Another Mae Said border query.. :p

[mongoose11]

Hi,

Bit perplexed still. I'm coming to the end of my 30 day extension.

Will I face an issue going out and in at Mae Sai? + from uk.. G7 so 30 days?

Thanks, read this option back in August was closed but reading here people seem to be doing it.

[BKResort]

I hear that Mae Sai is getting ruff with visa runners. Better to try Mae Sot.

[Jip99]

Mae Sai looked 'soft' to me on my two visits in the last 3 months.

(I was not doing visa runs as I am on an extension but I saw people who were)

[mongoose11]

Mmm, hadn't considered Mae sot....so one Myanmar borders being trickier than the other ?

[ubonjoe]

You could try at Mai Sai. They should allow you another entry but it will be the last. The worst that can happen is that they will not let you leave the country.

After that the next choice is the Chiang Kong crossing to Laos.

Planning to stay longer than 60 days on visa exempt entries is not a advisable now. It is best to get a tourist visa. Rather than getting the 30 day extension it is best to use the 1900 baht for the extension towards going out for a tourist visa.

[mongoose11]

Thanks Ubonjoe,.... So Mai sot not an option.... I see. So mai sai can only be visited once? This will be my first attempt there on the back of a 60 day TV, with the 30 days used

I'm gonna chance it. Will report back.

[steve187]

if you intend staying longer than the 30 day entry, why not do the correct thing and get a tourist visa single or double

[ubonjoe]

Thanks Ubonjoe,.... So Mai sot not an option.... I see. So mai sai can only be visited once? This will be my first attempt there on the back of a 60 day TV, with the 30 days used

I'm gonna chance it. Will report back.

Mai Sot could be an option but Chiang Kong is little closer I think.That is why I mentioned it.

It appeared you might of been on an exempt entry. If you have been on a tourist visa then you will not have a problem getting a visa exempt entry at Mae Sai.

[mongoose11]

Hi,

Yes I'm here for about another 3 weeks hence don't fancy the vientenne circuit.

The reason Mae sai is more appealing is because I understand it to be cheaper I.e rtn trip + 500 baht Myanmar entry cost vs Laos visa 1000 baht uk citizen?

Yes - previously did the 2 mth TV from Thai EMB in vientienne, extended 30 days cnx imm, so Mae sai seems closest, cheapest most convenient option.

[lordblackader]

Tachileik (Burmese side of Mae Sai) entry/ exit is 500 baht OR US$10... always go with the US$10 (you can pick up the note in CM easily before you leave) it works out nearly 50% cheaper.

[mongoose11]

Thanks lordblackader!!

[mongoose11]

May I ask...did they give u 15 or 30 days?

Take it your from uk

[Jip99]

Tachileik (Burmese side of Mae Sai) entry/ exit is 500 baht OR US$10... always go with the US$10 (you can pick up the note in CM easily before you leave) it works out nearly 50% cheaper.

.... and remember, a Farang can bring back 4 bottles of alcohol from the duty free shop.

That will cover the $10 visa fee.

Oh.... note..... On the Burmese side they stamp you in and out at the same time. Don't make a prat of yourself like I did first time and look to get stamped on the way back!!

[lordblackader]

Tachileik (Burmese side of Mae Sai) entry/ exit is 500 baht OR US$10... always go with the US$10 (you can pick up the note in CM easily before you leave) it works out nearly 50% cheaper.

.... and remember, a Farang can bring back 4 bottles of alcohol from the duty free shop.

That will cover the $10 visa fee.

Oh.... note..... On the Burmese side they stamp you in and out at the same time. Don't make a prat of yourself like I did first time and look to get stamped on the way back!!

All in one process, unless you want to go "shopping" then it's not.

Tried that once, never again

although I'm due a run mid April, thinking a short trip to a casino for something different.

[mongoose11]

Thanks all, ...door to door left at 6am and got in at 8pm. Or 8.15 am bus from cnx to Chiang rai..mini van, songtaew and same on rtn.

Border was a breeze, absolutely no queueing, super chilled. The Myanmar stamp was in an out in seconds...they took the $10, an no hassles reentering as pointed out in the posters..in having to show cash or rtn flight.

30 days given....an nice 25c temp.

Were a number of crashes on the stretch over the hills though....old red bus overturned,..some nasty sites. Heard a train hit a mini van also,

[Tomtomtom69]

Tachileik (Burmese side of Mae Sai) entry/ exit is 500 baht OR US$10... always go with the US$10 (you can pick up the note in CM easily before you leave) it works out nearly 50% cheaper.

There is a money changer on the left hand side of the road, not far from the border in Mae Sai. They will happily sell you a US$10 note there too, along with Myanmar Kyat, which is not really needed in Tachilek as everyone wants Baht. Outside of Tachilek, you'll need Kyat though and if you happened to go up to Mongla on the Chinese border, Yuan would be the only legal tender acceptable.

[Tomtomtom69]

Tachileik (Burmese side of Mae Sai) entry/ exit is 500 baht OR US$10... always go with the US$10 (you can pick up the note in CM easily before you leave) it works out nearly 50% cheaper.

.... and remember, a Farang can bring back 4 bottles of alcohol from the duty free shop.

That will cover the $10 visa fee.

Oh.... note..... On the Burmese side they stamp you in and out at the same time. Don't make a prat of yourself like I did first time and look to get stamped on the way back!!

At Myawady (opposite Mae Sot) they now hand you back your passport, even if you enter on a day pass (US$10 or 500 Baht). Previously they would hold day trippers passports; only Myanmar visa holders would get their passports back to enable further travel inside the country and possibly exiting from elsewhere. So when you leave, you just go straight to Thai immigration, no need to say anything to Myanmar immigration since you already have your passport. That applies even if you arrived at 5am in the morning, stay all day and only leave at 7.45pm. Presumably the same thing happens at Mae Sai/Tachilek?

[mongoose11]

Tachileik (Burmese side of Mae Sai) entry/ exit is 500 baht OR US$10... always go with the US$10 (you can pick up the note in CM easily before you leave) it works out nearly 50% cheaper.

.... and remember, a Farang can bring back 4 bottles of alcohol from the duty free shop.

That will cover the $10 visa fee.

Oh.... note..... On the Burmese side they stamp you in and out at the same time. Don't make a prat of yourself like I did first time and look to get stamped on the way back!!

At Myawady (opposite Mae Sot) they now hand you back your passport, even if you enter on a day pass (US$10 or 500 Baht). Previously they would hold day trippers passports; only Myanmar visa holders would get their passports back to enable further travel inside the country and possibly exiting from elsewhere. So when you leave, you just go straight to Thai immigration, no need to say anything to Myanmar immigration since you already have your passport. That applies even if you arrived at 5am in the morning, stay all day and only leave at 7.45pm. Presumably the same thing happens at Mae Sai/Tachilek?

Yes it does you are correct.

Do you have any advice on the Mae sot run?

[mongoose11]

Tachileik (Burmese side of Mae Sai) entry/ exit is 500 baht OR US$10... always go with the US$10 (you can pick up the note in CM easily before you leave) it works out nearly 50% cheaper.

There is a money changer on the left hand side of the road, not far from the border in Mae Sai. They will happily sell you a US$10 note there too, along with Myanmar Kyat, which is not really needed in Tachilek as everyone wants Baht. Outside of Tachilek, you'll need Kyat though and if you happened to go up to Mongla on the Chinese border, Yuan would be the only legal tender acceptable.

Can you really travel and leave tachilek and head to China?

[mongoose11]

Tachileik (Burmese side of Mae Sai) entry/ exit is 500 baht OR US$10... always go with the US$10 (you can pick up the note in CM easily before you leave) it works out nearly 50% cheaper.

There is a money changer on the left hand side of the road, not far from the border in Mae Sai. They will happily sell you a US$10 note there too, along with Myanmar Kyat, which is not really needed in Tachilek as everyone wants Baht. Outside of Tachilek, you'll need Kyat though and if you happened to go up to Mongla on the Chinese border, Yuan would be the only legal tender acceptable.

Can you really travel and leave tachilek and head to China?

oh I found this, are you this guy?

Good read.

http://www.daearly.com/burma_road.htm