hello fellow members,have it in mind to drive up and stay in Mai Sai
for a while.have driven many times, but never stayed over
recomendations for hotel or long stay?
plus, can one get a re entry permit from Thai imm: there,
should i wish to travel accross the border thanks riley 76

Lets us know if you find a decent place to stay as I need to go there overnight myself in the next week. I've been to Mae Sai several times but always left right away after taking care of visa business.

You must go to Chiang Mai Immigration in order to get a re-entry permit. Read up in the visa forum as rules have changed regarding a re-entry permit.

I have searched for 8 years and finally found a great place. It's called SORNKAEW GUEST HOUSE. When you approach the border veer left onto the Mae Sai covered shopping road....keep going straight and you will see signs for the guest house. It's beautiful, clean, good price, nice people and the rooms are the nicest I have found in the area. Best of all it's five minutes from the border....have fun!

I had myself and another couple so we rented the so called VIP cabin which consisted of a large house broken into two sides each with a huge beautiful bedroom, an enormous bathroom and an enclosed front porch. The rooms each had englich TV, coffee makers, hot water machines, etc. We paid 3,000 baht total for that but standard and deluxe rooms are much cheaper.

When I go I normally stop at the Wiang Inn ,Chiang Rai...much mroe civilised

If your budget minded and not overly civilized try the S-house Hotel. Clean and very convenient. It's in the covered market. 384 Moo 1 Sailomjoy Rd. Go left of immigration take first left, the market road, S-house is 100 meters on the left. Ask for front room 2nd or 3rd floor. The rooms have a nice little balcony with table and chairs. Beer store next door, view is across the river into the hills of Burma as you watch the sun go down.. Price 400 BT
Tele # 053-640-670. Enjoy

1 day pass to Burma is easy, take your passport and 100BT to Thai Immigration ask for VIP Pass. They take your passport and give you a pass which you take across the bridge to Burma Immigration give them 500BT
and your in. On return stop at Thai immigration and pick up your passport.

Do your business in Mai Sai, then go stay in Doi Mae Salong or Thoed Thai. Much more interesting, imho.

Any specific recommendations on what to do or what to see, where to stay, etc.? Thanks.

In Thoed Thai stay at the Rim Taan Guest House. Lovely spot by a stream. Visit the Kuhn Sa Memorial. Take a look here for more info and photos. http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorcycl...rial-t3096.html

In Doi Mae Salong stay at the Little Home Guest House http://www.maesalonglittlehome.com/. You will want to book ahead, as it fills up. Eat chinese food. Go tea tasting. Kick back and drink lots of beer while enjoying the fresh mountain air. I wanna go!

Hi Wimpy, I'm heading up that way next week can you give me some tips
about Doi Mae Salong and Thoed Thai. Looking for places off the beaten path.
I have the new GT bike map for the Golden Triangle and always interested in
finding new and interesting places. Thanks in advance, cmdream

I was a little late on my questions, thanks again

quote the members do it again i have all i needed, and more !! can cross no hassle !!
to think i lived in thailand for six years. befor i heard of thai visa ? thanks every one
let the adventures begin i have a map, you gave it to me, with instuctions riley76

Happy trails to you as Roy Rogers sang

When ever I go to Mae Sai on a vodka/DVD run, I always stay in Chiang Saen at the Imperial Golden Triangle. You get a great view across the Golden Triangle and there's enough to do there for a day - take a "trip to Laos", go to the casino or just go for a cruise along the river.

On the visa side of thins, you don't need to go to CM immigration. Just get a copy of your passport (photo and last entry stamp pages) and hand that over along with your passport and 100 Baht when you cross from Thailand into Burma.

Have fun.

Who said anything about CM Immigration ? He does not need a photo or anything else . There is no stamp involved! He gives the passport and 100B. He gets a 1 day pass to visit Burma. No exit and no entry stamp involved. Please stop confusing things for people.

Hi i will be heading up that way (Mai Sai) on the 5th i am looking at a couple of posibilities on locations for a over night stay one being the one you mentioned the SORNKAEW GUEST HOUSE.... Mae Sai covered shopping road area.

Q1 is that the covered walk way that goes in a up hill direction?
Q2 what is there to do at night time i don't want clubs or Discos but i don't want to have to go to bed at 8:00pm
Q3 What are the standard and deluxe room rates or do you have a phone number you could PM me with?
Regards
TB

So you are saying there is no chance that, on the day he crosses, Thai immigration will take his passport and stamp EXITED on it, thus potentially cancelling whatever long term visa which he is using to say in country?

That's exactly what I was thinking which is why I suggested he go to CM Immigration and inquire about a Re-entry Permit.

What cmdream is saying is quite correct there is no re-entry permit stamp or whatever involved you are actually leaving your passport with the Thai imigration in exchange for a VIP pass that allows you to go in to the Burmese side, it is not a scam or illegal it just alows you not to have to use a re-entry (what ever) up on your passport, of course you can if you wish go thru with the normal proceedure and use up one of the enries but you have a choice.

What cmdream is saying is quite correct there is no re-entry permit stamp or whatever involved you are actually leaving your passport with the Thai imigration in exchange for a VIP pass that allows you to go in to the Burmese side, it is not a scam or illegal it just alows you not to have to use a re-entry (what ever) up on your passport, of course you can if you wish go thru with the normal proceedure and use up one of the enries but you have a choice.

Sorry about the wife just walked out of the bathroom naked and distracted me, i seem to have posted twice and dont no how to delete it

This post has been edited by tigerbalm: 2009-07-03 09:10:36

What cmdream is saying is quite correct there is no re-entry permit stamp or whatever involved you are actually leaving your passport with the Thai imigration in exchange for a VIP pass that allows you to go in to the Burmese side, it is not a scam or illegal it just alows you not to have to use a re-entry (what ever) up on your passport, of course you can if you wish go thru with the normal proceedure and use up one of the enries but you have a choice.

True; an excellent hotel ... but 62km from Mae Sai. If you want that kind of accommodation, you might as well use the Wang Thong in Mae Sai, within 300m from the bridge.

Best value budget place IMHO is the Yee Sun Hotel on the riverside shortly after the end of the shopping arcade immediately to the west of the bridge.

I think that he means that he would rather be in a comfortable, convenient hotel in Chiang Rai, and I definitely concur!

Sornkaew Guesthouse is better appointed and nicer in my opinion than the Wiang Inn in Chiang Rai and much closer to the border, however if I choose to stay in a hotel rather than a guesthouse I recommend Anantara Resort and Spa which is excellent but much more expensive. It's located in Chiang Saen and about 25 minutes from the border. They have special rates at the moment for Thailand residents. For a less expensive alternative the Imperial Mae Ping Golden Triangle is also nice.