Chiang Mai - Mae Sai Visa Run

[kcore]

Greetings - Mai Sai is open.....anybody done this run lately. I have to do my first run next month with USA Non- imm "B" Multipy entry visa and would like to know if this is a straight forward as: 1. bus from CM - Mai Sai. 2. Tuk- tuk to border. 3. Cross border . 4. Spend 30 minute (oh cool Myanmar). 5. Come back to Thailand with new 90 day stamp... Sound about right everybody. Please share your experiences on CM - Mai Sai border run.

Edit: maybe I should do a new post for CM - Mae Sai border run"

This post has been edited by kcore: Today, 08:45

[Maestro]

...maybe I should do a new post for CM - Mae Sai border run" ...

Maybe you should write less cryptically. CM?

[kcore]

...maybe I should do a new post for CM - Mae Sai border run" ...

Maybe you should write less cryptically. CM?

Ummm....ok. Will try Chiang Mai. Thought is was obvious. My bad

[Maestro]

I don't know the answer, but now that we know it is about a border run from Chiang Mai to Mae Sai perhaps somebody who has done this will post his experience. It looks like a long trip.

P.S. I changed CM to Chiang Mai in the title.

[kcore]

I don't know the answer, but now that we know it is about a border run from Chiang Mai to Mae Sai perhaps somebody who has done this will post his experience. It looks like a long trip.

P.S. I changed CM to Chiang Mai in the title.

Thanks Maestro - no sense in 2 post. Regarding "long trip" , not really. Only about 4 hours bus and, from what I understand, the prefered location for us Chiang Mai folks as the Mai Sot crossing has been closed for some months now. Anyway, It is a toss-up between theses 2 locations as which one is closer and basically from what I have heard, just adds some variety to the visa run experience when Mai Sot is open. Laos is farther and the the closet crossing for us (Huai Kon- Nam Ngoen) is only a walk across for farrangs and lacks some accesability from what I have heard. Vientiana is at least 12 hours bus and I am not going to do that period! Thus the post, as these crossing conditions seem to be always changing. Funny, nobody cares to chime in. Maybe I will give it a day or two and then move to Chiang Mai board......

kcore

[true blue]

I don't know the answer, but now that we know it is about a border run from Chiang Mai to Mae Sai perhaps somebody who has done this will post his experience. It looks like a long trip.

P.S. I changed CM to Chiang Mai in the title.

Thanks Maestro - no sense in 2 post. Regarding "long trip" , not really. Only about 4 hours bus and, from what I understand, the prefered location for us Chiang Mai folks as the Mai Sot crossing has been closed for some months now. Anyway, It is a toss-up between theses 2 locations as which one is closer and basically from what I have heard, just adds some variety to the visa run experience when Mai Sot is open. Laos is farther and the the closet crossing for us (Huai Kon- Nam Ngoen) is only a walk across for farrangs and lacks some accesability from what I have heard. Vientiana is at least 12 hours bus and I am not going to do that period! Thus the post, as these crossing conditions seem to be always changing. Funny, nobody cares to chime in. Maybe I will give it a day or two and then move to Chiang Mai board......

kcore

what you posted is about right,book mini bus in chiang mai,drops you off in mai sai,at border post,cross through thai imm,in to burma imm,if you want to shop in burma,leave passport with burma imm,if not come straight back,many cafes and shops in mai sai.return to mini bus,about 3to4 hour r journey back home,easy done it many times in the past,sit up front with driver if you can,more comfortable trip.

[kcore]

Thanks True Blue. Where do I get tickets for the "mini bus" and is this the same one as the Green line at the bus station. Also, what type of visa our you on. I have a Non Imm "B" and was wondering if there was any hang up getting a new 90 day stamp at this crossing. I had heard some where that land crossing only qualify for 15 days but, I think this is only for the "free" tourist visit stamp renewal. Any thing worthe seeeing on the Myanmar side of border.....K

[crgram]

In CM you can book the Green Bus Co. in the Arcade. VIP is only 660 bht round trip and IMO more comfortable than a mini bus. It is a little slower due to a couple of stops along the way. The VIP leaves at 8 and 9:30 returning at 2 and 3:30. Just did the run last week, no problems. Myanmar entry visa cost 10 usd or 500 bht so it's less expensive to pick up 10 bucks at an exchange before you go. Book, the A seat for extra space if your by yourself, a couple days in advance. The VIP seats tend to fill up.

cr

[kcore]

In CM you can book the Green Bus Co. in the Arcade. VIP is only 660 bht round trip and IMO more comfortable than a mini bus. It is a little slower due to a couple of stops along the way. The VIP leaves at 8 and 9:30 returning at 2 and 3:30. Just did the run last week, no problems. Myanmar entry visa cost 10 usd or 500 bht so it's less expensive to pick up 10 bucks at an exchange before you go. Book, the A seat for extra space if your by yourself, a couple days in advance. The VIP seats tend to fill up.

cr

Thanks cr - excellent information.

[true blue]

Thanks True Blue. Where do I get tickets for the "mini bus" and is this the same one as the Green line at the bus station. Also, what type of visa our you on. I have a Non Imm "B" and was wondering if there was any hang up getting a new 90 day stamp at this crossing. I had heard some where that land crossing only qualify for 15 days but, I think this is only for the "free" tourist visit stamp renewal. Any thing worthe seeeing on the Myanmar side of border.....K

most travel agents do visa runs,ive only ever used mini buses,so dont no what green line vip,buses like,sound okay as cgram said,i think mini buses are slightly more personal,and usually give you more waiting time in mai sai,but as they say ori gor dai,(up to u)if your on a multi non o visa 90 days is the norm for this visa,im on my 5th year retirment visa,border runs were good fun in old days,but bit long in tooth now.used to enjoy the shopping in burma,if you no were to go some good gear there,and of course duty free booze.

[kcore]

Thanks for that true blue. One quick, 2 part question and then I will leave you alone - promise! Where do you get the ticket for the mini bus and how much is the round trip ticket. I like the idea of this mini as opposed to the big Greeney bus you book at main CM station. If the price is not to problematic. I agree with you completely regarding "long in tooth". Even though I have only been in country for 7 months and this is first visa run, it will be my last as I will convert to "extension of stay based on retirement". sometime in November. Sounds like I may have to do a bit of shopping while in Burma....had no idea they had duty free shops..cool!

Regards - Kcore

[Robby nz]

Planning a visa trip to Mae sai for my second entry on a tourist visa in about a month and was wondering about the ,Thai,lady coming with me accross the border.

I see the charge to enter Burma for me would be US$ 10 but how much for a Thai?

[true blue]

Thanks for that true blue. One quick, 2 part question and then I will leave you alone - promise! Where do you get the ticket for the mini bus and how much is the round trip ticket. I like the idea of this mini as opposed to the big Greeney bus you book at main CM station. If the price is not to problematic. I agree with you completely regarding "long in tooth". Even though I have only been in country for 7 months and this is first visa run, it will be my last as I will convert to "extension of stay based on retirement". sometime in November. Sounds like I may have to do a bit of shopping while in Burma....had no idea they had duty free shops..cool!

Regards - Kcore

cant rember were i booked mini bus must have been somewere round taphae gate,it was cheaper than the bus,not by much,most travel agents do visa runs,there are about 2 or 3 companys they ring,if im in town tomorrow i will ping one for you,i always do some of my shopping in burma at the super market on the bridge, dead opposite the burma imm office,on the other side very good off licence in there and some good designer gear,especially mens trousers,bit of a jungle if you go further in to burma,there over you like flys but good stalls for gear, blueies, cds ect experience anyway.

[true blue]

Planning a visa trip to Mae sai for my second entry on a tourist visa in about a month and was wondering about the ,Thai,lady coming with me accross the border.

I see the charge to enter Burma for me would be US$ 10 but how much for a Thai?

office next to bridge 20 bht for thais

[true blue]

Planning a visa trip to Mae sai for my second entry on a tourist visa in about a month and was wondering about the ,Thai,lady coming with me accross the border.

I see the charge to enter Burma for me would be US$ 10 but how much for a Thai?

office next to bridge 20 bht for thais

and 2000bht for designer handbags and clothes,lol