Phuket

marc26 · #1 19-03-2005, 11:47

i never went on a visa run. what does those one night deals consist of. are they fun? where to?

LivinLOS · #2 19-03-2005, 13:13

They are the bane of living here... I just did a horrible one to Ranong casue I didnt feel like 7 hours on the bike.. instead 14 hours on the slowest bus in existance..

if the Sillypore flights were still going that was such a sweet alternative.. In airport at 11 back by 3 !!

My only advice is xanex or valium.

geespot · #3 19-03-2005, 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc26

i never went on a visa run. what does those one night deals consist of. are they fun? where to?

Marc if you have to go Ranong, here's what I suggest

I booked with the Yorkshire Inn on Soi Sansabai, they were very good 1250 baht

You get picked up at 8am, here's what I did before I went. Got wrecked the night before and morning of the run, went to the Bar, Baya, Safari and then Superstar until 8am. Fell out of there and onto the minibus. Immediatley fell asleep, opened my eyes and there I was at Ranong immigration office at 11.45am. Slept all the way back, got home 7pm

Its either that or you have an early night, it diddnt take me long to blow that one out, i.e. after 10 whiskies

Other options are go to Hat Yai, you can fly direct from Phuket, about 1800 baht return. Really enjoyed there!!! great live music bars and very very cheap for food and drink. Its about 1 1/2 hours to the Malaysian border in a taxi. The return fare being about 700 baht

G

LivinLOS · #4 20-03-2005, 00:42

I would agree that if your forced to Buss it the Yorkshires one is about the best combo of quick enough but with a driver that does not have a deathwish.. Of course you (like me) are a fairly well proportioned fella so if it ends up a minibuss with every seat taken that can be its own kind of hell..

The 'luxury' busses are bigger seats but run that much slower.. Also getting 40 people through immigration and overstay is a lot slower than getting 6 - 10..

IIRC Doing a Hat Yai run is always an overnighter (no out and back flights daily) fine for a night in the Pink Lady or sampling Hat Yai's scene but a PITA anyway... I just try to do them as less frequently as I can (tourist visa's are helpful for 90 days) and do G's system and or combine with sedatives..

Dont you yanks get 90 dayers anyway ???

nobby · #5 21-03-2005, 13:08

The Hat Yai run can now be done in one day, I did it last month. Phuket Air have a flight that leaves Phuket at about 11am and a direct return at 4pm. The cost is 2950baht and can be booked thru Taurus travel in Patong. Transfer is also included to the border and back with plenty of time in the duty free.

If you buy enough bottles of spirits etc you can reduce the overall cost of the trip. It is without a doubt the best run I have done since being here (3 years).

river · #6 21-03-2005, 14:07

If you come in on say a 2 month tourist visa how many renewals will they allow, sounds crazy why don't they just make you pay in Patong for an extension.

Surely this system has been in use for many years I'm amazed the authorities haven't cracked down.

onlocation62 · #7 21-03-2005, 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc26

i never went on a visa run. what does those one night deals consist of. are they fun? where to?

If you have any mates that need to go or spoken to anyone else who has to go. You can hire a car and do a run as a group. That is not toooooo bad.

stevem · #8 21-03-2005, 15:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by river

If you come in on say a 2 month tourist visa how many renewals will they allow, sounds crazy why don't they just make you pay in Patong for an extension.

Surely this system has been in use for many years I'm amazed the authorities haven't cracked down.

Depends on how many entries you paid for when you got it.