I just arrived back in Phuket after an all day affair. My girlfriend and I went to Penang for a visa run for the past couple of days. We went down by 1st class bus to Hat Yai overnight and then had to get a cab the rest of the way to Penang to make it in time for the visa office, total trip took 10 hours. All of this went relatively smooth, although the taxi is expensive at 1900 baht.

When we went to NJ Moneychanger to take care of the visa (as was suggested by many and worked out well), we noticed they had a minibus service direct from Penang to Phuket. At two times, 5 am and 830 am. After being told the 830 am was full we chose the 5 am. Out of respect for the readers of this post I will keep the details short, but this ended up being a very long day for the two of us. The trip back took us over 14 hours and had us on two different mini buses (one nice and the other questionable) followed by a 2nd class full sized bus for the last 3 hours of the ride.

I understand that everything does not work out as planned by the bookers sometimes, but our ordeal was rediculous. They should inform people that even if everything goes smoothly with your three seperate mini bus rides (assuming that normally they don't throw people onto a full sized bus for the last stretch), you will be sitting for an hour and a half at the 1st changeover and at least an hour at the 2nd change over! Has anyone else had a bad experience booking long minibus services through NJ? Would love to hear if this was an isolated case or if it is well known to everyone but me!

We went down by 1st class bus to Hat Yai overnight and then had to get a cab the rest of the way to Penang to make it in time for the visa office, total trip took 10 hours.

man, too bad you had to take that taxi from hat yai to penang as the mini busses are incredibly cheap. never booked a bus thru NJ but their visa service is good

Edited June 9, 200719 yr by Maestro
Quoted text reduced. No need to quote the whole, lenghty post.

Fireflyz has started to fly direct to Phuket to Penang! From what they are charging I can not see any sense in taking a bus or taxi!

http://www.fireflyz.com.my/index.php

Seems the website is offering a very cheap and quick alternative trip for you about 2500 round trip!

Badbanker

Edited June 9, 200719 yr by Badbanker

I just arrived back in Phuket after an all day affair. My girlfriend and I went to Penang for a visa run for the past couple of days. We went down by 1st class bus to Hat Yai overnight and then had to get a cab the rest of the way to Penang to make it in time for the visa office, total trip took 10 hours. All of this went relatively smooth, although the taxi is expensive at 1900 baht.

When we went to NJ Moneychanger to take care of the visa (as was suggested by many and worked out well), we noticed they had a minibus service direct from Penang to Phuket. At two times, 5 am and 830 am. After being told the 830 am was full we chose the 5 am. Out of respect for the readers of this post I will keep the details short, but this ended up being a very long day for the two of us. The trip back took us over 14 hours and had us on two different mini buses (one nice and the other questionable) followed by a 2nd class full sized bus for the last 3 hours of the ride.

I understand that everything does not work out as planned by the bookers sometimes, but our ordeal was rediculous. They should inform people that even if everything goes smoothly with your three seperate mini bus rides (assuming that normally they don't throw people onto a full sized bus for the last stretch), you will be sitting for an hour and a half at the 1st changeover and at least an hour at the 2nd change over! Has anyone else had a bad experience booking long minibus services through NJ? Would love to hear if this was an isolated case or if it is well known to everyone but me!

This brings back memories!! Had the same experience myself about 4 years ago. The last leg of the journey was the worst for me, I was 'shoe horned' into a tiny van with no air-con and this was my first visit to Thailand!! Let's just say I'm very careful now when people mention "luxury bus!!"