Pattaya visa run to Aranyaprathet -Poipet
Anyone spending more than 30 days in Pattaya or Bangkok on a tourist visa will need to make a visa run to the Cambodian border to renew their tourist visa and the border post at Aranyaprathet is the closest option.
Most people opt for the convenience of the direct visa run services from Pattaya, but if you insist on the adventure of doing it yourself here's how.
There are no public buses direct to Aranyaprathet from Pattaya, so first you need to get to Chachoengsao (pronounced cha-ching-sao). Go to Sukhumvit Road, and wait at any of the main intersections (Naklua, Pattaya Nua, Pattaya Klang, Pattaya Tai, or Thepprasit Road). Wait on the West Side of Sukhumvit Rd. in the direction going toward Bangkok. The blue and white air-conditioned busses will stop after they go through the signal. The bus you want will say 'Bangkok - Rayong' on the side. The problem is that not all of these buses go to Chachoengsao, so you will have to ask. But even if you ask, sometimes the conductor will say, OK, Ok, and tell you to get on the bus, even though it is not a direct bus. They will then let you off in Chon Buri, and direct you to get on another bus. Don't worry about this. Just get off, and get on the other bus. However, always ask how much the fare is to Chachoengsao before you get on the bus. It should be only 60 Baht.
The trip from Pattaya to Chachoengsao will probably take about three hours. When you get to Chachoengsao, you will be let off at a large bus station. Unfortunately, all the signs are in Thai, and there are no signs in English, so you will have to ask around at the ticket windows for the bus to Aranyaprathet. By the way, Aranyaprathet is shortened to 'Aran' on the buses. If the bus is leaving right away, you can get on the bus and pay for your ticket on the bus. The fare is 110 Baht, and when you finally get on your way, it should only take about three hours to get to Aranyaprathet.
When you get to Aran, you can take a motorcycle taxi or a tuk-tuk to the border. A moto is 50 Baht, and tuk-tuks are 70 to 100 Baht. Do not let them overcharge you! There are also big tuk-tuks that can hold about 6 people. It takes about 15 mins. to get to the border, and there is a huge market on the Thai side. If you have time (coming or going), you can look around and do some shopping there.
From where you are let off, walk to your right to the border, turn left at the large road, and walk a short distance to Thai Immigration which is in a building on the left. Go in this building, and get stamped out of Thailand. Exit the building, and cross a bridge to the Cambodian side. Cambodian Immigration is on the right, and there is a large sign saying 'Visa Service'. Fill out the form, and give it to them along with your passport, 1000 Baht, and a passport-sized photo. It's not really a big deal if you don't manage to get a passport photo though, you can pay 100 Baht instead. Of course, as you are walking to the border, you will be accosted by many touts asking if you have a visa, and offering to 'assist' you. Ignore them. After you get your visa, proceed to the Cambodian checkpoint, which is some way down the road, to get stamped in. The border opens at 07.00, and closes at 08.00.
Warning!
Poipet is a bustling and crowded border crossing for goods and people. There are often long lines at both Thai and Cambodian immigration posts, and at peak times, you may have to wait in line for hours. There are also many pickpockets working the crowds. Be aware of who is around you, and watch your belongings at all times.
The arrangement at Poipet is different from any other border crossing. There is nothing actually in the town of Poipet. There are only a few hotels and guesthouses that cater to tourists, and most people just pass through on their way to Siem Reap (Ankor Wat) and/or Phnom Penh. However, in the area between the Thai Immigration checkpoint, and the Cambodian checkpoint are 7 large casino/hotels, some very luxurious. Room rates start at around 800 Baht a night. We are told that this arrangement allows Thais to leave Thailand and go to the casinos without having to go into Cambodia.
If you would like to stay in Poipet, the Orkidayang Kor Hotel and the Chaopraya Hotel have fairly clean rooms for around 400 Baht per night, and they have helpful, English speaking staff.
To return to Thailand, you first have to get stamped out of Cambodia at the 'Departure' window which is on the opposite side of the road from the 'Arrival' post. Then walk back to Thai Immigration on the left side of the road. You must fill out the Thai Immigration form completely. For some reason, they are very sticky about it here, and they will throw the form back at you if it is not filled out correctly. They want a specific address where you will be staying at in Thailand. You cannot just put down 'hotel' or 'Bangkok'. You must be prepared with some kind of address. There is no fee, and no passport photo is needed for the 30-day Thai visa.
When you get your passport back, go through the little 'OUT' gate, and walk back up the road a bit and go to the right (just follow the people). Keep to the left, and walk by some officers sitting in chairs under an umbrella. This is actually Thai Customs, but they usually don't check foreigners. Take a tuk-tuk or moto back to Aran, and they will let you off where you catch the bus. Get on the bus going to Chachoengsao. The last bus is at 15:30. There are also buses going directly to Bangkok from here. Change buses at Chachoengsao, and get the bus to Pattaya (Bangkok - Rayong). The last direct bus leaves at 19.00. For some reason it always takes longer coming back than it does going, and it may take 7 hours to get back to Pattaya
