Poipet Border Run

[rick2548]

Heard a lot of news about poipet these days, most of them are bad ones, I am very confused.

Can I still go there?

'cause I live very close to kabinburi + I did enjoy the cheap duty free wine.

[COBBER]

Yes.

[Crossy]

You can definately still go there, some reports of problems / new system.

I'm doing a run on Monday.

Will report :-)

Edited July 23, 2005 by Crossy

[Shenanigan]

Heard a lot of news about poipet these days, most of them are bad ones, I am very confused.

Can I still go there?

'cause I live very close to kabinburi + I did enjoy the cheap duty free wine.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

of course you can still go there, but try to find any other option as much as you can, it is a nightmare down there.

[haha]

I went last monday. no problem and fast.

but one of the jackgolf guys recommended not to go on weekends because that is when all the thai gamblers go. ..that's where the long waits occur. when you have all those gamblers running around.

[Shenanigan]

I went last monday.  no problem and fast.

but one of the jackgolf guys recommended not to go on weekends because that is when all the thai gamblers go.  ..that's where the long waits occur.  when you have all those gamblers running around.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Manipulating, are you that Korean guy?

If you are, you should charge 1,800 baht from now on. Since there is no corruption at poipet, we all have to stand in line and wait for hours, you don’t have to pay them anymore. I heard the convenience we had was worth 200 baht.

[Zarkow]

Manipulating, are you that Korean guy?

If you are, you should charge 1,800 baht from now on. Since there is no corruption at poipet, we all have to stand in line and wait for hours, you don’t have to pay them anymore. I heard the convenience we had was worth 200 baht.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Can someone remove this troll already?

[Micke]

No need for removal, maybe it is as he says: "haha" is the guy(s) behind Jack Golf...?

Ok, anyway, why bother to go to Aranyaprathet / Poipet? As I said in another thread (whis has since been removed for whatever reason "Poipet Visa Trip Nightmare", by Rainman) that there are other places to go to. For example, why not try Pong Nam Ron? For a map, please look at visabus.com

I think that this company is going only to Poipet, so please look at this link for a company which is going to the beforementioned border: thaivisarun.com

Please note that this is not spam, as I am promoting two different companies. So I don't want to hear from anyone that I'm spamming.

Regards,

Mike

Manipulating, are you that Korean guy?

If you are, you should charge 1,800 baht from now on. Since there is no corruption at poipet, we all have to stand in line and wait for hours, you don’t have to pay them anymore. I heard the convenience we had was worth 200 baht.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Can someone remove this troll already?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Firefan]

You are not spamming - it is good to get some options (WITH links) and people here are smart enough to then make their final decisions themselves. Cheers!

[Gazza]

You are not spamming - it is good to get some options (WITH links) and people here are smart enough to then make their final decisions themselves. Cheers!

Agreed. The more options the better.

Mods, any reason for zapping Rainman's topic?

Were any of us stepping on someone's toes?

[Firefan]

He,he - Gazza, enjoyed your signature! Still laughing...

[Shenanigan]

Heard a lot of news about poipet these days, most of them are bad ones, I am very confused.

Can I still go there?

'cause I live very close to kabinburi + I did enjoy the cheap duty free wine.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

poipet is nightmare now, if you do have no other choice, try to arrive the border as late as you can, sometime between 6 to 8 pm, stay in the casino for one night, come back the following day in the very early morning, you will be ok.

You can do it, as you live very close to poipet.

[haha]

I went last monday.  no problem and fast.

but one of the jackgolf guys recommended not to go on weekends because that is when all the thai gamblers go.  ..that's where the long waits occur.  when you have all those gamblers running around.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Manipulating, are you that Korean guy?

If you are, you should charge 1,800 baht from now on. Since there is no corruption at poipet, we all have to stand in line and wait for hours, you don’t have to pay them anymore. I heard the convenience we had was worth 200 baht.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

no, does my picture look korean?

I think I look better than jackgolf. but then, it's all on how you look at it, right?

...hmmm? I wonder if that is his real name.

anyway, I remember once seeing this sign in chinatown san francisco. "LICK DICK chinese store". honest to god - true story. everytime I looked at the sign, I kept saying to myself, doesn't this guy know????

maybe that's where bart simpson got the joke from.

[haha]

actually, this is off topic. ...but hasn't anyone yet noticed the resemblence between my picture and the guy on the "MAD" magazine?

I always thought I looked a little like an asian version of the guy. granted, I don't have the big ears. but I do have a great smile. and my laugh is ..."different".

to happy memories...

[Shenanigan]

actually, this is off topic. ...but hasn't anyone yet noticed the resemblence between my picture and the guy on the "MAD" magazine?

I always thought I looked a little like an asian version of the guy.  granted, I don't have the big ears.  but I do have a great smile.  and my laugh is ..."different".

to happy memories...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Haha, I have to admit, you are so brave to put your picture there. Initially I thought it was someone else’s picture, of someone you love.

[Crossy]

OK People, did a Poipet run yesterday (Monday).

Please note that I'm not one of the Cheap Charlies, I don't mind paying tea money or whatever if it makes my life easier, it's not like I'm short a bob or two and if I finance a Thai family's dinner, so what

Went 7 AM monday on one of the numerous mini-van sevices (1000 return)

Stopped at a little cafe place just short of the border, filled visa forms paid 1300 (yes that's 300 service money) the man buzzed off on his motocy and re-appeared shortly with Cambodia visa.

Van to the border.

Stamped out of Thailand, about 10 mins wait, watched all the dodgy looking characters paying their overstays

Stood and watched the traffic for 15 minutes whilst the runner nipped over the bridge to stamp in and out of Cambodia, worth the 400 just to watch the sights. some of the 'vehicles' defy description and the hand-cart taxis are just something else, saw a little cambo chap with eight (I counted them twice) Thai gamblers getting a ride over the bridge on his cart, I hope they tipped him well.

Then the bad bit, there is no avoiding the wait to get back into Thailand, about and hour and a quarter and the queue was relatively short. The runner chap said it was really bad over the weekend with people waiting 6 hours to stamp back in.

Van back to BKK, incuded in the price was a near-death experience involving a large truck and a wet road, all credit to the driver that we didn't end up wrapped round a light pole (although we did land in the U turn lane over on the opposite carriageway, thank God nobody was doing a U turn).

Overall cost was 2700, no free lunch, I know it can be done MUCH cheaper.

The major problem is getting back into Thailand. Rule number 1 of Poipet visa runs, 'don't go on Friday, Saturday or Sunday'. Next time I think I'll try the outfit who go to a different crossing, although a longer mini-van journey won't do my aging body much good

Actually, I may drive, there is parking right by the border and with two or three in the car it would be cheaper (just) than the min-van, certainly more comfortable.

Edited July 26, 2005 by Crossy

[Gazza]

Next time I think I'll try the outfit who go to a different crossing, although a longer mini-van journey won't do my aging body much good 

Actually, I may drive, there is parking right by the border and with two or three in the car it would be cheaper (just) than the min-van, certainly more comfortable.

Crossy, for me to go from north BKK (BKK/Pathum Thani border) to Poipet takes me 3 hours. Going to Pong Nam Ron it's about 4 hours but I have to ride S.E. from north BKK to Minburi which takes about an hour. From Minburi I head to Chachangsao then Sanam Chai Khet, Tha Kiap, Soi Dao then the border. From Sanam Chai Khet onwards the roads are very quiet and scenic.

I would imagine any PNR visa service would use a similar route from Sukhumvit. I've always been to PNR on a Monday and it's never taken me more than twenty mins to complete the in-out stamping process.

Cambodian visa is 1100baht. Stamping/ arrival-dep card process done by Cambo officials, 200baht.

Very few beggars that don't pester you and friendly talkative Thai immigration officials.

Edited July 26, 2005 by Gazza

[Firefan]

Crossy; thanks for a detailed and useful report! Maybe we should time our visas so we can all go together in your car and share the costs!

Gazza; also thanks; that other border crossing stills seems tempting - time wise it seems to be a toss-up (if go in the weekdays) but hassle wise it seems friendlier for sure.

I am still in process of trying to obtain an non-em B with investor status (based on condo purchase) saving me from visa runs all together, but I might not be able to obtain that (as condo not bought directly from developer) so might have to go for the dreaded visa runs.

Cheers!

[thaiflyer1]

Crossy were you not required to have your photo taken at the arrivals on the Cambodian side?

[The Dude]

hmmmm now that's a very good question TF

[Firefan]

He,he - the runner probably had his photo taken 24 times!

[Crossy]

Crossy  were  you  not  required  to  have  your  photo  taken  at  the  arrivals  on  the  Cambodian  side?

No, they already had two pictures with the visa application. I assume this was enough. Never went anywhere near the Cambodian immigration counters.

No pictures on the Thai side either, not got that installed yet, I hate to think about the chaos when they start taking piccies like at the airport

Edited July 27, 2005 by Crossy

[Firefan]

I have flown via Phnom Penh International airport many times and there they have the cameras. Still one hands in 1 picture with visa (on arrival) application.

I am guessing that in the future every country will do the pic thing...

[The_Other_Mac]

Am I missing something? What is the objection to having your photo taken? [Assuming you're not a known terrorist/travelling on a forged passport/ etc]

[Firefan]

Most here on the boards are known terrorists with forged passports... aren't you!?

(bad) jokes aside; problem it that it takes forever for the border emigration staff to handle those things.... PCs and digital cameras for staff used to nothing else but a pencil and a stamp.... you do the math

[shotover]

I have flown via Phnom Penh International airport many times and there they have the cameras. Still one hands in 1 picture with visa (on arrival) application.

I am  guessing that in the future every country will do the pic thing...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Prior to PNH airport installing the cameras, I flew into Phnom Penh with a friend who had forgotten to bring his passport photos. The Cambo Immigration official duly collected an extra dollar from my friend for not bringing his photo, but they did not take one for their records!

[Firefan]

That is true. They would would also before the cameras only require one picture but if one did not have same one would officially be "fined" $10 (not $1 but maybe your friend was lucky) but no pic taken. Cheers!

I have flown via Phnom Penh International airport many times and there they have the cameras. Still one hands in 1 picture with visa (on arrival) application.

I am  guessing that in the future every country will do the pic thing...

Prior to PNH airport installing the cameras, I flew into Phnom Penh with a friend who had forgotten to bring his passport photos. The Cambo Immigration official duly collected an extra dollar from my friend for not bringing his photo, but they did not take one for their records!

[Shenanigan]

Crossy, for me to go from north BKK (BKK/Pathum Thani border) to Poipet takes me 3 hours. Going to Pong Nam Ron it's about 4 hours but I have to ride S.E. from north BKK to Minburi which takes about an hour. From Minburi I head to Chachangsao then Sanam Chai Khet, Tha Kiap, Soi Dao then the border. From Sanam Chai Khet onwards the roads are very quiet and scenic.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

how much does the fuel cost? How many miles from N. BKK to PNR?

[Gazza]

Crossy, for me to go from north BKK (BKK/Pathum Thani border) to Poipet takes me 3 hours. Going to Pong Nam Ron it's about 4 hours but I have to ride S.E. from north BKK to Minburi which takes about an hour. From Minburi I head to Chachangsao then Sanam Chai Khet, Tha Kiap, Soi Dao then the border. From Sanam Chai Khet onwards the roads are very quiet and scenic.

how much does the fuel cost? How many miles from N. BKK to PNR?

I topped up my approx 15 litre tank (I went on the Harley) just after passing Minburi and my next fill-up was at Soi Dao after having done the border hop. If memory serves me right the trippo read somewhere around 290 kms (Minburi-Soi Dao-Border-Soi Dao).

I took a different route coming back and filled up again around Ongkarok in Nakorn Nayok but that was after getting lost on some backroads where I ended up back at a main road junction that I passed an hour earlier.

I could probably make the whole trip on two fill-ups with steady riding at around 80kph but that would take much longer. On clear roads though, 100kph does me just fine.

Total fuel outlay was around 750baht.

Edited July 29, 2005 by Gazza

[udon]

A note about visabus.com

It is not running yet as I'm in Sinney trying to get my leg fixed without much success, when it's running I will advertise it with George on this forum.

Thanks

ooodon.