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Need To Do Mae Sai Visa Run Tomorrow


rrose070

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Perhaps the most popular way to do this is go to the Arcade Bus Station and buy VIP/Green Bus tickets there and back, leaving at 8:00 a.m. and returning around 7:00 or 8:00 p.m., depending on whether you choose the 2:30 or 3:30 return bus. The cost round-trip is between 700 and 800 baht. The only advantage the visa agencies, which use overcrowded vans with worn out shocks, have is that they take you straight to the border, you're on your own from there. The bus station in Mae Sai is about 3 km from the border, but just follow the crowd from the bus to the songthaews, which all go to the border, then follow the crowd to passport control. However it is advisable to buy VIP/Green Bus tickets several days in advance, I'm not sure about availability now.

By the way, it is standard for the Burmese passport control to hold on to your passport and give you a receipt for it so you can collect it when you leave Burma. It's a little scary the first time, but I've never heard of anyone having problems with this system. You also need a very crisp, new US $10 bill for the Burmese "visa", or 500 baht, which is much more than $10 US. They'll accept $20 bills if they have change. They are real picky about the quality of the bills they accept, nothing old, worn, torn, etc.

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I went to Mae Sai 10 days ago.

I confirm:

Arcade busstation. VIP seat roundtrip 660baht. It takes about 4 hours. Very comfortable.Bring something warm to wear.

A short stop in Chiang Rai.

In Mae Sai you hop on a songhtaew. 15-16 baht. Hassle-free.

Oh yeah: when I gave the 10 USD, the Birmese officer said: "No, only baht"

I knew he was lying, so I smiled and smiled and said:" Yes, yes..." while giving the 10 USD.

"You are going to shop?"

"Yes" I said. Then he accepted it.

The only downside was that I could only shop for 2 hours because the last VIP bus back is at 15:30.

But I 'll be going to Mae Sai again this Monday/Tuesday. Yes, again with the VIP bus.

The view during the ride is great! I truely think North Thailand is the most beautiful part of Thailand.

Happy Visarun Rose!

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Yep as stated above - green bus (660 ish - depending on class of seat) and 15 Baht Songtaew. Give a good 30 minutes to get back (orpay the SongTaew guy 100B a he'll have you at the MS bus terminalin under 5 minutes - private hire). Its worth going shopping, Burmese are happer then, and DVDs are much cheaper than in CM (but check the languages with the staff - covers are just photo copies so may not match content - got some Russian ones before by mistake). Don't buy the fake cigarettes, viagra or sex DVDs off the kids its all crap (so I've been told). Duty free on the bridge on the way back is good for vodka and whisky (cheap). Always smile and joke with the immigration guys on the way back in - never had a problem that way, just some giggles!

At the border: First fill in your departure card (probably stappled in your passport). Go to the desk on the right (they will stop you if you go left anyway). Get stamped out and photographed. Walk over the bridge and go in ti the small office Burmese side on the right hand side of the bridge. Pay your ten dollars or 500 baht and sit at a desk. Get photo'd again and given your passport and a piece of brown and white card. Give to the senior guy at the desk without the PC's on. He will keep your passport and after tearing a bit off will give you the card back. Shoip for at least 30 mins and then go to the office on the opposite side of the bridge (second door is for foreigners - cloearly marked).Collect your passport. Walk back over thge bridge - left hand side.Goi tothe gut in the booth and he will give you an arrivals card. Fill it in and then go to the tiny holes in the window and get stamped in. Your bags may be checked, but unlikely unless you are carrying a lot. Songtaew on left outside 7-11. As said above take something warm as aircon on the bus is set to antartica (and they will not turn it up). Also a smelly stick is good for the way down as they stop to empty the loo and the second half of the journey the aircon fills the bus with the smell of piss! VIP!

PS: Youmay be too late to get tickets now. These days you need to get them at least a day before (more for the good seats) as they fill up - only 2 buses a day.

Edited by wolf5370
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Don't buy the fake cigarettes, viagra or sex DVDs off the kids its all crap (so I've been told). Duty free on the bridge on the way back is good for vodka and whisky (cheap).

Some years ago I talked to a smoker who tried the cigarettes, he said they really were crap. The police always stop and search the bus when it leaves Mae Sai, in addition to illegal immigrants and drugs they check for sex dvd's, if they find them the owner loses the dvd's and whatever money they can extort out of him. Regarding the viagra, I wouldn't take a chance on any drug that came from Burma. I've never had a problem with the bootleg DVD's that came from the larger shops or the liquor--the best place to buy liquor I found is the nice, modern store on the bridge as you are leaving, good selection and good prices. The actual store if behind the stall they set up on the sidewalk.

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