Introduction and Affiliation
If you got the reference in the title, congrats you are as old as me. I am not affiliated with Bangkok Buddy, the service that I used to extend my visa 30 days, but I do highly recommend them after my experience in March of 2024.
Adding a 30 Day Extension
Time flies when you’re having fun inhaling laughing gas on Khaosan Road or laying on the beach in Pattaya. The thirty days just seems to fly by, so why not another 30 more? If you hate to fly and prefer the land route, Bangkok Buddy will take you to the Thai-Cambodia border day trip to renew your visa for 30 more days in The Land of Smiles.
Why I Chose Bangkok Buddy
After leaving my old job, but still wanting to stay in Thailand with my family, I had to switch from a Non-B Work Visa to a tourist visa. After an entire day at immigration to cancel my work permit, I did not have time to transfer over to a tourist visa at immigration.
I needed to leave the country quickly, so I did a little research online. Bangkok Buddy was one of the first options that appeared in my search. After a quick add on Line and a message to Tanya, I was booked for the next morning to head to Cambodia. The process was quick and easy.
Preparation and Pricing
As I was canceling a Non-B Visa, there was an additional fee of 1,800 Baht. The grand total of my experience was 5000 Baht (Approximately $150 USD) which included the drive to the border, the fees for the Visa, the complimentary lunch and the guide.
As I live in the northeastern section of Bangkok, I decided to book a hotel room near Asok station with a backpack full of toiletries (these came in handy later) and a change of clothes.
Rise and Shine Friends!
If you are not a morning person like me, its tempting to just drink a lot of coffee or beer and stay up all night. There is plenty of time to sleep on the bus and in fact, it is encouraged.
The bus for Cambodia leaves at 5am sharp from Sukhumvit Plaza Korean Town. I arrived at around 4:30am and there were already a few people waiting. The guide sets up a small table and chair with a bank scan and reviews your documents and takes payment. I transferred my money the day before via Line, so all I had to do was show him my receipt and passport.
The Drive to Ban Pak Ked: Thailand / Cambodia Border
After getting everything squared away, we were loaded into the van. It was a quite roomy van, with air conditioner and spacious seating. Our driver was courteous and friendly, and by the time we arrived at the border, we were bantering with him.
There is only one stop on this four-hour early morning journey. My advice is to pack some snacks and take care of bathroom needs before boarding the van. It was at least 90 minutes of travel before we made our first stop.
Our first stop was at a rest stop with a 7-11 and a few other various food stalls. We had 15 minutes to go to the bathroom, grab a snack and have a smoke. This suited me well, as I do not like to make many stops when I travel. I prefer to get to my destination as quickly as possible.
Arriving at the Thai-Cambodia Border
We arrived at Ban Pak Ked at around 9:30am. We made really good time considering we stopped for a break and having to fight through that infamous Bangkok traffic.
At the border, we got out of the van and made our way across the parking lot to the immigration building. There are a horde of other visa agencies at the border, so really, you just need to follow the crowd of people. Our guide was exceptional, as he directed us to the right counter and told us what to bring and what to do.
Trust the Process. Don’t Venture Out on Your Own
As an active and independent explorer, I tend to veer off the trail, guide group, and I did so at the border. After out paperwork was processed, we were told to sit in a waiting area. The video below is of me wondering aimlessly over the bridge to Cambodia for a Youtube short before someone called me back.
Arriving in Cambodia and Going Back to Thailand
The process is very similar. Instead of Cambodian immigration, you will head to the Thai immigration and repeat the process. The whole process took roughly 15 minutes.
Once everything is cleared, you simply walk back across the border and just like that, it’s another beautiful 30 days in Thailand!!
There was very little chit chatting, and really it’s just a lot of hanging out. Once the guide had everyone taken care of, we made our way back to the van and started the trek back to Bangkok. The whole process takes about 30 – 45 minutes.
The Ride Back to Bangkok and Lunch
Back in the refreshing air-conditioned van, we made our way back to Bangkok. There was a very brief stop at a police checkpoint in which you show your passport to the police officer and return to the van. It took maybe 5 minutes.
It was getting to be around noon and people were starting to become hungry. We stopped off at a small roadside restaurant. I can’t eat while driving, but the food was a selection of standard Thai staples and looked very appetizing.
The view was absolutely stunning! I relaxed in the shade and stared off into the distance. The bathroom was a typical “rustic” Thai bathroom. This is where my toiletries came in handy, and I highly recommend you bring some as well, especially toilet paper and wet wipes.
The Final Leg of the Journey Back to Bangkok
This was the most tiring part for me. I had been up for around 36 hours and couldn’t sleep in the van. It was a long three hours. Thankfully Youtube made the time pass quickly. Everyone was very quiet. There was one quick stop outside of Bangkok at a 7-11, but other than that, it was a race back to Sukhumvit.
It was around 3:15 when we arrived back in Bangkok. The van made stops along the way at Pharam 9, MRT Petchaburi, and BTS Asoke, where I departed. Our driver was really easy-going and approachable. He spoke adequate English and was very accommodating.
Final Thoughts and Recommendations
I like having someone accompany me through complicated processes like visas and Bangkok Buddy made what could have been a frustrating and arduous process very organized and straightforward.
I liked that we didn’t stop much on the way there or back. I am a traveler who likes to get to their destination as quickly as possible. However, I understand that this is not always the case for some travelers such as families or the elderly.
It is a LONG day! The whole processes from start to finish takes roughly 12 hours. If you have a small bladder, or being in the car for a long period of time is not something that suits your travel needs, than you might want to consider an alternative.
Contact Information
Bangkok Buddy Website: https://bangkokbuddy.com/thai-visa-run/
Line Contact: Tanyabuddy7
Thailand Walks 