A border run at Ranong

[Took]

Hi,

 

Is it possible to do a border run at Ranong to get another 30 days

to stayin Thailand, though you would get turned back there several

years ago?

 

If it is, would it be better to have 10,000B to show the IO?

 

Thank you in advance.

Edited February 11, 2018 by Took

[ubonjoe]

You can do the crossing to Myanmar from Ranong to get a 30 day visa exempt entry.

You can only do 2 land border visa exempt entries per calendar year now.

There have been no reports of them asking for the 10k baht.

[Denim]

Try going with the Andaman club just out of town. Very smooth and efficient service. Cross and come straight back on the same boat no problem.

[Took]

Thank you for your info.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Denim said:

Try going with the Andaman club just out of town. Very smooth and efficient service. Cross and come straight back on the same boat no problem.

I also recommend the Andaman club. However I have never managed to get back with the same boat. It doesn't matter much as there are boats every 30-60 minutes anyway.

 

[playboy]

Try going with the Andaman club just out of town. Very smooth and efficient service. Cross and come straight back on the same boat no problem.

I also recommend the Andaman club. However I have never managed to get back with the same boat. It doesn't matter much as there are boats every 30-60 minutes anyway.

 

Hi, is n't that you still need to get Myanmar visa?  and it's eVisa is $50.0?

[Guest]

1 minute ago, playboy said:

Hi, is n't that you still need to get Myanmar visa?  and it's eVisa is $50.0?

The return trip, including Myanmar visa on arrival (Finnish passport) costs 950 baht. I did my last trip 3 months ago. Immigration has virtually no queues. The Andaman staff handles paperwork. 

 

While on the island, one can visit the casino and buy tax free items. I spent whopping 100 baht at the casino :)

 

Here is one of the boats.

 

[Denim]

5 minutes ago, playboy said:

Try going with the Andaman club just out of town. Very smooth and efficient service. Cross and come straight back on the same boat no problem.

I also recommend the Andaman club. However I have never managed to get back with the same boat. It doesn't matter much as there are boats every 30-60 minutes anyway.

 

Hi, is n't that you still need to get Myanmar visa?  and it's eVisa is $50.0?

Not when I went a few years back.

Visa on entry when you get off the boat. Not even a visa really , just an entry and exit stamp the same as at Mae Sot. 

I was first off the boat so first in the 

queue so managed to return on same boat.

You can stay overnight on this Burmese island as there is a big casino and hotel here.

[RickG16]

Does anyone know if there are regular buses / minivans from Donsak to Ranong? Or am I better off going to Chumphon?

 

Cheers

[BritTim]

9 hours ago, RickG16 said:

Does anyone know if there are regular buses / minivans from Donsak to Ranong? Or am I better off going to Chumphon?

I have always gone to Ranong from Bangkok, but I have seen people coming from Samui to Ranong via Domsak. Assuming you are coming in on the ferry, I would guess there are connecting buses.

[4evermaat]

On 2/12/2018 at 11:52 PM, RickG16 said:

Does anyone know if there are regular buses / minivans from Donsak to Ranong? Or am I better off going to Chumphon?

 

Cheers

I assume this is the Donsak pier in Surat Thani?   Going to Chumphon first would put you about 3-5 hours out of route.   There should be regular minivan service going from Surat Thani to Ranong Bus station.  There may also be larger bus.  I recommend using Kiwi Orchard guesthouse and tour to arrange your trip to/from Andaman Club.  Actually you should call Jai and find out if there is coach bus to go from Surat Thani to Ranong.  Or some local expats there should direct you.

 

Minivans tend to run early morning and finish in late afternoon.  So if you want to return on the same day,  take the earlier minivans around 08:00am or so.

 

On 2/12/2018 at 10:12 AM, playboy said:

Try going with the Andaman club just out of town. Very smooth and efficient service. Cross and come straight back on the same boat no problem.

I also recommend the Andaman club. However I have never managed to get back with the same boat. It doesn't matter much as there are boats every 30-60 minutes anyway.

 

Hi, is n't that you still need to get Myanmar visa?  and it's eVisa is $50.0?

They have special visa exempt program for certain borders.  Like Saphan Pla >> Kawthaung is $10 USD (crispy new USD bill, no tears, marks, or creases; or 500 THB).  Plus you arrange the longtail boat yourself.

 

Or you go to Andaman and 950 baht includes everything.  Nothing extra except to get to the andaman pier and back to Ranong bus station.

 

And at Andaman is sometimes rare that you will return on the same boat.  It takes about 10 min to walk from the pier edge to the immigration office, hand them your passport, put the stamps in it, then retrieve it and walk back to the pier.  The boat might be waiting or it might already be full.  But boats do leave every 30-45 minutes anyway.   Might as well take the shuttle up to the resort and look around for a few minutes; check out gift shop, etc.  You already paid for the privilege.

 

One of the advantages of doing it yourself vs doing a visa run is so that you aren't as rushed (especially if they are running late).  So you have some time to look around.   Some places though the visa border run is more efficient than others; especially if it's your first couple of times.   Chumphon town is great to do it yourself as it is one direct big/mini bus to Ranong, and then you take song theaw to Saphan Pla OR take Kiwi Orchard taxi to Andaman Club.   

Edited February 16, 2018 by 4evermaat

[RickG16]

So I'm going to visit the border near Ranong next weekend.

 

First, possibly stupid question - will the border be open on a Saturday?

 

Also wondering if there is much to do in Ranong on a Friday night?!  Wishful thinking perhaps. 

[BritTim]

3 hours ago, RickG16 said:

will the border be open on a Saturday?

The border is open every day of the year.

 

3 hours ago, RickG16 said:

Also wondering if there is much to do in Ranong on a Friday night?!

It has been a few years since I was there. Ranong is not a bad town. To find the nightlife (which is mostly pretty well hidden) talk to the motorcycle taxis. Some of the Burmese ladies around are delightful. However, make clear whether you are looking for seedy or more respectable nightspots.

[RickG16]

Anyone know how much in a taxi / motorbike taxi to Andaman Club from Ranong town? 

 

Cheers

 

[Guest]

4 minutes ago, RickG16 said:

Anyone know how much in a taxi / motorbike taxi to Andaman Club from Ranong town? 

 

Cheers

 

They provide transportation back to your destination for 100 baht.

 

You can also take a songtaew for 40 baht. I normally take that option when going from town to the port.. and take the van from there to bus station. 

[RickG16]

Just now, oilinki said:

They provide transportation back to your destination for 100 baht.

 

You can also take a songtaew for 40 baht. I normally take that option when going from town to the port.. and take the van from there to bus station. 

OK thanks. Is there only one port area, i.e. is Andaman Club etc all within a small distance?

[Guest]

Just now, RickG16 said:

OK thanks. Is there only one port area, i.e. is Andaman Club etc all within a small distance?

It's a smallish terminal. Pretty much everyone in the town knows where it is and can direct you to the correct way. 

[notmyself]

Try and get a crisp 10 buck note yourself beforehand because otherwise it'll cost you 500 Baht.

 

 

[4evermaat]

15 hours ago, oilinki said:

They provide transportation back to your destination for 100 baht.

 

You can also take a songtaew for 40 baht. I normally take that option when going from town to the port.. and take the van from there to bus station. 

 

Can you elaborate on where to catch the song theaw from the Ranong bus station to Andaman pier? 

 

My understanding is that you must first take a blue song theaw from bus station to the market.  Then on the other side of the market there is a Green songtheaw that goes near Andaman pier.  And then you still have to walk about a km or more to their door.

 

So I recommended taking Kiwi Orchard's taxi, which is 300 bt round trip; she takes you door-to-door.

 

1 hour ago, notmyself said:

Try and get a crisp 10 buck note yourself beforehand because otherwise it'll cost you 500 Baht.

 

 

 

You might be thinking of the Saphan Pla pier, where it's more do-it-yourself to/from Kawthaung.  Andaman club is 950 baht for foreign nationals, and includes all round-trip speedboat transportation to/from Andaman Resort.  There is no extra charge.

[Guest]

16 minutes ago, 4evermaat said:

Can you elaborate on where to catch the song theaw from the Ranong bus station to Andaman pier? 

 

My understanding is that you must first take a blue song theaw from bus station to the market.  Then on the other side of the market there is a Green songtheaw that goes near Andaman pier.  And then you still have to walk about a km or more to their door.

 

So I recommended taking Kiwi Orchard's taxi, which is 300 bt round trip; she takes you door-to-door.

I have always taken a motorbike taxi from the bus station to the hotel in downtown. It costs 60 baht. After a night there, I take the green songtaew from the local market 'bus station' to the Andaman pier for 30 baht.

 

The vehicle goes right to the entrance of the pier where the immigration is located. Walking distance of 3 meters :)

 

300 baht for round trip in an air conditioned vehicle sounds good and easy deal. 

 

[RickG16]

6 hours ago, notmyself said:

Try and get a crisp 10 buck note yourself beforehand because otherwise it'll cost you 500 Baht.

 

 

$10 you mean? Do they use dollars as well as the local currency in Burma? And $10 for what?

[sanemax]

2 minutes ago, RickG16 said:

$10 you mean? Do they use dollars as well as the local currency in Burma? And $10 for what?

Myanmar Visa 

[RickG16]

1 minute ago, sanemax said:

Myanmar Visa 

Ah - in that case it looks like 950 baht all in is the best option. Especially if it is a lot less hassle and only 200-300 more expensive than the DIY option, factoring in transport etc?

[ubonjoe]

7 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Myanmar Visa 

It is actually a border pass not a visa. It only allows you to visit the area near the border crossing.

[RickG16]

Just now, ubonjoe said:

It is actually a border pass not a visa. It only allows you to visit the area near the border crossing.

That should do the trick.

[BritTim]

7 hours ago, RickG16 said:

Ah - in that case it looks like 950 baht all in is the best option. Especially if it is a lot less hassle and only 200-300 more expensive than the DIY option, factoring in transport etc?

While I do not recommend it for most people, the DIY option can be very cheap. That assumes you cross like the locals and get the locals price. The round trip in a small open boat can cost as little as 100 baht, plus US$10 (just over 300 baht) for the border pass. If you did this, you should expect to get wet as there is a microclimate that produces frequent  rain showers most of the year. It is also probably not very safe. 

[4evermaat]

15 hours ago, oilinki said:

I have always taken a motorbike taxi from the bus station to the hotel in downtown. It costs 60 baht. After a night there, I take the green songtaew from the local market 'bus station' to the Andaman pier for 30 baht.

 

The vehicle goes right to the entrance of the pier where the immigration is located. Walking distance of 3 meters :)
.........

 

Do you have to ask the driver to do that?  In other words, is going to the Andaman pier part of the normal route of the green song theaw?  That's great if Andaman pier is one of the official stops.

 

15 hours ago, oilinki said:

......

300 baht for round trip in an air conditioned vehicle sounds good and easy deal. 
 

And she also has a larger open air transport vehicle that can take large groups (20-30 persons).   Andaman is supposed to also have their own shuttle, but the trick is figuring out what time they come or if you have to call to get picked up (would you trust them to pick you up).  It seems much easier to go Andaman >> Bus Station with their shuttle van than the opposite way around.

 

3 hours ago, BritTim said:

While I do not recommend it for most people, the DIY option can be very cheap. That assumes you cross like the locals and get the locals price. The round trip in a small open boat can cost as little as 100 baht, plus US$10 (just over 300 baht) for the border pass. If you did this, you should expect to get wet as there is a microclimate that produces frequent  rain showers most of the year. It is also probably not very safe. 

 

You might consider renting out the boat for 350-400 baht r/t that will leave right away.  If you do the 50 baht/person one way ticket, you will have to wait for a boat to fill up and likely go with the neighboring foreign nationals (Burmese, Cambodia, Laos, etc).  The way they are treated at the different checkpoints can sometimes be "different" than the boats that just have nationals from more developed countries (just an observation). 

 

But it is still cheaper and the song theaw goes right from the bus station to the 7-eleven/PTT in front of Saphan Pla.   Never had to do it though; Andaman Resort is more pleasant and is worth the extra 350 baht IMO. 

Edited February 25, 2018 by 4evermaat

[Guest]

9 hours ago, 4evermaat said:

Do you have to ask the driver to do that?  In other words, is going to the Andaman pier part of the normal route of the green song theaw?  That's great if Andaman pier is one of the official stops.

I have always said "Pai Andaman Club, mai?" and gotten the nod. AFAIK Andaman pier is the end of the route. 

Anyway it's good to say where you go, specially on the first time, as the local people tend to help and tell you when to get out of the vehicle :) 

[RickG16]

And one more thing..... any suggestions on reasonably priced guesthouses / hotels in Ranong? 

 

Not after luxury but don't want any hygiene problems either.

 

Cheers

[BritTim]

2 hours ago, RickG16 said:

And one more thing..... any suggestions on reasonably priced guesthouses / hotels in Ranong?

Just about acceptable is the cheap Ranong Garden Hotel. Sino Mansion is definitely better (prices there fluctuate). If you have a partner with you, and are willing to splurge a bit, The Iconic Hotel, just outside the town proper, is worth the money.