Tourist Visa From Penang

[danc]

Hi,

Report back for people.

Have just returned from Penang where I obtained a tourist visa with no problem.

I was always a visa runner (4 years)but with the new law got my first stamp (30 days) at the end of October, with the result that my last stamp (3rd) was due to run out on 24th January. I crossed by train into Malaysia on 23rd and then used an agency (NJ Books) to get my tourist visa - I do not really fall into any other category of visa, not married to Thai, not retirement age, just living here as it's a great country despite all our moans - and collected it the next day which gives me until March, with the view of then extending in country for a further 30 days and then hopefully going back to border runs.

Cost wise:-

Train there from BKK - Lower berth 1210 bt - upper slightly cheaper, leaves BKK at 14.45 and you travel right through, doing border stamp outs and ins right off the train at Had Yai.

Arr Butterworth, around 13.00. Walk across to the ferry and that takes you over to Penang (1.20 ringit).

1 ringit is 10 baht by the way, can change first money at the station....

Walk out the ferry and across the road and then keep walking up and you will hit Chulia Street after about 10 minutes.

You are too late for the visa that day but put it in anyway - pay 20 ringit for them to do it for you - 100 ringit for the actual visa, 2 passport photos needed.

Check in to the numerous places to stay - I saw dorm rooms from 10 ringit a night, I actually paid 69 ringit, shared with my partner to stay in the old Cathay Hotel - you get a tv that has a little bit of English rubbish in the evenings.

Spend two days eating great Indian, Chinese, Malaysian food, do some touristy things, just relax!!!!

Return for your visa after 14.30, for me arriving in Penang on 23rd, putting it in though you know they are not going to go to the consulate till the next day (24th) and then pick up afternoon on 25th.

Get train back the next day (26th), leaves around 13.15, arrives BKK next morning around 10.00am. You could book return train in BKK, but again for small fee, NJ will go and do it for you and they are only one of numerous shops.cafes/guest houses offering the same services....

Total cost for me:-

1210 train

1200 visa

1150 return train

living and eating up to you!!!!

A really great break - if you take the train, it is relaxingly slow, good food, you can sleep very well, you can read and relax and then Penang, well it's just sleepy and a pleasant change!!!!!

Hope this helps

KCDan

[lopburi3]

Did you really go through immigration at Hat Yai; or an hour south at the Malaysian border? Don't want anyone getting off train in Hat Yai by mistake and it used to be done at Padang Besar. Hat Yai station is a good place to buy some sticky rice and chicken on the way back.

[sniffdog]

With cheap Air Asia rates, it hardly makes sense to take a train .... train THB 2,400 (44 hours), air THB 3,000+ (3 hours).

Immigration is indeed at Padang Besar, not Hat Yai. If I remember well, you change trains in Hat Yai, where it changes hands into

Malaysian train authorities.

Edited January 31, 2007 by sniffdog

[ovenman]

If I remember well, you change trains in Hat Yai, where it changes hands into Malaysian train authorities.

That may have been the case once upon a time but not anymore. The International Express is a through train to Butterworth using Thai carriages. The International Express switches engines at the border in Padang Besar with the Malaysian-run Langkawi Ekspres. The Thai train completes its Bangkok-Butterworth run using a Malaysian engine. The Malaysian train completes its Kuala Lumpur-Hat Yai run using a Thai engine.

[danc]

Everyone is of course right!!!

The immigration is at Padang Besar, but it is a direct train all the way through and on the way back. You simply leave the train to do your stamps in and out.

Yup of course, air travel is quicker but there is something about the train that just makes the whole trip feel more like a break than a mad visa dash....just trying to suggest alternatives so people don't feel so anxious/worried about getting visas (simple one's like this anyway) and maybe see it as a way of turning the trip into something else beyond the mad visa rush...

[engrin]

What papers did you submit for the visa?