Brief options, time, cost and other considerations, from Hat Yai to Kuala Lumpur?

Train? Bus? Mini-bus?

I want to fly out of KL to Saigon in April.

Thanks!

Airasia.com flies HYai - KUL LCCT

Airasia.com flies HYai - KUL LCCT

Didn't know that. Good option, thanks.

Fastest will be flight HDY - KUL aro 1500 THB one way.

Several malaysia registered bus leave HDY to KUL. Aro 400 THB one way. Arrival at Puduraya bus station (Central). Last bus leave HDY 19:00. First bus leave from HDY at 10:00, arrive aro 18:00 KUL. During daytime travel, very nice scenery to see when the bus passing the mountings . Malaysia bustravel is save. They are monitored and have at least 2 drivers. Normally I goby bus to KUL and return to amazing Thailand by flight with AA. Return by bus you get 2 week VoA, by flight 4 weeks. AA has quite cheap airport transport from and to KUL airport, 8 MYR one way.

http://alisangoldencoach.com.my/

Book online for the bus.

KKK charge me 3 weeks ago 380 THB. Price go up on weekend. Never had a problem get a seat in any of Malay bus services. No bookingin advance. At least 6 companies are available.

All great info. Thanks for your time.

Also don't forget to flash your cash so that you have to pay a bribe to the young immigration officer..

Apparently the going rate is $US20..

Also don't forget to flash your cash so that you have to pay a bribe to the young immigration officer..

Apparently the going rate is $US20..

For where? by land??

its an easy 6 hour drive from Hat Yai to KL

The train would make a nice alternative as well, depending on ur time frame and trains departure time

I forgot to ask, is a visa available at the border, and how much?

Think I'll take the train. Scenic, and faster than a bus.

visa stamp for free for most nationalities good for 30-90 days ( Thai's/Cambodian's get 30, most European an Americans 90)

Not sure train would be faster, the roads are great in Malaysia and speed limit is 120 km/hour on the expressway

visa stamp for free for most nationalities good for 30-90 days ( Thai's/Cambodian's get 30, most European an Americans 90)

Not sure train would be faster, the roads are great in Malaysia and speed limit is 120 km/hour on the expressway

Cool.

The train is not faster but that is no problem if you are a bit of a train buff. There is quite a bit of time spent at the Pedang Besar border, as everyone must get off the train and go through Immigration. They also change the locomotives from Thai to Malaysian at that time. This takes about an hour.

I forgot to ask, is a visa available at the border, and how much?

Think I'll take the train. Scenic, and faster than a bus.

Not faster!!!!

Fastest will be flight HDY - KUL aro 1500 THB one way.

Several malaysia registered bus leave HDY to KUL. Aro 400 THB one way. Arrival at Puduraya bus station (Central). Last bus leave HDY 19:00. First bus leave from HDY at 10:00, arrive aro 18:00 KUL. During daytime travel, very nice scenery to see when the bus passing the mountings . Malaysia bustravel is save. They are monitored and have at least 2 drivers. Normally I goby bus to KUL and return to amazing Thailand by flight with AA. Return by bus you get 2 week VoA, by flight 4 weeks. AA has quite cheap airport transport from and to KUL airport, 8 MYR one way.

Agreed... if you can afford it the air ticket, take a flight.

Unless you want the experience of a train or bus crossing, the time saved and convenience is worth the air ticket price.

its an easy 6 hour drive from Hat Yai to KL

The train would make a nice alternative as well, depending on ur time frame and trains departure time

it is only 6 hours if you drive your own car and at the speed limit....

If you are taking a bus it would take at least 9 hours.

The train is not faster but that is no problem if you are a bit of a train buff. There is quite a bit of time spent at the Pedang Besar border, as everyone must get off the train and go through Immigration. They also change the locomotives from Thai to Malaysian at that time. This takes about an hour.

Train imo should be the last resort, unless you are indeed that much of a train buff..

My main reason for saying that is besides the immigration at padang besar, there is no direct train from Hadyai to KL...

the trainline stops in butterworth where you would need to switch trains...

and imo the trainline on the west coast is greatly lacking in scenary.

There is a daily train HadYai - KL. It is mainly overnight so you don't see much tho the first part has ok scenery. The train doesn't go to Butterworth. It may get to KL Sentral a bit late while all this doubletracking, new station platform work is going on.

Always something to see by train, might not be much, but it is the country you're visiting. From 30,000 feet, everywhere looks pretty much the same! Unless you are flying over Everest, then you'd only have to look down about 800 feet.