Pattaya to Cambodia visa run

[roamer]

Out and back yesterday for visa run to Cambodia border.

Booked through Key Visa on LK Metro(they sub out the runs though
and not sure if they use more than 1 operator) 2100 baht.

Left around 6.30AM, I was last but one to be picked up, they phoned about 10 minutes before arrival, decent idea.
12 seater minibus, including driver and "guide".
Good overall service, hassle free, think the driver might be
related to Lewis Hamilton though, never realised a minibus
could go so fast.

Brief stops on way out and back, enough time for a quick bite to eat, cigarette break and toilet.

Straight forward at border,think place called Duang or/and
Pong Nam Ron.

All the necessary departure and arrival cards had been filled out for me(and others) so easy going through.
Cross a bridge into Cambodia, some shops and stands selling
cigarettes, whiskey etc.


I had read there would be a lot of hassle from beggars, particularly
young kids.
Not really,they were about but not what I`d consider in a problem way, better behaved than most Pattaya BG drinks mooches.

There`s a Casino as well, walked through it and you can get something to eat there and use toilets if necessary.

I guess the stop there was a little under 1 hour.


Only from a personal POV I`d have preferred if the soundtrack
to the (rubbish) movies played on board wasn`t so loud
or better still, headphones installed, some services have the latter.

Similarly fast run back, all in all OK, maybe about 8 or 9 hours
altogether.
Left me tired but my own fault as there was no chance
of me waking up to catch a 6.30AM service I didn`t bother
going to sleep the night before, stayed awake.

Glad I`ve only got to do it every 90 days,I wouldn`t want
to be staying here and needing to do a run every 2 weeks or so
as some are only getting another 15 days permission to stay
after doing a run.

Overall I`d give the service a thumbs up, might try a different one
next time just as a comparison.

:cheers:

[elway69]

I may have to this someday if I'm ever in more than 90days.
Cheers Roamer.

[Bilbobaggins]

Alternatively Paul, chill out by flying onto Phnom Penh and stay a few nights, Magoo would show you around, I like it there for a few days, a break from the norm so to speak!

[gonzo]

I've used First Class Visa Runs before Roamer, back when they were run out of Witherspoons. They were pretty good and had headphones for the movie which was handy as I'd done an all nighter same as you and got my head down for a bit on the bus. Price was similar and they threw in a meal before and after too.

[soi 2]

I used First Class Visa Runs last year, from their new base at the back of the Queen Victoria on soi 6. 2,500 for a six seater mini bus you could just about lie down flat in. As mentioned by gonzo there were meals and they were good. Same border crossing you went to.

Cambodia duty free was alright, carton of L&M blues for 150 baht and a pick n' mix style shelf of kamagra, oral jellys, apcalis etc.

[Frankie]

Quick question for you chaps that have done visa runs.

My mate lives in Pattaya so obviously has had to do quite a few. He reckons that usually the bus is full of blokes and they all blank each other for the entire trip.

Best way he reckons, bearing in mind the vast number of Falang bullshitters living in Pattaya.

Whats your experience?

[soi 2]

I've only been on one. I thought it was quite an interesting group of people on mine:

- An Irish guy on his second trip who had bought a bar in Naklua. Hardly knew his way round Pattaya, but had bought a business. Got chatting and the rent was huge !

- Manager of Pook Bar on soi 6, scruffy guy with Leeds tattoo on his leg. Shaking his head laughing at the Irish guy who'd just bought the bar...

- Some Italian guy who didn't speak much English

- Me

Given the early start there wasn't much chat to begin with. It looked like we had all stayed up all night for it. I would say every one of us looked rough. Had a bite to eat together in Pattaya when we returned then split up. I swapped numbers with the Irish guy but never made it for a beer at his bar. Might pop in this year and see if he's still on the go there.

[soi 2]

The border crossing is only open between certain hours, I think. Not 24 hours.

[roamer]

The border crossing at Duang is only open between
7.00AM and 8.00PM so a midnight departure wouldn`t work,
more`s the pity.

On my bus was a Russian couple, didn`t smile or
acknowledge anyone, headed to Overstay counter
at border immigration.

An Austrian guy from Vienna, spoke good English friendly,
said he`d been here 4 months.

Elderly Brit, friendly enough but some of what he said was
quite clearly wrong, no big deal.

Another guy, didn`t smile or talk to anyone.

The rest I didn`t really pay any attention to.


Thanks gonzo and soi 2 , think I`ll use 1st Class next time,
would suit me better :thumbsup:
assuming I don`t take a trip outside Thailand.

[gonzo]

Quick question for you chaps that have done visa runs.

My mate lives in Pattaya so obviously has had to do quite a few. He reckons that usually the bus is full of blokes and they all blank each other for the entire trip.

Best way he reckons, bearing in mind the vast number of Falang bullshitters living in Pattaya.

Whats your experience?Like Ga, I've only done it once and it was half and half, basically the smokers all spoke to each other (cos you get used to chatting with strangers when you get herded into little smoking pens over here with the other second class citizens) and the non smokers just blanked everyone.

Of the guys I spoke to there were 2 bar owners using it as an opportunity to load up on cheap spirits and a bloke who'd taken voluntary redundancy and was building his own house out towards Ban Chang. Pretty much everyone on the bus was a Brit I think.

[Frankie]

Thanks Soi 2 and Gonzo.

My mates a non-smoker, so maybe you snouters are just more sociable. I just thought it odd that that a mini bus of blokes, going to the same place, to do the same thing would all blank each other.
There again if its Pattaya related anything is possible.

As Confucious once said: "Pattaya? You couldnt fuckin make it up."

[Bilbobaggins]

I did one once and was so fucked I couldn't rather than wouldn't converse, I assume many are the same

[bkp]

Did a run yesterday using 5 Star Visa out of The Sportsman restaurant on Soi 13. Third trip with them and always satisfied.

2500 baht. All paperwork done for you. When you book the trip you bring two photo's of yer head, sign all the forms you need to sign and the agent takes care of the rest. Complimentary breakfast at 6a.m. and includes bottle of water. Van departs at 6:45. 7 passengers, 6 individual luxury seats, one passenger in front next to the driver. Headphones for the movies, otherwise can barely hear the volume (thumbs up).

3 1/2 hour drive to Ban Laem. Lots of shopping on both sides of the border. Bought a box of Kamagra gels (50 count) for 1750 baht. Ciggies cheap as well. About an hour processing time. Effortless on the customers part, just wait until they hand you your passport then back across the bridge to Thailand.

Cold lunch served once back across the border. Sandwich, potato salad, dinosaur eggs, cake, bottled water, can of juice, some candies and a towelette.

3 1/2 hours back to Pattaya. Not a bad trip but the travelling can seem long. Don't do it with a hangover. Was out drinking til 2a.m. the night before. Up at 5 for the trip and it made for a rough day.
Took a pocketful of 1 baht coins to toss at the kids panhandling at the border. They are pretty funny. Give them a coin and they run off, come back a few minutes later begging again like you had never seen them before.

Driver makes a couple of pit stops each way. Long enough for a piss, drink and smoke. No hurry on the stops, take all the time you need really.

Fill out a critique sheet and get a coupon for a free drink upon arrival back to the Sportsman. Got back right at 3p.m. So about an 8 hour trip in all. I like the van with the individual large seats with armrests and plenty of space to move around, so not sitting right next to someone or packed in like sardines.