Phuket Border Run

[Fraktalkid]

Hello everyone! I was wondering if you could share your experiences of border runs from Phuket - most convenient places to go, cheapest / quickest, most scenic, etc.

Also, I was reading in my 2003 version of Lonely Planet it stated that SRT (state railway of thailand) were planning on connecting up Phuket to Surat Thani. Anyone heard anything about that lately? Maybe it's on the cards for 2023?

[jayrockwell]

Rich,

The closest 'visa-run' from Phuket is to come to Ranong>Myanmar.

The most reliable service is based in Chalong (F1) and they charge 999 Baht, they leave early in the morning and get back to Phuket late in the afternoon, I think they give you some lunch too.

They drive past my door everyday (I live near Ranong), they say that they go everyday full or not.

It's fairly scenic on the way, but I doubt the driver does much stopping for photo opportunities.

J

No rail link as yet, I was told it will definetly be finished by 2033.

[phuket Mike]

If you want to do the Ranong/Burma border run F1 (Mike's Bikes) in Chalong is without a doubt best, you get breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea all for about a 1000baht.

Personally I don't like sitting on a mini bus for that long while someone else is driving plus you have go in a boat across to the border. The last time I went the prat at Thai immigration said my visa stamp was dodgy because it was from Sadao (Malaysian border) and would not let me out of Thailand.

So I decided to go back down to Sadao and go over the border there. I easily did Phuket-Sadao back in a day at my own pace. Also at this border there is no dodgy fee for your stamp (at Ranong they want 500 baht). My last visa I went to Pedang Basar which is next to Sadao and there is a lovely duty free shop between Thailand and Malaysia. So if like the odd drink you can almost reclaim your costs by stocking up on duty frees.

In terms of a scenic drive there's not that much to see, you could always make a weekend of it like I did once, drove to Ao Nang on the friday night with the wife and daughter, stayed there friday night. In the morning I drove to the border and was back to Ao Nang for a evening swim and then dinner.

So anyway my opinion Pedang Basar is longer but less hassle.

Good Luck

[Fraktalkid]

Hey Jay, Mike,

Thanks for your good advice and taking the time to reply! This is all gonna be a bit new to me.. That sounds fantastic, especially as I'm gonna be living round the corner from the Chalong 5-way roundabout Very convenient! When you say F1, is that a grid reference or something?

Unfortunately I don't drive so that kinda buggers me up in that respect.

Malaysia actually is also appealing as I've got a friend who lives in Perak that I wanna go and visit.

Anyway, I thought I'd say - my Thailand plans are moving ahead at full steam - I was originally intending on relocating in October, but April is the month (just got made redundant - I was too expensive! However, I got a very good settlement).

So, it looks like it's time to leave freezing cold London for something a bit more temperate and exciting and friendly.

Now all I'm looking for is some lovely people to become friends with this cool guy. Any volunteers?

I think my 'wanted ad' would go something like this:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friendly, intelligent 22 year old computer 'geek' originally from the UK

(into photography, arthouse cinema, foreign languages, bonsai trees,

philosophy and building websites amongst other things) seeks cultural

stimulation, friendly faces and cool people to hang out with (Thai and

Farang welcome) Apply within

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As for translating it into Thai.. well, I've only conquered 10 of the Thai characters so far! doh!

Rich

[Nicke]

I dont like sitting in a minibus for a whole day. When I go to Burma I usually stay one night at Club Andaman and enjoy myself at the casino and go back to Phuket following day.

You go by car/motorbike or by bus from Phuket town. When you step off the bus in Ranong you can call Club Andaman pier and they will pick you up with a comfortable minibus for just 100 baht.

But most of the time I take a flight to Hat Yai (35 minutes), take a taxi to Sadao border, walk in/out of Malaysia and then back to Hat Yai for one day/night holiday. I like Sakura Grandview, they charge 980 baht for one night. (The hotels at 600 baht range is really budget so the few hundred extra you pay is well worth it.)

Sakura is in the middle to both Pink Lady complex/Hollywood disco and to the dodgy area at the other end, small karaoke bar/brothels area.

[SoiSniffer]

How the action at those clubs...Are there lots of girls and how much do they charge? Any reports?

[hotshot]

I dont like sitting in a minibus for a whole day. When I go to Burma I usually stay one night at Club Andaman and enjoy myself at the casino and go back to Phuket following day.

You go by car/motorbike or by bus from Phuket town. When you step off the bus in Ranong you can call Club Andaman pier and they will pick you up with a comfortable minibus for just 100 baht.

But most of the time I take a flight to Hat Yai (35 minutes), take a taxi to Sadao border, walk in/out of Malaysia and then back to Hat Yai for one day/night holiday. I like Sakura Grandview, they charge 980 baht for one night. (The hotels at 600 baht range is really budget so the few hundred extra you pay is well worth it.)

Sakura is in the middle to both Pink Lady complex/Hollywood disco and to the dodgy area at the other end, small karaoke bar/brothels area.

Is Club Andaman at the Burma side? How do you get from Ranong to the Burma side?

How much Club Andaman charge for a room?

How is the casino facilities?

I enjoy plying 7 cards stud poker, but until now I havent seen any casinos here in Asia offering this opportunity!

How much you pay for a taxi from Hat Yai to Sadao border?

When do you p\go on your next trip? Maybe we can shae a taxi? I go for a visa run eighter to Burma or Malaysia May 28th.

[neenthewiser]

Is Club Andaman at the Burma side? How do you get from Ranong to the Burma side?

Club Andaman is technically in Burma but is actually on an island (owned by a Thai General, apparently). The casino has a boat which ferries you across. There's something like an extra 500 baht to pay if your visa has less than 5 days left on it, don't know why.

Re Mike's Bikes, apparently they've started charging 200 baht for the boat meaning your total is now 999 + 200 + 300 (300 baht for the 5 US dollars for the nice Burmese immigration).

[SeaVisionBurma]

Club Andaman is technically in Burma but is actually on an island (owned by a Thai General, apparently). The casino has a boat which ferries you across. There's something like an extra 500 baht to pay if your visa has less than 5 days left on it, don't know why.

Actually the owner of the casino is the Senator for the Ranong area, Mr Vikrom Aisiri

who also owns Phuket Air

He has a 45-odd year lease on the island (Thahtay Kyunn) from Myanmar, plus a number of logging concessions etc. His company also built a hospital, good roads, and a nice airport in Kawthoung.

The 500 baht is always charged, nothing to do with the visa having less than 5 days. It may be waived if you take a room for a night, depending on the time of year.

Entry in to the actual gaming room of the casino (for someone who was asking in another thread is by membership only - to get a membership, you have to change 10,000 baht to non-cash chips, once you've gambled that you can enter any time you like.

However sometimes they allow foreigners in under a 'visitor pass' if you just tell them you want to check out the facilities before taking a membership. I did this half a dozen times or so before they made me get a proper membership. The free drinks (full bar, drinks brought to you wherever you gamble) and the free buffet are worthwhile.

For a good chuckle for those who are familiar with the Myanmar-Ranong border, and possibly of Mr Vikrom's business dealings, here is an old article which still brings me a chuckle given the fairly conservative, closed Myanmar culture

Nudist colony for Myanmar

[BronzeRider]

Fraktalkid

I checked out Mike's Bikes on April 30th and they said the run is about 12 (twelve) hours. Now, If you go by car it's 7 hours round trip plus one hour of border crossing. That's 8 hours. Where does the extra 4 hours come in?

I nixed, that idea and went back to my old routine: Air-con bus to Trang. Book hotel for two nights. Next day mini van to Had Yai (2 hours). A hired taxi to border and back to Had Yai 2 hours including border crossing. Back on mini van to Trang. Spend the night, air con, cable tv etc. and then the next day 5 hours on the bus. All of this for less than 2,300 Baht.

In my opinion, this is a less hassel way to go. Longer time but not cramped.

Regards,

BR

[LivinLOS]

For the Patong crowd theres a good run that goes from the Yorkshire inn 3 times a week.. Good Merc minibus with a sane driver.. flat screen TV movies etc...

Just spotted air asia flies to KL for 500 baht each way.. If they reversed the timing (its once daily and goes KL -> HKT first) everyone would be on the flight as the most convienient visa run.. Even as it is one night in KL or spending 3 nights and getting a tourist visa (or 3x multiple entry tourist visa) is tempting and pays for itself..

[chingy_]

Friendly, intelligent 22 year old computer 'geek' originally from the UK

aren't you suppose to be in college.

[george]

Also, I was reading in my 2003 version of Lonely Planet it stated that SRT (state railway of thailand) were planning on connecting up Phuket to Surat Thani. Anyone heard anything about that lately? Maybe it's on the cards for 2023?

Just ask for the "Satani Rot Fai" (Train station) in Phuket Town. Every tuk tuk driver would love to take you there!

[Fraktalkid]

aren't you suppose to be in college.

haha nah, I was one of those weirdos that went straight from school to college to university.. and graduated with my degree (BSc(Hons) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence) when I was 21.

And now settling into Phuket rather nicely

[fatter than harry]

I love blackjack. But I'm not addicted to gambling. I'm addicted to sitting in a semi-circle.

[Patong Bob]

I tried the visa run at the Yorkshire Inn, only problem was they rang me up the night before - not enough passengers, so they are not going. By the time I arranged another company I was three days over so it cost me 600 baht overstay.

Fortunately I speak a little Thai, and managed to grovel to the Immigratiion officer, so I didn't get an overstay stamp, but I won't be booking with the Yorkshire Inn again.

[Tornado]

For a good chuckle for those who are familiar with the Myanmar-Ranong border, and possibly of Mr Vikrom's business dealings, here is an old article which still brings me a chuckle given the fairly conservative, closed Myanmar culture

Nudist colony for Myanmar

I love this quote "The nudist club will target Europeans who like to take their clothes off in public, said Chairat Meksukree, an adviser to Vikrom.

“Everybody [guests] will have to be naked”, he said."

I bet he was rubbing his hands at the same time

[Andi]

hhhmmm. So may to choose from, think I've tried em all

WORST: Pen Pet 800 + 300 for 5 dollars (200 at the bank)

2 meals inc, but inedible, bus is always packed solid, uncovered long tail boat-even in the rain, timings mean you turn up with 10 other miniwans at Immig office - big queues Once they played Thai karaoke from 6am

Pickup 6am anywhere, return 7-8pm (worst 10pm)

MIDDLE: EVE (Express Visa Extention) 1250 inc dollars

1 meal but nice, more room, usually less people ( you can baggsie back seat and lay full stretch Covered faster boat to Myanmar, and nice waiting room with TV and drinks.

Pickup 7am Tesco Rotus (or patong 150 xtra) return 5-5.30pm

DOG'S B*****KS : Drive yourself to Club Andaman

No Queue's, fast boat with sofa's, coach to Hotel, mooch around in Duty free shop, have nice lunch, or stay and gamble all night

500 for the boat, and 750 fine if you turn up with less than 5 days on your visa !!!

Tried all the other ways too, flying to Had Yai etc, but prefer to get it over in 1 day. Cheapest isn't always best, I need a day to recover from the worst one! :bink:

This is only a small selection of the experiences I've had, but if I had all this info when I started, I wouldn't have had to suffer