After quickly running through the posts here, I've gathered that if I were to end up in Cambodia across the border near Aranyaprathet that the visa process there is fairly common place for visa runners. I have a tourist visa to Thailand right now, but nothing for Cambodia. So, in an attempt to be concise....

The Thai family is planning on going gambling for the day in Cambodia across the border there (or so I assume-they said it's 2 1/2 hr-3hr drive from Bangkok, and that there are lots of casinos-does near Aranyaprathet sound right?)-

1) They don't have anything visa related to worry about, correct (they are all Thai citizens)? I assumed as much, given the somewhat blase attitude about the trip.

2) When I get there, they have an on-arrival Visa station, correct? How much does it cost (I figure I'll only be there one day), and how long does the processing generally take?

3) What's this I hear about having to bribe officials?

I'll follow this up on the Thailand visas forum, but I considered one other complication. I arrived on a tourist visa, so I'm good until June 2nd as long as I don't leave Thailand-BUT, my wife already delayed our flight from the 17th of May to the 31st-Will the plane ticket I have do jack for me when I try and come BACK from Cambodia? Can I get a 30 day stamp if my plane ticket reads for the 17th? What if my Thai family pleads my case with the Visa officials? *ahem* Thanks you for your information yet again.

Go to Chom-Chon in the south of Surin.

Not many people and everything is relaxed there. The boarder point has the same number of staff, but lesss than 1/1o of he people travelling through, so everuone is helpful.

Last time I went there to buy duty-free, I was the last falang for 3 days - they were happto see me

It's been a while since I've done the Poipet run, but I don't think it's changed. Your Thai family won't have to get a visa, they'll be passed on through with a stamp in their passports. You can get a Cambodian Visa upon arrival. It will cost you about 1000? - 1200? Baht, payable in Thai baht - don't bother to exchange your baht for Cambodian money. There is also a departure fee of 100? - 200? baht.

You will get a new 30 day entrance stamp when you re-enter Thailand.

Briefly, here's the drill:

Check out of Thailand on the left side of the road to Cambodia. Walk across the bridge and to the Cambodian Visa office on the right side of the road. Get and pay for your Cambodian Visa there and walk a short distance up the road to the Cambodian border check-in. You can prepay your departure fee there if you choose. Once you're in Cambodia you can walk around for a bit and look at things - It looks poorer that the poorest parts of Thailand. The departure station will be on your right side as you go back to Thailand. You can check out there. Once you have checked out, you will need to cross the bridge and cross the street to get to the Thai border checkin station. They will give you a new 30 day stamp.

Good luck