in doing it myself has certainly been given a boost by all those facts and figures in spite of reading a few hairy tales of travellers hassles at the borders.Mostly concerning haggling over a few hundred baht. Big deal!

 

Directing my attention to Google Earth has been a revelation in that I input Road Directions from Chanthaburi to PONG NAM RON and up pops the detailed description of the 54km journey NE. taking 1 hour 3 mins following a bright blue clear line across the terrain. I hope the journey proves to be as simple as it appears on screen!

 

I can't seem to get the detail you achieve in your attached photo but I think a little perseverance with the available tools on the map will reveal all. And I may well take your advice and have someone ring the post on the Thai side. I've tried their email but it doesn't seem to work. c_pongnamron@immigration.co.th

 

Well, I'm sure we've bored most readers to tears by now with all this detail specific to my problem but I'm certainly glad I posted the question and eventually attracted your brilliant answer for which much thanks

[Guest Asmerom]

Also the names and roads were shown on Google Earth which also shows the road crossing border point is at Ban Laem town in at amphore Pong Nam Ron. The exact border crossing point is at Longitude is 102 deg, 26 mins, 43 secs. The Latitude is 13 deg, 5 mins, 11 secs.Google earth shows road 3455 going to the border/Ban Laem. (Mapmagic doesn't show the road). The 3455 turns right off the 3193 I mentioned before.

jtrack33,

I can't help feeling I ought to be just taking my chances by now without bothering you again but you seemed so clued up that hopefully its not too tiresome to ask one further question now I've had time to explore Google Maps and the Thinknet CD you reccommended.

 

I find that Google Earth pinpoints a different location to the one attached in your photo 23 kms further South. At the point where the 3193 turns NORTH at KLONG YAI, you follow it NORTH 23kms, right up to the 3455 to near BAN LAEM TOWN. My Google alternative route takes the right hand fork just South of Klong Yai dead EAST for just 3.5 kms.to what it calls PONG NAM RON BORDER CROSSING at 12.927941,102.495064.

 

Browsing THAI VISA site and others,where backpackers air their gripes and grievences left me exhausted and unenlightened. Even when someone is desperate to try to explain the exact location of a crossing they rarely succeed. Of course they're not in cars so pay scant attention to road numbers.Lots of good photos and trivial detail but few facts.But I came away with the impression that there may be three crossings at Pong Nam Ron amphoe.

 

PONG NAM RON/BAN LAEM to DAUNG-your photo ; though I have no success with your figures.

PONG NAM RON/PRUM which they say is the most popular crossing and which I can't find.

PONG NAM RON/PAILIN.Connects with Highway 10. Probably my crossing ; figures above.

 

Please don't exert yourself researching this question; after all, I'm the one doing the journey and its time I ploughed on regardless ,like all those other intrepid travellers hoping for the best without benefit of laptops,cars, and good advice.I'm just thinking you may-or may not-have a brief knowlegeable comment to make on the above.Thanks all the same for your help so far which has been invaluable.