Ranong visa run.

[swbaggies]

Good afternoon.

Can anybody help with information on the process for a visa run for Ranong. Is it simply a process of driving to the
border (parking up), stamping out and then back in. I would be doing my own car.

I currently hold a METV (UK issued) tourist visa. 

Thanks in advance.

[Guest]

Pretty much so. I would recommend using the Andaman club immigration. It costs a bit more, but the process of going to Myanmar and back is very easy. 

 

https://goo.gl/maps/3V3ktcMsL7p

 

I need to do the same trip in couple of weeks. I use bus to get there.

[Somtamnication]

Highly corrupt bunch at the Andaman place. Tried to charge me 2000b for entry back even though I had a Non O multiple. They will go through every page and speak English. A farang speaking Thai on a tourist visa will ring alarm bells.

 

You get stamped out at the club's port. Go to the boat, tell Myanmar officials that you are not going to the hotel; they will then ask you to sit or tell you to go back to the boat.

 

Good luck.

[Guest]

I have never had any problems at the Andaman club. I have done the trip 3-4 times.

 

 

[LivinginKata]

Bit more than 'parking up' at the border. A water crossing is required. For sure the Andaman ferry is hassle free and comfortable. But you could go into Ranong port port area, part up near Immigration. Hire a long tail over to Burma, Immigration there and back, stamp back into Thailand at office. I've tried that D-I-Y once. Not to be recommended.

[Coconut Kidd]

I've done the Andaman club at least a dozen times without a glitch.

[Psimbo]

Not done it for years now but the Andaman Club was always my choice when driving up. never had issues with immigration. Difficult to find the pier for a first timer though as its a fair way out of town unless they have signs up these days- GPS would be handy (easy once you've done it though).  I used to go up the day before, get the first ferry across and back and be back on the road for 10am-ish.

 

Timing wise it took me about 4 hrs down from Ranong last Sunday as traffic in Khao Lak was dire.

[katatonic]

I've done it several times, the last being about 3 months back. Very easy and quite a pleasant drive, from Phuket at least: about 5 hours on fairly quiet and decent roads. Just park at the PTT gas station by the port (car 50Bt - leave it out of gear so they can move it around) and the same guy will get you photocopies if you need them (5Bt each) & give you the immigration form, giving you a hand to complete it if you want. He can also give you US$10 for the Burmese immigration if you don't have it, for a reasonable baht exchange rate. Then go to the immigration window & check out of Thailand. Next get a longtail to Kawthaung which takes about 20 minutes (locals will pay less than you..maybe 100Bt return - best to pay on the boat rather than the parking guy. I paid 300Bt last time but didn't bother haggling - hardly worth it at that price but the boat guy made a joke about me getting a season ticket..), stopping at a couple of checkpoints for immigration & customs respectively on the way out - no need  to get off at these but wear your lifejacket at the last one (army, on the left). There's another on the way into the Burmese side, again, stay put. When you get to the steps at Kawthaung just walk to the left a couple of hundred metres, left again and into the immigration office there where you hand over your passport and the $10. They speak English. About 3 minutes later you will be finished and head back to the waiting longtail, back to Thailand - immigration desk again and done. 

I've stayed overnight in Ranong where there are some ok hotels and the odd live band, or driven straight back. Last time though, I took a 35 min 300Bt ferry to Koh Phayam, where I ended up staying for four nights - fantastic, pretty unspoilt, almost like backpacking in the 80's! No cars, 60Bt Chang Yai on the beach..

[steelepulse]

Unless you really want to go to Ranong, there are some pretty cheap flights to KL that will take the same amount of time or less.  

 

Years ago I had to go to Ranong as flights were all full and it nearly cost me a head on collision as an idiot Bus driver was passing a concrete truck on a blind uphill portion of the road and I ended up driving in the grass to avoid a head on collision.

[katatonic]

21 hours ago, steelepulse said:

Unless you really want to go to Ranong, there are some pretty cheap flights to KL that will take the same amount of time or less.  

 

Years ago I had to go to Ranong as flights were all full and it nearly cost me a head on collision as an idiot Bus driver was passing a concrete truck on a blind uphill portion of the road and I ended up driving in the grass to avoid a head on collision.

I did have the same problem with flights then which is why I chose the road trip, but still ended up having a decent, memorable trip. Flying to KL airport & back however, is never fun. There's also Phnom Penh and HCMC, Bali or Hong Kong even. I try to enjoy my visa runs and get out & about a bit if I can.

Edited July 24, 2018 by katatonic
KL not too bad, I meant just the airport..

[hkt83100]

When I still had to do these runs, I always went to Hat Yai. Stayed there for a night, (Kosit Hotel) next morning early roundtrip to Bedang Besar, a visit on the market and back. Good shopping, and the drive is longer but much easier than Ranong.

[bearpolar]

On 7/24/2018 at 7:17 AM, hkt83100 said:

When I still had to do these runs, I always went to Hat Yai. Stayed there for a night, (Kosit Hotel) next morning early roundtrip to Bedang Besar, a visit on the market and back. Good shopping, and the drive is longer but much easier than Ranong.

Not everyone is willing to go to places where they bomb children and think you are a rabid animal that should be put down.

 

Andaman is fun, use the pool and spend the night, makes a good visa run

 

 

with dirt cheap duty free alcohol.

 

 

Edited July 25, 2018 by bearpolar