Bus Ticket From Chiang Mai To Myanmar Border

[orangeodissey]

Hi everyone! I'm a portuguese woman moving to Chiang Mai in October. I'm now requesting a 60 days visa, but for that I need to buy a way out ticket. I was thinking about booking a bus ticket from Chiang Mai to the Myanmar border. Can someone give me advices on that? How can I buy it online?! Thanks in advance for your help!

[market trader]

You go to the Arcade bus station in Chiang Mai. Go to green bus counter for bus to Maesai on the Myanmar border. However I am 99% sure you cannot book on line. Your best bet for a departure ticket to show immigration is book a flight on Air Asia to KL in Malayasia. You don't say how long you are intending to stay in Chiang Mai. The 60 day tourist visa you can get a 30 day extension by going to immigration in Chiang Mai. You then have a total of 90 days before you must leave the country.

[elektrified]

A bus ticket to the border would not work. You need an airline ticket showing you are actually leaving the country.

[lsk]

Greenbus online. In Thai but easy enough to work out. 288baht VIP one way.

http://202.8.79.144:8080/chaipattana/exec/flowselling/ticketinternet.jsp?s_action=selectstation

[DowntownAl]

If you have a Tourist Visa in your passport there is no need for an outbound ticket. I came here on a dual entry tourist visa last year ago August with no outbound ticket, it's not necessary.

[market trader]

If you have a Tourist Visa in your passport there is no need for an outbound ticket. I came here on a dual entry tourist visa last year ago August with no outbound ticket, it's not necessary.

Maybe you were lucky.. This past May when I was returning from a trip overseas the english speaking fellow in front of me at immigration was having a very animated and loud discussion with the immigration officer. It appears that he was entering the country with a double entry tourist visa but did not have an outbound ticket for when his second entry was finished. This discussion went on for over 15 minutes. Finally 2 other immigration officers appeared and escorted him away. Of course I don't know what the outcome was. But the moral of the story is what is okay today, may not be okay tomorrow.

[MrBrad]

I realize that it's often a crap shoot when dealing with various government offices here, and what is true one day may not be the case on another, and then, depending on the luck of the draw, may be a third scenario yet another day.

But this ongoing debate about having an outbound air ticket seems to be impractical and unreasonable for the traveler who wants to spend a bit of time in Thailand, and then takes the train or bus--or flies--onward to Malaysia, Laos, or elsewhere for more world travel. Many visitors to Thailand (myself included) come here on one-way tickets.

As for how to explain this to Immigration should the need arise, one should calmly and politely be prepared to explain your onward adventures after enjoying Thailand for a few weeks. I'd guess that the attitude of the person referenced in post #6 above was not appreciated by the authorities who were at risk of losing face.

[orangeodissey]

First of all, thank you for the answers! About the visa, the Thai embassy in Portugal does request an outbound ticket in order t give me a 60 days visa. I have no idea how it works there, but here in Portugal the outbound ticket it's not discussable! And because I don't have a lot of money and because there are chances I'll not need to use that outbound ticket, I would like to make it as cheap as possible. So, from Chiang Mai, what are the cheapest solutions for me? And what are the ones I can actually book online? What would you buy in my situation?!

[uptheos]

Ticket to Thailand entrance free for 30 days

Air ticket to Vientiane, Laos timed 30 days after arrival to show you're leaving Thailand?

Double entry tourist visa from Thai Embassy Laos? (Which will give you 2x90 days if you extend at CM immigration)

Please put this right anyone with more knowledge on these things.

[elektrified]

First of all, thank you for the answers! About the visa, the Thai embassy in Portugal does request an outbound ticket in order t give me a 60 days visa. I have no idea how it works there, but here in Portugal the outbound ticket it's not discussable! And because I don't have a lot of money and because there are chances I'll not need to use that outbound ticket, I would like to make it as cheap as possible. So, from Chiang Mai, what are the cheapest solutions for me? And what are the ones I can actually book online? What would you buy in my situation?!

Uptheos has probably given you the best solution; C.M. to Vientiane, Laos. The airfare you can search for on-line and then make a booking and pay for it with your credit card. You could come back to C.M. by bus very inexpensively.

[orangeodissey]

The flights to Vientiane, Laos, from Chiang Mai, start in 200 euros! That's a lot of money! How much by bus to Myanmar or something? The Thai embassy here said it's ok If I leave the country by bus or any other mean of transportation

[uptheos]

The flights to Vientiane, Laos, from Chiang Mai, start in 200 euros! That's a lot of money! How much by bus to Myanmar or something? The Thai embassy here said it's ok If I leave the country by bus or any other mean of transportation

But you can't get a bus into Myanmar!

So you can't get a ticket

[orangeodissey]

Hum... what abot a bus from Chiang Mai to somewhere in Laos?

[uptheos]

Hum... what abot a bus from Chiang Mai to somewhere in Laos?

Nope you have to change before the border (I think)

[orangeodissey]

Ok, what are the chances of getting a flight, get the visa, cancel the flight, get the money back and then do the visa run by bus?!

[elektrified]

Ok, what are the chances of getting a flight, get the visa, cancel the flight, get the money back and then do the visa run by bus?!

You won't get your money back if you cancel the flight. Read the small print when you purchase the ticket. The only exception would be if you purchase travel insurance (like the 250 Baht plan that Air Asia offers), then get sick the day you are scheduled to travel and go see a Doctor. You will need to submit the the claim along with the documents from the Doctor. I tried one time to get my money back when I cancelled 3 tickets on Air Asia to Malaysia 24 hours before the flight. Went round and round with them for months, disputed the credit card bill, etc. In the end they won and I lost the money.

[elektrified]

Hum... what abot a bus from Chiang Mai to somewhere in Laos?

Nope you have to change before the border (I think)

He is right. You can only take the bus to just before the border.

[elektrified]

The flights to Vientiane, Laos, from Chiang Mai, start in 200 euros! That's a lot of money! How much by bus to Myanmar or something? The Thai embassy here said it's ok If I leave the country by bus or any other mean of transportation

200 Euros sounds like round-trip. Did you search for one-way flights? You can come back to C.M. by bus.

[orangeodissey]

Well, I checked with skyscanner and 199 euros was the minimum... I can't understand how can it be so expensive!

[elektrified]

Well, I checked with skyscanner and 199 euros was the minimum... I can't understand how can it be so expensive!

I seem to recall flights being around 6,000 Baht so more like 150 Euros before tax. But these airlines often have promotions so you should keep checking prices. Oh I see you are coming next month. You should have been looking to book the flight sooner! I know that is not very helpful but in Thailand they often have promotions (50% discount or more) if you book early. You don't have much choice at this point.

[market trader]

Why don't you just go to the Thai embassy in Portugal and get a double entry visa. Then get your flight without an outbound ticket. It seems that you have at least a 50% chance of immigration not questioning no outbound ticket. The reason I say double entry tourist visa is that it gives you some wiggle room if you have to explain why no outbound ticket. Worst case scenario they take you aside when you arrive in Bangkok and make you buy an out bound ticket to some country.

[Saan]

Well, I checked with skyscanner and 199 euros was the minimum... I can't understand how can it be so expensive!

Chiang Mai to Kuala Lumpur on Air Asia is probably your cheapest option. Ticket prices vary so shop around for the best price on the day and you should get one for about $100. Good luck.

[elektrified]

Why don't you just go to the Thai embassy in Portugal and get a double entry visa. Then get your flight without an outbound ticket. It seems that you have at least a 50% chance of immigration not questioning no outbound ticket. The reason I say double entry tourist visa is that it gives you some wiggle room if you have to explain why no outbound ticket. Worst case scenario they take you aside when you arrive in Bangkok and make you buy an out bound ticket to some country.

They will still require an outbound ticket whether it is a single or double entry (as many Thai consulates/embassies in Europe do). In fact some consulates require a return ticket before they will issue a tourist visa. I ran into a big problem with this myself when I first moved here 5 years ago. It took a lot of work getting around the requirement (and a lot of help from lopburi3 in the visa forum).

[CP3]

You will get 30days upon arrival then do 2x lands ..cheaper?

[Beng]

A bus ticket to the border would not work. You need an airline ticket showing you are actually leaving the country.

That is correct

[relhby789]

Hi! As far as I can judge, you checked price from CM. I believe, that airticket from Bangkok works for you! You always can say, that you will buy bus ticket to BKK. It is much cheaper.

[uptheos]

I can't understand how can it be so expensive!

You wait until you want to buy a bottle of Port!

Seriously, did you figure out something yet?

[ARGUSEYE]

A bus ticket to the border would not work. You need an airline ticket showing you are actually leaving the country.

That is correct

This is wrong!!

the actual wording in the Thai regulation is: "Proof of onward travel" , nothing else.

How does your airline interpret this??... Who knows, but actually, there is no mention of an airline ticket.

[elektrified]

A bus ticket to the border would not work. You need an airline ticket showing you are actually leaving the country.

That is correct

This is wrong!!

the actual wording in the Thai regulation is: "Proof of onward travel" , nothing else.

How does your airline interpret this??... Who knows, but actually, there is no mention of an airline ticket.

I'll re-phrase it. You need a ticket showing you are actually leaving the country. In Northern Thailand that means air since you can't take a direct bus to Laos or Cambodia or Myanmar. It's not like open borders in Europe where you can hop a bus from one EU country to another.

[barefoot1988]

yes the bus ticket will just show the destination to maesai, not tachilek. there is no proof of the onward travel to other countries.

just get a refundable ticket to kl to something