Visa Run To Ranong

[bangkokburning]

I've not done this runner for many years. First when this point opened and second when the immigration office was still up on the road. Could use a bit of help here.

I will arrive from south, later in the day. I can stay either in town or perhaps at the Kiwi which is convenient to both bus and port.

*Any decent newish hotels in town? Place I used to stay while visiting Ranong is pretty dire but only a few hundred.

*Kiwi looks OK, seems very service oriented. Location suits my needs as a visa runner. It has a good restaurant near by as well as a minimart.

In the early a.m. make my way to the port where a small office is located on opposite side of the boats running to Myanmar. I've seen this place while going to/fro Ko Phayam I think. Songtaews are #2 and #7 I think. Can anyone confirm? At B7 or B15??

Get stamped out. Go over to the boats and insist that I get a group boat for the runner. The mafia there will try to push me into a private boat. B50/B200 respectively as I recall.

Im at the dock now.... I don't need to get out of the boat. I hand my pp and my US10 and the deal is processed. I return to Thailand.

Back to the immigration office. I produce my pp where I have a visa. But no matter, they still want a photocopy and maybe even a photo. At least that is how it was.

Get stamped back in. Grab a songtaew out of there. Pick up my gear and head back south to Andamans on the first bus.

>>>How far is the tesco/bigc out of town? How much by moto?

Im off to Lao so thanks in advance.

[bangkokburning]

WOW, just wow. No replies.

Thai "visa" ;-)

[ignis]

WOW, just wow. No replies.

Thai "visa" ;-)

Went on Saturday..

Myself stayed at 'Tinidee Spar Hotel' very nice big Hotel, very big room, big pool, wonderful hot spring spar, fitness centre, all mod cons and a very good price I thought @ 590 baht..

DO NOT try to log on to Thaivisa as the browser crashes in Firefox and I.E simple freezes, all other sites I visited no problem. Hotel Internet 100 baht for 75 mins.

I took a long boat across to Victoria? or I think that is where it was, took 35 mins, cost 400 baht return...

Thai Immigration office is on the Pier, they stamp you out + take a photo via web cam + give you a new Arrival/Departure card... Silly read on here many times that 10 US $ is no longer excepted, so did not take, took only a new 500 baht note, next to the Thai Immigration is another office here you hand in your 500 baht and they give you a 10 US $ bill to take over..

For Burma needed only Passport + copy of detail page + 10 US $.... As it was my 1st time I had no idea thankfully the boat man took me to Immigration in Burma..... It is all mod cons over there so you need to go to there office, as your picture is taken on the web cam...

If you have not been B4 the boats stop near the Hotel, the Immigration is the other end so you must walk all the way, pasted all the shops.. [ I have been to Cambodia all I can say is Burma is very much better, clean, no touts, no kids 'money mister'... It was VERY nice and maybe next time will even stay over there if I go again]

Word of warning on the return boat trip Customs do a search...., so if you buy anything buy wisely, the boat man was a help told me to buy 2 cartons of Cigs but he would keep one until after customs. Also notice that the Cigs are genuine not fake like they sell on the boarder in Cambodia

Back in Thailand Immigration stamp your passport, take photo + stamp the Arrival/Departure card and your good to go[for me till Feb 2011]

The good thing is your passport stamp out + in Thailand and Burma takes up 1/2 page.. going to Cambodia takes up 2 pages, my main reason for going passport near full, need to make it last till end date 2012.

I understand the Boat charge is cheaper if more people go, I had the long boat to myself, but notice many had 8 or so people on, was told after if you go with others the charge is about 150 baht return.

Edit: of course Burma is now called Myanmar. no idea what the old Victoria is called now

Edited November 15, 2010 by ignis

[phuket Mike]

Well I think it's a long time since you have been, I haven't been to Ranong for 2 years. The only thing I know for certain is you can't stay in the boat at the Burma side, they, like the Thai's want to take your picture, oh and be sure you take your own crisp new $10 Note, 500 baht is still way more expensive.

For me I would always do the Andaman Club only a little more expensive but a whole world difference in civilization. The second poster was very accurate do not buy anything you shouldn't because they will search you on the way back.

[kelboy]

i

thought Burma was all closed or are they all OPEN again thanks. :jap:

[Mario2008]

i

thought Burma was all closed or are they all OPEN again thanks. :jap:

Only the border near Mae Sod was closed and I think it is still closed, but should be opening soon.

[kelboy]

Thanks mate.

[John71]

Ranong- Kawthong

from the boat ride being wonderful, the other advantage of going to Myanmar, it the visa takes up about 1/4 of a page in your passport not the full page you loose going to Cambodia or Laos and only costs US$10

For anyone who's interested, the time from Sai Tai in Bangkok to Ranong is 9 hours and costs 430 - 666 Baht, I haggled this morning and got the boat to Kawthong and back for 150 Baht, the norm is 200 Baht on a shared boat, 500 Baht with no other passengers. If your coming get your US$10 before you come, as here is may cost you 400-500 Baht. It's 15 Baht in a songtow from the bus station to Saphanpla. All that means, excluding food a visa run to and from Bangkok could cost as little as 1210 Baht. It will take you a day and 2 nights and cost 50 Baht more on the weekend (OT charge). If you need to do a visa run, then why not come down and spend a night and enjoy the fresh air, clear water, green mountains and hot spring and/or take a boat to Koh Phayam and spend some time on the beach?

Edited March 21, 2011 by John71