Was just noticing that border runs by land cost the same as a cheap flight to Cambodia return.  Is there a reason people would chose the land border run over a comfortable quick flight there and back in half the time?  Serious question, I'm assuming there is something vital I'm not aware of.  Thankyou

Based in Pattaya I used to do the occasional 90 day run to Cambodia.  That involved a nice breakfast in a pub, a not unpleasant 3 hour van ride (6 seats) to the border, with a toilet/smoke break en-route.  A couple of hours max at the border, including duty free shopping if needed and a nice packed lunch.  A return journey same as outbound.  Home mid afternoon. 

Compared with travelling to the airport, all the queuing and messing around and then the same in return it was a no brainer at least as far as I was concerned.

OP, you are asking about visa exempt entry into Thailand.

Via air with extensive history there is always a chance of being refused entry.

That's then a world of pain as you are flown back to point of departure.

 

With a land border refusal is uncommon as there is a two visa exempt land border entries per calendar year rule.

So less possibility of issues

Vientiane is a great dining town ($7 Peking duck, $20 Sushi where Obama ate) full of really ornate wats. Worth at least 2 nights in its own right. And Nong Khai on the way home is also worth a linger.

On top of the relevant reasons given by posters in previous responses, there is of course also the aspect of distance to Airport and distance to landborder-crossing from the place where you are residing.

Bangkok, Chiang-Mai and Phuket have international Airports with flights out of Thailand, but when living elsewhere a trip to a land-border is often much closer. 

E.g. in my case, I live 70 km from the Chong Sa Ngam Thai-Cambodian border-crossing and nearest airport with NO international flights is in Ubon at 95km (and would have to take a flight to Bangkok from there, to then take an International flight).

Why?

 

Because cheap flights are not more comfortable.

 

I remember once waiting 6 hours for Nok Air due to delays. 

 Maybe it is a bit different now with a train, but a 500 baht ride to Don Muang which is often slow as hell and then going through customs and being put in a cattle class is pure crap. Also flights to neighboring countries are not direct. Once I decided to pay more for Bangkok Airways and it was much nicer with a lounge and a direct flight to Vientianne, but it wasn't cheap.

 

 

To put above post in perspective.

My recent trip to Saigon.

 

Either airport is easy to get to via taxi or public transport. 

For DMK: BTS or MRT to Mo Chit and bus to airport via toll.

For BKK: Airport line.

 

My flight zero issues and 3500b return. 

 

Of course these are easy trips for folk living in Bangkok. 

 

For land border you could fly to Udon Thani or Vientiane. 

The flight may be ‘quick’, but add travel to the airport, and having to be there 3 hours early (x2), plus waiting for the return flight, and your ‘quick trip’ becomes a whole-day trip.

Some live near a boarder Cambodia 100 klm from Koh Chang/Trat Rayong and Ban Chang quite near also.

2 hours ago, Upnotover said:

Based in Pattaya I used to do the occasional 90 day run to Cambodia.  That involved a nice breakfast in a pub, a not unpleasant 3 hour van ride (6 seats) to the border, with a toilet/smoke break en-route.  A couple of hours max at the border, including duty free shopping if needed and a nice packed lunch.  A return journey same as outbound.  Home mid afternoon. 

Compared with travelling to the airport, all the queuing and messing around and then the same in return it was a no brainer at least as far as I was concerned.

3 Hrs. ? you'd be lucky to do it in 4hrs nonstop but still better than flying.

I last did a border run in the early 80's when I was in Phuket. I took a plane to Hat Yai for $25 and then a taxi to Penang and back. The taxi was about the same price.

 

I had a mate here who insisted on an overland border run a couple of months ago. He said never again. I met a couple of young Russian draft dodgers (on their own admission) in Koh Larn and one showed me a photo of the minivan which ran off the road when the driver fell asleep. It was a write off.

4 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

3 Hrs. ? you'd be lucky to do it in 4hrs nonstop but still better than flying.

Depends from where you go and to which border.

 

If going from Pattaya to Ban Laem Border (Sa Kaeo Province) it will be much faster then those 4 hours because the 331 / 304 / 359 route they take is nowadays all 4 lane highway. And especially that 359 Highway is usually "empty"

17 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

3 Hrs. ? you'd be lucky to do it in 4hrs nonstop but still better than flying.

Maybe time flew as I was enjoying it so much, but certainly we always were back at Soi 13 by 16:00 at the latest, which reminds me there was a beer included on return as well. It is some years back and there was never any traffic to speak of.

There can be many reasons. If living in some parts of Northern Thailand, a border bounce at Mae Sot or Mae Sai costs only US$10.

10 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Via air with extensive history there is always a chance of being refused entry.

That's then a world of pain as you are flown back to point of departure.

That's not the reason, many people have been doing this for the last 20 years and that's just what I remember.

 

Going back that far there was no such nonsense of 2 overland entries a year and being randomly denied entry. Also you could simply overstay and just pay the fine back then yet people still wanted to 'keep legal'.

 

I suspect it's simply down to the cost, they want to spend less.

Not every city has an airport I used to go by train, because no airport close to where I lived yes it took me about 17 hours but by overnight sleeper train, great fun, even took my Thai family along but long time ago. As you know it was different those days now you can do all that online. I do come back to Thailand twice a year on a visa on arrival, so no more boarder runs for me 

 

Flights not cheaper if you take inter-province bus/songthaew to get to border.

 

ie: Roi-Et to Mukdahan about 300baht each way, I think it's less than 500bt each way Korat-Nong Khai.

 

But then you would be mixing with a lot of Thai people, that can be a bit scary for some.

 

You know, strangers talk to you, ask you where you are from, Milfs chat you up......all the smiling can be a bit of a problem.

 

And of course every time you get on a bus you're "playing Russian roulette" (rolls eyes and ????)

 

 

 

Depends where you live, and where you do your border runs.

Lived Udon Thani, so Nong Khai/Laos was convenient for turn around, or going into Vientiane for a night or 2.   

 

Great for a 'local' O&A, and even drove over a couple times, bringing back boxes of Beer Laos & Bailey's.   BL & Bailey's at the time about half price in town.

 

Ranong/Myanmar was another favorite, and cheap, as no visa require, just $5 or $10 USA fee, and pleasant long tail ride over.  Again, bit of shopping if wanting, or you could do the casino thing.

 

Only 2 that I've used, and actually miss doing, not that I'd make a special trip now.   But good memories.   Almost any reason is a good reason to get out of the house and or province.

15 hours ago, MJCM said:

Depends from where you go and to which border.

 

If going from Pattaya to Ban Laem Border (Sa Kaeo Province) it will be much faster then those 4 hours because the 331 / 304 / 359 route they take is nowadays all 4 lane highway. And especially that 359 Highway is usually "empty"

If the 331 is the road that goes up past Pattaya Country club it's not 4 lane highway, only partially thru Chaengchongsao (sp).

 

 

If ever you are looking for a long-term solution that you haven't heard about, does not cost you an arm, and allows you to work or have a business: http://thailand-success.solutions 

7 minutes ago, Rosho said:

If ever you are looking for a long-term solution that you haven't heard about, does not cost you an arm, and allows you to work or have a business: http://thailand-success.solutions 

Blank page after I click on the link. Not very "successful" so far ????????????

er excuse my ignorance,but why did people do border runs anyway?

I do my 90 days in Jomtien

18 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, you are asking about visa exempt entry into Thailand.

Via air with extensive history there is always a chance of being refused entry.

That's then a world of pain as you are flown back to point of departure.

 

With a land border refusal is uncommon as there is a two visa exempt land border entries per calendar year rule.

So less possibility of issues

By air is no limit. Land is 2. So air is better.

2 hours ago, Enoon said:

You know, strangers talk to you, ask you where you are from, Milfs chat you up......all the smiling can be a bit of a problem.

 

Say no speak English.

16 hours ago, brianthainess said:

3 Hrs. ? you'd be lucky to do it in 4hrs nonstop but still better than flying.

The speed at which I frequently witness minivans thundering their way along Highway 3 near to where I live in Rayong Province indicates to me that a one-way trip between Pattaya and the Cambodian border taking only 3 hours is perfectly feasible!

 

15 minutes ago, bignok said:

By air is no limit. Land is 2. So air is better.

Maybe not. I've been milking extensions and fly-ins since last June. This last flight in, I was questioned. I showed them my bank book with my retirement visa amount in it and they said, "time for you to get a retirement visa". I can't swear as to how foreboding that is or isn't.

 

I know it always comes down to the guy you get at the gate, but I wouldn't feel that comfortable adding two land crossings to that verdict.

 

-Got my retirement visa done in Hua Hin in 90 minutes, by the way. Ann's Visa; Ann is a sweetie powerhouse.

22 minutes ago, Hindy said:

er excuse my ignorance,but why did people do border runs anyway?

I do my 90 days in Jomtien

90 day what, reporting? with a visa? a border run is normally for folks who enter 'visa exempt' like me, methinks

10 minutes ago, LaosLover said:

Got retirement visa done in Hua Hin in 90 minutes, by the way. Ann's Visa; Ann is a sweetie powerhouse

how much? a bloke was telling me the other day that some of them fiddle the 800k deposit 'proof' so you don't actually have to put the 800k in, is this the case here?

8 minutes ago, driver52 said:

90 day what, reporting? with a visa? a border run is normally for folks who enter 'visa exempt' like me, methinks

A border run is for anyone who needs to bounce out/in to continue their stay in the Kingdom, not limited to but including VE, METV, ME Non-O & Non-OA.

I think we're not supposed to give prices here. Call Anne, tell her the plant-loving American sent you.

 

Whether to do that fudge or not has been debated to death here. I didn't ask, but that doesn't seem Anne-like. But she'll prob refer you.

 

As to my own processing, looking at my bank book, and photocopying it and having me sign it -a lot- was the longest part. And then there was a sticking point where they couldn't figure out that a bank wire was a bank wire.

 

If someone goes the broker-fronts-the-cash method, I'd be interested in hearing how that part happens live at Immigration.