A Whale of a Time: Going on a Visa Run in Thailand

First Class Traveling

Obviously, step one is getting there. The paperwork must be dropped off in the Laos capital of Vientiane, which is about four hours from anything worthwhile—in either Laos or Thailand. It’s an incredibly unfortunate 10+ hour journey from Bangkok (my trip origin). On previous visa runs I had elected to take the 15 passenger vans that are the cheapest and fastest travel available in the country. However, I had since learned that they are cheap and fast for a couple reasons, none of which allowed for much sleep or sanity.

This time I opted for my favorite means of travel: the overnight train. I called the Hua Lampong station a few hours before my train was scheduled to depart and they assured me there were plenty of second class sleeper tickets left. I hopped a city bus and headed straight for the station. Lo and behold, as if it was expected all along, the entire second class car had sold out during my transit. For some weird reason, there are two first classes, and wouldn’t you know it, the cheaper one of those had sold out as well.

This left me two options: spend twice than I had originally planned to get the platinum first class sleeper car, or pay pittance for the upright, wooden benches in third class. I whined and handed the cashier the extra money. For one night, however, I was Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, prancing around my one square meter private sleeping car of hundred year old luxury.

Ryan Farley / Own Work