Tim K

And review from Andaman Casino Pier

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Current information, from 01/20/2024 This is a pier of a company that provides boat transportation to and from Myanmar, and also has a visaran service. Stamp90 - 2600 baht, Stamp30 - 2100 baht There is free parking, we parked the bike in the parking lot near the main building. There is a bangkok bank ATM right in the building from which you can withdraw cash. There is also a comfortable seating area. Important! Boat departs at 10:00, 12:00, 13:30, 15:00 The boat was a large speedboat, with a capacity of 20-30 people. You are taken by boat to Myanmar, where a company employee immediately takes everyone by the hand to the window to get a stamp about entry and exit from Myanmar, the procedure takes 10-20 minutes for the entire group from the boat. 10-15 minutes on a speedboat and you are back in Thailand, you head to the same building where you registered your trip, only at the Arrival (arrival) window to the customs officers, and they complete the stamp processing for you. I would like to note that if you arrived on your own (by car or bike), then it is better, when you arrive on the territory of Thailand by boat, try to be the first to pass the immigration check on Arrival to Thailand, so as not to wait for the others who arrived in groups in minivans. P.s We came on our own, with Fr. Phuket. by motorbike, (pcx) the journey took 5 hours. It’s better to leave at 4 am, then there are no traffic jams and no cars at all, the road is lit. Gasoline cost 700 baht (total).
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I paid THB 2'100 upon arrival at the Harbour for the processing (Multiple Entry Tourist Visa, getting another 60 days) The fee included the ferry and the supposed Myanmar immigration fee of 10 USD. The first boat leaves at 10 am so I had to wait a bit, but the waiting area is nice. There is another place you can cross the border (Saphan Plaa Pier) but not having to hassle for everything with the locals was definitely worth paying a bit more than doing everything on my own. The ferry took 10 minutes a ride, the processing on Myanmar side took about 15 minutes and at 10:45 I was already back in Thailand with a valid 60 day stamp in my passport.
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Got on google maps to check out the Ranong Port
Found some interesting reviews left by the "customers"
2-3 months old.

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We wanted to visit Myanmar - not for the purpose of visa run, but just because of our interest. This turned out to be impossible on our own because they request so many documents like hotel bookings, airplane tickets, 500$+ in cash for each person, e.t.c. We tried to gather everything on our own but they just refused. Then local "visa agents" offered to help us and we agreed. They collected documents for us. The documents list is: 1 copy of passport, 1 immigration blank and, the most important, the envelope with 1000 baht bribe inside. No tickets, no bookings requested, no questions asked. This seems to be the only possible way to cross the border here for a tourist and this is awful. While I was stumbling around in the port I saw dozens of tourists coming on shuttle buses and doing visa runs and each of them paid a bribe to immigration officers(most of them just paid full package price to the tour agency and were not even aware of that).
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Border runs to Myanmar are generally possible. Many touts offer their “services”. Without paying anybody, it was impossible for us to get any of the needed stamps although we could show all documents. There is always some number, money, permit, verification, … that is supposed to be missing. “Our country, our laws…”. We were not the only ones leaving the place after hours without stamps in the passport. Money to one of the touts might have helped. In the end one of the female officers gave us the advice to go to the Grand Andaman pier a few kilometres up north. “More safe, especially for the children” was what she said. This is what we did the next day. There, everything was much easier, people friendly. But also here, money rules the game: 2100 Baht for the return trip to Myanmar for adults, 1000/500 Baht for the children, depending on the age. Speedboat, no questions, everything done after 3 hours
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I understood I should use toute services. I was greeted by one at the parking at the ptt gas station. The prices seem ok, 500 baht per person for boat both ways. 800 baht for boat plus stamp 30 days. 1300 baht for stamp 90 days and boat. Extra 500 baht per person at myanmar border. The scam was after I paid and got stamped out of Thailand, the man changed his promises and asked money for boat. I was outraged because I paid for several people. He decided he charges again for the boat. The guy didn’t care at all he acted like a drama queen like you don’t pay, no boat. I was really scared he is going to ask for payment again at Myanmar border and offered to pay once we back. I think the guy was clearly using something. He was highly dramatical and non-negotiating, demanding. I am describing it because it felt very unsafe. He made an act refusing taking us back to Thai border once at Myanmar. I think the place is better to be avoided at all costs. The immigration services were smooth once paid, no problem about that part. As I understand it, the immigration is available only with toute services. And they ask money again and again after the price is agreed and I handed money over. They ask for money for whatever they want. If you agree to pay 800 baht at first, you may end up paying much more. Beware. They don’t keep their word and change it later.
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Visa Run: There are different rules now. It's 1700baht - pay it to the guys on the pier or 2100 through an agency near the pier. Your passport will be with the boat driver.
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Yeah it's possible, but be ready to "over pay".
Prepare copy of passport and probably last entry stamp,
print ticket for your next trip out of Thailand and a hotel booking
and
10$ note, that will help to cut the losses, either to touts, or the agency near the pier/ptt gas station.

Thanks to all your replies I think the most optimal choices are

- direct to KL | SIN, stay 1 night to avoid problems with IOs, and back.
- Ranong via car/bus/ maybe even my own bike, just get 10$ note ready, be polite and smile when coming back to Thai side.

On 11/30/2023 at 8:03 AM, SeanPhuket said:

I did firstly go to the long-tail place but the immigration officer attempted to give me an 'intimidating' shake down, but I wasn't having any of it thus went to club andaman.

Can you please elaborate on that?
Did he openly express his wish to receive specific amount of cash and got unpleasant after you politely rejected his offer?

@zzzzz If I take long tail boat ride to Kwathoung  will I be allowed to go back the same day?
There is a minivan service for this too but the timetable still says
 

07:00 am – Depart from Phuket

10:30 am – Arrive Ranong and go to Immigration office  (3.5h ok)
11:00 am – Go to Myanmar by Ferry
11:30 am – Return to get stamp for coming into Thailand
12:30 pm – Lunch at Ranong
1:30 pm – Depart from Ranong
7:30 pm – Arrive Phuket & Return to you home ( 6h here )

 
Maybe they adjusted for traffic jam.

Also what about the rainy season with higher waves? Is it safe in July?

@Hummin 
If 1 night is enough, then maybe.
Having been in BKK just for 3 days I must say I didn't like being in a hot big city.

@oldcpu Yes that matches my idea closely.

Hello guys, 

I'm interested in what options do I have to make a border run from Phuket preferably by air this July?
Russian passport, 39 years old, never did border runs before.
Came to Thailand in April (left september last year after 1 year ED), got 90 days exemption (can not change to other type, only leave the country).

a) I was thinking of Hat Yai (1h 38$ direct flight at 7:50AM) + van but couldn't find any info on border-run-agents in there.
Just go to the usual bus terminal where the vans depart every 30minutes to Padang Besar? 100b go through border and back?
Will train be better? seems like the travel time and price is same around 100b.
I want to do the same-day-return hop.
But I'm afraid of potential problems from IOs.

I know there are minivans from Phuket but the idea of getting up 4 am, sitting in a van going at 100km/h+ for 14 hours doesn't inspire me.

b) Fly to KL wait 1 hour at airport and fly back?

I'll get 60 days (promo until 31 July) which again could not be changed to ED or extended.
So after I would have to do a 2nd border run in September (getting 3rd visa exemption).
Same question applies.

I've read that I'm allowed 2 land crossings per year, so shouldn't have problems, but still worried a little bit cause I'm not in a group.

I had extended 30-day stamp for 60days in november (until 1 Feb 2020), using marriage cert.

Had uncontested divorce myself in December of 2019.
Don't forget to invite a couple of Thai Witnesses to speed up the process.

"Immigration won't be informed"
Left the country just before covid, on 1 Feb 2020. IOs at Phuket airport did not say anything.
So you have at least 1 month before Imm. catches up.

Can I do a border/visa run with my thai friend's car registered to his name (by myself, alone)?

What documents do I need to show at the border?

I know about english-translated copy of blue book at LTO.

I have a signed copy of his ID, house book, blue book.

I've crossed the border before at Sadao one time, but the owner was sitting near me.

Thanks to anyone who can help.

I would gladly use HKT -> HDY route for a ME non-o border-run, or a visa run combined with visiting relatives in Hat Yai, if it wasn't for a ridiculous price of 3000+THB for Bangkok Airways.

If only AirAsia would have a regualr flight there, if only for 2 times a week is still great.

Going to DMK or directly to PENang is 3-4 times cheaper.

In 2018, I just showed my bankbook with a foreign incoming transfer remark, and asked "Can I transfer it back to my homecountry"?

This was at Bangkok bank, chentalay, Phuket.

And the staff said sure, the fee will be around 300+-100b any sum of money (i had only 400k).

They didn't even ask about taxes - I asked them, do I need to prove something? They just looked at me like I'm crazy.

But I've never done it, just asking to have my plan-b.

If the sum is under 20000$, I prefer buying 100$ dollar bills. Russia's customs has almost no limits for import of cash.

Thailand's limit for export is 20k.

Also tried bitcoin, doable in under 1h.

I did my homework, and got an exchange rate history graph. i wish i bought THB in 1998-2002 ????

Looking at 2009-2016, one can surely see a shadow of what is happening now.

Being an amateur stock trader i guess we will have a minimum of 28 somewhere in january with a rebound to current level in may/june, and later 

it will 'rocket' to 36 in about 2.5 years.

Nothing will happen in just one day, the dynamic is very slow.

I've seen some traders comments, they are waiting for 27-28 to open long positions. a sweetspot to buy in (they actually sell thb to buy dollar).

In 2014 the exchange rate of Russian Ruble / USD and effectively against THB jumped twofold in a course of 1 month.

So it's not as bad for a 10% decrease you are having now.

For me as a Russian citizen - I pay double price for everything. I just accept it.

My stable income is about 18.000THB, I rent 6000THB simple room/house, eat fruits, drive bike around and i'm happy.

Russians still come, and will come here during cold winters.

Gps location is acquired by a tracker, receiving signals from an array of satellites (minimum of 4-6 is required at each moment i think, for a precise location and speed)

But sending GPS location to police HQ requires mobile internet - provided by a separate module with a sim card pre-installed,

because to send signal to an orbiting satellite directly is very complicated.

Sat-phone is very expensive.

Probably they want to improve 3g/4g/5g networks?

Some lobbying by network companies perhaps?

So don't worry about jamming gps signal - there is none. just turn off data connection.

In Russia all public transport has gps and a device for uploading it's location.

For users it provides a benefit of seeing the location of each bus online on the map, very cool, along with ETA.

For transport companies - reduces fuel consumption and promotes stricter following to the route - your boss sees your every move, no slack here.

So for public transport it will be a wonderful idea, along with trains, ER vehicles, fire dpt, PEA maintenance trucks, lazada etc.

My house owner, an old Thai man, told me that at Chumpon Durian sells for 12B/kg.

I didn't believe him, but he said he've seen it himself, and the price os low because a lot of farms are there.

So maybe worth a visit.

I buy durians in supercheap (Phuket/Krabi/Phangna Chain of supermarkets) for about 100 or less.

They can drop to 72 in season.

And then they do have half-open ones for 50B. I like these because you can see inside and smell, and be 100% sure about it's taste.

A lot of unripe ones, yes, but still some are very good. Just be patient and visit more than one shop.

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Krungsri gave me the runaround last month

Yes, same ordeal for me. Always bring wife(blue book owner) and sign a lot of papers.

I tried to open a/c at Kasikorn, Krungsri, Krungthai, SCB, and Bangkok Banks after getting married with NON-O Visa (from Penang) and with the yellow book + pink card in hand.

First thing they say - can not sir.

After my wife talks with them, they call the manager, who goes through some internal rules book calls the head office etc. and only at Krungsri/Krungthai they allowed me to open a/c.

Before going to malaysia for non-o, I managed to open a/c at BB, only on ED visa, showing the acceptance letter from school.

They don't really care about marriage certificate or the yellow book or the pink ID card, which I had.

Getting yellow book if you are married is not hard. Come with wife, her blue book and id, show your passport and they start the process.
You will have to go to police hq and do the criminal check, where they will take your fingerprints old-style with black paint.

Wait 2-3 weeks for the results (police will send them back to Amphoe), and then come and sign the freshly printed yellow book.

After about 1 week, come and get the pink card. But I've been unable to find any use for it.

From an ancient chinese book, I-Ching
Hexagram 30, line 3.

 

Siu: The man reaches his declining years and recalls the transitoriness of life. Instead of enjoying the ordinary pleasures while they last, he groans in melancholy.

Wing: The best attitude to cultivate at this time in your life is a general acceptance of fate. To totally lose yourself in the happiness of the moment is as bad as to bemoan the passing of time. Such folly of the mind and the emotions leads to a loss of inner freedom. Misfortune.

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Police are questioning the truck driver, but have yet to reveal whether any charges will be pressed over the incident.

How he can not be responsible??

Fatal injury means jail in Russia 100%.

How long depends on the factors but jail it is , sure.
 

I've been to Bangkok, Hat Yai, Songkla and Ranot. They seem pretty clean, thai do use garbage bins.

Went for visa once to Penang, nice and clean little island.

But I don't want go to P-P again, that was awful.

I stayed at Phuket 30 days and for the first time went to get visa to Phnom-Penh, Cambodia.

After the first evening when the piles of trash appeared averywhere on the streets, I do find Phuket Town pretty clean.

Thailand is a rather clean country compared to some other Asian neighbors.

I would just upload marriage certificate or something 2 times.

Or write a document yourself - I'm applying for visa based on marriage. and submit it.

Quote

 

ED Visas can also be converted from 30 day Visa Exempt

Yes they can and do do it in Hua Hin

 

that is awesome!

Have you considered getting tourist visa and then converting it to ED at Bangkok or other IOs?

When I got here first time, I got 30 days free stamp, then TV from Phnom Penh.

Extended TV for 1 month a week after arriving, valid until 6 Jan 2018.

Then, on 25 Dec 2017 I got ED visa without leaving the country at Phuket IO. (for 13000 THB, but no visa run which would be 7000 including visa fee and everything).

Of course the language school helped with the procedure.

btw Not many people go to Phnom Penh, because of longer processing time, 3 days.

I'm sure they will approve your ED.

I submitted "somewhat real" outbound ticket from Thailand, and my bank statement showed only 700USD instead of required 1000 USD,

but the kind old lady just nodded and said ok.

I am thinking about obtaining ED visa at Hua Hin, and thought if they won't convert TV to ED on the spot,

then I would go to Laos, but now I think if not Laos then I would try P-P.

Decent hotel with small pool was 18$ and they provide a free bicycle, easy to go anywhere in 5km radius, including the embassy.