Many Leaving Thailand for Malaysia

[synthia]

I've been in Penang for over three months now, and I've met quite a few ex-pats coming down from Thailand on visa runs. Most of them are very unhappy with the new rules. Rumors abound, and some of the enforcement is really erratic. People with visas are being turned away at immigration, and everyone is getting very frustrated with not knowing what is going on for sure.

Consequently, I've met several people who have moved down here to Malaysia. The entry stamps are for 90 days, and the Malaysian government doesn't really seem to care how often you go in and out. As one guy said, since he only has to leave every 90 days, he's going to go to Langkawi to lie the beach for a week, and take the ferry in and out of Thailand. He'll call it a vacation.

[klikster]

Originally Posted by synthia

I've been in Penang for over three months now, and I've met quite a few ex-pats coming down from Thailand on visa runs. Most of them are very unhappy with the new rules. Rumors abound, and some of the enforcement is really erratic. People with visas are being turned away at immigration, and everyone is getting very frustrated with not knowing what is going on for sure.

Consequently, I've met several people who have moved down here to Malaysia. The entry stamps are for 90 days, and the Malaysian government doesn't really seem to care how often you go in and out. As one guy said, since he only has to leave every 90 days, he's going to go to Langkawi to lie the beach for a week, and take the ferry in and out of Thailand. He'll call it a vacation.

That looks like a great area around Langkawi. I wonder if there is an immigration office on Koh Lipe? That would make a neat visa run.

How expensive in Langkawi compared to Samui?

[synthia]

I haven't been to either in so long that I have no idea. It used to be about double, but when that was true, Langkawi was more of a resort place than Samui, but I gather that has changed, so the costs might not be much different.

Langkawi would work for a 30-day entry run, but if you need to get a visa, you would have to go to Penang.