Visa Runs

[oldsailor35]

Any suggestions please !

I have done the drive to Sadao and Ranong in my car, Flown to Singapore Kuala Lumpur and HO Chi Minh City.

Was thinking about Hong Kong next run, but the hotels there are very expensive. I have 3 more to do this time.

[smokie36]

Siem Reap to visit the temples. Hanoi and a couple of days at Halong Bay.

[ALFREDO]

If you have only to make border runs as it seems, than drive to Satun and cross to Langkawi Malaysian island with a passenger ferry.

Very nice countryside, a cable car to a mountain top a hanging sightseeing bridge with see threw floor!

Worth to stay two, three nights or more.

Singapore from Phuket, you can get with TIGER Airways and JET Airways for sometimes only 3.000 + Baht on one day return flights.

To avoid the expensive Hotels there. Hotels there start at about 1.500 Baht. But one day flights,make them not necessary.

[keeniau96]

Manila has great hotel rates, touring, eats/drinks + fun times. AirAsia to Clark Field or Jet Airways to MNL.

[oldsailor35]

Thanks for the advice. I am toying withthe idea of flying to Singapore then getting the train back up through Malaysia. Has anybody done this ?

[oldsailor35]

This may be a repeat, but my first msg has not appeared !

Thanks for all the advice. However i am thinking of flying to Singapore and then taking the train back up through Malaysia. Has anybody done this trip.

[gk10002000]

I always wanted to do the train ride up or down Thailand, since I do enjoy a decent train ride and the scenery. But the Southern situation has deterred me from visiting or even passing through the Southern part of Thailand.

[ALFREDO]

No,never done that, never thought about that. Try to avoid every long ride in a Train or Bus, prefer self driving, whenever possible!

[oldsailor35]

The more i look at it, the more i like it. The trains are very clean and comfortable also very cheap. The journey from Singapore to KL is about 6 hrs. A couple of days stop over in KL, then on up to Suratthani. I do not think that there are any occaisions whatsoever of attack on trains in the south and am told that it is safe for foriegners. I have made two trips to Sadao without any problems and you cannot get any further south than that, although Pattani is a bit off the road from Surat. There can be nothing more relaxing than a journey on a good class train as opposed to a bus or in fact driving yourself on thai roads. I think i will fly down to Singers, stay a couple of days although it is a very expensive city.

[oldsailor35]

The more i look at it, the more i like it. The trains are very clean and comfortable also very cheap. The journey from Singapore to KL is about 6 hrs. A couple of days stop over in KL, then on up to Suratthani. I do not think that there are any occaisions whatsoever of attack on trains in the south and am told that it is safe for foriegners. I have made two trips to Sadao without any problems and you cannot get any further south than that, although Pattani is a bit off the road from Surat. There can be nothing more relaxing than a journey on a good class train as opposed to a bus or in fact driving yourself on thai roads. I think i will fly down to Singers, stay a couple of days although it is a very expensive city.

[DrChopper]

OldSailor, we took the train over the border and back at Christmas. We went surat to kuala perlis and onto Langkawi.

The trains are clean and comfortable, 2nd class sleeper is fine. Bottom berth is a wider bed so try and get that. The trains aren't the quietest, and the carriage doors tend to open and close a lot, so a berth in the middle of the carriage would be quietest. Restaurant car food is decent and they will bring it to your table. If you are on Samui we booked our tickets are Montien travel. You can book Malaysian origin tickets 20 days in advance.

Only downside is the train brings you in to Surat too late for the night ferry, if you are on time you will come in about 11.35 from memory. There is a 'hotel' (Queens) opposite Surat train station but it is the worst place I have ever stayed in. I would not recommend it.

Enjoyed the journey and would def use the trains to explore more in the future.

[aarn]

In 2004, the train trip up the East coast of Malaysia was good, very affordable... It can be booked online at www.ktmb.co.my.

It's an overnight trip, leaves SIN ~ 1930 BUT if you want save 50% of the fare, book it from Johor Baru. That train station is right at Malaysian Customs, on the north end of the causeway. Departs ~ 2100. You travel at night (pleasant, rattly and breezy sitting up in 2nd class) and arrive 10 km from Kota Baru (Tumpat???) ~ 1000. From there you can bus it 10km to the border, take the ferry (used to be 60 sen/ 6baht) across the river and arrive in TakBai. TakBai is 40 km south of Narathiwat, frequent local buses.

If the troubles in the south are of concern, you can bus from the end of the line to Sungai Kolok (~40km), from where you can catch a train to HatYai and further. Happy trails, AA

[borovik]

You can go to HongKong.Hotels start from 1000HK$,but there are zilions of guest houses,if you do not mind submarine style rooms.If you want change - good option,cheap and atractive is ferry from Satun to Langkawi.It goes3 or 4 times a day,takes more then 1 hour.About Singapore - remember,that they moved train station to Woodlands,from there you pay double,what you pay frog jump away in JB.Train from

Singapore to Kota Bahru- sleeper may be will make you very happy(it skips KL).

[oldsailor35]

OldSailor, we took the train over the border and back at Christmas. We went surat to kuala perlis and onto Langkawi.

The trains are clean and comfortable, 2nd class sleeper is fine. Bottom berth is a wider bed so try and get that. The trains aren't the quietest, and the carriage doors tend to open and close a lot, so a berth in the middle of the carriage would be quietest. Restaurant car food is decent and they will bring it to your table. If you are on Samui we booked our tickets are Montien travel. You can book Malaysian origin tickets 20 days in advance.

Only downside is the train brings you in to Surat too late for the night ferry, if you are on time you will come in about 11.35 from memory. There is a 'hotel' (Queens) opposite Surat train station but it is the worst place I have ever stayed in. I would not recommend it.

Enjoyed the journey and would def use the trains to explore more in the future.

Thanks for that Dr Chopper, no probems as we have a house in Surat, we often use the airport for flights to BKK. The return from Samui is about Bht6000 return per person. Surat to BKK costs me Bht6000 return for two !

[oldsailor35]

What is holding you from doin' the Sadao run again?

I have done it a gazillion times.

Unless you are looking for variety.

thats it mate, i get bored with the same place every time...........horses for courses i suppose !