Recommendations On Where To Stay In Penang?

[Dancali]

I'm heading off to Penang for a Visa trip. I have a 1 year non-b visa so I just need to leave the country and the 500 baht airasia promotion is pretty sweet.

I figure I might as well spend a day or two so I need a place to stay. Something in the 400-800 baht range is what I'm interested in. Just air conditioning, clean, and safe.

Also, I just want to double-check that my thai gf doesn't need a visa to enter Malaysia. The girl at airasia said that Thai citizens get a 30-day visa on arrival but she didn't exactly say it that clearly and she didn't exactly understand what I was asking.

Thanks .

[tutsiwarrior]

I stayed at the Bay View City Inn @ about 800 baht/night if you book directly with them...more expensive on the internet. Not bad...clean, quiet and comfortable and around the corner from Jalan Penang with good food and entertainment.

My thai wife had no problems with a 30 day visa at the airport about this time last year.

There are places off Jalan Penang that offer a visa renewal service and they have all the application forms and do all the leg work for a small fee. Otherwise you have to show up at the consulate in the am then return the next pm to collect. Pay the application fee in ringgit. With your cheap flight look to see how soon you can get the return flight to BKK to see how long you have to stay in Penang. (Any penalties for staying less than one week?, etc...)

Penang is nice with a lot of old colonial ambiance. If you like Indian food the 'restaurants' on Jalan Penang are a treat with side walk tandoori ovens. Also cheap and good chinese and pizza at the top of the road at the big shopping center.

enjoy...

[chingy_]

I'm heading off to Penang for a Visa trip. I have a 1 year non-b visa so I just need to leave the country and the 500 baht airasia promotion is pretty sweet.

I figure I might as well spend a day or two so I need a place to stay. Something in the 400-800 baht range is what I'm interested in. Just air conditioning, clean, and safe.

Also, I just want to double-check that my thai gf doesn't need a visa to enter Malaysia. The girl at airasia said that Thai citizens get a 30-day visa on arrival but she didn't exactly say it that clearly and she didn't exactly understand what I was asking.

Thanks .

the 500baht is not what it seem, for traveling of 2 people on regular day not including frinday, sat, and sunday, price will be 3300baht, and you will need 4 day stay cause the time you arrive is off of the time to applying for visa and so reverse for pick up, im also planing to got at the end of the month.

[Axel]

Your Thai GF needs a passport (valid at least 6 months beyond

period of stay).

No need for visa for a stay of max. 1 month.

She could be asked for:

- return or onward ticket; and

- sufficient funds (at least USD 500.-).

Admission refused if she is in advanced state of pregnancy, i.e.

6 months or more; and to visitors, who do not comply with the requirements regarding general appearance and clothing, e.g. "hippies".

[Dancali]

Thanks for the tips.

I could still use more info about good hotel rooms. I'll check out the Bay View City Inn but more options are always appreciated.

I've got the airplane and visa worked out already.

My visa is a 1 year non-b visa I received in America. I just need to leave and come back to get another 90 day stamp. I figure going this route would be quite a bit more pleasant than a bus ride to poipet for a day.

I bought my two tickets already as well. Total came out to 3300. 500 each way per person, plus tax. I guess I still have to pay the 500 baht tax at the airport as well?

3300 is still an excellent value. Two people taking the cheap bus service in America to go a similar distance would cost over $100.

I am interested in the clause that mentions "first time only" or something like that. Does this mean that once you get a promotional fare, you can't get any other? I asked the girl on the phone at airasia and she said getting more promotional fares was no problem (but we had communication difficulties).

Any other tips about hotel rooms? 400-800, air, clean, safe.

[chonabot]

Heres a link from an earlier post that may help.

I usually stay at the Oriental hotel on Lebuh Chulia.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1601&hl=

[stroll]

This is the sickest and funniest avataqr I have seen so far, Chingy.

500Bt for a return to Penang? Ihave to renew visa end of the month and somebody associated with me might be in for a treat at this price...

[lopburi3]

I am interested in the clause that mentions "first time only" or something like that.

This is a brand new route and believe they have 20,000 tickets available at that price so perhaps that is what it means. You can find cheap fares on all their routes but day/time will play an important part so you have to search a bit.

You will have to pay the airport tax of 500 baht each.

I would recommend going a little higher on hotel cost (perhaps in the 1,200-1,500 range) as those below 900 baht or so are mostly well past their use by date IMHO. Thai tourist class hotels are far better as a rule.

Have never heard of the Bayview City Inn (nor get any result from Google) so it may be a new place; but if Tutsi only paid 800 baht for City Bayview Hotel believe he got a great rate and would recommend it.

[tutsiwarrior]

lopburi...could have been the City Bayview Hotel if there is no Bayview City Inn on google. I remember booking 2 additional nights when at the hotel and the rate was half what I paid on the internet which was about USD50 per night.

[lopburi3]

could have been the City Bayview Hotel if there is no Bayview City Inn on google

If it was a large hotel, kind of on a traffic island, across from the Hotel Continental that would be it. Have never stayed there be have heard it was a good choice in about the 1,300 baht range so should be great at 800 baht. Either that or Continental are a good choice in the business hotel range and within walking of most places.

[Tornado]

Malaysia Hotel - good views, mini bar, sexy girl on the desk and about 600 baht - 5 minutes to the Embassy and located near the sea

[lopburi3]

Malaysia Hotel - good views, mini bar, sexy girl on the desk and about 600 baht - 5 minutes to the Embassy and located near the sea

600 baht is much less than they used to ask (about 900 as I recall) and front desk sounds much better (distinctly unhelpful on my several times of asking for rates). Located near the sea? It's an island.

[Tornado]

Malaysia Hotel - good views, mini bar, sexy girl on the desk and about 600 baht - 5 minutes to the Embassy and located near the sea

600 baht is much less than they used to ask (about 900 as I recall) and front desk sounds much better (distinctly unhelpful on my several times of asking for rates). Located near the sea? It's an island.

yes it is an Island

Ok Lopburi3, It might be around that price. To be honest I just pay whatever is asked, but I knew it was cheap.

The desk lady is a looker, but she has a red dot on the middle of her eyebrows. When I was looking at her, I felt like getting a tissue out and having a wipe

[Yohan]

I never stay inside the City of Penang, but prefer outside at Batu Ferringhi Beach, several not expensive guesthouses available, much nicer to stay near the beach....

Around the Komtar in the sideroads in Penang City are several guesthouses, not even one I would say, can be called really clean. I used the Golden City Hotel sometimes, when I arrived too late to move out to Batu Ferringhi.

Also a bit out of Penang, on the mainland, should you arrive by train, in Butterworth, Bukit Mertajam and Kulim is some accomodation and there is a direct bus into Penang City Center...

Nice to check around Penang, when waiting for the visa to Thailand. If you find a good place to stay and nobody is waiting for you in Thailand, then no need to hurry back to the Thais. Malaysia is very open to foreigners, and not a bad place either.

Johann

[Up2U]

Also, I just want to double-check that my thai gf doesn't need a visa to enter Malaysia. The girl at airasia said that Thai citizens get a 30-day visa on arrival but she didn't exactly say it that clearly and she didn't exactly understand what I was asking.

Thanks .

This is an ASEAN thing - all ASEAN nationals have automatic right to an entry visa to other ASEAN countries, as visitors, unless they have criminal convictions. (As explained to me by a former gf).

Never had a problem taking Thai girls to Malaysia, but had problems when there - if the Thai girl expects it to be an extension of Thailand (wearing short shorts and halter tops, Thai food, etc.,). It is basically aMuslim society, with Muslim social mores. They locals may not say anything if your gf dresses as she would in LOS, but they will show their disapproval in other ways (looks, mutterings, jostling, etc.,)

[chingy_]

 

This is the sickest and funniest avataqr I have seen so far, Chingy.

500Bt for a return to Penang? Ihave to renew visa end of the month and somebody associated with me might be in for a treat at this price...

i try to update my AV often so i don't get bore

anymore hotel recommended, so far my plan was arrive in penang and look for hotel got all day to kill anyway, since you can't apply for visa that same day you arrive.

[tutsiwarrior]

I believe that short shorts and halter tops would be acceptable in Malaysia so long as the woman was wearing a hijab. I have seen scores of women in Indonesia and some in Malaysia with tight fitting clothing leaving nothing to imagination but they were righteous muslims when wearing the headgear. A woman's delicate facial features are accentuated when wearing the rag much more so than when uncovered...

[Guest fj2003]

hey guys isn't it that way much more easy to check lonley planet or rugth guide to find a place to stay

and the other point is he needs no time with any embassey he runs on non b 90 days reentry flying out and flying in and get stamps at the airport thats it

but if some one is looking for another CHEAP way just get the night bus to victoria point stay 3 days there with nice chix also and have fun

bus down bkk ranong 330 baht

hire on road taxi no 3 for 10 baht drop of the immi at 7:30 am

walking to the pier 5min 250 baht for the boat trip 40 min 20 baht for this guy

200 baht for zigarretts and 5 dollar for immi

then return to the thai immi at 9:30am and check the bus to chomphon 40 baht and go on by train 2 class another 240 baht or just simple

to bangkok 270 baht by bus all with in

mae sot is the samebut nearly five hour less on the bus

[tutsiwarrior]

zzzzzzzzzz...here's some money; wake me up when we get there...