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What are the costs and experiences of organized minivan border runs from Pattaya for DTV holders in Thailand?

Apr 3, 2025
3 days ago
Adrian **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Been here nearly 6 month so getting close to doing my first border run. Has anyone done an organised minivan border run from pattaya for there next 180 days yet?

I messaged a local agent asking if how much for a border run, they replied 3800baht for 60 days, I replied I had the dtv so would automatically get 180 days to which they replied oh the price is 5800 baht, when I asked why they said its because you get more days, I asked why that matters it's the same distance your taking me and there's no extra cost to you. Your getting more days so you pay more was the reply! Gotta love Thailand, always a way of them getting a few extra baht when they can!!

Edit. I do have a car, just dont fancy doing the trip on my own and getting stuck on the cambodian side if for any reason i dont get back in 🙄
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The conversation revolves around planning a border run from Pattaya to extend a stay in Thailand. The original poster mentions being quoted different prices by an agent based on the duration of stay granted by the visa, raising concerns about the fairness of these charges. Community members provide various suggestions, including driving, using bus services, or taking flights to neighboring countries like Laos and Vietnam. Some share personal experiences with border runs and the associated costs, while others discuss the pricing dynamics of agents. Overall, the community suggests considering alternative travel methods to save money and enjoy short trips.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Paul *******
Take a bus to Siem Reap and make a weekend trip out of it. It's such a chill place.

On the way back, get a taxi to a different border (perhaps Ban Khao Din) to avoid the notorious Aranyaprathet, which has a habit of denying entry to visa holders, including at least one DTV holder.

Another option is to travel to Laos, staying in Vientiane, Luang Prabang or Savannakhet for a couple of days then travel back across the border. Time and money can be saved by flying to Udon Thani (for travel to Vientiane, Vang Vieng or Luang Prabang) since the airport is a mere 50km from the border. For Savannakhet or Tha Khek, you'd fly to Nakorn Phanom and go from there. There are cross border buses from Udon Thani to Vang Vieng and Vientiane.
John *********
Just fly to Luang Prabang for a few days away or say HCMC, not expensive, take in the local sights etc very inexpensive in either places🤔
Tod *********
Almost ALL border run companies charge DTV holders more than people who go for 60 day free stamps 😮

That's because the border guards charge the border run company more to let you out and right back in.

You wanna try to bounce yourself (to save money 😛) plan on staying overnight in Cambodia OR just fly out and back.

1st Class Visa Run, down there in pattaya goes to the border almost every day
@ *******************************************
ns
George’s *******************************
How does this all work. If I was
@Adrian *********
. And if I took a plane out of Thailand for a few days. To say Bali. On my return. Would I receive another 180 day stamp…
Mark *********
Done this and one of the worst experiences, just fly in and out,
James ********
Where are you now in Thailand?
Adrian **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Anonymous ******************
Honestly, these agents are taking the piss these days. They’re making an absolute killing. Some of their services have nearly quadrupled over the past 10 years
Peter ********
Just fly to a Laos, Vietnam. Very cheap.
Lucas **********
Just fly to Vietnam for a week and have a look around...
Sylvia ********
@Lucas *********
yes far less stressful, take a break
Adrian **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sylvia *******
I've been here 6 month on a break hahaha
Sylvia ********
@Adrian *********
OK change of culture then Vietnam is fun
Nyein *************
I just did my border run a week ago with my family and I'm a DTV holder as well. I went from Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong border with an agent (mainly for transportation, everything else is on us). I checked with the immigration officer at the border if I can return on the same day before crossing to Laos. The officer said its no problem since I'm a DTV holder and its multi-entry. Everything went well on Laos side and the officers didnt even ask for any documents regarding my DTV during re-entry into Thailand. Then again, maybe I got lucky and met a decent officer. DTV is still a grey area for them so its hard to say what works and what doesn't. And I get where you're coming from about paying more not making sense for border run service, but i think their packages guarantees same day return. From what i've heard, the thing about not allowing re-entry same day is mostly for visa exemptions. I could be wrong tho. Good luck with your border run!
Luit *****************
I think it is perfectly normal that you pay more when you get more. That is how our world works. Do you also complain when a restaurant charges you higher service cost when you have a more expensive dinner? Cost of bringing a more expensive dinner to your table is the same, but service costs are a percentage.
Dave *********
@Luit ****************
yes people and businesses charge based on the value their product or service delivers to the customer.

Plumbers charge triple for emergency calls over the weekend, for example.

Not BS, not unfair, definitely not a new concept.

Credit to you for your patience here 😅
Anonymous ******************
@Luit ****************
that is complete BS!
Luit *****************
Anonieme deelnemer 342 You don't have to agree, I cannon help you don't understand such simple economic principes. The fact you are unable to understand does not make it BS.
Michael *******
Luit *****************
@Michael ******
You never noties the world works like this? Just look around and see.
Ko *******
@Luit ****************
stupid comparison…
Luit *****************
@Ko ******
thats tells all about you...
Ko *******
@Luit ****************
you can better…
Luit *****************
@Ko ******
you're right, I can better... not waste my time on your stupid remarks, but they are entertaining.
Robert **********
@Luit ****************
What a ridiculous comparison. Not even near on how the world works, if you're not a scammer of course. If they offer a more pleasant ride for DTV holders or if there is more paperwork I would belive it's fair with a higher price, otherwise it's just a scam. It's not the minivan company that provided the DTV and should therefore not charge extra for that reason.
Luit *****************
@Robert *********
The fact you call it ridiculous shows you just don't understand how things work. You do not pay for costs, you pay for a product or service. No matter where you look, it works that way. Bigger cars have higher marges than small cars. For the bussiness class in an airplane you pay much more than only for the extra space. Look around and you will see this pattern everywhere. You don't pay for a minivan ride, you pay for a borderrun.
Robert **********
@Luit ****************
Your arguments is still ridiculous in comparison. It's only scammers who takes advantage of people in this specific way. Like I mentioned, if the "borderrun" company was offering something extra for DTV holders, it would be perfectly fine. For example, if you would catch a taxi and told them you need to go to the hospital for a surgery and they said that it would cost you double fee because it's a surgery and not an ordinary health check. With your brilliant economic knowledge, you would be fine with that, right? Just answer with a yes and you won't have me arguing anymore.
Luit *****************
Arguing with you is useless sice you do not have the ability to see how things work in this world. Getting a 180 stamp just is different than getting a 60 day stamp. You can keep discussing about fair or not, but different products have different prices and different margins.

When you think making bigger margins is a scam, that is your good right, but then most companies in the world are scammers.

Every company in the world will try to make margins as high as possible.

You can say that is not fair, but that is not what we are discussing.

And about your example with the taxi and the hospital, it might be different how you arrange it. When you let the hospital arrange it, it might be more expensive than arranging the taxi ride yourself.

It is all about what product or service you buy.

When you hire a van to the border it might be cheaper than buy a borderrun.

The borderrun just includes extra service, which might be different for 180 days than for 60 days.
Robert **********
@Luit ****************
You are twisting my words to benefit your excellence in economics. I never questioned companies ability to make as big margins as possible is a scam or that different products has different prices and margins. I might just not used the same borderrun company that charge extra for something they not provide. You said it yourself in the last sentence, that extra service "might" be different for 180 days. In this case it's only the stamp that differ, wich by my experience isn't provided by the borderrun company. They only took me and the other in the van from A to B, the process of passing the border and return with proper paperwork was on ourselves no matter what kind of VISA. And your friend Dave's example of plumbers charging triple for emergency calls over the weekend is not applicable for this issue.
Luit *****************
@Robert *********
I think you don't know how a borderrun works, they might not stamp your passport themselves, but they take care that IO stamps your passport without problems. What it needs to reach this might be different depending on type of visa.
Adrian **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Luit ****************
do you have a dtv? Are you in thailand? Have you extended your dtv visa yet? Asking for a friend !!
Adrian **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert *********
This was the whole point of my post, why would they charge more when there is absolutely no difference in their service. They are taking me from A to B and back to A. Theres no difference in their cost, I'll still pop over the same border as John Doe and back in again. I called i to another visa shop yesterday, a sign up saying 60 day border run, 3500bt, i asked if same for 180 day and reply was no, 180 day 6500, she could not give me any explanation as to why it was.nearly double, it just is was her answer.
Robert **********
@Adrian *********
Exactly, I understand your issue fully but Mr Economy Professor wants me to believe it's how the world works. The last answer from him even includes corruption so he builds up his own narrative. And this just proves that it's a part of a scam and that's how the world works, especially if you're eating an expensive dinner at a restaurant. If they would say that it's more expensive because they need to bribe the IO it would make sense but that wasn't mentioned because that would expose the scam. But I am thankful for being schooled by the Economy Professor on how the world works after 48 years of knowing nothing.
Luit *****************
@Adrian *********
let me try with the most simple example I can think of right now. When I transfer and exchange money the fee is higher when the amount of money is higher. Everybody sees this as perfectly normal, but for the bank, the cost of transferring the small amount is exactly the same as for the large amount.
Petrov ********
Taxi in Bangkok ask me to pay more because i have luggage . You can take bus to Seam Reap cost 20 dollars in each side and sleep there will be cheap then to pay to agent and travel all day .
Greg ********
It will be the border officials asking for the extra money for longer entry. My pal used to pay 2500 for 30 day VE and when it went to 60 days the border charge went to 3500. He used to drive himself as he had a timeline to keep to.
Ning ******
google bus to surnabhumi, there is a bus to chantuburi, than change another bus to ban pakkad.
John *********
I was expecting more from a DTV holder, a border run.seriously 🤦🏻‍♀️😅🙈
Rob *******
@John ********
There are lots of reports of people having problems trying to extend dtv so its easier to do a border run.

Educate yourself before commenting
Luit *****************
@Rob ******
Most of the reports of people having problems is just because they do not fully comply to visa rules anymore, so I think
@John ********
is right that it sounds strange a DTV holder has to do a border run.

When you are still complying to the requirements and still have the original documentation, it is not very difficult to show partly updated documents again.
John *********
@Rob ******
like what exactly?
Al**
@John ********
brother are you dumb? Can you not read?
Anna *********
@John ********
more paperwork than the initial approved application and everything updated
Rob *******
@John ********
Like it not getting extended…..
David ********
Just take a bus or train it's cheap as why use a border run rip you off
James ********
@David *******
not all borders will allow same day reentry. The border run service company is a same day return.

AND...if you try alone...AVOID POIPET BORDER CROSSING.

Period 🩸
David ********
@James *******
Always do same day never use a rip off border run service
James ********
@David *******
Good Luck 🍀 if you can do it same day. Especially with a history of staying in Thailand with Visa Exempt Entries, Tourist Visas and extensions.
David ********
@James *******
he is talking DTV mate
Craig **********
Get a ✈️ ticket to vietnam or KL and enjoy a little trip away it's cheap
Elías ********
You can very much flight in and out to any neighboring country for less than 5,000 bath.
Anonymous ******************
@Elías *******
exactly, and make a small holiday out of it!
Toni *******
I rent a car for 900thb and drove 3,5hrs to ban pakkad border, 15mins there and drive back
David ********
@Toni ******
is that the closest to Bkk? I punched “pakkad” into google maps snd nothing came up
Toni *******
David ********
Ah nope Aranyaprathet is the closest to Bkk
Paul *******
@David *******
Aranyaprathet is the closest but not by much. Ban Khao Din is about the same distance and a far better place to re-enter the country. Also, much faster since no one uses it.
David ********
@Paul ******
thanks, yeah I read officers at Aranyaprathet can be more difficult
Adrian **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Toni ******
did it cost you anything for a visa to enter cambodia ?
Toni *******
@Adrian *********
yes, visa for cambodia