kitenomad

2 hours ago, phuketrichard said:

and what did you pay the agent to  do all this??
I've never paid at any Thai/Cambodian border more than the asking price ($20 years ago and now $30)

But usually use Koh Kong or Osmach

1700 Baht is the going rate at Ban Laem and Pakkard these days. At Koh kong back in the days I never used the touts. But I remember paying a "fine" for getting stamped out immediately. 

1 hour ago, thecyclist said:

So try Ban Pakkard :never had any IO pointing to any agents/touts there, and refusing to deal with me directly. Of course you can get a Cambodian visa by yourself, unless things have changed since my last crossing in February of this year. 

The visa run companies use the touts as well. Because of my former experience when they refused to deal with me I assumed that this is "how it works" nowadays at these particular Cambo border crossings. I do not use this crossings regularly so I just went with the flow of things. I will deal with the IO myself next time. Thanks for the information.

14 hours ago, ericthai said:

You never said at the border!

I did but you cherry pick my quote.

My original answer was:

There is nothing cryptic about this thread. I've been there many times at the Ban Laem border. It was 1400 baht before but last year I was charged around 1800 Baht. The visa cost + service + the in/out fine (the rule is u have to stay at least one night). Buddy of mine was charged 2000 Baht. For your information it isn't possible to "go get the visa yourself"

Context!

However, getting the visa before hand is a very good tactic, Eric! Kudos!

2 minutes ago, thecyclist said:

Yes, the older IO at the VOA office on the Cambodian side, who has been there for years, is extremely rude, loves to bark orders at you, probably a barang/farang hater, but he is not very persistent in his demands for 'extra charges' :never waited longer than 5 minutes, but loves to throw your passport back at you to express his displeasure at not being allowed to rip you off. 

55555, my experience was they completely ignored me and pointed at the tout who followed me. The overnight stay seems to be mandatory so I rather pay the few extra Baht then not being allowed back to Thailand (for the night). I think there was some report on TV of someone who had to stay for the night.

5 hours ago, thecyclist said:

Okay, that's what it means. Although I have done Ban Pakkard at least a dozen times, I have never noticed any 'touts' (special visa service as it is referred to in this thread) at this particular crossing (plenty of them in Poipet). That might be because I always cross by bicycle, and the touts know from experience that cyclists in general don't fall for any border scams, or simply because Ban Pakkard, being a rather quiet border, doesn't attract scamsters. 

Not so sure this law mandating overnight stay really exists:Probably something Cambodian border officials 'invented' as another 'source of income' for this aggressively corrupt bunch (Hadlek/Koh Kong being ten times worse than Pailin in this respect) 

I did ignore the touts one time many moons ago (8 years or so) like I did back in the days at Klong Yai border (or any other border). However, the Cambo immigration refused to help me and pointed at the tout who followed me. This was at Ban Laem. That's why I posted the question. 

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

3 hours ago, kitenomad said:

I had to pay 1700 with the "special visa service" 

so not a big saving over the border run bus i get which is 2300 including lunch

It's actually more expensive when u drive yourself (fuel around 1000 Baht). However, driving yourself beats sitting in minibus. Those days are long gone for me. 

1 hour ago, jobsworth said:

A Cambodia visa can cost anything from $20 to $40 depending on how you do it. Online is best 'cos it doesn't use any space in your passport. Or you can buy a Cambodia visa at the border.

The Pailin/Ban Pakard Thai Khmer border can be reached by public transport. Take a bus to Chantaburi. Then just keep saying Pailin Cambodia and you will be directed to another big bus which runs north. You will be put off by the roadside from where a song thaew will take you to the border.

I have my own car. The price was 1700 baht with the "special visa service". Online visa is NOT accepted at this border crossing. 

On 9/18/2019 at 5:11 PM, thecyclist said:

From Pattaya, Ban Pakkard is a little closer, and faster as it isn't as crowded as Laem. I have never paid more than 30 $ there, although never done the same day turnaround. They usually ask for 35$,but are not very persistent, especially if you can point to a couple of old Cambodian visas in your passport and say they were all 30.

I had to pay 1700 with the "special visa service" 

On 9/18/2019 at 3:45 PM, kurtcap said:

Drove to Ban Pakkard myself 2 days ago to get a visa exemption, 1700 baht, sat on my ass at thailand side for 20mins waiting then left, easy and cheap

Yes, I've done the same. I never been to Ban Pakkard before so I was just wondering if it was cheaper there (Compared to Ban Laem). But on both crossings they have a "visa service" that charges more than the original price of the visa. I had my visa in 10 min, new road is very good too. 

On 9/18/2019 at 8:38 PM, ericthai said:

Sure you can!

 

When I used to do visa runs I always got a Visa for Cambodia from the Embassy in BKK, I used a travel agent which they would pick up my passport get the visa and return my passport with the visa. Then when I did a visa run i didn't have to deal with the guys at the border cheating you on a visa price. 

Stay in context please, I was talking about, doing the visa "yourself" at the border. 

27 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

33 minutes ago, kitenomad said:

I am currently residing in Pattaya, hence the Cambo option.

Ban Pakard has been fine for me. Prices vary from 2300 to 2900, basically the same trip but with different food thrown in

This was a trip to Ban Pakard with a visa run company? I was under the impression that they all went to Ban Laem. Are you sure it was Ban pakard?

3 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Cryptic thread this one. I think the visa cost is US$30 plus I've heard them trying to charge 100 baht for arrival card

There is nothing cryptic about this thread. I've been there many times at the Ban Laem border. It was 1400 baht before but last year I was charged around 1800 Baht. The visa cost + service + the in/out fine (the rule is u have to stay at least one night). Buddy of mine was charged 2000 Baht. For your information it isn't possible to "go get the visa yourself"

Just now, scubascuba3 said:

6 minutes ago, kitenomad said:

I am currently residing in Pattaya, hence the Cambo option.

Ban Pakard has been fine for me. Prices vary from 2300 to 2900, basically the same trip but with different food thrown in

I wasn't clear, I do the trip myself, I have a car.

2 minutes ago, Tayaout said:

Myanmar is cheaper and faster if in Bangkok. 

I am not. I know Kanchanaburi is 950 Baht.

7 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

From where?

I am currently residing in Pattaya, hence the Cambo option.

Hi,

I've done Ban Laem but they overcharge quite a bit nowadays (1700 - 2000 Baht).

Anyone did Pailin/Ban Pakard border run recently?

This border is just 22.5 km South of Ban Laem.

Tony