TotallyOz Posted July 28, 2011 Posted July 28, 2011 First, there are several options for visa runs in Bangkok. Many of them leave after 9:00 AM and that puts the return at rush hour. I wanted to avoid this so I choose Jack Golf Visa. I sent an e-mail and got a confirmation immediately. I told them I didn't want to go on a day with the van but wanted the bus as it would be more comfortable. They said today was the day for the bus but normally every M, W, F they have full bus. It was full again today. You must get there by 4:40 AM. They leave from Sukhumvit Soi 12 in front of the 7-11 and in the same plaza as the old B and N. They take your passport, have you sign some papers and tell you to get on the bus. The bus was packed and many people were trying to take 2 seats to sleep. I had to tell one guy to sit up so I could sit down. The ride was fine to get there. It was bumpy and shaky and I don't see how anyone would sleep. Once at the border, they give you a Jack Golf Badge and tell you to take your Passport through immigration. They wait on the other side of the Thailand immigration and they take the passport again. You get into a van to be taken to the Tropicana Hotel and Casino. Breakfast was OK and included in the price. We had 2 hours so I played slots. I lost less than 1k baht and played for over an hour. We had a meeting time and were taken back to immigration where we were given our passports, already with the Thai Immigration stamps and walked through. The lines were think but they cleared a special line for Jack Golf customers only. Some Koreans tried to get in line with us and the officer kicked them out. I had one carton of cigs for the boyfriend. One other guy had 4 and was fined 7k baht and they were taken. The ride back was HOT. The air con does not cool the bus. Everyone was sweaty. We had a 10 minute stop where the bus sat in the shade and it was then cool for the last hour. They have 3 stops. I got off at the first one as it was near the highway and I took the motorway to my hotel. I didn't want to go directly into Bangkok traffic. The cost of everything was 2100 baht and everything ran smooth. I met some nice people and had some good conversations. The only disadvantage was the bus was old (they said new) and the air con didn't put out (neither does my bf at times so I understood). For those that need an extension, or like me, have to leave every 90 days, Jack Gold was professional, quick and easy. http://www.jackgolf.com/en/visa_run/ Quote
lexusgs Posted July 29, 2011 Posted July 29, 2011 First, there are several options for visa runs in Bangkok. Many of them leave after 9:00 AM and that puts the return at rush hour. I wanted to avoid this so I choose Jack Golf Visa. I sent an e-mail and got a confirmation immediately. I told them I didn't want to go on a day with the van but wanted the bus as it would be more comfortable. They said today was the day for the bus but normally every M, W, F they have full bus. It was full again today. You must get there by 4:40 AM. They leave from Sukhumvit Soi 12 in front of the 7-11 and in the same plaza as the old B and N. They take your passport, have you sign some papers and tell you to get on the bus. The bus was packed and many people were trying to take 2 seats to sleep. I had to tell one guy to sit up so I could sit down. The ride was fine to get there. It was bumpy and shaky and I don't see how anyone would sleep. Once at the border, they give you a Jack Golf Badge and tell you to take your Passport through immigration. They wait on the other side of the Thailand immigration and they take the passport again. You get into a van to be taken to the Tropicana Hotel and Casino. Breakfast was OK and included in the price. We had 2 hours so I played slots. I lost less than 1k baht and played for over an hour. We had a meeting time and were taken back to immigration where we were given our passports, already with the Thai Immigration stamps and walked through. The lines were think but they cleared a special line for Jack Golf customers only. Some Koreans tried to get in line with us and the officer kicked them out. I had one carton of cigs for the boyfriend. One other guy had 4 and was fined 7k baht and they were taken. The ride back was HOT. The air con does not cool the bus. Everyone was sweaty. We had a 10 minute stop where the bus sat in the shade and it was then cool for the last hour. They have 3 stops. I got off at the first one as it was near the highway and I took the motorway to my hotel. I didn't want to go directly into Bangkok traffic. The cost of everything was 2100 baht and everything ran smooth. I met some nice people and had some good conversations. The only disadvantage was the bus was old (they said new) and the air con didn't put out (neither does my bf at times so I understood). For those that need an extension, or like me, have to leave every 90 days, Jack Gold was professional, quick and easy. http://www.jackgolf.com/en/visa_run/ Great report, thanks Michael.How long do get in terms of length of stay in Thailand. I thought an overland visa run only gets you 15 days? Or are you on a more long term visa? Thanks... Quote
TotallyOz Posted July 29, 2011 Author Posted July 29, 2011 I have a one year Multiple Entry. That lets me stay for 90 days and then I have to leave and return. The people who were from USA got 15 days at border. The ones from Brazil got 90 days. Other countries get different number of days depending on the agreements. There were lots of students on the trip or so it seemed, so maybe they have to leave every 90 days as well? There were several young people who were just going for 15 days from USA. Quote
Moses Posted July 30, 2011 Posted July 30, 2011 Yes, it is good way to make visarun if you are alone. But if you have 1 or 2 friends who wants to make visarun too, then taxi is more comfortable, flexible and even cheap: BKK - Aranya cost 2100-2500, Aranya - BKK has fix: 2200... Pattaya - Aranya is 2000, Arania - Pattaya fix 1900 taxi stall in Aranya is located just in 10 meters after exit from thai custom main for me is flexibility in trip - you can ask to start at any time and don't need to be somewhere at 4:40 AM... as well in car you have more space than in van (I hate asian vans) Quote
Smiles Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 I assume the OP is at least 50 years old, so why not just get a 12 month Non Imm visa (i.e. essentially the 'retirement' visa)? You can come and go as you please, but no need for visa runs anymore. Quote
firecat69 Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 You know what the word assumes means??? OP is just a young pup. Many years until retirement Visa!!! Quote
TotallyOz Posted July 31, 2011 Author Posted July 31, 2011 Many years until retirement Visa!!! Yes, I wait and I wait and I wait. I started coming here many years ago and these visa runs are killers. When they did the 30 days at the border, I did one every 30 days. It was a real PITA. Now, I have cut it down to 90 days. Better for sure, but I'd love to be able to stay for 5 or 6 months with no worries of doing a visa run. Quote
Smiles Posted August 3, 2011 Posted August 3, 2011 You know what the word assumes means??? OP is just a young pup. Many years until retirement Visa!!! Apologies! For some reason I thought you were someone else ... someone I'm thinking of now ... someone a lot older ~ at least 50 ~ yet not particularly the sharpest splinter in the wood pile (hence my incomprehension regarding not holding a retirement visa). I'm glad I have a retirement visa, but to be frank, I guess I wish I were younger (and not be able to get one ). Quote
pong Posted August 4, 2011 Posted August 4, 2011 for those thinking about that big adventure of doing it all by yourself: go to Mochit Bustation, find ticketbooth (lowr floor, central hall) and buy ticket-buses run ev 30/40/50 mins, some now go directly to border area (name is Rong Kleua market), takes about 4-4,5 hrs and cost a little more as 200 bt single. Do NOT take bus 921 along the Ongkarak canal-takes much longer and makes a lot of stops A visum for Camb is 20US$-but at this post you may have to stand your ground and sit it out till Khmer officials accept it-they rather have THB-and a lot more. Then return (yes, you must get stamped in+out of Camb and hence pay for the visum). Return is the reverse. When you start early enough, you may find enough vans with empty space to return you straightaway to BKK and maybe even a more conveneient point. There is also a direct bus from SWAMPY airport-7,30 BUSterminal, 10-15 mins later AIRterminal (easy to reach by raillink), also direct to border. On fri-sat-sun a 2nd bus at 9.30/.40. Hence total cost: 2 busfares and 20US$=grand total of a little below 1100 THB. Can cut this down by taking train 1 way 48 bt) but that is a gruelling 6 hr sit on hard wooden benches in open air. Quote
TotallyOz Posted August 5, 2011 Author Posted August 5, 2011 yet not particularly the sharpest splinter in the wood pile (hence my incomprehension regarding not holding a retirement visa I can see how you would get confused by your friend and me. LOL I am just happy I was sharp enough to retire from working and start traveling the world before I reached 35. I guess if I had been sharper, I would have made it before 30. But, hey, I guess we can't all be the sharpest splinter in the wood pile. Quote
