Savan Vegas Visa Run

[ilyushin]

Recent Savan Vegas visa Run. See attachment.

Savannaket%20Trip%2020131.docx

[MJCM]

Because a lot of people can't open docx, here the Pasted text

Departure: 30 Jan 2013, 8:30pm Rangsit Bus Terminal. Savan Vegas arrangements booked online for

visa and hotel services. Baht 1,499 package for 31 Jan. – 1 Feb. 2013.( plus Baht 1,000 deposit)

Pre-booked tickets to Mukdahan on VIP bus, 32 seats. Baht 1,600 round trip per person, includes meal

box and stop for noodles or rice soup. Booked round trip 10% discount with 999 Bus Services.

Bangkok-Mukdahan comments: Trip went well. Departed about 45 minutes late, but arrived in

Mukdakan at 6:30am. Clean, comfortable and cheap.

Arrival Mukdahan Bus Station: Transferred to Savan Vegas minivan arrived as scheduled and proceeded

to their VIP Lounge to prepare Thai and Lao Immigration cards. The pickup point is just left of the bus

station.

Lao Visa: Agent completed the form process, I only had to get my photo taken and pay the fees. Savan

Vegas has a special lane for the minivan at both sides of the border. If you have the visa in-advance then

the less time it takes. They asked for the 20 baht per person additional fee for the officers at the border.

Savan Vegas Thai Visa Service: At check-in the formalities were complete within 10 minutes, application,

fees, documents. 5 meal vouchers, Baht 500 match for casino, spa voucher, receipt of payments and

deposits, room card key and rechecked all documents and application for Non-Immigrant “O” Visa.

Items given to agent: Application, two photos, fee B2,000, house registration, marriage certificate, wife’s

ID, bank statement, copy of employment and income letter.

Savannaket General is a nice place. Shopping at Singapore market ( clothes, dry goods, electronics, some

gift items, fresh vegetable and fruit ( you could spend hours walking around just looking), ODOP ( not

very big , but handicrafts, souvenirs, local smokes and whiskey ( price were about 20% higher than the

market and fixed prices still cheap though) was good, people friendly and helpful. Prices are reasonable,

but room to negotiate at the local markets). Lunch at Vietnamese restaurant ( set menu for 2 with

salad, pork plate, sweet & sour shrimp, squid and vegetable dish, bean sprout salad and soup, bottled

water, wet towels Baht 82)

Savan Vegas Hotel and Casino: Won on slots (Jackpot on first machine) and had a great time. Covered

the visa and hotel fees. Staff was friendly and helpful. Layout was nice and some good Asian singers and

bands played. Buffet was not busy during the weekdays, but I am sure on weekends they get busy.

Food was fair. Breakfast was fair, lunch fair, dinner was the best. Room was nice, clean, no Wifi, but LAN

was available for free. Wifi outside the room available. Plenty of water and can request more. The slots

were good to me and my wife. I enjoyed my visit and applied for casino membership which can get

discounts and gain points. They also have Savan Vegas beer. Beer Lao and Beer Savan which are cheap

and tasty.

Return of Passport/Visa Experience: No complications, I did have all documents and fees. Submitted

9am returned next day 2pm. Everything returned and completed.

Return to Thailand : Nice Immigration officers Lao and Thai and completed in 10 minutes. Total of 10

minutes.

Mukdahan – Bangkok bus trip return was quick and easy. We made great time back to Bangkok. Stopped

for a meal and also a snack box. Take a light jacket as the VIP bus is cold. No noisy karaoke or bad music.

Silent sleep back. Another tip would be an inflatable pillow or small pillow to make it even more

comfortable.

Costs: Bus Baht 1,600

Lao Visa: 1,500

Thai Visa : 2,000

Savan Vegas 1,499 ( hotel room 2 days/ 1 night, transfer Thai/Lao and return, Visa Service, massage 90

minutes, 5 meal vouchers, free water in room and casino, free casino membership, amenities, LAN / Wifi

internet. Hot shower, great air-con room, view outside (requested), TV channels in Thai, Lao, English,

Chinese ( They could do with some more English programs).

Tuk-Tuks 2 people 100 baht one way downtown and then 100 for return. 4 trips Total: 800 baht. You

can wait for small buses at cheaper prices, but waiting is the down side. I will rent a motorbike or car

next time.

Outside Meals, snacks and gifts 1,000 ( lots of bargains at the markets) I came back with clothes, lucky

charms, whiskey, wine, kitchen ware, small gifts for friends, nail clipper set, etc…

Tips and fess: 300 (waiters, bell boy, officers)

Total Baht 8,699

Note: You could save on bus fare, agent fees and Tuk-Tuks if you took a cheaper bus, stayed at a guest

house and did the visa application yourself. In my opinion, I would do what I did, and just enjoy the trip

instead of saving a few baht.

Thanks Savan Vegas!