hi friends, i need to make a "run" sometime soon from Phuket, i am here on a Tourist visa issued in the USA (i carry USA passport) w/ triple entries and need to exit and return as i am hitting the end of my 90-day period for this entry (60 days + a 30 day extension already). i know about the Ranong run, but was curious if there are any interesting options for getting my needed new stamp and a night or two stay away from Phuket perhaps? my last re-entries were returning from Cambodia so i really don't know what the different crossings most accessible to Phuket are, so any advice or opinion would be great. definitely don't want to go anywhere too pricy, but would be nice to have a change of scenery for a bit, especially if there is some decent nightlife to be had.

thx in advance for any pointers as always friends, on on..!

Hat Yai and then a border trip during the day from there. Inexpensive hotels and active nightlife.

Hat Yai and then a border trip during the day from there. Inexpensive hotels and active nightlife.

Yep, Hat Yai and then Borderrun to Sadao - Thai/Malay Border!

Hat Yai and then a border trip during the day from there. Inexpensive hotels and active nightlife.

Yep, Hat Yai and then Borderrun to Sadao - Thai/Malay Border!

thx for the speedy replies friends! is Hat Yai safe these days? how far is the border from Hat Yai, not too far or a 3-4 hour trip like going from Phuket to Ranong? i didn't realize Hat Yai had much of a nightlife to be honest, but know little to nothing about that part of Thailand... thx again friends..!

Hat Yai airport to border, 45 minutes in a taxi. Unfortunately, there are now no more flights from Phuket to Hat Yai.

thx Sir Burr, yes... just noticed that as i was hitting the airline websites, hmm... don't know if my wife will be up for a 7 hour bus ride. i guess its pretty much only these two options then from Phuket, Penang or Ranong? is there anything to do in Ranong, worth staying a couple days or no..?

Nothing in Ranong. An hour in the casino whilst you wait.

Penang is pretty boring too, but, if you've never been and you like Indian food, it's worth a look.

Cheap flight to Singapore is the way I would go. Do some shopping, eat some good food.

One visa run that could be described as fun is a drive down to turatao national park.. A visit and stop over on the lovely Koh Lippe and then a ferry or speedboat to langkawai.. You check out from customs on the mainland and I really dont know what happens as to checking out of Thailand but then being on lippe ?!?

I love a few days on Koh Lippe but not yet used it as a visa run. Keep meaning to but other hops seem to come up.

Having your own wheels would make this fun not having them would be hard work on mini bus travels and things.

One visa run that could be described as fun is a drive down to turatao national park.. A visit and stop over on the lovely Koh Lippe and then a ferry or speedboat to langkawai.. You check out from customs on the mainland and I really dont know what happens as to checking out of Thailand but then being on lippe ?!?

I love a few days on Koh Lippe but not yet used it as a visa run. Keep meaning to but other hops seem to come up.

Having your own wheels would make this fun not having them would be hard work on mini bus travels and things.

Exit stamps from Thailand can only be obtained at the Immigration Checkpoint on the pier in Satun, which would necessitate a boat ride from Tarutao back to the mainland and then a boat ride back out to Langawi. I exited Thailand through here late last year (without going to Tarutao and was told this by them as I had considered leaving from Tarutao...which needless to say, we didn't do after finding out the round-robin journey it would involve).