Hi All

I need to get a new NON Imm " O " visa at Savannakhet by the 9th July.

I was planning on driving from CNX but our old spare car has some brake issues as of today and been a Sunday i cannot get it fixed. Don't want the wife using it with the kids while i take the good car.

Does anybody know the cheapest way to get to Savannakhet by air from Chiang Mai.

Any info appreciated.

Too scared to use a Van from CNX as i do not trust Thai Van drivers.

Cheers

JT

16:10 CNX to Udon Thani (lands 17:30)

19:30 Udon Thain Bus station to Sakon Nakhon

Stay overnight

06:00 Sakon Nakon Bus station (VIP Taxi, scary) to Friendship Bridge Mukdahan (you have to ask the driver to drop you off).

No viable way by air.

Coming back Very comfortable VIP bus, buy both tickets from the same company in Mukdahan.

15:30 Mukdahan bus station to Khon Kaen

20:30 Khon Kaen bus station to Chiang Mai (arrives 07:30)

I did this a few weeks back

Edited July 3, 201610 yr by MissAndry

To S.:

AirAsia CNX to KKC (Khon Kaen), depart 13:20h, arrive 14:30h (Kan Air).

Taxi to bus station, bus to Mukdahan (~200 km). 3 hours?

Overnight.

From S:

You won't catch the return from KKC to CNX (15:00h).

You could do the detour KKC - DMK - CNX. Pricey?

Timing should be doable.?

Last flight DMK - CNX is 21:50h.

Connect via KKC - DMK depart 19:20h, arrive 20:20h.

What is the usual time that you get your passport/visa returned?

Edited July 3, 201610 yr by KhunBENQ

Of course you can also do the detour via DMK on the way to Savannakhet.

(the daily CNX to KKC is a Cessna )

Flying CNX - DMK to Nakon Phanom (KOP).

Nakon Phanom to the border is only about 100 km.

One way flight segments (AirAsia) cost about 1100 to 1200 during this week.

Edited July 3, 201610 yr by KhunBENQ

Kan Air has a flight from Chang Mai to Ubon Ratchatani. From Ubon you can take a van to Muk (or rent a car at the airport....about 2 hours to the bus station in Muk driving or by van) and then get the bus from Muk to Savannaket.

Kan Air has a flight from Chang Mai to Ubon Ratchatani

It's the same little Cessna flight like to Khon Kaen.

I just checked the online booking system.

No seats available for about next two weeks.

As the OP wants to do it until July 9 it's no option unfortunately.

As written: if you prefer flying as much as possible there is no alternative to the Bangkok detour.

And I tried to find a two day solution to no avail.

As far as I know you have to apply until 11:00 at Savannaketh and pickup next day in the early afternoon?

So you always end up with a three day excursion.

First day travel close to border.

Second day cross border, apply.

Third day: pickup passport with visa and travel back, arrive late in CM.

Edited July 3, 201610 yr by KhunBENQ

Hi All

Time was running out so we found a friend to get wife and kids to and from school for the week.

I decided to drive myself there and back.

Left this arvo and am already at Phitsonolok

Thanks for everyone giving options

It helped me in my decision making

Cheers

never mind

Edited July 3, 201610 yr by MissAndry

I'm flying there from CM.

CM - BKK (Many options) and from Bangkok there is a daily Lao Airlines flight direct about $210 for a return flight. so if you add the usual budge options to Bangkok it's more comfortable and better on the body clocks instead of the buses and various options

They do use an ATR ;-) as well...a small upgrade from Cessna.

But the schedule from BKK to ZVK (Sav.) is suboptimal for visa runners.

Flights only on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday.

Arrive late at 17:20h.

Return from ZVK at 13:25h too early for passport pickup.

With this flight a visa run would last from Monday to Friday.

Edited July 5, 201610 yr by KhunBENQ

I got a flight for Sunday arrival and leaving on Wednesday. Strange ....

I got a flight for Sunday arrival and leaving on Wednesday. Strange ....

OK you got me.

Traveling on Sunday, return on Wednesday works.

But another full day wait in Savannakhet after getting the visa on Tuesday afternoon?

Edited July 5, 201610 yr by KhunBENQ

I got a flight for Sunday arrival and leaving on Wednesday. Strange ....

OK you got me.

Traveling on Sunday, return on Wednesday works.

But another full day wait in Savannakhet after getting the visa on Tuesday afternoon?

yeap...i thought i would hop over to the Thai side after I get my visa just to get some food :-) if not for a 4 days exercise and get the 1 year visa...i guess this is least painful option until I splurge on a Thai Elite :-)

I get it.

Not everyone is enthusiastic about 1800 km return drive on Thailand roads.

Edited July 6, 201610 yr by KhunBENQ