Travel By Train To Penang/air Ass..umm Asia

[kurtdhis]

With regards to the latest uprising down South, does anybody have any information about travel by train to Penang.

I tried getting a flight on Air Asia, but so much for their "now everybody can fly" motto. DON'T expect a cheap flight, nor should you expect to be able to book for above mentioned "cheap flight" to Malaysia at an AIS branch, as I was politely informed today that only flights to Singapore can be booked in this manner. Also, flights have to be booked at least a month in advance. When I queried a price for a flight to K.L. I was told to look on the website. Don't they have some sort of booking system if they are able to book flights to Singapore?

I have had to resort to travel by train to Butterworth. My question, however is this as well: According to the travel agent, the train goes all the way to Butterworth and there is no changing over of trains. But according to thaivisa.com this is not the case. Can someone shed some light on this as well as the procedure for a Thai person visiting Malaysia as the "side kick" has decided that she deserves a bit of travel. Does she need any sort of visa to be able to enter the country, or is it the same system as in Laos?

[bonsaimax]

kurtdhis,

your travel agent is correct. From my experience, there was no need to change trains as the sleeper carriages travelled all the way to Butterworth. As for the "sidekick", she doesn't need a visa to enter Malaysia, but she does need her Thai passport.

One more thing, try booking your train a few days, or even a week in advance. And you would want to take the more comfortable lower bunk. I tell you, two hundred baht is well worth it considering that it is a 22-hour journey.

cheers!

Bonzi

[lopburi3]

Procedure from a few years ago, and believe still the case, is that the train stops in no mans land between Thailand/Malaysia and your get off/enter immigration building on right and clear Thai immigration/proceed on other side of building to Malaysia immigration and clear them/then return to train. During this process the engine is changed and you then proceed to Butterworth. Exit at Butterworth and enter station/keep left to walkway to ferry and take across to Georgetown, Penang. While at immigration you might want to change some money as you will need some small change to pay ferry turnstile's. At Georgetown you have choice of pedicabs or taxi to hotels. I used to use pedicabs as it is not far and there is room for two to sit ok.

[valentinoxxx]

I think, that for any airline, the cheapest prices will be for those who book ahead and can be flexible in their travel times. I had a quick look and found Bkk - KL for 999 baht each way, 21th - 25th May. 1150 baht to be added for international travel taxes and PSC.

You can sort organise your visa there or carry on to Penang for 550 baht return inc.

I also looked at Bkk to Johor Bahru(for Singapore) for next weekend, 13/14th - 15/16th. All days available at 999 baht each way.

[kurtdhis]

Would that be with Air Asia? The flights that I queried and got a price on from someone else at the airport was about 3720 Baht for and that was not for a round trip, but one way to K.L. For that flight you have to book a month in advance, apparently.

bonsaimax and lopburi3, thank you kindly for the information.

[valentinoxxx]

Yes, it is with Air Asia. I checked it at the time of posting.

Of course not every seat is 999 baht.

It appears you have net access. Why do you not spend a little time on the site, looking for flights for yourself?

[lopburi3]

It appears you have net access. Why do you not spend a little time on the site, looking for flights for yourself?

That might not be as easy as it sounds. I tried to book flights a few months ago and because my return was the next month their wise computer claimed they had no flights between Bangkok and Chiang Mai. I continued to get this response for over a month. I booked with Thai business class for very little more than their 'discount' fare would have been had they admitted to having flights.

[valentinoxxx]

Alls well that ends well.

My point is that I found all those examples of flights to Malaysia in a few minutes, via the website..