Hi,

I live in Chiang Mai, and right now Air Asia has a direct flight to KL (but no airline has direct flight to Penang from CNX on offer that I can find at this time).

My visa is up the 28th. Sept. : all the Air Asia direct flights to KL from CNX arrive 14:50 hours.

In addition to hearing about anyone's recent experience in KL with Thai visa, I'd appreciate knowing :

1. total number of days to complete the application process and pick up visa ... so I can know when it's safe to schedule trip back.

2. are there any "agents" in KL as in Penang ?

3. best I can hope for is 60 day tourist visa ?

4. any recommended guest house, cheap hotel

thanks, Bill

Depart 11:05 arrive 14:50

Return 08:50 arrive 10:40

Your minimum itiniary would therefore be:

Day 1 - fly to KL

Day 2 - hand in application

Day 3 - get visa

Day 4 - fly to CNX

You would need 3 days accommodation and spending money.

No combination of flights from Chaing Mai will get you to either Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Penang in time to hand in your application the same day. Therefore I suggest the following:

Get to Bangkok, either fly, bus, train and stay overnight. Fly the cheapest flight return (coming back the next day with a flight leaving after about 4/5pm - you have to pick up your visa after 2pm) then take a late flight to Chaing Mai on perhaps Nok Air or overnight train or whatever.

Any other way and you are looking 2 nights in a place. I would actually go for 2 nights in Singapore, flying CNX-BKK-SIN on day one, handing in your application on day 2 (check if you can hand in late on day 1 as you can get there by 3pm) then flying back on day 3 after 4pm. You could 2 night in either of the 2 malaysia places.

As to hotels, I understand that you can get some for about Bt1000 but I don't know where.

Could you get a car and driver to take you to Loas and Vientianne ? or an airport which goes to there ?

Khop Khun Mak, Khun Torrenova,

For your very detailed and thoughtful reply. I'm tempted to go to Mae Sai again, but last month they spent 15 minutes eye-balling my passport which had two 90-day medical extensions in a row; while never asking me one question about it, and my never losing my patient and silent smile while waiting, it made me nervous that I might be in danger of the dreaded 7 day and out-for-90 hammer of doom stamp.

I like going to Singapore, but it is expensive and I am tempted while there to shop

Penang bored me. Maybe KL would be less boring ?

Again, thanks for your response.

best, Bill