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#1
08-11-2005, 15:48
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Penang Thai Visa Trips
When I need a new Thai Visa I go to Penang and stay a few days.The Thai Consulate will issue triple entry Visas.There are a number of bookshops in Chulia Street who do all the leg work for you.You simply do the paper work with them and pay the fee and they take your documents to the Consulate and get them processed.They only charged me 10 Ringitt per entry as commission.You collect you passport two days later.
If you stay in the Continental Hotel the desk manager will do the same service for a similar fee.This hotel is about 60 Ringitt (660 Baht) per night and is in the centre of the night life area.Directly across the street is the Soho Bar which is a good hang out. 
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#2
08-11-2005, 19:24
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I have been to Penang a lot of times and last time was 2 years ago, Thai airways had cancelled their direct fligth to Penang so I flied to Hat Yai and then took a minibus for around 250 baht to Penang to apply for my visa.
Nightlife is pretty dull but it may be better now. Now I always go to KL for visa application and visa run, the latter because of the unrest in the south and now also no flights available, but Hat Yai visa run is my favourite visa run. I never tried the visa services available but I think it may be a good idea, since you dont need to queue and pay for the taxis to/from Thai embassy.
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#3
05-12-2005, 13:41
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I dread going to Penang once a year... Soh IS the best night spot around, but even that is horrible. I know the Thai consular at the embassy, she is a very nice lady and will let just about anyone get their visa in 1 day if you ask in advance. I never spend the night in that shit hole called Penang anymore, I grab an early morning flight and come back to BKK that same day with my new 1 year non-im B visa! 
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#5
31-01-2006, 17:11
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Penang redux
I am in Penang for five days and have found that there are several new clubs for dance/disco.The Soho Bar on the Penang Road has now opened the second floor and is still very busy.Just along the street past the garage across the road is a whole new section of bars and cafes.The big night club is called "Slippery Senoritas" and was playing techno style when I walked past.
 A little further on is a great place to have eats (needed a break from curries).It is called "Gloria Jeans Coffees" and does cheap breakfasts.(I paid 10Rgt) Coffee is included in the price.  My favourite watering place is still "20 Leith Street" which is less noiser but does happy hour prices from four in the afternoon to ten at night.  I agree with Steve. Penang is a good place to chill out for a Visa run.
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#6
13-02-2006, 20:52
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Hey Crustasian,
I'll be heading to do my visa to Penang next month or the one after. What is the bar girl situation like there. Cheers mate Last edited by Dingo's : 13-02-2006 at 20:56.
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#7
19-02-2006, 22:04
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penang is a big island,try catching a bus out to batu ferrengi,loads of good restaurants ,good bars and a nice beach to spend the day
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#8
16-08-2006, 20:35
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I'm doing this run myself from Phuket on Sunday (20.8.06). It's up to you of course, but I find it easier to user an agent to get the visa. A good one can be found on the corner of the Swiss Hotel (not recommended) in Chulia St Georgetown. It costs less to pay the agent than the taxi fare to and from the consulate - and again the next day to collect the visa. He also guarantee's to get exactly what you want...that doesn't always happen if you show up in person at the consulate - as other will testify
The Oriental Hotel around the corner at the top of Chulia St has rooms for the equivalent of 700 Baht. It's clean and comfortable, fine for a couple of nights. The aircon' is bit wicked though
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#9
17-08-2006, 00:23
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Great Indian Food
The Indian restaurant in the basement of the Oriental Hotel has very good food.Also directly across the road is another good one.
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If you can't take a joke you shouldn't have joined up!!!
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#10
17-08-2006, 11:57
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I've stayed at the Oriental several times and never knew they'd got a restaurant in the basement! I'll give it try! The indian one opposite has been my favorite on these trips
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#11
19-08-2006, 03:36
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How are you getting there Geoff? Driving...long drive...by boat?? or flying via KL?
I need to go next few days but will probably go to KL and stay in Genting again...got 2 casinos there ;-)
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#12
19-08-2006, 12:04
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None of the above!! Going by aircon bus from Phuket's main bus terminal in Phuket town to Hat Yai.(371 baht) Then hop on one of the many waiting mini buses to Penang (250Baht). Very easy. Then as I said above, give my passport to the agent by the Swiss hotel and enjoy the next day and a half in Penang. Coming back I have a night in Hat Yai, usually at the Daiichi (700 Baht). Then, after having a eaten as much as possible from the breakfast buffet, head off to Phuket refreshed the next moring .Hope this helps, Geoffphuket
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#13
19-08-2006, 13:06
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What's the journey time Phuket town to Hat Yai and do you know what times the a/c buses leave?
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#14
19-08-2006, 13:16
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Takes about 7 hours to Hat yai and 3 more to Penang on the mini bus. Lunch is included in the fare of 371 Baht at Krabi's bus terminal and this breaks the journey a little. The buses to Hat Yai run hourly I believe. I always go as early as possible to get to Penang at a reasonable time. Geoffphuket
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#15
19-08-2006, 18:59
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Get a group to go
Hey LOS, I am planning on going to Penang some time at the end of next week. I have three other mates that need to do their visa and are coming along too.
Maybe we could look at all going on the bus as a group or we could possible rent a car and all go together.... What do you think? Any others interested? I've never been so would be interested in someone who knows the areas and has some contacts... Cheers.
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#16
19-08-2006, 21:22
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Maybe not this time round for me. 10 hours travelling in a bus/car doesn't appeal to me. I'd rather pay 3000 baht more and fly to KL in 1 hour.
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#17
19-08-2006, 21:32
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Doubt that it would be worth renting a car and driving down. Two reasons, one, you’d have to leave it at the border, and secondly most rental companies on Phuket are reluctant to let their vehicles off the island – If they break down who’s going to recover it? I’m off Tomorrow morning (20th Aug) – Let you all know how I got on . Geoffphuket
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#18
19-08-2006, 23:23
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OK, makes sense. For that then, we'll probably fly too. So KL or Penang is recommended? I've heard many different stories that Penang is better but then others say KL. What is best and easiest for visa?
Thanks for the info guys. Last edited by Dingo's : 19-08-2006 at 23:27.
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#19
19-08-2006, 23:46
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It all depends on what kind of visa you're applying for. A normal tourist visa can be obtained easily in KL or Penang. However, many will testify that it's more difficult obtaining non imm' O or non imm' B visa's from KL. Guess it depends on how luck you're feeling
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#20
20-08-2006, 00:04
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Hey Geoff, Thanks for your reply. That's what I've heard. I'm applying for a Non B so I think it may be better for me to go to Penang. My other friends are trying to get the 3 or 6 month tourist visa's but not sure they'll have much luck in KL.....
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#21
20-08-2006, 12:21
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I can't comment on how easy it is to get the visas as I haven't bothered going to the Consuls to get one yet! I've just been going out for 2 or 3 days every month or 6 weeks, treating it as a shortbreak holiday away from Phuket and getting the 30 day stamp when I arrive back then sometimes paying the 1900 baht for the 10 day extension down at Immigration on the Beach road.
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#22
20-08-2006, 14:16
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That's what I've been doing also, however got a few things I'm wanting to do for business and want to do things the right way. i.e. Non B visa, work permit etc.
Also, tired of the visa run every month....
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#23
24-08-2006, 16:16
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My Penang Visa run
Hi to everyone,
Well, another visa run completed to Penang, so that's that for another 15 months - Non imm 'O' 12 month multiple entry visa again thanks to Haji Jabar at the NJ book centre/visa agent....phew!As ever, I always learn something doing this trip; this time I discovered that it's no good turning up at HatYai at 4:30pm on a Sunday expecting to get on a minibus to Penang. During the week it's no problem, but at a weekend arriving after 2.00pm so I'm told, is just too late. An expensive lesson learnt as I ended up paying 1,800 Baht for a taxi to Georgetown!! As the saying goes 'you live and learn'....Next time I'll do an overnight bus trip from Phuket and get to HatYai early. Georgetown (Penang) never seems to change much; I personally quite like the place and it's certainly cheaper than Phuket for food and accommodation; beer is arguably more expensive – but there again I don't drink, so that's no problem...I find it refreshing to get away from pickup trucks (you don’t see any in Penang), broken roads and dangerous overhead power cables. It always strikes me what Malay’s must think when they cross the border in to Thailand for the first time – it’s like stepping back into the 20th century. Anyway, happy to be back on Phuket with my Thai wife and baby. Geoffphuket
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#24
25-08-2006, 02:46
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Hey Geoff,
Good to hear that it went well. I'm heading there for the first time to get myself a Non Imm B visa. I was planning on going with a few guys but they've recently pulled out as they want to do the Ranong trip for the next few months, save money and go to the Phillipines. As a newbie to Penang and going on my own, what would you recommend? Bus it to Had Yai and then mini bus it? How long does this take? Also, what are the costs? Or, would you recommend I catch a plane to KL then to Penang? Where would you recommend to stay? Are there any areas where there are lady bars there for some fun for a few days? Thanks in advance for your help. Cheers
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