Samstag, 25. Oktober 2008

A visa for Thailand?

Only several days left until we leave for Bangkok and still can't believe that we'll soon escape the Berlin Autumn yo-yo weather.

We got the Visas for Thailand this week. I know some of you might say "hey Mitch, When I went to Thailand I didn't need a visa" but we need one.
Why? If your stay is longer than 30 days, i.e your outgoing flight is after 30 days, then you need a tourist visa.
"But you can just go to Cambodia and get a new one on the way back in". Yeahhhh No. That's what my very informative and friendly (let's not forget motivated) travel agent told me...I now know why internet travel agencies are prospering. The Thai embassy also just said "no pwoblem, no wori, you go in, border guard check passport when leave". So far so good.
However, after stumbling across some stories on the internet about people not being let on planes by their airlines I thought we should call Qantas. And yes, Airlines leaving Europe (and I guess from anywhere) will NOT let you board without proof of meeting the entry requirements, regardless or whether that country enforces them or not. There are stories some funny stories of very stressed travellers if you take the time to look on Lonely Planets Thorntree Forum. Quad erad demontrandum...we got visas.

In the end the visa application was a nice way of getting into the Thai way of life anyway. The embassy is in a nice leafy suburb, the people aren't in a hurry, nothing was made complicated(I neeee passport,ok, form please, money please,ok you come back, one week) and I actually saw people smile. When I think of my visits to the German Immigration Department to get my visa for here...

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