Hi, after reading through the info on this forum, I'm thinking about going to Penang and staying for a week or so while I apply for a new SETV. The only thing that is putting me off is the possibility of having to withdraw 20000 baht to show at immigration, only to deposit it again. However, my understanding is that this isn't asked for when traveling by train at Padang Besar, but it is usually asked for when entering by bus at Sadao. Can anyone confirm this?

If Penang turns out to be more stressful than fun, I might consider spending a week in Laos and applying for a SETV at Vientiane or Savannakhet. What would you do?

 

Further details: UK passport, one visa exempt this year, one visa exempt last year and one METV last year. 

I will go on the 12th September to Vientiane. Probably by Airplane. When you plan to go?

8 minutes ago, alocacoc said:

I will go on the 12th September to Vientiane. Probably by Airplane. When you plan to go?

 

I'll need to go before then - around the end of this month, although I haven't booked anything yet. 

By mini-van, 6900 Baht all incl. (Visa Laos, Visa SETV Thailand, Hotel, Food....) Maximum 9 people. Send me a PM if you are interested. It's to Vientiane. Last time it was quite funny. I was the only one foreigner in the Bus. Me and 8 Laotian/Cambodian Girls.

I spent a few days in Vientiane to obtain my visa ... lovely place, sitting at a restaurant with a Beer Lao watching the locals working on the Mekong river, looking across to Thailand.

 

Get to the consulate early as there is usually a crowd. The procedure is fairly straightforward. 

If an extra day in Vientiane does not matter I would:

 

Afternoon coach to Suvarnabhumi, flight to Udon.

Proceed to Nong Khai, overnight.

Early morning to the bridge, proceed to consulate.

Apply. Overnight in Vientiane.

Early afternoon, pick up visa.

Return to Udon, flight to Suv.

Coach to Pattaya/Jomtien.

 

There are multiple variations with the flights.

E.g. an early flight from U-Tapao to Udon at 7:20, arrives at 8:30.

A bit tight (consulate closes 11:30).

All with taxi could work?

Return flight to Suv.

 

Edited August 18, 20169 yr by KhunBENQ

19 hours ago, alocacoc said:

By mini-van, 6900 Baht all incl. (Visa Laos, Visa SETV Thailand, Hotel, Food....) Maximum 9 people. Send me a PM if you are interested. It's to Vientiane. Last time it was quite funny. I was the only one foreigner in the Bus. Me and 8 Laotian/Cambodian Girls.

You were the only foreigner in the bus??? Foreigner to which country? Thailand??? If so then all of you were foreigners. Laos??? Then you & the Cambodian girls were foreigners.

I think he meant westerner ... so not technically correct but I understood what he meant. Something a Chinese guy might say if he was on a bus full of French, Germans and Italians going through France.

Yes, my fault. I was the only "Farang".