Chiang Rai Airport To Mae Sai (burma Border/friendship Bridge)

[ZenTraveler]

I need to leave and re-enter the Kingdom to activate another one of my visas in my passport. I am flying from BKK to Chiang Rai and taking a bus (either from the airport or from Phahon Yothin Road) to Mae Sai so that I can go across the Friendship Bridge into Myanmar/Burma and re-enter Thailand. The flight schedule for the exact day I need to do this, however, is limited. I either can arrive to the airport at 8am and fly out at 13:35 or arrive at 12:55 pm and fly out at 22:00. I am aware that the bus ride from CEI to Mae Sai is about 1.5 hours and I may need to wait 30 minutes for the bus each way. Can the border run be done quickly or should I not risk such a short flight plan (This Is Thailand, btw) and what is there to do for 10 hours while I wait to go back to the airport. I believe the last bus to CEI is at 6pm so I'll be at the airport for 4 hours at that point...

Advice?

Thanks,

Zen.

[ubonjoe]

Have a look through this topic it should help answer your question: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Mae-Sai-Tach...fo-t147481.html

[lopburi3]

As you do not seem to be planning anything but a border crossing for a new visa entry wonder why you don't just use a visa service bus from Bangkok to Cambodia and return for 2,000 baht and not have to worry about plane/bus connections?

[ZenTraveler]

Thanks for the link.

And I just don't want to be on a bus all day for a trip across country and do that. I'd rather hop on a plane, fly somewhere, leave, re-enter, then come back.

Zen.

[thaimiller]

just fly to singapore or malaysia, its as quick and no need to leave the airport, come back on the next plane. I bet its not much more expensive.

[ubonjoe]

Advance purchase flight to KL is about 2600 baht round trip on Air Asia and no visa charge for Malaysia. A flight out and back would give you 30 days.

[PoorSucker]

Advance purchase flight to KL is about 2600 baht round trip on Air Asia and no visa charge for Malaysia. A flight out and back would give you 30 days.

60 days, OP is activating second entry.

[ubonjoe]

Advance purchase flight to KL is about 2600 baht round trip on Air Asia and no visa charge for Malaysia. A flight out and back would give you 30 days.

60 days, OP is activating second entry.

To many posts about 15 day border runs in the brain I guess.

Anyway it might still be cheaper considering the 500 baht entry to Burma and bus/taxi fare to the border.

[ZenTraveler]

Due to situations I can't fly to Malaysia or Singapore. I missed out on a good deal to Singapore, although it's not an option, it is 5,150 baht to fly there for a day. Malaysia is similar. Going to Chiang Rai for Mae Sai is the best option. Thanks.

Shawn.