The Thailand expat forum for Travel, Lifestyle and Fun.

Gazza

Synopsis.
Finnair r/t 5,600B. Multi non-imm O visa, 2 nights hotel, food, transport etc., 9,500B.

Details.
Monday 6th. Departed BKK 1540 and arrived Singapore 2 hours later. Plane only had 50-60% capacity so most everyone had 2-4 seats to themselves.

Singapore Immigration was a breeze and the officials were pleasant and even offered me free sweets from a bowl while she stamped me in.
Changed exactly 10k baht for Singapore Dollars and headed for the tourist info center. Asked about cheap hotels and was shown a list of hotels with all differing prices starting from around 49 SGD. I chose 'Hotel 81 Geylang' for 49 SGD per night and booked 2 nights. Paid 10 SGD deposit which is refunded at the hotel. Taxi from airport to hotel was 18 SGD.

Hotel 81 Geylang is one of many in a chain of budget hotels and is located in a red light district with hookers and katoeys plying their trade right outside at the entrance. The air-con rooms are on the small side but very clean with hot shower, kettle and complimentary coffee, 2 bottles of water and 2 cup noodles. Cable TV with ESPN, Supersport, Star Sport, Star World, AXN and a several Singaporean channels. Most of all, it was quiet and peaceful with helpful and pleasant staff. I highly recommend it.

Tuesday 7th. Headed for the Thai Embassy. 10 min walk from the hotel to Aljunied train station, bought ticket for around 2.70 SGD, and got off at Orchard station about 20 mins later. (There's a 1 SGD refund on tickets once you've used them so don't forget).
10 min walk from Orchard St. to the Thai embassy which isn't marked on any of the free tourist maps but is located directly opposite the Hilton Hotel that is marked.
Queued up outside with about 20 others waiting for the 9:15am opening time.
Got inside, picked up an application form and a queue ticket. 10 mins later handed over my passport (full of Cambo visas and only 2 clean pages remaining), application form, 1 photo, 1 photocopy of marriage certificate, fee of 220 SGD. Got handed a receipt and was politely told by the nice woman behind the counter that she'll see me tomorrow at 2pm.
That has to be the quickiest and easiest visa process I've ever done in 17 years.

Wednesday 8th. Checked out from hotel at noon and killed some time at Burger King opposite Thai embassy waiting for 2pm to pick up PP/visa. About 30 people were there at opening time and it was also a quick in and out that took only about 10 mins.

Later, around 5pm and after killing a hell of a lot of time, got the train from Bugis St. to the airport station at terminal 2 for about 2.90SGD and took 30-40 mins. Refunded my train ticket. Followed the signs for the free shuttle skytrain to take me from terminal 2 to terminal 1.

Checked in early around 18:30pm for the Finnair flight departing at 22:30pm. Singapore Airport tax is included in ticket price.
Got rid of small change at a 7-11 tucked out of the way in between two duty free shops. Killed some time at the free internet areas and watching tv.
Flight back to BKK was same as before, plenty of free seats available.
Exchanged my SGD back to Baht and got 500b in return.

Money used was 18 SGD for taxi to hotel. 220 for visa. 98 for 2 nights hotel. Meals were local food, fast food, 7-11 sandwiches, only 2 beers, a few soft drinks here and there. Remaining costs were for trains.
Total. 9,500baht. Not included are travel costs to and from Suwannabumi.

slimboyfat

TD soiree in Singapore next year?

Gazza

I'll be getting 15 months out of the visa so it'll have to be early 2008.
Jai Yen Yen.

Thetyim

Nice post Gazza.

Lots of info there and some other forums have been saying that you have to go back to your native land to get a multi entry.

buadhai

Why can't you get an extension of stay?

Gazza

At one time I was getting extensions but found that I was reluctant to want to go anywhere. I got stuck too much into a quotidian routine that basically had me at home most of the time and only venturing as far as the local supermarket. I found that what I was doing here, I could've done the same back home in England. I came to Thailand to see more of the country and I'm still doing just that, only have 4 more provinces left to visit.
I eventually managed to get off my ass and took a ride into Malaysia and didn't bother getting a re-entry visa which voided the extension, so then went back to getting visas. Visa runs at least ensured me that I had get out the house and do a trip to one of the border crossings somewhere in Thailand.

It's a shame that I'm no longer allowed to do monthly border hops as they were ideal for me. They allowed me a small break away from the family and a small dirty holiday with a G/F.

Perhaps I'll go back to extentions in the future, when I hang up my riding boots.

buadhai

Damn, now you tell me....

Thetyim

Get a yearly extension but don't tell the wifey.

Then go on your "visa runs"

buadhai

Thus clarifying the meaning of the avatar: shhh, don't tell.

Gazza

But I would need the wife to apply for the extension again.

I've told my regular GF though that I don't have to do any more visa runs now for a year. Time now to start looking for a tri-monthly visa run companion.

reinvented

very useful post by the ex-lazio man

got to go next week

kingwilly

thats why I play cricket and rugby - all those tours to various locals

donmeurett

HOW DO YOU DO THAT ??

slimboyfat

i thought it was to see men in the showers/bath

slimboyfat

time for a TD soiree at Orchard Towers?

dirtydog

Every 3 months a border trip, the last one is taken a day or 2 before visa expiry, ie day 364, then you get another 3 months, easy really

donmeurett

Singapore is a very nice place to visit. I went there on a Visa Run a couple years back. No more Visa Runs for me now that i have a Retirement Visa. But I will return to Singapore
because i really liked it.

don
hodag[at]yahoo.com

Marmite the Dog

If you bother to come to one in Thailand it would probably be considered.

slimboyfat

bother?

unfortunately as i am not free and single it is not so easy.
if i was then i would be in thailand whenever i liked and would love to come.

my only trip to thailand planned this year is chiang mai in march.

anyway anyone who comes over for a visa trip and is at a loose end then let me know and lets have a beer if i am free.

also if anyone wants any singapore info i will help if i can.

__________________

phunphin

I Recently got a 3 month Non O in BKK , that is we payed 10,000 in bribe to a "friend" in immigration and got visa.
Once that expires can I get multi entry in singapore?..As i don't want to keep paying bribes, I'd rather do road trip.