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What is the cheapest way to do visa runs from Samui?

visa run DTV visa Samui Thailand immigration budget travel visa extension options transportation options Ranong Malaysia border crossing

Aug 3, 2025

21 hours ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Ive tried to search for this in the group but cant find the right answers. We'll be living in Samui but will need to do visa runs obviously, what is the cheapest way people are doing this? Needing money to stretch as on a soft power DTV so no money coming in.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The post discusses cost-effective options for performing visa runs while living in Samui. Commenters suggest the cheapest methods include taking a ferry and then bus to the Malaysian border or to Ranong. Several mention the need for careful budgeting due to limited income from a DTV visa. Different routes and their costs are explored, with emphasis on the importance of considering transport methods like ferries, buses, and trains.

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Anonymous ******************

Ferry/bus to krabi - Kuala Lamper

18 hours ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

I know its more expensive with living in samui, for those saying to look at cheaper places. I have enough money to last but wanting to keep the cost down if possible rather than spending a lot traveling for the visa run.

19 hours ago

Andrew ********

Find somewhere cheaper if you're concerned about the cost of visa runs ....

19 hours ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Andrew *******

cheaper than the UK and we have a budget, weve around 15 years worth of money but if I can keep it reasonably cheap it can hopefully last longer. I know people in samui and know there is cheaper places but I dont know anyone in different locations so want to live there for now whilst finding my feet :)

19 hours ago

Andrew ********

Anonymous participant Good one... Enjoy

19 hours ago

Reply to

Andrew ********

Biff *******

Interesting choice of location for living on a budget.

19 hours ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Biff ******

19 hours ago

Luit *****************

Anonieme deelnemer for living long time in Thailand like 15 years, you also might look at a visa to stay long time. DTV is a tourist visa, and I wonder, even in case it still exists in 5 years, you can get one again for soft power. Convincing them you need over 5 years for a soft power activity might be hard. When you get the correct visa for your stay, the borderruns are not necessary.

16 hours ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Luit ****************

we might not live here for that long, I was saying i had enough money for that amount of time. A lot can change in that time so for now DTV works for us.

15 hours ago

Luit *****************

Anonieme deelnemer Indeed a lot can change, it is even very difficult to tell if the money is enough for 15 years...

14 hours ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Luit ****************

this isn't what im asking...

14 hours ago

Luit *****************

Anonieme deelnemer I know, but when you want to prevent the cost of border runs, the best is to just get a visa that matches your purpose of stay.

But I don't understand the problem of the cost of the border runs, compared to the cost of 6 months soft power activity the cost of a border run every 6 months is relative very low.

13 hours ago

Reply to

Luit *****************

Biff *******

Anonymous participant fair enough but it’s one of the most expensive places in Thailand. In the medium to long term, I’d advise you to start looking elsewhere.

If you’re going to live in Thailand for a long time, learn the language and explore the country.

19 hours ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Biff ******

ive travelled there for 3 months so we know different parts. We prefer the more raw/traditional parts for as a young couple we want to be around friends weve made there for the start but hopefully will move around after the first 12 months

19 hours ago

Reply to

Anonymous *************

Henrik *****

If on DTV look in to extending at nearest Immigration office, may be the cheapest way.

19 hours ago

Luit *****************

@Henrik ****

Might be the best option indeed, but still need a borderrun every year when you want to live in Thailand on a tourist visa.

16 hours ago

Henrik *****

Wrong adress, I haven’t ask for advice.

14 hours ago

Reply to

Henrik *****

Soulfo ***********

There is a visa run service from samui but it's long af

20 hours ago

Greg ********

Will the cheapest not be a van to Malaysian border?

20 hours ago

Marney ********

Ferry bus 🚌 to Ranong. Cheapest way

20 hours ago

Anonymous ******************

Ferry, bus, train to Malaysia Songkaikolok border, stamp in and out and come back again. Long but cheap. Or bus to ranong from Surat.

20 hours ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Anonymous participant 331 thanks for this! When ive googled Ranong, it says thailand?

18 hours ago

Brandon ************

Anonymous participant try looking at a map and see where it is

14 hours ago

Reply to

Brandon ************

Stuart *********

Ferry and your car or a bus to Ranong. Closer than Malaysia but still a long trip.

21 hours ago

Anonymous ******************

Well you're in Samui... Not ideal to save on a visa run.

- Direct International flight: Expensive

- Direct domestic + border cross or second international flight: Pricy and long

- Ferry + domestic flight from Surat + border cross: OK price but long trip

- Ferry and your car/bus to Malaysia: cheap but very long trip

21 hours ago

Reply to

Anonymous ******************

What is the best way to extend my visa in Thailand, and what are the options for a visa run?

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