Info Needed Re Cambodia Border Run From Pattaya

[sostanov]

Hi

I need to do a border run at the beginning of June. I plan to be in Pattaya next weekend so I was wondering if it was still a straightforward procedure.

I did a search but couldn't find anything up to date.

Does anyone have info on a decent Cambodian border run from Pattaya, preferably one with minimum fuss? I have a multi-O so they shouldn't be a problem.

Does anyone have any recent experiences? Would appreciate info on cost time etc

TIA

[timi2546]

Hi

I need to do a border run at the beginning of June. I plan to be in Pattaya next weekend so I was wondering if it was still a straightforward procedure.

I did a search but couldn't find anything up to date.

Does anyone have info on a decent Cambodian border run from Pattaya, preferably one with minimum fuss? I have a multi-O so they shouldn't be a problem.

Does anyone have any recent experiences? Would appreciate info on cost time etc

TIA

it is very easy, just go to travel agency, take passport and photos, it will cost about 2000 baht.

leave from pattaya early morning and you will be back in the afternoon.

been there, done that

tim

[astral]

When you are asking enquire where they go for the run.

IME a visit to Had Lek, close to Trat is a lot more pleasant than Aranyaprathet.

[patrickq]

Did you do the border run from Pattaya and if so was the company any good?

Anyone recommend a company in Pattaya that does the border at Had Lek, in Trat?

20 years of visiting Thailand, or living here, and this is my first border run!

[visarunner]

No one do the border Had Lek from Pattaya.

All Pattaya operators are going to Ban Laem (Pong Nam Ron in Chantaburi procince) which is much closer .

[puuchai299]

Hi,you can use 5 star visa runs,they are located at the Sportsman pub on soi 13.there runs arn't bad at all,they leave Pattaya at 06.45 and arrive at the border at around 10.30.and normaly always back in Pattaya by 3pm,they take care of all the paperwork for you,provide breakfast before leaving Pattaya and on board lunch after checked back into Thailand.have minbus for smokers and non smokers,the minibus's are modern and quite spacious,normaly not more than 6 passengers.The more you use them they give a discount on further visa runs.Better to go and book a few days before you want to go to be sure of a seat.price 2.400 baht inclusive of border fees and breakfast lunch etc.Take one passport size photo with you,they will copy your passport and put your details on the computor,so if you use them more they have details already.Soi 13 off the beach road.....

[puuchai299]

I forgot to add,this one goes to Ban Laem.

[funfun]

Hi,you can use 5 star visa runs,they are located at the Sportsman pub on soi 13.there runs arn't bad at all,they leave Pattaya at 06.45 and arrive at the border at around 10.30.and normaly always back in Pattaya by 3pm,they take care of all the paperwork for you,provide breakfast before leaving Pattaya and on board lunch after checked back into Thailand.have minbus for smokers and non smokers,the minibus's are modern and quite spacious,normaly not more than 6 passengers.The more you use them they give a discount on further visa runs.Better to go and book a few days before you want to go to be sure of a seat.price 2.400 baht inclusive of border fees and breakfast lunch etc.Take one passport size photo with you,they will copy your passport and put your details on the computor,so if you use them more they have details already.Soi 13 off the beach road.....

Totally agree with this post, have been with others that Even pick you up at your hotel, Total waste of time you spend 2 hours running around pattaya waiting for people who are still in bed etc!

If yave been here 20 years try get seat in the front and learn ya way there i did, so if i go i hire a car and call of at ko chang for a few days then its somthing to look forward to rather than a bad day!

just one more on the sportsman, not sure if still going on but you used to get a free pint on your return as well!

best of luck

[cali4995]

There is a travel company on soi post office which I believe still goes to had lek.

http://www.kohchangtravel.com/home.php3

You would have to call and check with them about latest developments.

i.e., onward ticket requirements and any "special" fees.

[tropo]

Does anyone have a recent report regarding requirements at the Ban Laem border? i.e. Are they asking to see onward air tickets, or are they asking "customers" to purchase bus tickets as they have been at Aranyaprathet.

Edited July 3, 2007 by tropo

[cali4995]

Yeah Tropo, I went Monday to Ban Laem. It is at this checkpoint you're required to purchase the 200 baht bus ticket to Siem Reap. (Only if you are entering on visa exempt entry as your proof of onward travel documentation within 30 days). At Aranyaprathet I don't think you can even get a 30 day stamp anymore. I usually go with that bri-joy travel company, helpful and they've got a lot of offices in town and generally get you back by 16:00.

Edited July 4, 2007 by cali4995

[tropo]

Yeah Tropo, I went Monday to Ban Laem. It is at this checkpoint you're required to purchase the 200 baht bus ticket to Siem Reap. (Only if you are entering on visa exempt entry as your proof of onward travel documentation within 30 days). At Aranyaprathet I don't think you can even get a 30 day stamp anymore. I usually go with that bri-joy travel company, helpful and they've got a lot of offices in town and generally get you back by 16:00.

Thanks for the update Cali. So apart from the bus ticket purchase everything went smoothly? Did you prepay for the bus ticket with Bri-Joy, or did you fork over the cash for that in Cambodia?

Edited July 4, 2007 by tropo

[patrickq]

Did my run yesterday, went with company I just came across when in Pattaya, as they seemed helpful. 'Speedy Visa Runs' about 100 metres down 3rd Road heading from Klang (Pattaya Central) to Tai (Pattaya South), on left hand side, opposite Soi 17 - Khun Kob was helpful and she speaks English, 084 599 9868. Look out for the yapping pink poodle

Comfortable 6-person mini-bus, 9-seats, so you have space between you and passenger. Actually we travelled with 7, but driver took the 7th in front. I wasn't going to recommend this company, as the driver was constantly on his phone (looking down to dial numbers) while we picked up and headed out of Pattaya, it really p**s me off, these guys might want to take risks with their own lives, but they shouldn't be doing so when driving passengers, I have no desire to be another mini-bus crash statistic because of some idiot driver. Having said that he drove like an average Thai thereafter, nothing more than tailgating other vehicles at 120 etc, but no overtaking on blind corners, so a definite plus! I've known more people, directly or through friends, who have had serious accidents, been killed, had write-offs in the last 2 years than the rest of my life. If there is a next time I'll probably drive myself and do the Koh Chang stop-off route.

I'm guessing that Speedy Visa use a separate company for the transport, not their own vehicle/driver, but everything was fine. They do all the paperwork in the office, prior to leaving, so no messing about en-route and finding you've missed something. I have Non-Imm 'O' so required Passport and 2 Photos (one for Cambodia, one for Thailand). 2,200 Baht fee including visa costs and lunch.

They ask you to be at office 6.00am for a 6.30am departure, bus arrived shortly before that with 4 passengers already and we made a quick stop in Buakow and another on Sukhumvit as we headed out of Pattaya. We were a quiet bunch, no conversation, which is fine at that time of day. Took the 36 to Rayong and on to Chantaburi, stopped for a 10-15 minute break, about half-way, at a filling station, toilets and minimart with coffee etc. Arrived at Ban Laem 10am, through immigration in minutes and over to Cambodian no-man's land, where we waited for visas to be done, there is a duty-free that you can buy from, didn't buy anything, but a 75cl bottle of Souza Gold Tequila was 350Bt, so probably worth getting something. They didn't appear to have any customs check, so presume you could buy a few bottles without trouble ... ask driver or someone who knows first.

You will need to buy one of the 200Bt bus tickets, unless you're on an 'O' and I guess 'B' or similar, there is an office in no-man's land, but apparently you need to have your passport to buy it, which will be being processed, so either get it after, or would think that Speedy would arrange for it.

Got 90 day stamp, make sure you check date before leaving counter, and we were off by 10.30am. Stopped off for lunch, on way back to Pattaya, for about 30mins. If you're hungry I suggest you bring your own food the place was fine, staff pleasant, but food dire - khao was a bit crusty and pad pak inedible.

Back in Pattaya Klang at exactly 2.00pm, which is great, made the early start worthwhile. It probably works out the same price as driving there yourself, so unless there's a couple of you, I think it makes life easier to go with a visa-run company, no having to deal with back-handers etc (I think they pay 1,000Bt which is why things go smoothly), no need to figure out paperwork etc.