Visa Run To Cambodia

[wcr]

My Lao partner needs to do a visa run to Cambodia next week as it is quicker than going home. As I have only ever done one Cambodian visa run in 4.5 years I really don't know who is the best to use.

Can anyone make any recomendations on which one is OK to use for efficientcy and comfort?

Thanks

[tropo]

My Lao partner needs to do a visa run to Cambodia next week as it is quicker than going home. As I have only ever done one Cambodian visa run in 4.5 years I really don't know who is the best to use.

Can anyone make any recomendations on which one is OK to use for efficientcy and comfort?

Thanks

I use Cambodian Inter on Soi Buakhao.

They'll charge you 1,700 and your Laotian girl 500. She'll need to pay a "stamp fee" of 250 at the border, and you'll both need to buy bogus bus tickets in Cambodia for 200.

When are you going? I'll be heading there on Thursday (27th).

[torrenova]

You don't need to buy the bogus tickets if you have a visa for Thailand, only if you are on the 30 day stamp thing. Anyway, there is plenty in the Bt1200 they hand over for the westerner's Cambodian visa (USD = approx Bt650 now as opposed to Bt850 once) for them to pay that

I don't know what visa a Loatian (sp ?) needs or gets either for Cambodia or Thailand nor the cost but Thais can travel into Cambodia on a pass, perhaps only to nearest province, sorry I don't know.

The Bt500 the above poster quotes seems correct given their charge of Bt1700 (minus Bt1200 = Bt500 = the bus charge).

If you do not need to do it on the cheap, go see 1st Class Visa Runs in Witherspoons bar on Soi Buakhow near the corner of Soi Diana. They would charge Bt2400 for a westerner including VIP 6 seat coach with movies etc. breakfast and lunch upon return.

[tropo]

You don't need to buy the bogus tickets if you have a visa for Thailand, only if you are on the 30 day stamp thing. Anyway, there is plenty in the Bt1200 they hand over for the westerner's Cambodian visa (USD = approx Bt650 now as opposed to Bt850 once) for them to pay that

I don't know what visa a Loatian (sp ?) needs or gets either for Cambodia or Thailand nor the cost but Thais can travel into Cambodia on a pass, perhaps only to nearest province, sorry I don't know.

The Bt500 the above poster quotes seems correct given their charge of Bt1700 (minus Bt1200 = Bt500 = the bus charge).

If you do not need to do it on the cheap, go see 1st Class Visa Runs in Witherspoons bar on Soi Buakhow near the corner of Soi Diana. They would charge Bt2400 for a westerner including VIP 6 seat coach with movies etc. breakfast and lunch upon return.

A Laotian does not need a visa for Cambodia and will just get a stamp, and it's the same deal for all ASEAN country nationals with the exception of Burma.

The price I quoted is exactly what a Laotian will pay for Cambodian Inter's Visa service. She will be charged exactly the same as my Filipino GF.

The bogus bus ticket will be required unless she has a air ticket to prove onward travel within 30 days of entering Thailand.

I've done the 1st Class Visa runs, and they are absolutely not worth the extra 700 baht. They charged my Filipino GF a whopping 1,600 for that run last year despite her not requiring a Cambodian Visa. You'll be paying in the vicinity of 1,550 baht extra (for you and your girl) over what Cambodian Inter charge and that basically covers a breakfast and a packed lunch which wasn't great anyway....and you get some TV.

Cambodian Inter are the only service that are charging a fair rate for ASEAN citizens. They also had the best driver I've ever had on a visa run and the minivan was very comfortable.

Edited September 22, 2007 by tropo

[wcr]

You don't need to buy the bogus tickets if you have a visa for Thailand, only if you are on the 30 day stamp thing. Anyway, there is plenty in the Bt1200 they hand over for the westerner's Cambodian visa (USD = approx Bt650 now as opposed to Bt850 once) for them to pay that

I don't know what visa a Loatian (sp ?) needs or gets either for Cambodia or Thailand nor the cost but Thais can travel into Cambodia on a pass, perhaps only to nearest province, sorry I don't know.

The Bt500 the above poster quotes seems correct given their charge of Bt1700 (minus Bt1200 = Bt500 = the bus charge).

If you do not need to do it on the cheap, go see 1st Class Visa Runs in Witherspoons bar on Soi Buakhow near the corner of Soi Diana. They would charge Bt2400 for a westerner including VIP 6 seat coach with movies etc. breakfast and lunch upon return.

A Laotian does not need a visa for Cambodia and will just get a stamp, and it's the same deal for all ASEAN country nationals with the exception of Burma.

The price I quoted is exactly what a Laotian will pay for Cambodian Inter's Visa service. She will be charged exactly the same as my Filipino GF.

The bogus bus ticket will be required unless she has a air ticket to prove onward travel within 30 days of entering Thailand.

I've done the 1st Class Visa runs, and they are absolutely not worth the extra 700 baht. They charged my Filipino GF a whopping 1,600 for that run last year despite her not requiring a Cambodian Visa. You'll be paying in the vicinity of 1,550 baht extra (for you and your girl) over what Cambodian Inter charge and that basically covers a breakfast and a packed lunch which wasn't great anyway....and you get some TV.

Cambodian Inter are the only service that are charging a fair rate for ASEAN citizens. They also had the best driver I've ever had on a visa run and the minivan was very comfortable.

\

Many thanks for this. I will not be going on this trip as I have no need to go and my partner will be going on thier own.

Where is this visa place? Do they run every day? What time do the depart and arrive back? What is the bus, a minibus or one of these big one?

Many thanks again.

[Humphrey Bear]

WCR - you may not be going on the visa-run yourself, but I would advise you to go with your partner to book it.

The organisers can sometimes be a trifle paranoid and a Laotian could always be mistaken for an Isaan Thai - so they may think this is an undercover sting for some unknown infringement.

Otherwise, have a good trip.

[torrenova]

You don't need to buy the bogus tickets if you have a visa for Thailand, only if you are on the 30 day stamp thing. Anyway, there is plenty in the Bt1200 they hand over for the westerner's Cambodian visa (USD = approx Bt650 now as opposed to Bt850 once) for them to pay that

I don't know what visa a Loatian (sp ?) needs or gets either for Cambodia or Thailand nor the cost but Thais can travel into Cambodia on a pass, perhaps only to nearest province, sorry I don't know.

The Bt500 the above poster quotes seems correct given their charge of Bt1700 (minus Bt1200 = Bt500 = the bus charge).

If you do not need to do it on the cheap, go see 1st Class Visa Runs in Witherspoons bar on Soi Buakhow near the corner of Soi Diana. They would charge Bt2400 for a westerner including VIP 6 seat coach with movies etc. breakfast and lunch upon return.

A Laotian does not need a visa for Cambodia and will just get a stamp, and it's the same deal for all ASEAN country nationals with the exception of Burma.

The price I quoted is exactly what a Laotian will pay for Cambodian Inter's Visa service. She will be charged exactly the same as my Filipino GF.

The bogus bus ticket will be required unless she has a air ticket to prove onward travel within 30 days of entering Thailand.

I've done the 1st Class Visa runs, and they are absolutely not worth the extra 700 baht. They charged my Filipino GF a whopping 1,600 for that run last year despite her not requiring a Cambodian Visa. You'll be paying in the vicinity of 1,550 baht extra (for you and your girl) over what Cambodian Inter charge and that basically covers a breakfast and a packed lunch which wasn't great anyway....and you get some TV.

Cambodian Inter are the only service that are charging a fair rate for ASEAN citizens. They also had the best driver I've ever had on a visa run and the minivan was very comfortable.

OK so you'd go on a packed minivan against a retro fitted 6 seat Toyota Commuter ? Fine, but get your other facts right please. They will take you to the border without going over but I believe it is Bt1200 which is the transport cost and the hot breakfast prior to departure and the hot meal upon return, not a packed lunch. I think you are confusing them with 5 Star visa runs from the Sportsman who do indeed give a packed lunch of variable quality on the way back.

I went today as the van was not full to ask some questions about some people having difficulties with their work permit renewals in Pattaya and the full roast beef "Sunday dinner" though available any day, was better than many who charge for them at Bt200+.

Some people will stay in the Marriott whereas other prefer a fan room in Soi Buakhow or thereabouts. For the sake of GBP10 I know which transport package I'd rather have.

As to the bogus tickets, there was no-one asking at the border today but the Thai immigration had posters on exit and entry which said, in English, that for those without a visa and thus just seeking the 30 day entry stamp, then they would need to show onward travel arrangements to leave Thailand within that 30 day period.

Though I would not suggest it, I even suspect that one could book a visa run for 30 days hence which itself would be travel arrangements satisfying the requirement. I am almost certain it did not say anything about flights.

If you really want to cheap charlie it, get the bus to Bangkok then get a casino bus to the border, make your own arrangements with a USD 20 note, wait whilst they make you wait for not paying them the Bt200 quick processing fee and do the same transport in reverse. Though you may be able to do it even cheaper if you can hitch a lift.

[tropo]

If you really want to cheap charlie it, get the bus to Bangkok then get a casino bus to the border, make your own arrangements with a USD 20 note, wait whilst they make you wait for not paying them the Bt200 quick processing fee and do the same transport in reverse. Though you may be able to do it even cheaper if you can hitch a lift.

Thanks for your suggestion, but I don't want to "cheap charlie" it.

'Cambodia Inter' are a very good, comfortable service without the roast dinners and there's nothing "cheap charlie" about it.

I pay for 2, so doing 6 visa runs per year your little frills will end up cost me 9,000 baht more. That's almost the price of a return flight for 2 to Penang (9,168 baht today).

Enjoy your stays at the Marriott.

Edited September 23, 2007 by tropo

[tropo]

Many thanks for this. I will not be going on this trip as I have no need to go and my partner will be going on thier own.

Where is this visa place? Do they run every day? What time do the depart and arrive back? What is the bus, a minibus or one of these big one?

Many thanks again.

They're a little shop just south of the t-junction with Soi 15 on the opposite side of the road.

I don't think there will be any problems if you let your girl travel alone. They'll take care of everything for her. There are lots of Filipinos doing this run and they all look similar.

She'll be paying 500 for the run, 250 for "stamp fee" and 200 for a bogus bus ticket. Total 950. She'll leave at 7am and return around 3:30pm.

Edited September 23, 2007 by tropo