Chiang Saen, Golden Traingle Casino Visa Run

[Joel Barlow]

Rumors, rumors, and no newspaper or good info source other than here

It's reported about that folk are having trouble at Chiang Saen, not allowed to go over to the casino for visa extenssion.

I'd planned to go there this month, but certainly don't want to waste gas and time.

Anyone have solid info on what's happening?

I'd really like to know, but realize that we really don't know, and that different rules are applied for different people etc

It was nice while it lasted, there. They'd make me spend at least a few minutes at the casino, but I didn't mind the boat ride, exercize on all those dock stairs, and making my book rounds at various places in the area. Sure got me to Chiang Saen more often than I get to Chiang Khong!

[mumbojumbo]

Check with Claose (sp) at the Funny Bar. He will know.

Edited March 15, 2006 by mumbojumbo

[Potter]

Rumors, rumors, and no newspaper or good info source other than here

It's reported about that folk are having trouble at Chiang Saen, not allowed to go over to the casino for visa extenssion.

I'd planned to go there this month, but certainly don't want to waste gas and time.

Anyone have solid info on what's happening?

I'd really like to know, but realize that we really don't know, and that different rules are applied for different people etc

It was nice while it lasted, there. They'd make me spend at least a few minutes at the casino, but I didn't mind the boat ride, exercize on all those dock stairs, and making my book rounds at various places in the area. Sure got me to Chiang Saen more often than I get to Chiang Khong!

What is wrong with Mae Sai?

[Joel Barlow]

It's not that something's wrong with Mae Sai, but sometimes there are long ques (SP?) and sometimes I just don't want to be bothered with Tachilek. Don't have to go, I know, but the casino was convenitent for me.

So I asked about it yesterday, and it's a no go. One official just repeated to me in English what I'd asked in Thai - eventually making it clear she thought I could explain better than her! So, I suspect the casion was bored with people like me who just didn't spend musch time when they got there (and certainly didn't gamble!). I did buy a Hanuman cartoon CD once - it didn't work...

Saw my first Farang asked to show 10,000 - he didn't have it! Possibly significant... he got off as he'd put down for 20 cays (not 30, though you only get 29) and had a ticket, credit card and Sweedish currency (he said)... had to tell them what he was "doing here" too... there was this scantily dressed lady clearly fluent in local lingo (unlike God?) waiting for him

[Chris Lawrence]

Joel have just done the trip, Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong.

!600 baht into Loas and 450 baht into casino. Trip into casino u only have photocopy of passport done no updating of visa. Trip into Loas u get visa updated.

[Joel Barlow]

Joel have just done the trip, Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong.

!600 baht into Loas and 450 baht into casino. Trip into casino u only have photocopy of passport done no updating of visa. Trip into Loas u get visa updated.

What! They made you pay to go to the casino! Nobody told me that - just about the photocopy!

What a rip! !!! !!!

600 baht into Laos is a bargain by my experience - used to have to notify Ann Tour a week in advance, and pay about 1000, 1100 or so, then B40 for the longtail boat...

The $10 extra (over Mae Sai) price buys a lot of gas, but htere's wear and tear opn the car... if you'd provide a little more info on this, I guess I'd consider doing it next month - bright lights, big city! It's strange - when in Chiang khong, there's all this lound music coming from across the river, making it (Xiang Khouang or whatever bizaar spelling) seem like some big party town...

[Chris Lawrence]

My typo Joel. 1600 baht not 600 baht

[Limbo]

At the time of the skirmishes between all these different kinds of 'armies' which are hosted by the greater Golden Triangle the border of Mae Sai was closed. The 3d Thai Army was patrolling the streets of Mae Sai with armed Humvee's.

I went several times with a friend for a visarun to Chiang Saen.

We first went to the office of the Immigration Police at the main street (at the right side at the first traffic light after passing the National Museum and the Chedi Luang).

There he got a little note which proved that he was not on the 'black list'.

Then we went straight on the few hundred meters to the little boot of the Immigration Police at the river where he was stamped out.

From there the little fast longtailboats took of to the casino.

The boat costed 500 Baht.

He used to be back within the hour and got a stamp for another month in his passport.

Later some people went for the 'not-on-black-list'-stamp to the big Immigration office and proceded directly to the casino ferry to save the fivehundred Baht.

After a while this wasn't approved anymore.

About the present situation I don't know.

Limbo.

[Chris and Dan]

Visa run to Burma casino (Golden Triangle Paradise Resort) isn't happening. We were given a free night at the hotel voucher from a friend and stayed on 21 March 2006. We had to pay 200 Baht each to Thai immigration and 10 dollars U.S. ( or 450 Baht ) each to Burma immigration. They don't stamp your passport - no visa issued - but stamp the date on a copy of your passport which you return upon leaving. Hotel was nice, casino pathetically small - this is no Las Vegas - there's no swimming pool, only stores were a 7-Eleven size "duty free shop with not much in it, and a tiny jewelry store. The sole restaurant charges a 10% service charge and then 10% VAT on the total. You are not allowed to leave the hotel grounds - guardposts at all 4 corners - and nothing to see or do but watch the boats go by, drink and gamble. If gambling is your 'thing' then you will be disappointed, too, as there is 1 roulette wheel, maybe 7 bacarrat tables, and one smallish room filled with slot machines. Understandingly, the hotel was near deserted. A few day-tripping Thais, and maybe 10 guest rooms filled.

It's not worth the trouble or expense.

[erg]

Thank you for the information cris and dan, very usefull.

i guess its gonna be Mai Sai then.