Bit of simple advice needed, please!!

[david1806]

 Hi all....

 

Many thanks in advance for any help you can give. It's a pretty straightforward one, i hope!

 

I'm back living in Thailand, Pattaya, and at some point will get myself a longer term type visa. But for now I'm going to do a border bounce on 29th of this month, with an almost brand new passport..so:

1. Name of/location of bus stop from Pattaya I need to use

2. Rough time it leaves ( I think it's about 5.30am?).... and price of government bus (I'm going cheap!!!) - and the bus for returning. 

3. Do I need to book the bus or can I just rock up at the right time? I only ask because I've lost my debit card so can't pay online. 

 

All the border info I already have from my good friend who lives near it, and has filled me in with all the info I need. 

 

If anyone is driving that same day, I'll happily car share/ pay towards petrol. 

 

Again, thanks for the help.  I did Google this first, but got overloaded with irrelevant info, so here I am!!!

 

????????

Edited April 26, 2023 by david1806

[DrJack54]

Which border crossing? 

 

You stated...

"But for now I'm going to do a border bounce on 29th of this month,"....

 

So two days time. 

 

Edited April 26, 2023 by Pink Mist
Troll portion removed

[david1806]

55 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Which border crossing? 

 

You stated...

"But for now I'm going to do a border bounce on 29th of this month,"....

 

So two days time. 

 

Sorry should have said.... whichever is nearest, usual one that people in Pattaya use? Cambodia I guess....

 

And it's 3 days away.... and? Am I missing something? Its all done in one day,  just need to know where and when to get the bus  and which border to use. 

[DrJack54]

12 minutes ago, david1806 said:

Sorry should have said.... whichever is nearest, usual one that people in Pattaya use? Cambodia I guess....

 

And it's 3 days away.... and? Am I missing something? Its all done in one day,  just need to know where and when to get the bus  and which border to use. 

No offense but you sound not too experienced.

Best option would be agent providing border bounce service.

Maneerat Soi post office would be one option.

Plenty of others in Pattaya.

 

They do mini bus runs to Cambodia.

Advising on entry to Cambodia requirements etc. 

 

You also post ...

"And it's 3 days away."

 

You post tonight. 

It's not 3 days away. 

At very best you border run tomorrow.

Naive thread. 

 

Edited April 26, 2023 by DrJack54

[driver52]

1 hour ago, david1806 said:

Rough time it leaves ( I think it's about 5.30am?).... and price of government bus (I'm going cheap!!!) - and the bus for returning. 

this is interesting from google maps, they reckon it's 12 baht on the train lol, have to get to Bangkok first though

 

[driver52]

Alternative:

How do I get from Pattaya to Cambodia?

 

 

Bus, train via Chachoengsao

1. Take the bus from Pattaya to Chachoengsao.
2. Take the train from Chachoengsao Junction to Ban Klong Luk Border.

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, driver52 said:

Alternative:

How do I get from Pattaya to Cambodia?

 

 

Bus, train via Chachoengsao

1. Take the bus from Pattaya to Chachoengsao.
2. Take the train from Chachoengsao Junction to Ban Klong Luk Border.

What are your 2 posts about.

Folk from Pattaya to Cambodia have easy options .

None involve train. 

Cut and paste from google not helpful 

[driver52]

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Cut and paste from google not helpful 

he might fancy a nice train journey......

[freedomnow]

4 minutes ago, driver52 said:

he might fancy a nice train journey......

a nice SLOW train journey......with lots of noise and people selling stuff and checking your ticket 10 times.

Thai trains..never again.

[BritTim]

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

What are your 2 posts about.

Folk from Pattaya to Cambodia have easy options .

None involve train. 

Cut and paste from google not helpful 

Although I absolutely do not recommend it, the cheapest way of getting from Pattaya to the border at Aranyaprathet/Poi Pet is by train (Pattaya to Chachoengsao in the afternoon, connecting with the train out of Bangkok heading to Aran). It is even cheaper than using the casino bus.

 

To the OP: there is a high probability you are going to stuff this up. If you do not already have the 30-day extension of your tourist entry, do that first. Do not use Poi Pet for your border bounce unless you are a wild gambler. That crossing is known to hate those doing border bounces, and they can find ways to really ruin your life. Unfortunately, the other border crossings are not easy to do independently as a casual traveller. Leave very early in the morning. You need to take the bus from Pattaya to Chanthaburi and take a van or songtaeo from there to the border at Ban Pakard. Check the current location of vans and songtaeos when you arrive in Chanthaburi. As a naïve, inexperienced traveller, you will get scammed at Ban Pakard, but may well remain oblivious to the fact.

[soi3eddie]

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

Do not use Poi Pet for your border bounce unless you are a wild gambler. That crossing is known to hate those doing border bounces, and they can find ways to really ruin your life.

Against all advice, I used Poipet/Aranyaprathet at end of February. We were coming back from Battambang and there really wasn't much better option (flights from Siam Reap were overpriced). Nearly 1 hour getting out of Cambodia and over 1 hour getting into Thailand. The Immigration officers there are very sharp - mine even asked where I went after leaving Thailand 3 weeks earlier as she could see no stamp in the passport between Thailand and Cambodia - had been to Singapore where no stamp is given. They won't miss a trick and border bouncers may get a hard time on re-entry to Thailand. I have a retirement extension so no issue. We got the train to Bangkok at 47 Baht - not a bad journey but very slow and 6hrs long.

 

[NextG]

https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/thailands-land-borders

[NextG]

BritTim appears to have the best advice overall…

[scubascuba3]

Just book a minivan border bounce to Cambodia, I don't think Maneerat sell it anymore, the agent on Buakhao do, "Cambodia travel", near top of soi 15. About 3,500 baht. This is what most people do

[brianthainess]

I presume its a Thai ATM card you have lost ? and you have a new PP, you may need your old one to to show the bank to register your new PP before a new card ATM. good luck on the boarder bounce I would make sure you have 20k on you cash, in case asked for coming back in. 

just saying. 

[CH1961]

20 hours ago, david1806 said:

and price of government bus (I'm going cheap!!!) - and the bus for returning. 

Without 20000 Baht in ca$h your trip can end as one way journey. 

[david1806]

For those that read my post and replied appropriately, many thanks....????

 

I totally admit to breaking that cardinal rule of remembering that sorting out things in Thailand is always a ball ache and should be done waaaay in advance,  so I've taken the easy, but expensive(ish) route of using an agent.  Bus picks me up at my condo Saturday morning, back at 3pm. They send your details ahead, so they'll be no nonsense at the border.  3,900, and that includes the $30 Cambodian visa charge. 

 

Cheers all!!!!! ???? ????

Edited April 27, 2023 by david1806

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, david1806 said:

For those that read my post and replied appropriately, many thanks....????

 

I totally admit to breaking that cardinal rule of remembering that sorting out things in Thailand is always a ball ache and should be done waaaay in advance,  so I've taken the easy, but expensive(ish) route of using an agent.  Bus picks me up at my condo Saturday morning, back at 3pm. They send your details ahead, so they'll be no nonsense at the border.  3,900, and that includes the $30 Cambodian visa charge. 

 

Cheers all!!!!! ???? ????

Good decision

[DrJack54]

2 hours ago, david1806 said:

so I've taken the easy, but expensive(ish) route of using an agent.

Would assist others if you provided details of agent. 

Pick up at condo for that price point seems reasonable deal. 

[david1806]

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Would assist others if you provided details of agent. 

Pick up at condo for that price point seems reasonable deal. 

Ah sure thing, will do.  I have no idea of name, but I will find out and post.  I can say it's on Pratumnak Hill,  on the second connecting soi (Alley 3) between Soi 4 and 5 coming down from the top end. If you know PH, you'll know what I'm on about! Google Maps doesn't have the name, I did check!????????

[stratocaster]

On 4/26/2023 at 7:46 PM, NextG said:

https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/thailands-land-borders

You have posted a link to a commercial website that clearly states and I quote.

"However, as you read this article, most, if not all will be closed due to the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic and subsequent travel restrictions."

 

"Another thing to mention is that the days of the “border bounce”, i.e. just going across the border and coming almost immediately to obtain a new visa-exempt entry are well and truly over. Once a very common and easy practice, now the Thai immigration officials see this as an abuse of the visa rules and will almost certainly refuse entry".

[david1806]

4 minutes ago, stratocaster said:

You have posted a link to a commercial website that clearly states and I quote.

"However, as you read this article, most, if not all will be closed due to the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic and subsequent travel restrictions."

 

"Another thing to mention is that the days of the “border bounce”, i.e. just going across the border and coming almost immediately to obtain a new visa-exempt entry are well and truly over. Once a very common and easy practice, now the Thai immigration officials see this as an abuse of the visa rules and will almost certainly refuse entry".

Yeah, I did see that,  but couldn't be arsed to get into.... like a lot of these replies!! ????????????????

[Rosho]

You may avoid all the hustle with our very affordable long-term visa alternatives https://thailand-success.solutions Check it out! We could help this year already dozens of people in our Social Enterprise ecosystem to find peace of mind, opportunities, compliance, and security.

[david1806]

1 hour ago, Rosho said:

You may avoid all the hustle with our very affordable long-term visa alternatives

That is my long term plan..... honest! I'm over 50 so Retirement Visa. Cheers.... ????????

[Rosho]

23 minutes ago, david1806 said:

That is my long term plan..... honest! I'm over 50 so Retirement Visa. Cheers.... ????????

Same here, I'm over 50, but I want to work and make some side jobs, without being afraid of police and immigration. That is why I changed my retirement visa into a Smart Visa. It gives me the work authorization (exemption of work permit).

[NextG]

2 hours ago, stratocaster said:

You have posted a link to a commercial website that clearly states and I quote.

"However, as you read this article, most, if not all will be closed due to the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic and subsequent travel restrictions."

 

"Another thing to mention is that the days of the “border bounce”, i.e. just going across the border and coming almost immediately to obtain a new visa-exempt entry are well and truly over. Once a very common and easy practice, now the Thai immigration officials see this as an abuse of the visa rules and will almost certainly refuse entry".

You can obviously ignore the COVID-19 reference. The listing is simply for information of the possible places to cross rather than an up to date comprehensive reference. Calm down ☺️

[Dart12]

On 4/28/2023 at 8:33 AM, Rosho said:

You may avoid all the hustle with our very affordable long-term visa alternatives https://thailand-success.solutions Check it out! We could help this year already dozens of people in our Social Enterprise ecosystem to find peace of mind, opportunities, compliance, and security.

that website needs some serious work to be helpful.

[Dart12]

On 4/27/2023 at 12:32 AM, BritTim said:

Although I absolutely do not recommend it, the cheapest way of getting from Pattaya to the border at Aranyaprathet/Poi Pet is by train (Pattaya to Chachoengsao in the afternoon, connecting with the train out of Bangkok heading to Aran). It is even cheaper than using the casino bus.

 

To the OP: there is a high probability you are going to stuff this up. If you do not already have the 30-day extension of your tourist entry, do that first. Do not use Poi Pet for your border bounce unless you are a wild gambler. That crossing is known to hate those doing border bounces, and they can find ways to really ruin your life. Unfortunately, the other border crossings are not easy to do independently as a casual traveller. Leave very early in the morning. You need to take the bus from Pattaya to Chanthaburi and take a van or songtaeo from there to the border at Ban Pakard. Check the current location of vans and songtaeos when you arrive in Chanthaburi. As a naïve, inexperienced traveller, you will get scammed at Ban Pakard, but may well remain oblivious to the fact.

any issues with Ban leam border if I try this myself?  

Tired of hitting the swamped part of day and aching in a van for an entire day each trip.

BTW, what is the cost of runs to cambodia without agent?  I've only done this with an agent before.

[BritTim]

4 hours ago, Dart12 said:

any issues with Ban leam border if I try this myself?  

Tired of hitting the swamped part of day and aching in a van for an entire day each trip.

BTW, what is the cost of runs to cambodia without agent?  I've only done this with an agent before.

Unless you are using a car, getting to Ban Laem is difficult under your own steam. It is even trickier than going to Ban Pakard. I only went to Ban Laem once, just after it opened to foreigners. (At that time, they encountered an average of fewer than one foreigner a day: different now.)  If planning to use public transport, Ban Pakard is to be preferred. There are direct vans/songtaeos from Chanthaburi. If wanting to do this, leave very early in the morning. It is difficult to find transport back from Ban Pakard in the late afternoon.

 

Phet Prasert used to have fast, comfortable early morning buses to Chanthaburi. You could contact them to see if they still do.

 

Estimated costs for experienced travellers who can dodge scams without upsetting officials:

• Pattaya to Chanthaburi return about 500 baht
• Chanthaburi to Ban Pakard return about 200 baht
• Cambodian visa on arrival US$30 (must have pristine notes). The officials will probably want more. Your demeanour is extremely important. You are friendly, quiet and smiling. You apologetically indicate that, while you sympathise with them, you are a poor traveller who cannot afford to pay more than the official visa fee.
• 0 to 300 baht for same day return. There is a Cambodian law that mandates an overnight stay. Officials will usually want to charge an unofficial fee to disregard this regulation. You can try to dodge it, but pay up with a good grace if they make it clear they want to be paid.

The above represents the costs if all goes well. There are expert scammers at work at Ban Pakard (and according to reports also at Ban Laem). Well done if you can emerge unscathed.

 

Doing this trip under your own steam involves a pretty long and stressful day (unless you have your own transport). If an agent has a comfortable, not overloaded van, and can provide a package deal that includes all fees, then paying a premium for an organised border bounce is probably justified. It almost eliminates the uncertainty.

[Dart12]

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

Unless you are using a car, getting to Ban Laem is difficult under your own steam. It is even trickier than going to Ban Pakard. I only went to Ban Laem once, just after it opened to foreigners. (At that time, they encountered an average of fewer than one foreigner a day: different now.)  If planning to use public transport, Ban Pakard is to be preferred. There are direct vans/songtaeos from Chanthaburi. If wanting to do this, leave very early in the morning. It is difficult to find transport back from Ban Pakard in the late afternoon.

 

Phet Prasert used to have fast, comfortable early morning buses to Chanthaburi. You could contact them to see if they still do.

 

Estimated costs for experienced travellers who can dodge scams without upsetting officials:

• Pattaya to Chanthaburi return about 500 baht
• Chanthaburi to Ban Pakard return about 200 baht
• Cambodian visa on arrival US$30 (must have pristine notes). The officials will probably want more. Your demeanour is extremely important. You are friendly, quiet and smiling. You apologetically indicate that, while you sympathise with them, you are a poor traveller who cannot afford to pay more than the official visa fee.
• 0 to 300 baht for same day return. There is a Cambodian law that mandates an overnight stay. Officials will usually want to charge an unofficial fee to disregard this regulation. You can try to dodge it, but pay up with a good grace if they make it clear they want to be paid.

The above represents the costs if all goes well. There are expert scammers at work at Ban Pakard (and according to reports also at Ban Laem). Well done if you can emerge unscathed.

 

Doing this trip under your own steam involves a pretty long and stressful day (unless you have your own transport). If an agent has a comfortable, not overloaded van, and can provide a package deal that includes all fees, then paying a premium for an organised border bounce is probably justified. It almost eliminates the uncertainty.

it would be under my own transport.

ok. fee would be roughly 1500 baht at the borders if all is done kosher without an agent.

More so wondering the difficulties exiting and re-entering at the border if on my own.

My Agent price is good. 

But the vans, even the newest ones...have been packed full. 

And they have No leg room.  I ACHE eventually pretty bad during the trip in the legs and my back.

I remember swearing to myself not to do that to myself again last time. 

Plus, all the agents seem to get there about same time...it was like an additional 4 hours standing in lines.

It's an absolute miserable day.

Unfortunately, I have to make one more trek to get the needed time to process a long term visa again.


But to revisit the most important question.... you think it's a minefield to just go myself with no agent help?


o