An Easy Visa Run (And Cheap).

[Thighlander]

Left the New Mitrapap Hotel at 5:20 am, walked to Arcade Bus Station. Paid 169 THB for a first class ticket to CR. The bus completes it's journey at the new terminal (the green VIP went to both). Took a blue Songtaew to the old station for 10 THB. Got a room for 200 for the nigh, unloaded all my stuff in the room. Then walked back to the old station, caught the city bus to Maesai for 36 THB, then 15 for a red songtaew to the border. Entered Burma with my 10 Dollar bill (extra crispy) turned around, re-entered Thailand, with fresh 60 day stamp (had double sixty), took the red to the bus, then 39 back to Chiang Rai, where I still had most of the afternoon and evening to enjoy. Had so much fun I decided to stay, but could have easily done the VIP back to CNX for 265 the next morning.

The only thing that was strange was that there were two windows open at the departure area. I was in the second one. The one in front of me became open, and the Officer said next. Two men went in front of me! OK, you guys are obviously "partners" but geez, I don't think you have joint passports. So i had to squeeze between these two uneccesarily when my passport was stamped out. No big deal, but it just seemed extra strange. One person at a time; not one couple at a time.

I could have just gone to CNX immigration and got a 30 extension for about 2000 including photos. This was well worth it. As far as Burma, I wouldn't trust them for anything. Makes the Bangkok Gem Scam look like Macys. The Cuban cigars at the duty free are 1100 for a pack of 20 monte cristo minis, and were possibly fake. The Absolut Vodka is 100% counterfeit. You've been warned.

[iainiain101]

You should have taken the chance to spend some time in Tachilek. If not for the shopping, just for the chance to chat with the locals in good English. Its allways a bresh of fresh air to be dealing with the locals that side of the border.

[ChinesePanda]

I am sure you can also take a direct coach cnx to maesai offered by GreenBus then alight at the final maesai bus terminal and just walk to the front row of shops on the main road to hop on one of the many vans by the casinos in Burma and just a tip of 20thb to the driver will get you to the imm checkpoint. Then its the usual check-in/turn about/check-out routine and back to cnx the same day.

Expenditure is subjective really depends if you bought any contrabands and got caught, but if all goes well then its well deserved many massages fully paid from the savings.

[Thighlander]

I am sure you can also take a direct coach cnx to maesai offered by GreenBus then alight at the final maesai bus terminal and just walk to the front row of shops on the main road to hop on one of the many vans by the casinos in Burma and just a tip of 20thb to the driver will get you to the imm checkpoint. Then its the usual check-in/turn about/check-out routine and back to cnx the same day.

Expenditure is subjective really depends if you bought any contrabands and got caught, but if all goes well then its well deserved many massages fully paid from the savings.

The direct bus takes you to the same station, where eyou will need to do the 15 thb songtaew. Didn't see any signs of the casinos, and I've lived in Las Vegas before, so I would have noticed. I think the main one is over closer to Laos. I'd trust the folks in good ole Mexico more than those people in Burma. It seems to be an extension of the cheating done by China. Zero respect for intellectual property, and I'm not just talking about funny copies of Windows XP and movie DVDs.

[ChinesePanda]

I'm a cuddly and cute Panda fron north thailand, not a hostile Grizzly from north america.

Just came by to offer some infos as I am from CR, I'm not from China, thus, I'd like all to know the Green Bus from cnx to chiangrai stops at the new chiangrai terminal for passengers to alight but passengers who prefers to alight in the old chiangrai terminal at night bazaar just have to stay put and the bus will drive you directly to the old terminal for FREE, and it all helps if we could listen and understand a little thai announcement by the petite green bus host/hostess. This is for CNX to CRI by Green bus.

For those heading for Maesai will have to tell the ticketing booth lady clearly that you want a ticket for CNX to Maesai, tell her Maesai and not Chiangrai. Now the bus will halt at the Maesai terminal and the red songteaw drivers will greet you but just ignore them if you want to heed my advise and just walk up to the main road and approach any of the silver gray toyota vans and ask what time is the next trip to the casinos, namely Allure or Regina. Please note the ones going to Paradise and King Romans will take you to the Golden Triangle and you will not have your visa extended there.

If all these is too complicated and confusing then I apologise for my command of the language is not as good as I thought I'd be. After reading all these posts and suggestions, you just close your eyes for a moment, take a few deep breathes and let your inner self show you the way, then just follow your heart.

[Mrjustice]

Two Questions: 1. You seem to be suggesting to take the Casino Vans for Free to save money; but then you say "the ones going to Paradise and King Roman will take you to Golden Triangle and you will NOT have your visa extended there"???

Are there other Vans that will take you for free to a place where you CAN get your Visa extended -- if so, which Vans or to which Casinos???

2. What is the cost of a Roundtrip (return) bus tickets from CNX to Masai? (And, do you now schedule)?

I'm a cuddly and cute Panda fron north thailand, not a hostile Grizzly from north america.

Just came by to offer some infos as I am from CR, I'm not from China, thus, I'd like all to know the Green Bus from cnx to chiangrai stops at the new chiangrai terminal for passengers to alight but passengers who prefers to alight in the old chiangrai terminal at night bazaar just have to stay put and the bus will drive you directly to the old terminal for FREE, and it all helps if we could listen and understand a little thai announcement by the petite green bus host/hostess. This is for CNX to CRI by Green bus.

For those heading for Maesai will have to tell the ticketing booth lady clearly that you want a ticket for CNX to Maesai, tell her Maesai and not Chiangrai. Now the bus will halt at the Maesai terminal and the red songteaw drivers will greet you but just ignore them if you want to heed my advise and just walk up to the main road and approach any of the silver gray toyota vans and ask what time is the next trip to the casinos, namely Allure or Regina. Please note the ones going to Paradise and King Romans will take you to the Golden Triangle and you will not have your visa extended there.

If all these is too complicated and confusing then I apologise for my command of the language is not as good as I thought I'd be. After reading all these posts and suggestions, you just close your eyes for a moment, take a few deep breathes and let your inner self show you the way, then just follow your heart.

[Plucky]

Does the green bus vip from Chiang Mai drop you by the border immigration just like the minibus's do?

[JeffreyMcCollum]

Easy ? Cheep ?

you left the hotel at 5:20 was it ? And took how many days to do ?

how many buses, taxi, and transfers ?

I left 8 and back in time for dinner

Honda Wave is 350 Bt of fuel or if I take my truck about 500 Bt.

Seem quicker, easier, and cheeper than your misadventure