Jungle Jim

Agree they are idiots. Having said that there are millions of adult idiots, sex tourists,foreign criminals and non stop alcoholics flooding into Thailand yearly. They leave their brains and common sense at the airport. Not sure what the numbers are likely in the thousands that die here yearly because of ZERO common sense. Yet the sheep keep arriving.

Too many sex tourists and or alcoholics. NO Thanks !

No sex tourists or drunken tourists ? Guess you have not spent much time there. Every bar girl from Hua Hin is dragging her ATM there lately. As long as people keep mentioning the place it will soon be ruined. Just like Hua HIn, Pattaya, Koh Samui, etc. Just give it a few more years. As soon as one English sign appears millions will follow. My best advice keep your mouth shut!

Nothing wrong with being smarter than the average foreigner. Ever stop to wonder why there are so many broke foreigners begging on the streets on Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket. After having their so called Thai girlfriends (bar girls) clean out their bank accounts. Like i mentioned the OP did not make it clear about the combined fees for crossing at Ranong. The long tails boats are 100 baht round trip. Just wish to make that clear so others won,t be taken advantage of. Never had a problem crossing the borders except for Sadao in the far south which seems to be famous for problems.

I guess the OP did not make it clear that the boat and fee for stamp was combined. A nice big safe boat ? It did not look much safer than the smaller long tails for 100 baht round trip NOT 200 to 300 baht that i hear about far too often. Again i repeat dumb foreign tourists and expats pay way too much for about everything. If you are planning to stay here for any length of time PLEASE learn to speak Thai. Don,t know how many expats i have encountered that can,t even count to five. No wonder the Thais have so many various words for stupid and rude foreigners.

950 baht ! Wow! you got screwed. It is either 500 baht or $10 American dollars. When foreigners get over charged and or don,t know any better, as with hotels , taxis, massage shops . Then the next guy that comes along they figure they can demand the same. I have to visit Ranong in a few months and hopefully won,t get screwed because you either did not know any better or refused to stand your ground. In the twenty plus years i have lived here have yet to pay in baht. I hide all my baht and tell them to take the $10 or nothing. Works every time. Better learn to play the game.

Sadao the road crossing has always been a pain in the butt. I would try the train and spend the night in Penang. I plan to get the same style visa myself soon and am curious.

A mass exodus of dodgy so called tourists would not break my heart. Thailand already has far too many tourists (foreigners) causing various problems for the locals.

I will never forget my very first border crossing at Sadao 15 years ago. I was one day early and the guy told me to come back the next day. When i asked for what reason he demanded 200 baht to fix my so called problem. Every single time i have crossed there i have had some sort of problem . That bunch all needs to be kicked out.

Can someone please explain to me what common Thai is going to be able to afford the fast train.

Get rid of that entire bunch at Sadao if you wish to make things more easy. The only border i have ever had any problems at time and time again.

As i have said before AVOID Sadao.

The Ranong border is one of the worst. Sadao on the Malaysia border there is always some problem. Best to justr avoid their rude attitudes.

I would say bad idea. Might come across as stupid. Ever see foreigners wai a bar girl? I have.

My question is also. Where in Southeast can you renew a Non O marriage visa without having to have a Thai bank account? I hope that i do not have to return to the states one a year to renew it.

What 5000 baht every time you cross the border ?

You can still also get a visa where you are not required to have a bank account. You then cross the border every 90 days instead.

I have had the same thing happen at the Laos , Burma, and Cambodia borders. I hide most of my baht and tell them i only have U.S. dollars . Take it or leave it. Guess what ? They fall for it every time.

I have never had a problem on the train route. But have had numerous hassles at the road crossings over the years. I think you will be fine.

A very good question.

I have to admit since 2001 the first time at the southern border i had a problem. Since then i can think of at least three more times they were either very rude or wanted some extra cash out of me. It is always at the same border road crossing Sadao. I now always travel across the border by train. Never any problems and a few times they even smiled.

If i read correctly a fellow who entered Malaysia a few days ago was told he could not return to Thailand for one day. So my question is. Will this now be required at every border ? Cambodia, Laos , Burma and Malaysia. If that is the case that is going to be a real hassle. Mae Sai is the northern most land border with Burma.

Will it now be required to spend one night out of Thailand in Burma ?