Thai-Malaysian border trip - extend non-o visa

[muranp]

my friend and I hold the same visa category (non-o) family type of visa, 

We decided to take the trip to Malaysian border, 

I checked the train from Bangkok to Malay border the train arrives at 9:00 AM,

My friend suggested to take a bus from BKK to sanugolok, it's a border point as he said, the bus arrives there around 9:30 - 10:00 AM,

I never been to any of these border points before, 

I prefer to take the trip by train (sleeping coach) 

My question: I want to return back on the same day, is there any train will be coming from the border to BKK after 9:00 AM? or shall we find a place to sleep one night and return the next day?

Are there any hotels, guesthouses at that border point? 

Also, the same question if we take the bus, are there buses will be coming to BKK around the afternoon if we check out the Thai border and enter again within 2 hrs. time, or in case no available trips, are there hotels or rooms to rent and stay one night then depart the next day to BKK?

Appreciate any comments from people with similar experience so that we can decided which option is better,

Thank you.

 

[zzzzz]

https://www.thaitrainguide.com/guidebook/

 

2024 guide 

[lopburi3]

Rail crossing is a bit in the wilderness last time I used (many years ago) and nothing there.  Auto/bus entry had become a brothel so many short time hotels there but they would not allow same day turn around without special paperwork from "taxi".  Do not believe there was any bus service to border - people on but or train stopped in Hat Yai and used taxi service from there to border or Penang.  But as said this was many years ago so expect things have changed - just make sure you know for sure.

[sandyf]

15 hours ago, muranp said:

my friend and I hold the same visa category (non-o) family type of visa, 

We decided to take the trip to Malaysian border, 

I checked the train from Bangkok to Malay border the train arrives at 9:00 AM,

My friend suggested to take a bus from BKK to sanugolok, it's a border point as he said, the bus arrives there around 9:30 - 10:00 AM,

I never been to any of these border points before, 

I prefer to take the trip by train (sleeping coach) 

My question: I want to return back on the same day, is there any train will be coming from the border to BKK after 9:00 AM? or shall we find a place to sleep one night and return the next day?

Are there any hotels, guesthouses at that border point? 

Also, the same question if we take the bus, are there buses will be coming to BKK around the afternoon if we check out the Thai border and enter again within 2 hrs. time, or in case no available trips, are there hotels or rooms to rent and stay one night then depart the next day to BKK?

Appreciate any comments from people with similar experience so that we can decided which option is better,

Thank you.

 

I  did that a couple of weeks before the pandemic. Took the overnight train down to Hat Yai arrives 7.50 and then the shuttle train to Pedang Besar at 08.55. You go through immigration at the railway station and I walked acrossto the village, looked round the shops and something to eat. After about 4 hours in Malaysia caught the afternoon shuttle back to Hat Yai and overnight to BKK. If busy at the station it is possible to get back on the shuttle you arrive on but would need to be on your toes.

https://www.thaitrainguide.com/international/hat-yai-to-padang-besar/

 

[lopburi3]

32 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Auto/bus entry had become a brothel so many short time hotels there but they would not allow same day turn around without special paperwork from "taxi".  Do not believe there was any bus service to border 

Was talking Sadao land crossing - never even considered much longer East Cost provinces entry.  Sorry for any confusion.  

[notrub]

If you are going for a 90 day then no need to leave the country.  To extend a non 'o' retirement visa for another year (the best as no med insurance currently req'd) then no need to leave the country.

 

You MUST get a letter from immigration giving permission to exit and come back if you choose to go.  Failure to do so will cancel your current visa on exit and you must re apply from the start again.  

 

I do not understand why muranp feels leaving the country is a feature of visa renewal.

[lopburi3]

8 minutes ago, notrub said:

If you are going for a 90 day then no need to leave the country.  To extend a non 'o' retirement visa for another year (the best as no med insurance currently req'd) then no need to leave the country.

 

You MUST get a letter from immigration giving permission to exit and come back if you choose to go.  Failure to do so will cancel your current visa on exit and you must re apply from the start again.  

 

I do not understand why muranp feels leaving the country is a feature of visa renewal.

OP said family non O visa - which suggests a multi entry non immigrant O visa which provides only a 90 day stay and you must travel across a border to obtain a new entry.  If OP has financials immigration could extend visa one year at a time but they can not provide a new 90 day entry. 

[muranp]

Many thanks to your replies guy, highly appreciate your shared experiences,

Well, regarding the renewal, it's a one year multi-entries non-o, one year validity visa which will expire on the 19th of January,

I knew there is an option to extend for 60 days, then I must leave to get 90 days single entry visa, all Thai embassies in the neighborhood countries they don't provide multi-entries, ONLY one single entry of 90 days, my current one year I obtained it last year when I was in UAE, 

Well, as I understood from the comments, there is no one direct train to the Thai-Malay border,

So, the trip will be from BKK - Hat-Yai, then get on the next ride to the border, and wait for the coming back shuttle,

As long as no facilities to stay one night at the border, the only option is to return on the same day, a bit worried if we could not catch a shuttle coming back from the border to Hat-Yai on the same day will turn the trip to a nightmare, 

I hope there are some other options these days such as buses, vans, etc.. at least we can wrap up the round trip,

I heard about other check point borders such Cambodia, Laos, but Malaysian border is more convenient for me.

Thank you again for your helpful interaction guys,

wishing you and your beloved ones a very happy, successful and peaceful new 2024,

 

[lopburi3]

1 hour ago, muranp said:

Many thanks to your replies guy, highly appreciate your shared experiences,

Well, regarding the renewal, it's a one year multi-entries non-o, one year validity visa which will expire on the 19th of January,

I knew there is an option to extend for 60 days, then I must leave to get 90 days single entry visa, all Thai embassies in the neighborhood countries they don't provide multi-entries, ONLY one single entry of 90 days, my current one year I obtained it last year when I was in UAE, 

Well, as I understood from the comments, there is no one direct train to the Thai-Malay border,

So, the trip will be from BKK - Hat-Yai, then get on the next ride to the border, and wait for the coming back shuttle,

As long as no facilities to stay one night at the border, the only option is to return on the same day, a bit worried if we could not catch a shuttle coming back from the border to Hat-Yai on the same day will turn the trip to a nightmare, 

I hope there are some other options these days such as buses, vans, etc.. at least we can wrap up the round trip,

I heard about other check point borders such Cambodia, Laos, but Malaysian border is more convenient for me.

Thank you again for your helpful interaction guys,

wishing you and your beloved ones a very happy, successful and peaceful new 2024,

 

The easy route is air and return by air if fares not an issue. You might do domestic Bangkok - Hat Yai - border trip via taxi - Hat Yai - Bangkok cheaper.  But flying to another country and return is easy method.

[muranp]

3 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

The easy route is air and return by air if fares not an issue. You might do domestic Bangkok - Hat Yai - border trip via taxi - Hat Yai - Bangkok cheaper.  But flying to another country and return is easy method.

Yeah, thanks for the suggestion, this is a good idea option to consider,

Any idea about the taxi from Hatyai to the border? or the shuttle rain?

I have no urgent matter to hurry, just to find what is less cost and not a struggling experience,  

This suggestion flight could save one night riding the train, 

Thanks!

 

[lopburi3]

59 minutes ago, muranp said:

Yeah, thanks for the suggestion, this is a good idea option to consider,

Any idea about the taxi from Hatyai to the border? or the shuttle rain?

I have no urgent matter to hurry, just to find what is less cost and not a struggling experience,  

This suggestion flight could save one night riding the train, 

Thanks!

 

As said it has been many years but there was share taxi service to both Penang and border available from some travel agents in Hat Yai for those who make border or visa runs and expect there still are.  In any event Hat Yai is fine for overnight stays and good selection of imported items are low price for sale in markets.  Normally I would travel to Penang and return next day with no issues but last trip was death in family and needed to return faster so just went to border at Sadao and had issues with Thai officer demanding taxi paperwork (which taxi did not want to submit (pay) so was staying out of sight).  Border crossings can be problematic if doing same day at a number of crossings - which makes the air exit/return a good option if price is reasonable.  

[BusyB]

 

There are some vlogs on YouTube about the journey BKK-border, and the crossing thereof in both directions.

 

Probably your best source of info ... (I'm pondering a trip down through Malaysia next year.)

[vinny41]

12 hours ago, muranp said:

Many thanks to your replies guy, highly appreciate your shared experiences,

Well, regarding the renewal, it's a one year multi-entries non-o, one year validity visa which will expire on the 19th of January,

I knew there is an option to extend for 60 days, then I must leave to get 90 days single entry visa, all Thai embassies in the neighborhood countries they don't provide multi-entries, ONLY one single entry of 90 days, my current one year I obtained it last year when I was in UAE, 

Well, as I understood from the comments, there is no one direct train to the Thai-Malay border,

So, the trip will be from BKK - Hat-Yai, then get on the next ride to the border, and wait for the coming back shuttle,

As long as no facilities to stay one night at the border, the only option is to return on the same day, a bit worried if we could not catch a shuttle coming back from the border to Hat-Yai on the same day will turn the trip to a nightmare, 

I hope there are some other options these days such as buses, vans, etc.. at least we can wrap up the round trip,

I heard about other check point borders such Cambodia, Laos, but Malaysian border is more convenient for me.

Thank you again for your helpful interaction guys,

wishing you and your beloved ones a very happy, successful and peaceful new 2024,

 

The No. 45/46 Special Express is an international train that runs between Bangkok and Padang Besar in Malaysia. This leaves Bangkok at 4:10 p.m. and arrives in Padang Besar at 8:05 a.m. the next morning (9:05 a.m. Malaysian time). The return journey is at 5:40 p.m. (4:40 p.m. Thai time) and arrives back in Bangkok at 8:35 p.m. the next morning

https://www.thaitrainguide.com/international/bangkok-to-padang-besar/

 Border crossings can be problematic if doing same day return

And check this thread about 

Malaysia's New Digital Arrival Card Effective Jan 1st 2024

https://aseannow.com/topic/1316268-malaysias-new-digital-arrival-card-effective-jan-1st-2024/

 

[muranp]

On 1/12/2024 at 1:34 AM, vinny41 said:

The No. 45/46 Special Express is an international train that runs between Bangkok and Padang Besar in Malaysia. This leaves Bangkok at 4:10 p.m. and arrives in Padang Besar at 8:05 a.m. the next morning (9:05 a.m. Malaysian time). The return journey is at 5:40 p.m. (4:40 p.m. Thai time) and arrives back in Bangkok at 8:35 p.m. the next morning

https://www.thaitrainguide.com/international/bangkok-to-padang-besar/

 Border crossings can be problematic if doing same day return

And check this thread about 

Malaysia's New Digital Arrival Card Effective Jan 1st 2024

https://aseannow.com/topic/1316268-malaysias-new-digital-arrival-card-effective-jan-1st-2024/

 

 

Thank you very much sharing news about this MDAC update,

Normally I get 90 days on arrival, but this noticed was so helpful really to avoid unexpected surprise and some delays, etc..