Book Cheapest Bus Ticket Out Of Thailand Online?

[Guyz]

I started the living in Thailand on 300 a month thread. It got locked (apparently) because people incorrectly assumed I was currently in the US, and I didn't bother to correct them. I am currently in New Zealand, with a flight leaving for Bangkok tomorrow afternoon. Could someone tell me how to book a bus trip out of Thailand before leaving for Thailand? I was told that would be the best way to obtain a visa to start with.

I am arriving in Thailand just before midnight. I'd love to meet someone there or where ever (I don't know how to get around in Thailand yet though) who is local and wouldn't mind helping me out. I plan to book a hostel for a couple of nights while I figure out exactly where I want to go from Bangkok. Figuring out how to get a bus or taxi to the hostel should be my second interesting experience in the country (the first being getting through immigration). Anyway, not a fake as some people seem to think. My name is Eric, and I'll be the tall American getting off the airplane tomorrow night. Please feel free to verify by meeting me there and offering a little help .

[Guyz]

Someone offered to meet me and show me around in the previous thread. I'd love to but can't find the post. Please PM me or reply here.

[bangkokburning]

There are buses that do run outside Thailand but I doubt you will find any online as I think most if not all online bus comanies are out of BKK. You might try companies servicing Chaing Mai or Phuket and you most likely have to read Thai.

Having said that, I am sure you can find busses running all manners of places near to or on the border.

Better luck booking a BKK-Butterworth TRAIN ticket.

You seem pretty clueless, good luck.

[bobl]

I think maybe you're confused on the visa issue.

I'll try to keep it simple. First of all, there should be NO PROBLEM getting a visa exempt stamp at immigration, on arrival. This will give you 30 days to find out if Thailand is for you, or to put your tail between your legs and flee. Your PROBLEM with having no visa, will not be at the Thailand end it will be at the New Zealand end - you MIGHT NOT be allowed to check in for the flight. You need to turn up a bit early at the airport, so that you have time to sort out the problem IF you have a problem. If you have a problem and there is an Air Asia agent there, you might be able to pick up a 1 way ticket bkk to somewhere for around $50-60. That probably wouldn't be refundable, but it might not be a bad idea anyway - you're going to need to go somewhere after 30 days to be able to turn round and get another 30 day stamp, OR spend a couple of days there getting a tourist visa (which shouldn't be difficult - I don't know why you haven't applied for a tourist visa while you've been in NZ, you'd have alleviated at least one of your problems).

I will reiterate what many people have told you - that you will find it next to impossible to survive in Th on $300. But from your posts I suspect you're not as daft as most people seem to have assumed and do have the means to support yourself. You've been a bit daft on the visa issue however.

Anyway, best of luck you're going to need it! The Chiangers are going to hate me for suggesting this but I strongly suggest you consider moving North, where the cost of living is a little cheaper. On your budget I wouldn't recommend Thailand period, but if you must come don't stay in bkk or the south.

[Mario2008]

Either get a tourist visa befor traveling to Thailand or a (single) ticket out of the country within 30 days. Any neighbouring country will be fine.

[Guyz]

I am aware of what I need and why. I was hoping someone could help with the how.

For example, I found State Railways of Thailand online, and it has trains from Bangkok to Thanaleng, but they don't sell tickets online. I'll assume that bangkokburning is correct in that the tickets aren't available online. I don't know how to get a visa to Thailand while I'm in New Zealand, I asked about getting a visa in the previous post but no one seemed inclined to answer, which leaves me with a ticket out of the country (to get through the airport here, yes, I am aware that is why). My flight leaves tomorrow afternoon, so I don't have time for the visa application process. Unfortunately, I also don't have the money to continue sitting around in New Zealand, thus the quick ticket out of the country.

Anyway, thanks you to everyone who offered helpful advice. I'm not sure that I'll get a chance to check this again before heading out tomorrow, but I'll try in case someone posts something else that is helpful.

And just so everyone interested knows, my current plan is to stay in Bangkok a few days to get my bearings, then head north as recommended, and try to find a smaller city to stay in. At a $100 US per month for a better apartment, and $66 for a cheaper one, I might just pay for 6 months out of my savings, and then use the $300+ for all my other expenses. Once I've got that settled, I can move on to issues I mentioned as goals in my previous post.

[Mario2008]

I don't know how long the Thai consulate takes to issue a tourist visa.

If you have a credit card, buy a ticket out of Thailand within 30 days of arrival. The e-booking is enough. Just buy the cheapest ticket with a price fighter, or an expensive one which can be refunded when you don't use it.

A trainticket or something is normally not accepted by the airlines. Being airlines, they prefer air tickets.

[kerryk]

How long have you been in New Zealand?

[sparebox2]

Try AirAsia. They can be quite cheap. Especially Thailand (not limited to BKK) - KUL route.

[Guyz]

I've been in NZ for 2 months. I was lead to believe it was cheap compared to the US, but it costs about the same.

I am heading to the airport after logging of this library computer. I'll be getting there a few hours early. I'll ask the airline if it will be a problem, and if it is, I'll look up AirAsia, thank you for the advice.

My flight arrives in BKK at 11:10. Looking forward to seeing the country. Agian, thank you all for the helpful advice.

[bangkokburning]

When you arrive in Thailand you will be given one month. That will be plenty of time to decide where you want to go and how you wish to exit. You need not worry about booking online. Just front up to a kiosk in any bus terminal and yo can go a-b. Personally, I never book a x border bus, can be trouble. Get to the border, x and pick up transport on the other side. Its just travel, don't overthink it.

[Baxer]

When you arrive in Thailand you will be given one month. That will be plenty of time to decide where you want to go and how you wish to exit. You need not worry about booking online. Just front up to a kiosk in any bus terminal and yo can go a-b. Personally, I never book a x border bus, can be trouble. Get to the border, x and pick up transport on the other side. Its just travel, don't overthink it.

He needs a ticket out of thailand to show at checkin in NZ, so he need to worry about online booking.

[bangkokburning]

No consulate is going to give him a visa based on a bus journey. I have always wanted to try the train to Butterworth though.

[ALFREDO]

-GUYZ-

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