Savanvegas Visa Run.my Experience.

[Vinny1967]

Thought I'd share my first visa run experience with you all,so here it goes.

Started off on monday with a flight from Don Muang.Had booked on the 15.10 departure with Air Asia to Nakhon Phanom.I had arranged with Savanvegas to be picked up at the airport.Departure was bang on time and we got into Nakhon Phanom about 10 minutes early.Got outside but there was no sign of the Savanvegas bus.Gave them a call and was told they should be there any minute.Sure enough,5 minutes later they arrived and I had a fairly new mini-bus all to myself.Nice and comfortable with leather reclining seats.Road trip took about 80 minutes to the Thai border.When we got there,the driver asked for my passport,so I gave it to him,off he went and came back a few minutes later with departure card and arrival card for Laos already filled in for me.Drove up to the border and got out of the bus to get my passport stamped.

Drove over the bridge to the Laos side and an employee from SV came to our bus and took my passport and 1500 baht and got my Laos visa for me.Drove off then to the hotel.Nice easy check-in.Someone from the visa run came over and told me to be at their desk at 8.30 next morning.At check-in they gave me a 500 baht card so I could have a free gamble,meal vouchers and a voucher for a free 90 minute massage.Went to my room and was pleasantly surprised as to how clean and well kept it was.Everything was in working order and the bed was pretty comfortable.

Next morning had breakfast and made my way to the visa run counter.Handed over all the paperwork and money (2000 baht for double tourist),then they said " you'll have your passport back tomorrow".I was all ready to go to the consulate with them but they said there was no need.Told me to relax and that they would handle everything.I was a bit sceptical at first but thought I'd just wait and see.Had a great massage in the afternoon.After that a few beers at the bar,had dinner and off up to my room for some movies.

Checked out next day at 12.30.Guy from the visa run told me there would be a bus at 13.45 to bring me to the consulate so I could pick up my passport.Normally they would bring the passports back to the hotel,but I had a flight at 16.55 back to BKK so time was of the essence.Arrived at the consulate at 2.00 pm.The guy from SV picked up all the passports and I was back in the bus at 14.15.Off to the border.Got through both borders without a hitch.SV employees helping me all the time.Arrived on Thai side at 14.40.Changed buses at the office and off to Nakhon Phanom airport.Arrived there at 16.00.Quick check-in and flight bang on time again.Arrived back in BKK at 18.05.

So all-in-all it was a pretty stress free experience.Because it was my first visa run,I didn't know what to expect,but the staff from SV were so helpful that it made everything so easy.

There are cheaper ways to do a visa run,maybe next time I'll go somewhere else,but for now I'll gladly use the service of SavanVegas again.

Flight 3000

Transfer 1000

Visa 2000

Laos visa 1500

Hotel 2200

[Nautilus05]

Definitely sounds worth the money to me. Sounds like you only paid around 900 - 1200 more than you normally would have if you went at it alone, grabbed your own hotel room, used tuk-tuks to get to/from the embassy, etc. Well worth the money, I'd say.

Edited February 28, 2013 by Nautilus05

[dddave]

You would have saved about B300 ($10 US) if you had paid the Lao entrance fee, $35 in $$ rather that Baht. At least that was true through last year, could have changed now.

Good report...certainly eliminates a lot of the hassle.

Edited March 1, 2013 by dddave

[FireMedic]

I'll be up in Udon in April when I have to renew. Can you give the contact info or pm me with it so I can call them? I'm dying to get the double! The suicide runs to Penang is getting old quickly!!

[Vinny1967]

You would have saved about B300 ($10 US) if you had paid the Lao entrance fee, $35 in $$ rather that Baht. At least that was true through last year, could have changed now.

Good report...certainly eliminates a lot of the hassle.

It's on their site about paying in dollars but I totally forgot about it.

[Vinny1967]

I'll be up in Udon in April when I have to renew. Can you give the contact info or pm me with it so I can call them? I'm dying to get the double! The suicide runs to Penang is getting old quickly!!

Here's their site http://www.savanvegas.com/visarun/

[enrico2]

good report, thank you for sharing.

so you got a double entry tourist VISA? right?

[KBAA]

Many ways to make advertisment !

[Hawkman]

Yeah I've done it with them twice now, all ok. Just make sure you book in advance if you try to just turn up and do their visa run without informing them, they will supply the service but you miss out on all the vouchers you get at the casino.

To save money on the pick up from the airport, you could've just got a bus from Nakohrn Pranhom at their bus station and stayed in mukdahan for just 400 baht a night. And got SV to pick you up at 8 the next morning. Will save you one night in the casino.

[Plastic Brontosaurus]

Sounds like a good solution. So far went to Vientiane, but waiting in the queue at the Embassy twice for a few hours in the heat is not exactly fun. Much better having a massage and a few beers whilst it all gets sorted out for you, no queuing, no stress. Thanks for sharing, I know where I shall go next time now :-)

[ignis]

You can also fly with Nokair Depart : Bangkok (Don Mueang) To Mukdahan [fly/bus]

You get dropped off near the Bridge, so easy to walk into Casino Office, or go over if staying at another place.

Book in advance and on the correct day flight + bus to bridge and back cost 3,150 baht......... even less if you catch a Promotion offer.

http://www.nokair.com/contents/promotion/mukdahan/en-US/index.html

Edited March 1, 2013 by ignis

[bender92]

You should have spent some time in Laos, it's really nice in the south.

[Maestro]

good report, thank you for sharing.

so you got a double entry tourist VISA? right?

Strangely, the OP never wrote what visa he got, only that he paid 2000 Baht for it.

[lopburi3]

Actually he did say.

Next morning had breakfast and made my way to the visa run counter.Handed over all the paperwork and money (2000 baht for double tourist),

[MartyC]

Great report, I hope they can issue 1 year multiple entry O visa, I have heard they can. Will do the run in October. Is it worth flying direct to Savannekhet with Lao Airlines from Bangkok?

Can you get massage in hotel room? :-)

[Maestro]

Actually he did say.

Next morning had breakfast and made my way to the visa run counter.Handed over all the paperwork and money (2000 baht for double tourist),

Thanks. Will now add it to the list of Latest Reports Of Getting A Visa In The Region

[Maestro]

Great report, I hope they can issue 1 year multiple entry O visa, I have heard they can...

Yes, they can. See latest reports from members here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/189375-latest-reports-of-getting-a-visa-in-the-region/

[anto]

Many ways to make advertisment !

I also used Savana Vegas and they are well worth the little extra money to make it a nice hastle free experience .If it was bad or a problem i would also say it .

[Ajaan]

You should have spent some time in Laos, it's really nice in the south.

It is...but the NICE part of southern Laos doesn't start until you get quite a ways south of Savann, trust me, haha!

[uha]

Happy guys from Bangkok.

You can spend 10.000 Baht just for a double tourist visa, and this twice a year plus prolongation costs...

And you find this cheap and ok.

I am from Issaan (what a different world) and my bill is the following:

Bus from Kalasin to Mukdahan total 200 Baht (both directions)

Bus from Mukdahan to Savankhet total 100 Baht (both directions)

Lao visa on arrival 1300 Baht (no, I don't pay 1500)

Entry pocket money to Lao immigration 20 baht.

Don't need Tuk-Tuk because I know where to go.

Hotel 1 night in Savanakhet 300 Baht (no massage included, but TV and aircon), if needed.

One massage 60 minutes 150 Baht (if needed)

Plus costs for breakfast, 2 meals 100 Baht (Thai food)

Visa costs if applicable...(I have to apply for visa one once a year)

[bangkokburning]

Well, it is a nice write up, I'll give you that.

Figure my costs were about as follows:

Bus rt 1100

Misc transp 150 (inc costs to Morchit rt, Thai, Lao)

Room 200 (very clean, wifi)

Food 200 (approx)

Beer 300

Visa 5000

Visa usd35 (1200)

Less than b8200 door to door. 1yr visa.

I've also read reports on that hotel as: desolate, smoky sad little rooms and marginal food

You had to get up earlier and drive 20km to the consulate. Think I walked 200m.

But I am sure the cultural experience you had with all the other farang, the staff and the casino surely was a wothwhile experience.

[metisdead]

Some inflammatory posts have been removed. In case it is not known here, Savan Vegas is an active sponsor on Thai Visa and advertise on this forum, therefore:

11) Our contracts with our advertisers prohibit comments with regard to advertisements which appear on our forums. Such comments should not be posted and will be removed. Discussion of software or other methods to block advertisements is not allowed.

[bangkokburning]

What I am saying and have been for years is that yeah ok I am a cc. I revel in doing it cheap, I am a very experienced backpacker and been here a long, long time.

BUT

I sacrifice nothing. I go on vip buses when available, I sleep in simple cheap rooms (always clean), I eat the best local food I can find, I drink as much lovely beer Lao as my head can handle.

As for visa services. I have never used one but every time I go to the border, you guys are aleays behind me. Same at the visa window, same at the pickup time and same when I rock up on the border and clear customs and your van is doing whatever wherever.

Some of my most fun visa runs were on the Nong Khai - BKK party train. All the Cheap Charlies coming back to bkk. Techno playing in the resty and the beer flowin like it was Germany.

What in my life or way of traveling is a hardship?

[roadsaints]

Great report, I hope they can issue 1 year multiple entry O visa, I have heard they can. Will do the run in October. Is it worth flying direct to Savannekhet with Lao Airlines from Bangkok?

Can you get massage in hotel room? :-)

Sorry guys... Can anybody tell me how to get the 1year O visa? Can the visa run guys in front of the embassy do it? Anybody got experience?

[MJCM]

Great report, I hope they can issue 1 year multiple entry O visa, I have heard they can. Will do the run in October. Is it worth flying direct to Savannekhet with Lao Airlines from Bangkok?

Can you get massage in hotel room? :-)

Sorry guys... Can anybody tell me how to get the 1year O visa? Can the visa run guys in front of the embassy do it? Anybody got experience?

Are you ?

- Married to a Thai ?

- Over 50 Years of age ?

- Anything else that would qualify you for a Non - O visa ?

Edited March 1, 2013 by MJCM

[Vinny1967]

Great report, I hope they can issue 1 year multiple entry O visa, I have heard they can. Will do the run in October. Is it worth flying direct to Savannekhet with Lao Airlines from Bangkok? Can you get massage in hotel room? :-)

I think it's an extra 200 baht to get a massage in your room.

[anto]

Happy guys from Bangkok.

You can spend 10.000 Baht just for a double tourist visa, and this twice a year plus prolongation costs...

And you find this cheap and ok.

I am from Issaan (what a different world) and my bill is the following:

Bus from Kalasin to Mukdahan total 200 Baht (both directions)

Bus from Mukdahan to Savankhet total 100 Baht (both directions)

Lao visa on arrival 1300 Baht (no, I don't pay 1500)

Entry pocket money to Lao immigration 20 baht.

Don't need Tuk-Tuk because I know where to go.

Hotel 1 night in Savanakhet 300 Baht (no massage included, but TV and aircon), if needed.

One massage 60 minutes 150 Baht (if needed)

Plus costs for breakfast, 2 meals 100 Baht (Thai food)

Visa costs if applicable...(I have to apply for visa one once a year)

Yes ,soft lad but you have to live in the arse hole of nowhere to get that .Happy cheap living anyway .

[MobileContent]

Happy guys from Bangkok.

You can spend 10.000 Baht just for a double tourist visa, and this twice a year plus prolongation costs...

And you find this cheap and ok.

I am from Issaan (what a different world) and my bill is the following:

Bus from Kalasin to Mukdahan total 200 Baht (both directions)

Bus from Mukdahan to Savankhet total 100 Baht (both directions)

Lao visa on arrival 1300 Baht (no, I don't pay 1500)

Entry pocket money to Lao immigration 20 baht.

Don't need Tuk-Tuk because I know where to go.

Hotel 1 night in Savanakhet 300 Baht (no massage included, but TV and aircon), if needed.

One massage 60 minutes 150 Baht (if needed)

Plus costs for breakfast, 2 meals 100 Baht (Thai food)

Visa costs if applicable...(I have to apply for visa one once a year)

I am from Isaan too (SK) and love to use Savan Vegas for None Immigrant B visa. Excellent service from them on both side of the border.

Keep my car at the border until the next day afternoon.

[BKKBrit]

Great report, I hope they can issue 1 year multiple entry O visa, I have heard they can. Will do the run in October. Is it worth flying direct to Savannekhet with Lao Airlines from Bangkok? Can you get massage in hotel room? :-)

Dear God....is this all some of you think about?

[AloisAmrein]

Very funny, some people do a visa run to Laos and forget to visit this nice country. If I need a new stamp in my passport, I travel to Pakse or to Vientiane and stay in Laos 15 days. And for this 15 days I do not need a visa, since up to 15 days there is no need to make a visa for Laos (for Japanese and Swiss only). And if I want to stay 30 days in Thailand, I fly back from Vientiane. Also no need to get a visa for Thailand.