Current favorite place to get a 2 month tourist visa via plane?

[boomerexpat]

I'm in Hungary right now and they won't give non-EU residents the 2 month tourist visas. I have to fly in and get the 1 month on arrival then fly out and get the 2 month. I want to stay in Thailand this trip a total of 3 to 4 months. Cambodia looks like the easiest because of using an agent but I'm not that interested in spending a week in Phnom Penh right now. I prefer only spending 2 to 3 days since I unwisely booked a condo for two months. I can always cancel the second month but would prefer not to deal with that hassle. 

 

Q1: With a trade off of price, low aggravation from embassy staff, and time required for the visa, what do you think is the best place to do a short jaunt to get the visa? I see people mentioning Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia (I've done the KL before), Philippines and Cambodia. It seems like the cooperation level of the embassy staff tends to change regularly.

 

Q2: If I do go to Cambodia, I would rather go to Siem Reap. Is it an efficient place like Phnom Penh? I could at least see Angkor Wat that way.

 

thanks

[darrendsd]

Vientianne is by far the easiest in terms of getting a SETV

 

You can fly, check the options for this or use this service, I have used them numerous times and they are reliable

 

http://www.thaivisaservice.com/

[BritTim]

You do not mention your nationality, so how good HCMC would be for you is unclear. It depends on whether you can enter Vietnam visa exempt. Vientiane is fine. Yangon is good except for the need for a Myanmar visa. Penang is easy as long as you use an agent. Depending on your budget, Hong Kong IMHO is the best of the lot in terms of the consulate experience. At all the above, you apply in the morning and receive your visa the next day in the afternoon (in the morning in the case of Hong Kong).

 

Avoid Cambodia unless you really want to spend several days there.

[Rc2702]

Vientiane (laos) was a breeze. So easy it felt wrong.

 

 

[steve187]

depending on which passport you hold, a 30 day visa exempt entry + a 30 day extension ( 1,900 baht) from local immigration office, repeat process after a border run either by air or land, = 120 days.

[boomerexpat]

Thanks for all your feedback. I didn't know that you could get a 30 day extension with a 30 day on arrival? It used to be one week extension only.

[boomerexpat]

I'm an American. I really love Vietnam but if I'm going to the hassle of getting their visa, I might as well make it a longer trip. I've explored a lot of the North and would like to return to check out the South.

 

I can imagine that HK would be efficient. The Chinese visa process in Bangkok was  horrible and smooth as could be in HK. Alas, HK is over my budget right now to stay longer but if I can get a cheap deal on a flight it  might be worth putting into the mix for one night. I'm just winding down a 2.5 month jaunt through the former Eastern block and Greece so I need to count my baht for a while to make up for it.

 

Seems like Vientianne is the winner since it is easy and I haven't been there yet. 

 

 By the way, it is nice to get all straight to the point helpful responses to my question. Usually those are mixed in with tangents and snippy comments.

[ubonjoe]

59 minutes ago, boomerexpat said:

Thanks for all your feedback. I didn't know that you could get a 30 day extension with a 30 day on arrival? It used to be one week extension only.

That changed in August of 2014 when a new police order came into effect allowing them.

[boomerexpat]

Learn something every day. Might not need to do the visa run then unless stay for 3 months.