pete66 Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 The second entry of my triple-entry tourist visa is up on 13th January and I just want to leave Thailand for the shortest space of time i.e. one day. There are services that do that from BKK but I don't really want to visit BKK this time. Any visa run services operating from CM? Don't mind if I go to Cambodia, Laos, or Myanmar, just want a quick in/out in minibus or coach. thx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masuk Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Go to the bus depot over the river, and book a VIP bus to Mae Sai. It's a 4 or 5 hour trip, careful drivers, and there's plenty of time to go through the border and back again and return on the same bus a few hours later. Free bottle of water and biscuits, but take ear plugs. The TV is rather awful, IMHO. Best to avoid the slightly cheaper 'travel vans'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiamondKing Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 (edited) Mai Sai 3.5 hours drive then 10 minutes out of thailand and back in 500 baht bus private bus service AYA MINI BUS down by the train station you need to book leaves 8am returns about 5pm 1 hour drive then the mini bus stops for a 15 minute stop at the hot springs then 2.5 hours more to Mai Sai where you have 1 hour to do your visa before heading back to Chiang Mai Done it MANY MANY TIMES and its a good fast service and the mini bus is comfortable and the regular driver is a good one. DK Edited December 28, 2012 by DiamondKing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgthompson Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Aya Travel Service do a daily run to Mae Sai from their office that's just opposite the railway station for 500 baht, done it a couple of times myself and it's ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete66 Posted December 28, 2012 Author Share Posted December 28, 2012 Great. Many thanks. Wasn't expecting so many clear replies so quickly. I see the Aya Travel Service is minibus. Much prefer the "VIP bus" option if possible as mentioned by "Masuk". Anyone put a name to a service that uses a tour bus not minivans? Thx again!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiamondKing Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 (edited) Great. Many thanks. Wasn't expecting so many clear replies so quickly. I see the Aya Travel Service is minibus. Much prefer the "VIP bus" option if possible as mentioned by "Masuk". Anyone put a name to a service that uses a tour bus not minivans? Thx again!! Not sure why you would prefer that since its just a regular coach which takes way longer drops you out of town so you have to take a motorbike taxi to the border and then you have to wait for the next bus back to CM getting back 7.30 or so The Mini bus is way more VIP way faster and convenient than that bus but if you still want to take that bus then just go the bus station and buy a ticket. DK Edited December 28, 2012 by DiamondKing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaobang Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 what about Chiang Kong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiamondKing Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 what about Chiang Kong? Thats probably the bus only, I know Aya don't go there so your choice might be the bus to Chaing Rai then another to Chiang Kong from there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzo the Face Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 There is a van service to Chiang Khong. But what you need to consider is the fact that to cross the bridge to Tachilek and enter Burma cost 500 Baht. To cross at Chiang Khong into Lao , I may be wrong, but I think it will cost you considerably more. I think its entry cost is based on your country of origin. Of course if you want to get out of the country for 4 or 5 days, consider going down the Mehkong by slo boat to Luang Prabang, or Vientienne, then fly back to Chiang Mai G 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nivram4491 Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Go to the bus depot over the river, and book a VIP bus to Mae Sai. It's a 4 or 5 hour trip, careful drivers, and there's plenty of time to go through the border and back again and return on the same bus a few hours later. I second this. If you have a few days before you need to exit the country, go to the new Arcade Bus Station a few days early to book a VIP bus ticket. The VIP tickets seem to booked out very quickly. The company is Green Bus and the counter is on your left as you walk into the new bus station. It is very comfortable and much safer than minivans. I have never had a problem with a crazy driver. At the Mae Sai end there will be a local pick up bus (song tao) waiting to take you to the border for 10 Baht. This is the standard price with no need to bargain. On returning you take a pick up bus (song tao) back to the bus station for another 10 Baht. It is really a very easy process as there will be others on the bus who have done it many times before who will be happy to show you the ropes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete66 Posted December 28, 2012 Author Share Posted December 28, 2012 Go to the bus depot over the river, and book a VIP bus to Mae Sai. It's a 4 or 5 hour trip, careful drivers, and there's plenty of time to go through the border and back again and return on the same bus a few hours later. I second this. If you have a few days before you need to exit the country, go to the new Arcade Bus Station a few days early to book a VIP bus ticket. The VIP tickets seem to booked out very quickly. The company is Green Bus and the counter is on your left as you walk into the new bus station. It is very comfortable and much safer than minivans. I have never had a problem with a crazy driver. At the Mae Sai end there will be a local pick up bus (song tao) waiting to take you to the border for 10 Baht. This is the standard price with no need to bargain. On returning you take a pick up bus (song tao) back to the bus station for another 10 Baht. It is really a very easy process as there will be others on the bus who have done it many times before who will be happy to show you the ropes. OK great. That sounds perfect. Last question. Where is the "New Arcade Bus Station"? Never been out of a bus from CM, only train or plane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitewhentested Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 i drive to the border about 8 hr round trip did it on a bus once never again the most boring thing iv ever done my advise would be get a taxi driver with a pretty new car to take you and bring you back i did it a clp of times way better think i paid about 3000 an absolute bargain much better than sitting next to a tourist talking about the love of his life bar girl girl friend he met 2 weeks ago and the sad story of her life that i had to endure for the whole trip why do these types always sit next to me lol 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete66 Posted December 28, 2012 Author Share Posted December 28, 2012 i drive to the border about 8 hr round trip did it on a bus once never again the most boring thing iv ever done my advise would be get a taxi driver with a pretty new car to take you and bring you back i did it a clp of times way better think i paid about 3000 an absolute bargain much better than sitting next to a tourist talking about the love of his life bar girl girl friend he met 2 weeks ago and the sad story of her life that i had to endure for the whole trip why do these types always sit next to me lol that's what headphones were invented for 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkles Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Go to the bus depot over the river, and book a VIP bus to Mae Sai. It's a 4 or 5 hour trip, careful drivers, and there's plenty of time to go through the border and back again and return on the same bus a few hours later. I second this. If you have a few days before you need to exit the country, go to the new Arcade Bus Station a few days early to book a VIP bus ticket. The VIP tickets seem to booked out very quickly. The company is Green Bus and the counter is on your left as you walk into the new bus station. It is very comfortable and much safer than minivans. I have never had a problem with a crazy driver. At the Mae Sai end there will be a local pick up bus (song tao) waiting to take you to the border for 10 Baht. This is the standard price with no need to bargain. On returning you take a pick up bus (song tao) back to the bus station for another 10 Baht. It is really a very easy process as there will be others on the bus who have done it many times before who will be happy to show you the ropes. OK great. That sounds perfect. Last question. Where is the "New Arcade Bus Station"? Never been out of a bus from CM, only train or plane The new terminal is opposite the old one,off the super highway clearly marked on all maps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lsk Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 If your taking the VIP GreenBus (my recommendation) you can book online. Mostly in Thai but easy enough to work out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris5346 Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Go to the bus depot over the river, and book a VIP bus to Mae Sai. It's a 4 or 5 hour trip, careful drivers, and there's plenty of time to go through the border and back again and return on the same bus a few hours later. I second this. If you have a few days before you need to exit the country, go to the new Arcade Bus Station a few days early to book a VIP bus ticket. The VIP tickets seem to booked out very quickly. The company is Green Bus and the counter is on your left as you walk into the new bus station. It is very comfortable and much safer than minivans. I have never had a problem with a crazy driver. At the Mae Sai end there will be a local pick up bus (song tao) waiting to take you to the border for 10 Baht. This is the standard price with no need to bargain. On returning you take a pick up bus (song tao) back to the bus station for another 10 Baht. It is really a very easy process as there will be others on the bus who have done it many times before who will be happy to show you the ropes. OK great. That sounds perfect. Last question. Where is the "New Arcade Bus Station"? Never been out of a bus from CM, only train or plane arcade bus station is on the top right on this map : http://www.chiangmai1.com/chiang_mai/map_of_chiang_mai.htm i'd recommend the bus, you can pay a little extra and get the vip seats at the front , safer to buy a return ticket the day before you want to go, buses leave at something like 7 8 and 9 am ? and return 14:30 15:30 etc - i can't remember. you could take the last bus in the morning and return at 14:30 but you wont have any free time, maybe safer to get the 15:30 return or go earlier in the morning. if you go early in the morning you can go into burma for a few hours, you leave your passport with the burmese immigration and collect when you return, if your just going for the visa stamp then say to the burmese officials no shopping and they just give you your passport back and you can return back to thailand, if you have 10 $ take it and maybe you can pay with that which works out cheaper than 500 baht. if your going on the bus you can leave your motorbike at the bus station for 10 baht. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete66 Posted December 28, 2012 Author Share Posted December 28, 2012 If your taking the VIP GreenBus (my recommendation) you can book online. Mostly in Thai but easy enough to work out. Have you got a URL for that? I can read Thai. thx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elektrified Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Great. Many thanks. Wasn't expecting so many clear replies so quickly. I see the Aya Travel Service is minibus. Much prefer the "VIP bus" option if possible as mentioned by "Masuk". Anyone put a name to a service that uses a tour bus not minivans? Thx again!! It's called "Green Bus" VIP bus. You can book at Arcade or at the Green Bus Office behind Big C (Carrefour) Super Highway. You MUST book about 2 days in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JhonD Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Green bus site is http://bus.greencorporatethai.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ripstanley Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 I have used the Green Bus VIP from Phayao to Chiang Mai. Very good service but make sure you have very warm clothes. Aircon temperature goes down to 17-18 degrees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyecatcher Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 I feel like I am going over the same ground again, but after several silver mini van trips, which were ok; my final trip was being seated at the back, cramped in a small space, window locked, some fat arse infront of me on recliner...I should have puked down his neck but i manage to hold on; but vowed never again. Last trip with the green bus, I booked about 5 days in advance because it was a sunday, it costs 234bt vip seats (i think another 80bt for the 1st class seat, wider, extra snacks) but the ride was so relaxed. Bus sets off at 8.00am and stops for 10 mins at the first bus station in Chiang Rai, near the white temple; then goes to the station at the other end of town for 5 minutes. It arrived at Mae sai I think it was about 12.45 a bit later than scheduled as we had a couple of police inspection stops, and one of the stops resulted in a lady being escorted off, then to find her bags in the hold. at the station the songthaew just backs up to the bus and for 10bt its a 10 minute ride to the border. the border stuff now is very quick; I was in and paid my 500bt then waited to sit in the chair as was usual; i was waved back out, he said i have been here before so no need to print card now, great, out in 5 Plenty of time, so i had lunch under the bridge then walked back to the station.(but i dont recommend walking its a long way) I booked a return for 3.30pm....thats perfect; if you book for 4.30 you will have a long wait, but its ok if you want to wander around tesco; dont expect to sneak on an earlier bus if your ticket is for 4.30 they dont allow it...but more often the seat is booked at another picking up spot on the way back. so on balance the trip cost 234bt x2 trips =468bt plus 10bt songthaew plus 10bt to park my bike at the bus station. total 488bt, and with water, snakcs, biscuits, comfort, legroom, tv and maybe only 3hrs overall longer trip all round.....than the silver van (i used to pay 550bt)......................actually enjoyed my visa run for the first time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JhonD Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 eyecatcher thanks for sharing. Maybe my 1st borderun in CM will make like yours Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lsk Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 (edited) I'm sure there are quality Minibus services to the border but I have tried a few and all have been below par. With GreenBus VIP you can recline back, watch an movie and relax. For the most part the drivers are smooth and safe. If the beautiful Northern country side bores you, you can always take a few Tramadols and motion sickness tablets on the way up and get drunk in Burma on 10 Baht Vietnamese beer for the trip down. If you never done it before it's a nice experience. The bus trip that is.... P.S. Many cheap hotels in Mae Sai if you don't won't to rush yourself... Edited December 28, 2012 by lsk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiamondKing Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 (edited) Different Strokes for different folks I guess but I did the green bus once and never again If I need to do a visa run I want to be their and back as fast as possible and after doing that every 15 days for months (until I got a proper visa) on end I would never take the Green bus too slow and inconvenient but I guess if you need to save 200 baht its a decent way to do it for me 3 hours time saving is worth the $6 extra Dk Edited December 28, 2012 by DiamondKing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lsk Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 (edited) Different Strokes for different folks I guess but I did the green bus once and never again If I need to do a visa run I want to be their and back as fast as possible and after doing that every 15 days for months (until I got a proper visa) on end I would never take the Green bus too slow and inconvenient but I guess if you need to save 200 baht its a decent way to do it for me 3 hours time saving is worth the $6 extra Dk Just wondering, how many times have you done your (15 day) visa runs? Edited December 28, 2012 by lsk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellodolly Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Great. Many thanks. Wasn't expecting so many clear replies so quickly. I see the Aya Travel Service is minibus. Much prefer the "VIP bus" option if possible as mentioned by "Masuk". Anyone put a name to a service that uses a tour bus not minivans? Thx again!! Not sure why you would prefer that since its just a regular coach which takes way longer drops you out of town so you have to take a motorbike taxi to the border and then you have to wait for the next bus back to CM getting back 7.30 or so The Mini bus is way more VIP way faster and convenient than that bus but if you still want to take that bus then just go the bus station and buy a ticket. DK Is the mini bus as comfortable as the VIP bus. Did they stop using the songhtals in Mai Sia? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellodolly Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 (edited) i drive to the border about 8 hr round trip did it on a bus once never again the most boring thing iv ever done my advise would be get a taxi driver with a pretty new car to take you and bring you back i did it a clp of times way better think i paid about 3000 an absolute bargain much better than sitting next to a tourist talking about the love of his life bar girl girl friend he met 2 weeks ago and the sad story of her life that i had to endure for the whole trip why do these types always sit next to me lol You are obviously a sensitive caring likable guy. Edited December 28, 2012 by hellodolly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naboo Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Would never get a mini-van up there. Too uncomfortable. Green bus is great, but agree its a long day. Last time I did it, got a local bus from Mae Sai to Chiang Rai and stayed the night, Green bus back to Chiang Mai the next day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FolkGuitar Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I always enjoy the VIP bus. I book a week or more in advance so I can get the first seat on the left (facing forward.) More leg room and no one next to me. I bring ear plugs and a small blanket, get on the bust in the morning and go back to sleep. I wake up in Mai Sai, grab a motorbike taxi to the border rather than wait the 10 minutes for the songtaow, and cross into Burma. I spend a few minutes browsing around the stalls, just looking for something I can't pass up, cross back into Thailand and take a bike taxi back to the bus station. I have a nice quiet lunch at one of the shops behind the station and read a book for an hour, then get back on the bus. Ear plugs and blankie... wake up in Chiang Mai. Couldn't be much more relaxing than that! I will never risk cramping myself into a mini-van for a long ride again. Once was too often. Especially just to save a couple of hours. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellodolly Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I always enjoy the VIP bus. I book a week or more in advance so I can get the first seat on the left (facing forward.) More leg room and no one next to me. I bring ear plugs and a small blanket, get on the bust in the morning and go back to sleep. I wake up in Mai Sai, grab a motorbike taxi to the border rather than wait the 10 minutes for the songtaow, and cross into Burma. I spend a few minutes browsing around the stalls, just looking for something I can't pass up, cross back into Thailand and take a bike taxi back to the bus station. I have a nice quiet lunch at one of the shops behind the station and read a book for an hour, then get back on the bus. Ear plugs and blankie... wake up in Chiang Mai. Couldn't be much more relaxing than that! I will never risk cramping myself into a mini-van for a long ride again. Once was too often. Especially just to save a couple of hours. Must be old age creeping up with that much sleep needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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