Visa Run To Adaman Club With Children?

[tjoff]

Hi! Newbie in the forum as well as in Thailand. We (me, wife and children, 1 and 3 years) came to Thailand 2 weeks ago. Did not have time to get visas in Sweden before we left so we only have 30-day transit visas. We will be staying here (Hua Hin) for almost 90 days so we have to do a couple of visa runs. We want to do it quick and without major hazzle so our best choice would be Ranong I guess. Taking a taxi will cost us about 4000 Baht roundtrip which is ok. If we leave during the night the kids can gest some sleep for a few hours. Here comes question number 1: How long does it take? We have received different info, from 4 to 6 hours.

Ok, once in Ranong it seems worth the extra cost to go to Adaman club. Q2: Cost 850 Baht/person including everything? Q3: Also for children? Q4: Is it ok to take the children there? (Considering it is a casino, I mean.) Q5: Does it still cost 750 Baht extra if there is less than 5 days left on the visa? (I've seen different info on this matter.) Q6: Also for children? Q7: Does that apply to all immigration points into Thailand? Q7: I've heard that children do not pay any fines for overstaying - can anybody confirm that?

Q8: Has anybody in the forum done this trip with kids?

Q9: Have I numbered the questions ok, or are there several with the same number?

Thanks in advance. All help, also answers to only one of the questions (except maybe for the last one) is highly appreciated!

[tjoff]

Andaman club! I meant ANdaman club!

[Guest]

The Andaman Club is a fairly civilized way to do a visa run. The casino is seperate from the very nice hotel so it's not an issue. You don't need to enter the casino at all. While technically in Burma, a lot of the staff are Thai, its Thai owned and the accepted currency is the Baht.

They can pick you up from any hotel in Ranong and take you to their private pier. Thai Immigration have a small office there just for the Club. Once on the island you will have to leave your passports with the charming Burmese I/O, and pick them up when you leave.

Travelling time depends on the driver, and the state of the roads, some of which are very curvy! Not sure driving at night with young kids is a good idea. Could be 4-5 hours from HH. I have friens in HH who do this run regularly. They drive there in the day time, overnight at a hotel in Ranong, and get picked up by Andaman Club early next morning.

I can't answer your specific questions about visas - no doubt lopburi will do that very well!

Edited January 24, 2008 by Guest

[Lite Beer]

Acording to Google Earth it is 383 K and takes 5 hours 53 minutes to drive.

[lopburi3]

What specific question about visas? I can't find any visa question.

q5-7 don't have any idea what this is in reference to - but assume some extra charge by Andaman Club?

q7 (two) there is no overstay charge for children.

q9 No your numbers are not right. Two question 7's

[tjoff]

Ok lopburi3, I guess I asked in the wrong forum? I'll try somewhere else.

[ozymandious]

Ok lopburi3, I guess I asked in the wrong forum? I'll try somewhere else.

You might want to try the Phuket Forum as Renong is a popular Visa-run destination for us down here.

I've been to the Andaman club before my child was born but my wife and I had a nice time there.

Casino is seperate from the hotel (NB I wanted to go in but only brought shorts with me, no addmitance with out long pants ) There's a little Gym with a nice Sauna and a pool that will be fun for the kids. There's not much else there other than the hotel resturant and the little lounge bar with Karaoke rooms (nice and clean)

it's about a 20 min boat ride to the island from the Thai mainland.

The whole process is pretty painless and troubble free.

Here is a write up (dated 2003) of some one who did the trip and I think it may be useful to you

http://www.phuket-info.com/casino.htm

Good luck!

[ozymandious]

http://www.andamanclub.com/

Official web site. When I went I did my booking though them and also called them up with any questions I had. friendly and curtious . BTW if you have a Thai Mobile you get reception there. :-)