Visa Run To Poipet

[stu_$]

i am planning on doing my 1st visa run by taxi

to poi pet ...cambodia ,

i figure on hiring taxi thru my apartments private drivers

the guys who usually take you to airport,

is this a good idea , ok to go alone ?

i'm thinkin this may be faster than catching the bus ?

what do i need to take , just my passport ?

anything i should look out for ?

if i go over the border and check out the casino,

do i need a cambodia visa ?

are those guys over there cool or a bit uncool ?

any tips appreciated

stu

[thaiflyer1]

Where are you based? Ive only done run from Pattaya by coach and minibus......difference in price 2000b coach against 2400b minibus inc visa for cambodia. So yes you will need a Cambodian visa.......try to get there mid- morning to avoid queues at border. You can use one of the guys who hang about on the bridge as you exit Thailand to get entry/exit stamps for you for Cambodia they normally charge 100b....but it sounds like you want to look in the casinos so you may as well do it yourself. Casinos are right on the border. You/ll be swamped by beggars so be prepared.......just say no! If you go by coach/minibus they will sort your visa out this side of the border for cambodia......i/d recommend coach/minibus for your first run...but up to you.

[possom]

all depends on how much money you have to burn !! taxi will certainly be faster than the bus ,but it all comes down to budget, doing it all yourself ,you could do the whole thing for under 2000 baht easy ,but its a matter of your own budget .

[thaiflyer1]

Personally i couldnt be done with all the hassle of "doing it all by myself" by the time you have chased about obtaining a Cambodian visa, far easier letting someone (tour agent) to do it for you, especially on your first run there. 2000b by private coach doesnt seem like a bad deal to me when you consider that includes the visa fee......dare say a private taxi will work out dearer.....only problem i can see with coach/minibus is that you wont have time to visit a casino (maybe not a bad thing?).

[stu_$]

hmm, once i have crossed over border and exited thailand

how long must i wait before returning ?

i take it this bridge separates thailand and cambodia ?

so, there are guys who wait on bridge to make visa's for farang to enter cambo ?

whats in these casino's , any action apart from gambling ?

is safety an issue here ? robbers ?

could my taxi driver go walk with me ?

cheers

[possom]

i accept that for some people the hassle of obtaining your own visa and traveling on their own is either too much hassle or too daunting ,however for some the saving ,which is considerable ,is worth while. again everybody to their own budget .

[possom]

"could my taxi driver go walk with me "

[stu_$]

i just found this

http://www.sawadee.com/thailand/info/tat02.html

it says

>>Mobile Visa Extension Service

A good news for tourists who would like to extend their period of staying in Thailand. Immigration Bangkok provides visa extension service at the Emerald Hotel Rachadapisek Road , Bangkok

Working hour 09.00 – 12.00 every Wednesday effective April 23, 2003

One Stop Service for the tourists hold visa and duration for extension as below :

Transit Visa 30 days

Tourist Visa 30 days

Visa on arrival 10 days

Without Visa 10 days

Applicant must bring your passport (with copies of the first page and recent visa page)

1 photo (4x6 cm.) Application fee is 1,900 Baht.

For more information please call 0-2287-3101-10 Ext. 2263 , 2265

is this legal, i'm guessing it means extend your stay without leaving

i'm on a non immigrant o , so does this apply to me ?

cheers

[possom]

extension available every day at immigration in suan phlu , depends what you want ! only thing you will get inside thailand is an extension of visa ,as opposed to leaving the country where you will get a new visa (if you visit a thai embassy or consulate )OR visa free entry for how ever many days your nationality qualifies for on re entry .

[chingy_]

don't relie on other when you can do it yourself, if you don't know just ask, get it together do some good research, tough at first but it will pay off later, if you plan to stay in Thailand a long period of time, take the experience and do it yourself, how many time do you think you can relie on other, before it run out.

[lopburi3]

is this legal, i'm guessing it means extend your stay without leaving

i'm on a non immigrant o , so does this apply to me ?

cheers

It applies to the visa type indicated only. It is the normal extension service but offered at a remote location. Believe they also visit popular tourist areas with a mobile unit now also.

[stu_$]

ok, so if i decide to go it alone

do i just exit the thai border...say hi to army/immigration type dude

and get my exit stamp then ,

walk 3 steps then turn around and come straight back in again ?

sayin hi to same dude and give him my passport which he just had a second ago ?

am i right ?

[chingy_]

since i brought up about doing yourself, i have an obligation to walk you thru, please listen carefully, this is step by step without runner do it yourself border run.

-Exit Thai border, go through immigration, they will stamp you out

-walk accross the bridge there is a building on your right, only a few step away, you need to apply for combodia visa, cost 1000baht, they will give you a visa

-after getting a combodia visa you need to walk further down the road, straight ahead toward the casino pass the casino, there is a small building on your right, enter the building fill out you arrival card, also remember to slip a 100baht inside your PP, let them know that you know what you're doing or else they will ask for more, after that they will stamp you in combodia

-next thing you need to do is walk accross to the building accross the street to stamp out of combodia, after stamp out head back where you started

-now you need to check back in to Thailand....if everything go fine you should be back in Thai soil in about 1/2hour.

there are 3 form you need to fill, combodia visa application, combodia entry card, and thai entry card. i hope i cover everything

like i say i brought up the subject about doing yourself, i feel i need to explain it to you.

[Snapshot]

chingy- advice is nearly perfect, but please let me give you two more issues which was left out

1. Bring a recent photograph of yourself to glue on Cambodian visa application

2. AFTER you get your passport back with the Cambodian visa (it's a full-page sticker) ... you walk 20 steps to a NEW counter where you must pay 20 Baht for a yellow "Health Notice For International Travellers Arriving in Cambodia" (SARS warning/help notice) - you won't get a receipt, but they will note down your name and passport number.

... and ... why on earth would you spend money on a Taxi to Cambodia, it's 350 km away from Bangkok, must cost a fortune, especially when you can get an aircondition bus from Morchit for about 170-180 Baht each way plus the added cost of a tuk tuk from Aran to the Border, 50 Baht (each way)... "motocy" 40 Baht

[350torana]

I think because it is your first visa run, you should have no problems at all

I am not sure if u will there early, but even when I have got there at 8:30 in the morning,a 6 am start from Bangers, the Thai gambling brigade is out in force. Only imagine it gets worse later in the day . And alot of them stand in the alien passport line exiting Thailand.

No doubt u will get hassled by touts wanting to handle your Camdonian visa for u. I have been lazy in the past and used them . Not my business to say whether to use them or not, never had any problems, but never let your passport out of sight.

Yeah, u will get stung for the 20 baht medical thing. I have been told u can use the little bit of paper again next time and not have to pay , but never tried it.

Not sure if i am getting stung for too much, but the last few times had to pay 200 baht , along with the 1000, for leaving on the same day .

I have been to Poipet 6 times in the last 12 months or so(got myself a longer visa now ). Never had any problems. But have always dresed up and last few times carried a bunch of atm receits and airline ticket because of paranioa that has been going around. Please don't let that scare ya, never ever been asked for proof

Good luck, and remember there is a convience store just after entering back in the land of smiles, I always like to celebrate with a cold brew

[udon]

2. AFTER you get your passport back with the Cambodian visa (it's a full-page sticker) ... you walk 20 steps to a NEW counter where you must pay 20 Baht for a yellow "Health Notice For International Travellers Arriving in Cambodia" (SARS warning/help notice) - you won't get a receipt, but they will note down your name and passport number.

Sorry, but this is a SCAM. Just ignore the health official and walk on thru. Do NOT pay for that yellow slip of paper. It's their way of saying "thank you stupid farang" if you pay.

Good advice from Chingy.

You can go in to the casino and have a free lunch, no hassle, just put a few coins into the pokies on entering

Why not go with one of the Korean services, 2KB and they do everything for you, just get up a bit earlier than normal.

By taxi, you must have too much money.

[chingy_]

1. Bring a recent photograph of yourself to glue on Cambodian visa application

2. AFTER you get your passport back with the Cambodian visa (it's a full-page sticker) ... you walk 20 steps to a NEW counter where you must pay 20 Baht for a yellow "Health Notice For International Travellers Arriving in Cambodia" (SARS warning/help notice) - you won't get a receipt, but they will note down your name and passport number.

oh yes don't leave home with those photo, most important of all

I never got stop for those sar yellow card, i always pass them, they look at me i look at them, maybe because i look asian, who know.

usually i rent a car 1500baht aday+ 500baht gas+1000baht combo visa, got there early go home early, freedoom to drive anywhere you like, going and leaving at your own time. oh but please do have some kind of driver license ID, there are many check point depend on the day, most of the time they don't pull you over, but who know.

[bkkteacherandrew]

Do buses leave from Ekemai Bus Station to Aranyaprathet?

Are there minivan services that organise the whole trip and go right to the border and then wait for leaving from Sukhumvit area? Can anyone recommend one and and give me the phone number?

Thanks.

[udon]

Gov't buses only from Moh Chit AFAIK.

Forget the mini van, try the Korean service from outside the restaurant next to the 7-11 on soi 12 and Sukh crnr. 2000b for everything! go to Asoke BTS and walk a little way.

Departs 0700 sharp every day.

Don't forget a passport sized photo of your mug.

[Snapshot]

Stu $

Take the advice of the posters here, like Udon & Chingy ... and as a "nubee" go by the Korean or GolfJacks vans ... learn the "trade"

... may I please also provide following "insigt" ?

Yes... we talk a lot of Scams when going to Cambodia, like

1. Paying 1,000 Baht for the 20 US$ visa - who's pocketing the difference?

2. The new "yellow" fever 20 Baht con - why pay... it's a general SARS warning with information about where to get help... who get's the money

3. The 100 Baht "no-overnight-stay-pay-100-Baht-please-fee" - who's pocketing the money

Well, some of you call them scams, and of course they are, although it's more polite to call it "tea money" - but shouldn't we be somehow gracious, and help out these poor people a little? No?

Personally, a few days before each visa-trip, I keep all the 1 and five baht coins I get from different shops, and I freely distribute the money to the street kids around the border area, it normally runs up to 60-80 sometimes a 100 Baht ... I think, a small contribution to helping out a little bit

... and for the scams, well, it's just part of the border trip isn't it. You want to live here in thailand, so they are your "taxation money"

If you somehow DON'T like to pay "corruption" money, then I recommend you to go to Malysia, via Hat Yai, that trip won't cost you anything regarding to tea money

Just a thought

[udon]

Snap.

You have found a nice (PC) way of saying you condone corruption.

Millions of farangs come thru via the land borders,

Do the math at $5 a head....... poor... my ar5e!

It just is not distributed to the rest of the folks in Poipet and the other border towns

[chingy_]

Combodia border is a miserable place, it so heart broken when you are there, how can a place like that ever existed.

[Snapshot]

Well, I can't say I cordone corruption, but as someone who has lived here VERY LONG, I have come to accept this as a way of life, something I can't change.

It's simply an accepted (or necessary) way of doing "business" here (in Asia in general) - neither I nor you (or anybody else) can do anything about it - so leave it be - pay your dues and get on with your life

... and I do my know my maths - know very well how much money is involved, probably better than anyone else on this forum

Why you may ask? Because I am married to one of those "corrupt" Government Officers working in the Thai Customs Department

(... and by the way, the present Government IS TRYING to clean up the act of the "financial behavior" of this particular problematic Department)

[bkkexplorer]

Hi,

This is my first post. Very informative thread you got here, especially so as I need to do yet another Visa run.

I'm holding a non imm 'O' Visa as I'm married to a Thai national. I usually do my runs to Singapore but would like to try something different and see myself going to Cambodia next week.

I'm thinking of driving there,.. do I park my car on the Thai border or drive through. Any reccomended/safe places to leave the vehicle.

I'm also thinking of staying the night. Again, any reccomended relatively cheap hotels or should I scrap the idea of staying there?

Do I go through the same proccess indicated by Chingy whether driving or not? I mean, is it different if I drive through as opposed to walking?

If my Thai wife comes along, does she need to aply for a visa?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

[Polly]

If you are able to drive and are thinking of taking your wife, why not go to Nong Kai. Poi Pet is an awful place, whereas Nong kai is just lovely. A bit further, but nice to spend the night and eat in one of the riverside restaurants. You can go to Vientiene for the day, come back to Nong Kai, spend the night and drive home the next day. Think about it. It is a nice trip.

[s_kates81]

is Poipet and chong chom the same place?Yeah if i go,i will drive my car to chong chom,as I live in surin,very near from chong chom.I was thinking if there's a good place to park my car?or i can drive my car into cambodia?to the casino?

[chingy_]

driving accross border is another story, not the same as walking, i have never drove accross but im sure there are papper work to work out

i usually rent a car and drive there, running about 1300-1500 aday, i would never take my own car there, really don't wanna stress my car out, if you have a pick-up that should be fine, if regular sedan it really work hard on you suspension, people really drive crazy at those part of town, passing one another, there are one long section about 1-2hr long drive only one lane forward and one lane back, the road will be full of big truck and you have to pass them very often.

i usually leave early in the morning like 4-5am, i don't like traffic, anything pass 5am you will run into traffic in some way or another, beside i like the fresh air in the country side early morning, the sooner i arrive the sooner i go home

park you car on the Thai side, there are a strip of road where all the buss and mini van park, i usually park next to the market on the dirty road, that is where all the out door shop are at, so the people can look over my car while im gone.

leave the wife over Thai side, there's no need for her to cross, or she can sit in the car and wait/ that is up to you.

if you have never been there, you will not know how awful and sadness it is, there is no reason to spend the night there, unless you gamble

like Polly said try Nong Kai, it is a nicer place VS Poipet

[thaihome]

i usually rent a car and drive there, running about 1300-1500 aday, i would never take my own car there, really don't wanna stress my car out, if you have a pick-up that should be fine, if regular sedan it really work hard on you suspension, people really drive crazy at those part of town, passing one another, there are one long section about 1-2hr long drive only one lane forward and one lane back, the road will be full of big truck and you have to pass them very often.

It sounds like you are going Bangkok to Nakhon Nayok and taking highway 33 to Aranyayprathet, going through Sae Kaeo. Highway 33 is a nightmare, very narrow with many trucks. There is a new highway (about 2 years or so) that makes the drive much easier and safer.

Take the Bangkok-Chonburi motorway south, towards Pattaya to the Chachoengsao turnoff, highway 314 (I actually take the elevated tollway and cutover to the motorway).

Going toward Chachoengsao there will be a traffic light (3rd one I think) turning right onto highway 304. This will be a 4 lane divided highway.

Stay on 304 (towards Kabin Buri) until you come to the intersection (turning right again) for Sa Kaeo, I can’t remember the highway number (maybe 157 ?) and it is only on new road maps. This will be a 2-lane road with wide shoulders that will run into highway 317, just north of Khao Chagan.

Turn left on 317 and shortly you will run into highway 33, just outside Sa Kaeo, which will take you to Aranyaprthet. I believe the new highway is suppose to go to Aranyayprathet, but not sure if it is finished all the way yet as I always turn right on 317 and go to Khao Chagan.

The roads are in very good shape (except the section from the motorway to highway 404 is a little rough) and traffic is light compared to highway 33. I have done this many times from Sathorn area in a little over 2 hours.

TH

[chingy_]

I also heard of that direction, as of my knowledge that road is really bad, that's what my GF told me, but than again the last time she use that road was 7,8 years ago, maybe thing have change.

I also notices there are other road being built while on my way, maybe this is the road you talking about very new and clean, maybe next time i'll give it a try and see how it is.

anyhow i usually leave very early in the morning, the street is quite empty, i hate to speed on the road but somehow it is very tempting, straight road, metal to the pedel especially it is a rental,

did you mention it took a like over 2hr.(how much over are we taking about(please). the road im taking is about 2.45-3hr

[bluebear]

2. AFTER you get your passport back with the Cambodian visa (it's a full-page sticker) ... you walk 20 steps to a NEW counter where you must pay 20 Baht for a yellow "Health Notice For International Travellers Arriving in Cambodia" (SARS warning/help notice) - you won't get a receipt, but they will note down your name and passport number.

Sorry, but this is a SCAM. Just ignore the health official and walk on thru. Do NOT pay for that yellow slip of paper. It's their way of saying "thank you stupid farang" if you pay.

Thank you Udon. I couldnt believe somebody is actually saying you should pay the 20B!

As for the same day return fee / bribe. At the cambodia exit office , just refuse, say you are going to Siem Reap. Then cross the road to the cambodia entry office and say you paid over the road. Simple. Either that or just say no or ask for a receipt.

Last time I was there, they didnt even bother asking for the extras.

For a map and a full and proper description of doing it yourself look here, it has a map of the crossing so you know where to go. Tales Of Asia It also tells you of the other ways to do it, ie KSR bus, train.