Worry-Free Non-O-Visa Savannakhet

[Will27]

8 hours ago, TheRoadWarrior said:

or should i just fly directly into savannakhet?

the flight is twice as expensive....

BUT, once you factor in taxis, busses, etc (especially going to DMK vs BKK)

i think the overall price ends up coming in fairly close.

I looked at flying Lao Airlines as well, but with their flight times, you have to stay 3 days.

 

I would use them if you could use for 1 day or even 2, but not 3.

If you're on a schedule, they make no sense.

Cost was about 7000 Baht which is 3 times more than Nok.

 

Tuesdays and Wednesdays seem like the safer days to use.

 

Pick ups don't take very long.

I was out of the embassy by around 2.10.

Got to the Nok pick up place Ploy Palace hotel at 1530hrs.

 

As I was the only one on the coach, they phoned the driver and he came

to get me at 1600hrs instead of 1700.

 

[TheRoadWarrior]

14 hours ago, tlandtday said:

Check Thaisanuan Tours VIP from Bkok to Mukdahan.  I believe it arrives very early so I would consider it but definitely I would never take the yellow bus from Pattaya I took in the past.  The bus averaged about 40 km per hour, was super uncomfortable and late. 

 

i never take bus at all unless its just bkk-pattaya, thats not too bad.... but any further than that and id rather fly.

[TheRoadWarrior]

6 hours ago, Will27 said:

I looked at flying Lao Airlines as well, but with their flight times, you have to stay 3 days.

 

I would use them if you could use for 1 day or even 2, but not 3.

If you're on a schedule, they make no sense.

Cost was about 7000 Baht which is 3 times more than Nok.

 

 

yeah this is the part that annoys me, their flight timing is terrible and it makes you stay 3 days because you arrive too late to start your visa first day and the return flight is too early you dont have time to pick up...  vientianne via laos airlines had a perfect schedule for me could fly in and out in less than 48hrs, but my school did all my paperwork for savannakhet this time.

 

and 7k for the flight seems bad... but nok air is 3k+, and then you factor in the taxi to DMK instead of swampy is an extra 800ish each way, so already up to 4600+, then add in the additional busses and taxis etc... the diff would only be 2k which id gladly pay EXCEPT that their timing is useless.

 

might consider a 1 way fly in, and nok 1 way return

 

i really hate busses/taxis/transfers ????

[Will27]

58 minutes ago, TheRoadWarrior said:

 

yeah this is the part that annoys me, their flight timing is terrible and it makes you stay 3 days because you arrive too late to start your visa first day and the return flight is too early you dont have time to pick up...  vientianne via laos airlines had a perfect schedule for me could fly in and out in less than 48hrs, but my school did all my paperwork for savannakhet this time.

 

and 7k for the flight seems bad... but nok air is 3k+, and then you factor in the taxi to DMK instead of swampy is an extra 800ish each way, so already up to 4600+, then add in the additional busses and taxis etc... the diff would only be 2k which id gladly pay EXCEPT that their timing is useless.

 

might consider a 1 way fly in, and nok 1 way return

 

i really hate busses/taxis/transfers ????

My flights were about 2800 Baht.

 

You've lost me on the 1600 Baht taxi prices TBH.

 

 

[BritTim]

57 minutes ago, Will27 said:

You've lost me on the 1600 Baht taxi prices TBH.

I suspect he uses airport limos rather than jumping in a meter taxi.

[TheRoadWarrior]

On 6/9/2019 at 4:23 PM, BritTim said:

I suspect he uses airport limos rather than jumping in a meter taxi.

 

i dont live in bkk.... the difference in price of taxi to DMK is about 400-600 more than swampy... so there and back to dmk adds 800-1200 vs swampy

 

my previous number was based on last time i went many years ago... apparently rates are cheaper at the moment

[johnny1966]

Ill be spending the evening in Mukdahan then going to the border early Wednesday morning I think. Buses run to the border from the Mukda bus station every hour in the mornings unless things have changed.

[Denim]

10 hours ago, johnny1966 said:

Ill be spending the evening in Mukdahan then going to the border early Wednesday morning I think. Buses run to the border from the Mukda bus station every hour in the mornings unless things have changed.

You will probably find that if you have to apply for a Laos visa on arrival once over the bridge, the bus won't wait for you. In this case you just take a hired ride to the embassy. Pretty common occurrence.

[TheRoadWarrior]

just booked my flight with nokair... guess ill have to suffer through the DMK trip and bus rides ????

 

any recommendations where to stay? preferably something with internet that moves faster than a snail, as was my last experience in laos 

 

i only care about 2 things.... wifi and aircon... would sleep on the floor as long as those 2 things are ok.

[Samuel Smith]

11 hours ago, Denim said:

You will probably find that if you have to apply for a Laos visa on arrival once over the bridge, the bus won't wait for you. In this case you just take a hired ride to the embassy. Pretty common occurrence.

Waited for me on my 2 trips.  download the visa form & fill it in before you travel.  first time I didn't, but bus driver still waited for me & several others.

[Will27]

14 hours ago, TheRoadWarrior said:

just booked my flight with nokair... guess ill have to suffer through the DMK trip and bus rides ????

 

any recommendations where to stay? preferably something with internet that moves faster than a snail, as was my last experience in laos 

 

i only care about 2 things.... wifi and aircon... would sleep on the floor as long as those 2 things are ok.

I can recommend both Avalon and Aura Residence.

They're next door to each other.

 

Only a 10 - 15 minute walk to the consulate.

[Nong Khai Man]

3 hours ago, Will27 said:

I can recommend both Avalon and Aura Residence.

They're next door to each other.

 

Only a 10 - 15 minute walk to the consulate.

Yes, Possibly the only 2 Decent places near The Consulate.....But a Warning DO NOT Eat at that Chicken Barbeque opposite Charged 450 Baht for a Chicken & A Bit of Sticky Rice,Then had The Shits after eating there !!

[teetersb]

So, I have a question on the 90 day part of my ME Non O Visa from Savannakhet. I will go to Chong Chom border crossing close to my home and I wondered if anybody could tell me the process? Do I have to enter into Cambodia. pay the fee and then turn around and come back? Or, can I just get the Thai side to stamp it for me? My 90 days will be on Tuesday. I want to be prepared, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[ubonjoe]

23 minutes ago, teetersb said:

So, I have a question on the 90 day part of my ME Non O Visa from Savannakhet. I will go to Chong Chom border crossing close to my home and I wondered if anybody could tell me the process? Do I have to enter into Cambodia. pay the fee and then turn around and come back? Or, can I just get the Thai side to stamp it for me? My 90 days will be on Tuesday. I want to be prepared, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

You have to get a Cambodia visa on arrival and enter there.

Thai immigration will not stamp you back into the country if you do not have entry and departure stamps for Cambodia. It is the same at all land border crossings.

[teetersb]

5 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You have to get a Cambodia visa on arrival and enter there.

Thanks UbonJoe, that's what I thought. Cambodia uses a full page in my passport, which kind of sucks when I have to do that every 90 days. Oh well

 

[transam]

3 minutes ago, teetersb said:

Thanks UbonJoe, that's what I thought. Cambodia uses a full page in my passport, which kind of sucks when I have to do that every 90 days. Oh well

 

So does Laos..

[BritTim]

5 minutes ago, teetersb said:

Thanks UbonJoe, that's what I thought. Cambodia uses a full page in my passport, which kind of sucks when I have to do that every 90 days. Oh well

 

If space in your passport is an issue, the Cambodian eVisa, while more expensive, takes up much less space.

[ubonjoe]

29 minutes ago, BritTim said:

If space in your passport is an issue, the Cambodian eVisa, while more expensive, takes up much less space.

But that is not available at the Chong Chom crossing.

It is only available for use at the Poi Pet and Hat Lek/Cham Yeam border crossings.

[Denim]

29 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You have to get a Cambodia visa on arrival and enter there.

Thai immigration will not stamp you back into the country if you do not have entry and departure stamps for Cambodia. It is the same at all land border crossings.

Also, some people have said that when doing a visa run to other Cambodian border crossings they have been required to spend 1 night in Cambodia as a 5 minute turn around is frowned on. Whether this is true or not at Chong Chom I don't know as I have not used this crossing for a couple of years. Was not necessary back then.

 

Even when doing a quick in out you will have to pay 1000 baht for your Cambodian visa. If you are allowed to leave immediately the Cambodian immigration staff often try to squeeze you for 100 baht or so for stamping you out. This is not official and goes straight in their pocket.

 

When you leave the Thai side and cross into Cambodia it is not really clear where you should go as there are no signs. This is where touts used to approach and offer to be your ' guide ' to show you where to go. In fact  it is only a 50 meter walk to the booth where you get your visa before getting stamped in at another booth across the way from the first. The first booth used to be straight ahead and to the right but might have moved since I was last there.

 

This crossing can be very busy on the weekend with Thais going across to gamble for the day. The approach road is often lined with mini buses that have bused the gamblers in. Parking used to be a hassle at the weekend because of this

 

As you enter you will see the big casino about 100 yards away. Inside there are also some duty free shops. 

[Denim]

For teetersb benefit here are pictures of the Cambodian side.

 

Visa application booth in front of casino:

 

 

 

Opposite booth for entry and exit stamp

 

Looking back at the Thai border to give an idea of the distance you have to walk.

 

 

Edited June 22, 2019 by Denim

[ubonjoe]

28 minutes ago, Denim said:

Even when doing a quick in out you will have to pay 1000 baht for your Cambodian visa. If you are allowed to leave immediately the Cambodian immigration staff often try to squeeze you for 100 baht or so for stamping you out. This is not official and goes straight in their pocket.

No problem to do a quick in and out.

The fee for the Cambodia is 1500 baht and the fee for not staying overnight is 300 baht at Chong Chom now.

[Denim]

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

No problem to do a quick in and out.

The fee for the Cambodia is 1500 baht and the fee for not staying overnight is 300 baht at Chong Chom now.

That's gone up then. Makes Mae Sot at 500 baht a better deal if like me you live half way between both.

[BritTim]

20 minutes ago, Denim said:

That's gone up then. Makes Mae Sot at 500 baht a better deal if like me you live half way between both.

At Maesot, just make sure that you have a clean US$10 bill, and save yourself 200 baht.

[Nong Khai Man]

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

At Maesot, just make sure that you have a clean US$10 bill, and save yourself 200 baht.

Same at Laos Borders " MAKE SURE YOU HAVE CLEAN $ Bills "

[edgarfriendly]

im hoping i wont have to do it but if its neccesary im curious if anyones driven across and what time the border opens vs what time passenger vehicles are permitted to cross.

 

the queue of big trucks is often over a km long.

 

[TheRoadWarrior]

On 6/21/2019 at 9:13 AM, Will27 said:

I can recommend both Avalon and Aura Residence.

They're next door to each other.

 

Only a 10 - 15 minute walk to the consulate.

 

thanks, i booked Avalon2, seems to have good reviews and for the price/location really cant complain, averaged 550ish thb per night... as long as the aircon and wifi work thats a great deal.

 

random thought.... since its so close to the thai border, does your thai sim card still get signal there? or is it too far away?

[Will27]

2 hours ago, TheRoadWarrior said:

 

thanks, i booked Avalon2, seems to have good reviews and for the price/location really cant complain, averaged 550ish thb per night... as long as the aircon and wifi work thats a great deal.

 

random thought.... since its so close to the thai border, does your thai sim card still get signal there? or is it too far away?

I'm with AIS and it switched to roaming.

 

My friend is with DTAC and it didn't work at all.

[TheRoadWarrior]

4 hours ago, Will27 said:

I'm with AIS and it switched to roaming.

 

My friend is with DTAC and it didn't work at all.

 

ah thats a bummer... hope the hotel wifi is acceptable

 

 

[Will27]

7 hours ago, TheRoadWarrior said:

 

ah thats a bummer... hope the hotel wifi is acceptable

 

 

I used the wifi for Skype and streaming so you should be fine.

[legendarysurfer]

1 hour ago, Will27 said:

I used the wifi for Skype and streaming so you should be fine.

I'm on Thai AIS and can use my phone anywhere along the riverside, Savannakhet, @TheRoadWarrior.