@Phil *****

Not doing that, not unless it's VIP.

@Marcels ********

I've been quoted 3000 baht by a private van hire company. Was hoping to get it for under 2k 😕

@Brook *******

Which is why I made this post, a shot in the dark you could say, to see if by chance any one of the 70+k members would know any taxi company that would simply pick me up from Laos and take me to the airport in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand because there are no shuttle busses across the border at 6am, no tuk tuks, motorbikes are allowed to cross, nor am I allowed to cross on foot. I'd rent a car but I've been told I would experience a lot of difficulty doing that. So a private taxi is my only hope.

@Brook *******

Basically I live in Bangkok and my visa expires next month. I used to live in that area of Thailand and have friends there and have organised a camping trip for a weekend, and decided to kill 2 birds with one stone and get my visa done in Thakhek in the same trip. I can only take 4 days and 3 nights (Sat-Tues), I want to do camping on the Saturday and Sunday night then go to Laos on the Monday, stay over night and come back on the Tuesday then take a flight back in the morning at Nakhon Phanom. I have a kid who would need picking up on that Tuesday afternoon from school, my wife won't be able to do it, she has to work, so only me. So I have to be on the flight at 9.30am in order to be back in time to pick up my daughter from school in Bangkok. I don't want to go to Laos first because that would mean less time camping in the beautiful Isaan north east. And no, I cannot leave on the Friday due to my wife's work committments. And no I don't have anyone I can ask to pick up my daughter or babysit her and no, she can't miss school because no one will be around to take care of her in the day.

@Brandon *********

I have so far been quoted 3000 and it's very steep. But it's a private hire van, it's the only way so far I can find. I was just hoping if I could save some dough and get a taxi for half the price.

@Brandon *********

It's not that simple, the bridge itself acts as a buffer zone between the two checkpoints. A Laos taxi may take me to the border post of Laos but they will not take me any further than that. I will not be allowed to cross the bridge on foot, by tuk tuk or motorbike. For a Thai taxi to pick me up they'd have to enter the Laos first as they would be prohibited from stopping inside the buffer zone on the bridge. This is why I posted this to see if there'd be any taxi company willing to pick me up in Laos and take me back across to Thailand.

@Mac *************************

I don't think you understand the complexity of physically getting over the border without the shuttle bus.

@Nongnuch *******

Do you think it's possible to get a tuk tuk to the immigration checkpoint, from Laos, then cross over on foot and get picked up on the thai side by a taxi?

@Brandon *********

what do you mean? just walk over the border?

@Brook *******

schedule is tight. They now require an overnight stay which is a pain.