I am a British Citizen and the holder of a non-imm O visa issued on 16 July 2014.

Today I did my first out/in ‘visa run’ for this visa through the immigration office in Ranong dedicated to the Andaman Club. Most of you will know that the Club is located on a Burmese island. I chose this route as I have a house in Chumphon and this is the closest border post.

I have done this trip before so I knew the setup but I was a little apprehensive given recent developments. I had done my homework but could find no very recent information about transit through this particular port. I had left sufficient time to bolt to another border should that prove necessary.

I was asked no questions by Thai immigration on either exit or re-entry. The only document I presented to them was my passport. Upon arrival at the Andaman Club I was relieved of 950 Baht and my passport received entry and exit stamps from Burmese immigration. I took the very next boat back completing the round trip in around one hour.

On re-entry to Thailand I was admitted for ninety days.

On both ferry trips I believe I was the only paying customer and the only non Thai or Burmese. On the way out there were five other people and on the way back there were three but they all appeared to be employees of Andaman Club.

I had a brief chat with one of the staff of Andaman Club and they told me they are currently seeing less than ten foreign arrivals a day.

I hope some of you find this information useful.

Sounds like you have a legitimate multi-entry non-O, so the 'visa crackdown' wasn't going to create difficulties for you.

But only 10 farangs a day at present! Wow, a lot of 'facilitators' gonna be strapped for cash. Cheers, AA

Just goes to show that many tourists can't be bothered with all the hoops they had to jump thru because of the new rules some that were not inforced at all border areas so went somewhere else like Burma, Laos, Viet-Nam ect.

Edited October 10, 201411 yr by Tony125

A month or so back I went to Mae-sot for a "cross-bridge" 15day top-up run as I have done several times over the past few years; this time told by Thai Immi " you can go but cannot come back; no more short runs, you must have a current visa";mine was already previously re-done there at Mae-sot for the second 60 days. They told me to scoot back to SriRacha where I live and get a 7day TM7 extension which I did. 7days later I flew roundtrip to Singapore; same flight,same seat;for a 30 day top-up.Will depart Thailand within that 30days and look at something better for next year.

I flew roundtrip to Singapore; same flight,same seat;for a 30 day top-up.Will depart Thailand within that 30days and look at something better for next year.

You could get now, another 30 day extension at a Thai Immigration office, on top of your 30 day Visa exempt period, if you like. (1.900.- B.)

Just goes to show that many tourists can't be bothered with all the hoops they had to jump thru because of the new rules some that were not inforced at all border areas so went somewhere else like Burma, Laos, Viet-Nam ect.

Just goes to show they weren't tourist at all.Now they are in other countries,they are tourists again.

A month or so back I went to Mae-sot for a "cross-bridge" 15day top-up run as I have done several times over the past few years; this time told by Thai Immi " you can go but cannot come back; no more short runs, you must have a current visa";mine was already previously re-done there at Mae-sot for the second 60 days. They told me to scoot back to SriRacha where I live and get a 7day TM7 extension which I did. 7days later I flew roundtrip to Singapore; same flight,same seat;for a 30 day top-up.Will depart Thailand within that 30days and look at something better for next year.

You visit Thailand,you live somewhere else.

I have been through Ranong a few times. also done it myself by going from the pier on a small boat for some thing to do. never had any problems at all.

950 baht ! Wow! you got screwed. It is either 500 baht or $10 American dollars. When foreigners get over charged and or don,t know any better, as with hotels , taxis, massage shops . Then the next guy that comes along they figure they can demand the same. I have to visit Ranong in a few months and hopefully won,t get screwed because you either did not know any better or refused to stand your ground. In the twenty plus years i have lived here have yet to pay in baht. I hide all my baht and tell them to take the $10 or nothing. Works every time. Better learn to play the game.

My situation is though I lived and worked in Thailand for nearly 19 years and now recently retired,and like to spend the summer of my birth country back there; then into the winter months back here in Thailand in my own condo; 6 months on, 6 months off,I do not see the need for a "retirement visa", at least not till now. A double entry tourist visa with 30 day topups and border visa runs was all okay till these days.

950 baht ! Wow! you got screwed. It is either 500 baht or $10 American dollars. When foreigners get over charged and or don,t know any better, as with hotels , taxis, massage shops . Then the next guy that comes along they figure they can demand the same. I have to visit Ranong in a few months and hopefully won,t get screwed because you either did not know any better or refused to stand your ground. In the twenty plus years i have lived here have yet to pay in baht. I hide all my baht and tell them to take the $10 or nothing. Works every time. Better learn to play the game.

You should learn to get your facts right before posting such rubbish.

The $10 is the visa fee to enter Burma, this does not include the ferry fare.

When you go in a few months time let us know if you manage to get to and from Burma by boat for free, I can pretty much bet the answer will be no.

The longtails from the Pier are cheaper than the Catamaran the OP travelled on however even a longtail is going to cost you 2-300 Baht return.

Edited October 10, 201411 yr by darrendsd

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950 baht ! Wow! you got screwed. It is either 500 baht or $10 American dollars. When foreigners get over charged and or don,t know any better, as with hotels , taxis, massage shops . Then the next guy that comes along they figure they can demand the same. I have to visit Ranong in a few months and hopefully won,t get screwed because you either did not know any better or refused to stand your ground. In the twenty plus years i have lived here have yet to pay in baht. I hide all my baht and tell them to take the $10 or nothing. Works every time. Better learn to play the game.

You should learn to get your facts right before posting such rubbish

The $10 is the visa fee to enter Burma, this does not include the ferry fare.

When you go in a few months time let us know if you manage to get to and from Burma buy boat for free, I can pretty much bet the answer will be no.

The longtails are cheaper than the Catamaran the OP travelled on however even a longtail is going to cost you 2-300 Baht return

Indeed the Andaman Club is a civilized option with immigration on site, a nice big safe boat and if you wish a reasonable restaurant in the hotel at the other side.

I guess the OP did not make it clear that the boat and fee for stamp was combined. A nice big safe boat ? It did not look much safer than the smaller long tails for 100 baht round trip NOT 200 to 300 baht that i hear about far too often. Again i repeat dumb foreign tourists and expats pay way too much for about everything. If you are planning to stay here for any length of time PLEASE learn to speak Thai. Don,t know how many expats i have encountered that can,t even count to five. No wonder the Thais have so many various words for stupid and rude foreigners.

Edited October 10, 201411 yr by Jungle Jim

I guess the OP did not make it clear that the boat and fee for stamp was combined. A nice big safe boat ? It did not look much safer than the smaller long tails for 100 baht round trip NOT 200 to 300 baht that i hear about far too often. Again i repeat dumb foreign tourists and expats pay way too much for about everything. If you are planning to stay here for any length of time PLEASE learn to speak Thai. Don,t know how many expats i have encountered that can,t even count to five. No wonder the Thais have so many various words for stupid and rude foreigners.

I bet you get told this all the time but you're great

Nothing wrong with being smarter than the average foreigner. Ever stop to wonder why there are so many broke foreigners begging on the streets on Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket. After having their so called Thai girlfriends (bar girls) clean out their bank accounts. Like i mentioned the OP did not make it clear about the combined fees for crossing at Ranong. The long tails boats are 100 baht round trip. Just wish to make that clear so others won,t be taken advantage of. Never had a problem crossing the borders except for Sadao in the far south which seems to be famous for problems.

Edited October 10, 201411 yr by Jungle Jim

Nothing wrong with being smarter than the average foreigner. Ever stop to wonder why there are so many broke foreigners begging on the streets on Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket. After having their so called Thai girlfriends (bar girls) clean out their bank accounts. Like i mentioned the OP did not make it clear about the combined fees for crossing at Ranong. The long tails boats are 100 baht round trip. Just wish to make that clear so others won,t be taken advantage of. Never had a problem crossing the borders except for Sadao in the far south which seems to be famous for problems.

Well it was clear enough to me, I didn't have to query whether it was combined and if you were as smart as you think you are you would have known this also.

The Andaman club has always been a combined price for Visa and ferry so you have learnt something new today despite you obviously thinking that you know everything about Thailand

Edited October 10, 201411 yr by darrendsd

I repeat i guess you can,t read. The OP DID NOT make that clear besides i would NEVER take the boat for foreigners. Did you see the words combined price ??????

I repeat i guess you can,t read. The OP DID NOT make that clear besides i would NEVER take the boat for foreigners. Did you see the words combined price ??????

One benefit of living in Thailand is to relax, chill out and not get stressed.

JungleJim seems to have missed these plus points...

I repeat i guess you can,t read. The OP DID NOT make that clear besides i would NEVER take the boat for foreigners. Did you see the words combined price ??????

It is not a boat for just foreigners it serves Thais who are going to gamble at the Andamam casino and also the Andaman staff coming to and from the Mainland

I have never heard of a ferry just for foreigners at Rayong, is this something new or something that only you know about?

Again if you are as smart as you think you are you would have known it was a combined price also nowhere in the OP does it say that he paid a separate Visa entry charge on top of the 950 he paid

Only you are questioning if it was a combined visa/ferry price, everyone else seems to have worked that out already.

Sorry ! i think you are just looking for a argument.

It is time to stop the bickering. Anymore bickering posts will be removed.

Removed a troll post and the reply to it.