Visa run with children. Andaman club (Ranong) or Penang?

[tjoff]

Ok. Be warned. Lots of questions coming up. All help, also answers to only parts of the questions, are highly appreciated! (Sounds lost do I?) Oh, and if I am off-topic please direct me to a better forum.

Hi! Newbie in the forum as well as in Thailand. We (me, wife and children, 10 months and 3 years) came to Thailand 3 weeks ago. Did not have time to get visas in Sweden before we left so we only have 30-day transit visas. We will be staying here (Hua Hin) for almost 90 days so we have to do a couple of visa runs, or go to a consulate. We want to do it as easy as possible for the kids and without major hazzle.

Our best and quickest choice would be Ranong I guess. Taking a taxi will cost us about 4000 Baht roundtrip according to all taxi services. (Sounds a bit low doesn´t it? It’s a long run.) If we leave during the night the kids can gest some sleep for a few hours. Here comes question number 1: How long does it take? We have received different info, from 4 to 6 hours.

Ok, once in Ranong it seems worth the extra cost to go to Andaman club. Q2: Cost 850 Baht/person including everything? Q3: Also for children? Q4: Is it ok to take the children there? (Considering it is a casino, I mean.) Q5: Do the boats from Ranong to Andaman go all day? Q6: Previuosly there was a fine when entering Thailand again with less than 5 days left on the visa. Does that still apply? Q7: Also for children? Q8: Does that apply to all immigration points into Thailand, and if not why only in Ranong? Q9: I've heard that children do not pay any fines for overstaying - can anybody confirm that? If so, what happens when we leave Thailand “for good”.

Q10: Has anybody in the forum done this trip with kids?

Ok, the other option is to go to the consulate in Penang by train and get a 60-day tourist visa. Going by train Hua Hin – Butterworth could be fun. Maybe. Since the kids are so young and may get “crazy” during the night our option would be 1st class. Q11. How big are the beds. Can we fit “dad + 3-year-old” in one and “mum + 10-months-old” in one wihout crushing them? Has anybody in the forum tried this?

Then time to get the visa. I understand that we arrive at Butterworth at noonish. Visas must be applied for in the morning so that day “is lost”. So, application the next morning and get the visas in the afternoon the day after. The train leaves Butterworth at 13.15 so we will not be able to catch that one. So in summary: Day 1 (evening): Leave Hua Hin. Day 2 arrive in Butterworth/Georgetown. Day 3 apply for visa. Day 4 pick up visa. Day 5 leave Butterworth. Day 6 (early morning) back in Hua Hin. Q12: Am I correct? Should I book an extra day in Penang just in case? (Maybe I should mention that my wife was on Penang 20 years ago, and hated it. Kota Bahru was even worse. She was 18 and travelled alone.)

Q13: Have I numbered the questions ok, or are there several with the same number?

Ok. I know I have done the worst thing in a forum. Made a long, unreadable question devided into 1000 subquestions. No, 13 actually. But anyway. Thanks in advance. We love Hua Hin. All help, also answers to only one of the questions (except maybe for the last one) is highly appreciated!

[KelpieKiss]

Hi Tjoff,

Can't answer all your questions but I can answer some. I recently did a visa run to the Andaman club but I drove myself. I made the trip in about 4.5 hours but I was going at a fair speed. I'd give yourself 5-6 in a taxi. Also, be warned that once you turn onto the Ranong road, it gets quite hairy. Tell your driver to take it easy as there are some crazy drivers.

The Andaman club is a great place and my advise would be to definitely stay the night. Going to Ranong and back in 1 day is a tough slog for kids. If you book online it will only cost you 1950 baht for a really nice room with 2 double beds. Don't worry about the casino, it's well hidden so you can completely ignore it. The 850 baht gets part refunded if you stay at the hotel too. The boats run very regular but I think they stop at about 4.30-5pm.

That's about all I can tell you. If you decide to stay then don't forget your swimming costume as they have a great pool.

[redstar2910]

Hi Tjoff
I also cant answer all of your questions as ive never done visa runs with children.i usually go Ranong on a day trip,but it would be too much for the kids.To stay there one night is fine.KK is right when he says there are some dogdy roads coming into Ranong so be alert to your driver.The boat trips go quite regular and they cost 5[maybe changed to 10] us dollars. One bad thing is when you get across you and your family will be harassed by by local lads[all wearing brown trousers and white shirts] trying to sell you all sorts.Most of the time there unavoidable and very annoying.

Ive taken a flight to Penang twice before[dont know anything about the trains] and ive stayed in the Maylasian Hotel.If you ask at the front desk for the number of the guy that does visa's they will give you a number.Call this man and he'll tell you to be in the lobby the next morning at a certain time.he'll take your passports[you have to pay him then,works out almost same price,includ taxis,if you were to go yourself] and he'll have them back the next day with a 60 day tourist visa.I know many farangs that have been using this guy for years without any problems and is safe as houses.The hotel itself is ok and prices are more expensive then thailand but so is food and drink and everything else there.Personally i didnt like the place,i only went back because i was advised to for buisness visa

[KelpieKiss]

Just a quick add on. You won't be harassed by anyone at Ranong if you go to the Andaman Club. Also, you don't need dollars for the Andaman, just baht.

[lomuamart]

I'll try and help as best I can, but I don't have kids.
Ranong will probably be your best bet. As already said, allow 5 hours or so by taxi, including a couple of pit stops.
With your kids at the age they are, The Andaman Club would be preferable. It won't be a pleasant experience getting on and off the long tail boats with children. The boat to the AC is air con and easy embarkation and disembarkation. The hotel on the Burmese island is first class. You won't have any problems there.
I'm really not sure if you'll have to pay the "extra" for using the service as you're all on 30 day stamps and won't be going more than 5 days before they expire, but if I were you, I'd assume that all four of you will be charged. I think the additional fee is about 500-700 Baht per person.
I've never been able to work out why this surcharge is levied - maybe because it's a casino?????
I'm pretty sure that the boats stop running both ways at about 4-4.30pm, the reason being that Imm on the Burmese side may not be able to stamp you in/out.
I'd be careful about the children not being liable for overstay. It could be that a child under 1 year won't get fined, but I'm pretty certain that your eldest will be. Again, assume the worst/most expensive scenario. The fine is 500 Baht per day, per person. I believe the airport allows a one day overstay without fine. Border points do not.
The Andaman Club is the only place where you may be charged extra because you're not leaving Thailand 5 days before your 30 day stamp expires. So, you can get the train to Penang and cross the Thai/Malaysian border on the day necessary without paying any more for the privilege.
The train trip to Butterworth is indeed good fun. See here for a timetable:
http://www.tourismhuahin.com/trains-huahin.php
I think all the sleeper carriages are air con now. I traveled 1st class once and it was brilliant. Two bunk beds in the compartment, a western style bathroom (not en suite) with shower and waiter service. I'm pretty sure the 4 of you will fit in there OK - unless your kids are Arnold Swartzenneger!!
It's years since I did the Penang run, but I reckon you've got the timing there a bit wrong. If you use an agent, you'll be able to get your applications in on the first day and they should be returned the following. You definitely will have missed the return train to HH then, so book for the third day. Basically, you'll have two nights in Penang. You will have to get a move on to the agents the first afternoon you arrive, though, or you will probably be delayed another day.
Georgetown is hot and steamy, but there's plenty of shopping and great food. As a family, you might enjoy taking the narrow guage railway up Penang Hill. The sunsets can be spectacular up there and there are some feeding places as well. A good way to spend an afternoon and early evening. Just Google Penang and you'll find all the information.
As an afterthought, also Google "holidays+Malaysia" together with "holidays+Thailand". Try to stay clear of them because the Thai consulate will be closed for all of them. I've been caught out by Ramadan in the past.
Hope the above helps.
PS, using a visa agent in Penang is totally legal and they only charge an additional 300 Baht or so for doing all the running around.
Decent hotels can be found for around 100 Ringit a night.
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