Savannakhet by car

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tamada
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Savannakhet by car

Post by tamada » March 10, 2020, 11:05 pm

Planning a visa run towards the end of the month. Is it worth the hassle of getting my truck a purple passport or just park up in Mukdahan and let someone else do the driving? We'll be over visiting the rels in Ubon so could be handy detour on the way back.

Ta
tam



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FrazeeDK
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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by FrazeeDK » March 11, 2020, 9:18 am

you'll need the purple book and an insurance rider/sticker for liability coverage in Laos.. I'd say it would be easier to park in a paid lot on the Thai side and take the bus across.. I'd only take my vehicle across if I was planning a trip throughout Laos for a few days.. Not worth the hassle overall if you're just doing a short trip over the bridge..
Dave

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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by TAXIfor7/11 » March 11, 2020, 9:39 am

There is a free secure carpark thai side,right next to border,leave it there and get bus across,easy

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tamada
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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by tamada » March 13, 2020, 11:14 am

Thanks for the advice. I'll do it the easy way.

Any advice on places to stay on either side of the river?

And since it is a 2-day affair and the Consulate is getting busier, what's the opinion on the best 2-days to apply/collect?

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747man
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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by 747man » March 13, 2020, 11:43 am

Tam, I Always stay at HOP INN in Mukdahan It's Very Clean,Cheap 550 Baht on www.agoda.com & www.booking.com
Usually Stay at Avalon in Savanakhet 650 Baht Inc Breakfast,Also on the same websites as previously mentioned & It's Less than 10 Minutes to the Royal Thai Consul.....Tuesday & Thursday seem to be the better 2 Days to do it....

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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by noosard » March 13, 2020, 11:44 am

Best days are mid week
Have done the run a few times
Leave the car
Got a taxi to take me across to the consulate and then hotel
Got them to pick me up the next day for return trip
Did the bus once and was slow plus made the thai immigration super busy
rather pay extra for comfort and speed

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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by TAXIfor7/11 » March 13, 2020, 6:30 pm

Days to avoid,monday and thursday,thats the visa runner days

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tamada
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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by tamada » March 14, 2020, 1:06 pm

Thanks, I will plan Tuesday to apply, Wednesday collect then.

And thanks for the accommodation tips. I recall a few years back that a foreign guy had a big house overlooking the river, maybe south of Mukdahan that looked like a nice place. Can't see anything similar on either agoda or booking so assume maybe he has gone for a Burton.

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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by TAXIfor7/11 » March 14, 2020, 1:15 pm

Thats what i did put paperwork in early tuedsay morning,picked up wednesday,bumped into zid who told me he went monday and it was packed,we went passed embassy thursday morning 8.30 on way to the border and there was already a big line of farang going down the road and several silver mini buses parked outside

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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by Zidane » March 14, 2020, 3:07 pm

Mukdahan Manor is/was owned by an Aussie guy and his Thai wife.... overlooks the river.
This might be the place you are thinking of, tam?
I,ve not stayed there btw.
Ploy Palace is central and has a pool. About 10 minutes walk to the river or a short tuk tuk ride.
Just when I thought our chance had passed,you go and save the best for last.

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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by tamada » March 14, 2020, 3:55 pm

Zidane wrote:
March 14, 2020, 3:07 pm
Mukdahan Manor is/was owned by an Aussie guy and his Thai wife.... overlooks the river.
This might be the place you are thinking of, tam?
I,ve not stayed there btw.
Ploy Palace is central and has a pool. About 10 minutes walk to the river or a short tuk tuk ride.
Yes, that was it. More of a B&B than a hotel. They had a website before but it is dead link from their FB page now. Looks like the typical retired farang mansion with maybe half-a-dozen rooms. Just found it on agoda and doesn't have any vacancies around my planned dates and the last review was last summer. Might dig out the old email contact and see if they are flat out busy or only have the 1 room.

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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by deankham » March 14, 2020, 11:44 pm

I stayed in the casino hotel and it's a dump. 1st room looked into the casino floor! Asked to change to a room that looked outside.

Went Monday early and it was a nightmare. Mid week as others said seems to be the time to go.

I parked the truck in the secure undercover parking area. 200 baht for 2 days. Certainly not free but looked safe so happy to pay.

Spent the Sunday night in Mukdahan at Hop Inn (same as Alan). Hotel was a good option but nothing to do (that I found). Pizza Co in a shopping mall was all the action I could sniff out!

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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by Drunk Monkey » March 15, 2020, 7:04 am

deankham wrote:
March 14, 2020, 11:44 pm
I stayed in the casino hotel and it's a dump. 1st room looked into the casino floor! Asked to change to a room that looked outside.

Went Monday early and it was a nightmare. Mid week as others said seems to be the time to go.

I parked the truck in the secure undercover parking area. 200 baht for 2 days. Certainly not free but looked safe so happy to pay.

Spent the Sunday night in Mukdahan at Hop Inn (same as Alan). Hotel was a good option but nothing to do (that I found). Pizza Co in a shopping mall was all the action I could sniff out!
Yep gotta agree there there aint a lot to light yer candle in Mukdahan , Dao n I went there on a sales trip and found it o be a bit like time stood still ..Royston Vasey has more action. When travelling ive always used the smaller style resorts as opposed to the lager hotels which in most cases are dusty old tired ..only exception is the Taksila Hotel in Maha Sarakarm which is my favourite place to stay..... on that subject A FEW YEARS MSK used to be a bit like for action but its boomed lately and quite alot of restaurants and bars have popped up .. latest being Ya Cafe Kotamor really nice place cracking pizza as owners hubby is Italian .

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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by Zidane » March 15, 2020, 3:11 pm

Cambodia has now banned nationals from 5 countries for 30 days in an attempt to stop the virus spreading... Italy, France, Germany, Spain and the USA.
Vietnam has now banned entry to all EU and UK nationals.
What happens if Thailand and/or Laos do the same soon ?
What will happen to chaps on 90 day visa runs or tourist visa runs for instance?
Just when I thought our chance had passed,you go and save the best for last.

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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by tamada » March 15, 2020, 4:19 pm

Zidane wrote:
March 15, 2020, 3:11 pm
...
Vietnam has now banned entry to all EU and UK nationals.
...
It is ALL foreigners and only if they have been in UK, Europe and/or Schengen within the past 14 days, even in transit.

"From noon Vietnam time, March 15, all foreign nationals will be refused entry to Vietnam if in the previous 14 days they have been to the UK, or any Schengen country, even in transit," read the statement on the website. "This restriction will be in place for 30 days."

I haven't found the Vietnam Public Health website or the British Embassy Hanoi's actual statements of the above although it is on the latter's Twitter feed.

https://twitter.com/UKinVietnam/status/ ... 7411468288

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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by tamada » March 16, 2020, 3:53 pm

noosard wrote:
March 13, 2020, 11:44 am
Best days are mid week
Have done the run a few times
Leave the car
Got a taxi to take me across to the consulate and then hotel
Got them to pick me up the next day for return trip
Did the bus once and was slow plus made the thai immigration super busy
rather pay extra for comfort and speed
Being a comfort and speed aficionado myself, especially with Mrs tam in tow, how much is/was a taxi? Is that a Thai taxi that comes back to get you the next afternoon?

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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by tamada » March 16, 2020, 3:58 pm

Mrs tam's Thai passport has expired so she will probably need some time to get the temporary Lao entry permit with her Thai ID card. IIRC from a long-ago bridge crossing at Nongkhai, she needs to get this from the Thai authorities before heading over the bridge? Anyone with experience of that rigmarole at Mukdahan?

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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by 747man » March 16, 2020, 4:41 pm

tamada wrote:
March 16, 2020, 3:58 pm
Mrs tam's Thai passport has expired so she will probably need some time to get the temporary Lao entry permit with her Thai ID card. IIRC from a long-ago bridge crossing at Nongkhai, she needs to get this from the Thai authorities before heading over the bridge? Anyone with experience of that rigmarole at Mukdahan?
Yeah,Same Same Tam, Mrs Tam has to get her Temporary Border Pass On The Thai Side at Mukdahan...

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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by 747man » March 16, 2020, 4:44 pm

tamada wrote:
March 16, 2020, 3:53 pm
noosard wrote:
March 13, 2020, 11:44 am
Best days are mid week
Have done the run a few times
Leave the car
Got a taxi to take me across to the consulate and then hotel
Got them to pick me up the next day for return trip
Did the bus once and was slow plus made the thai immigration super busy
rather pay extra for comfort and speed
Being a comfort and speed aficionado myself, especially with Mrs tam in tow, how much is/was a taxi? Is that a Thai taxi that comes back to get you the next afternoon?
You Might get a Laos Taxi Parked up on THIS Side ( Touting ) So You'd Have NO Problems, The Consulate is only a 10 Minute drive after crossing the bridge....The BIG Problem is if Laos CLOSE'S Their Border....

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Re: Savannakhet by car

Post by tamada » March 16, 2020, 5:47 pm

^ That's why we are probably headed that way TOMORROW!!!

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