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Is it a good idea to travel to Malaysia for a visa run from Thailand?

Visa RunThailand to MalaysiaVisa TypesExpat TravelCost of LivingMalaysian FoodPenangKuala LumpurTravel Suggestions
Jun 25, 2024
a year ago
Philip **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
My 60 days runs out at the end of this month. More expensive I know but I have decided to fly to KL from Khon Kaen. For a few reasons. Lao requires a visa even for only a week. Malaysia are more welcoming with 90 free days. And also I'm looking forward to some Malay and Indian food. Going by what I have read in this group everyone has overlooked Malaysia.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the author's plan to complete a visa run from Thailand to Malaysia, emphasizing the advantages of Malaysian immigration policies, particularly the 90-day visa-free entry. Numerous commenters share their positive experiences in Malaysia, highlighting its culinary diversity and travel opportunities, particularly in cities like Kuala Lumpur and Penang. While some mention potential downsides like travel costs and location preferences, the consensus remains that Malaysia is often underrated and offers good food and accommodation options. Recommendations for places to stay, food experiences, and travel tips are shared throughout the discussion.
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Jimmy *********
Found Penang very touristy. Chulia Street used to be good ,but now is just boring.
a year ago
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Philip **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jimmy ********
 I stayed at the ty ann hotel on chulia Street and the Swiss garden. I'd be surprised if still standing. We are staying on petaling Street at the moment. 7 days may have been too long. If we ever come again we will try a different area.
a year ago
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Jimmy *********
@Philip *********
 2 nights was plenty for me.
a year ago
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Jimmy *********
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Rene ********
And there's a reason for that
a year ago
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Robert ********
I spent about 5 days in K L ( China town ) earlier this year & loved it & I hope to visit again before Xmas - yes I agree with you - it’s a much under rated city
a year ago
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Terary **********
KL is nice enough. I guess I have visited enough major cities that they all pretty much seem the same to me. I just bought a one-way ticket to KL for visa purposes, doubt I will use it though.
a year ago
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Ruth *******
I’ve recommended KL many times. It’s a cheap flight from BKK. Meanwhile, Penang is famous for its food. I haven’t gone THERE yet.
a year ago
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Colin *********************
Nothing wrong with going to Malaysia. Interesting country and great food
a year ago
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Jacob ********
Malaysia in many ways I prefer to Thailand. Also I noticed they tend to have higher quality foreigners. And certain countries are banned from entering. I can,t help but wonder if that thins out the riff raff.
a year ago
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Philip **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes it was South Africa and Israel when I was there. Now I think only Israel. Perhaps as I said in my post, its been overlooked as a place to have a good time. I know Malaysia is a strict Muslim country, but only for Malays.
a year ago
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Chong *********
@Philip *********
 Malaysia follows British Law, it’s commonwealth. So it’s a fairer system than Thailand.
a year ago
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Jacob ********
@Philip *********
 Been there many times and was always enjoyable. Far fewer scams, much cleaner than Thailand, very few if any loose dogs, and far fewer foreign trouble makers.
a year ago
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Jeff ********
@Jacob *******
 AND you can legally buy property there.
a year ago
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Jeff ********
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Les ***********
I agree with you about the food. In Malaysia.
a year ago
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Phil ******
@Philip *********
 its great but always remember if your travelling back is "will I be allowed into Thailand"
a year ago
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Kevin *********
Penang, "The Pearl of the Orient."
a year ago
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Kevin *********
Penang is better.
a year ago
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Frank *******
Just go to Singapore
a year ago
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Andrew *******
@Frank ******
 boring 🥴
a year ago
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Philip **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frank ******
 expensive is it not. I wonder how feasible it is to stay in Johor Bahru and take the bus across for the day.
a year ago
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Philip **********
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Mark *************************
Unpopular opinion, Malaysian food is better than Thai food, definitely way more diverse too. Malaysia has its own Guinness factory, so stout over there is cheaper. For duty free alcohol prices, which means dirt cheap, visit Langkawi. For food paradise, Penang is where its at.
a year ago
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Michael ********
@Mark ************************
 my wife doesnt like Malay food much another unpopular opinion she says indonesian is better than malay (she has worked in both countries)
a year ago
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Mark *************************
@Michael *******
 no probs with that, its a matter of taste. Whats Malay food though?😀
a year ago
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Michael ********
@Mark ************************
 I work in Singapore and it depends who you speak to what is malay food. Read the great Laksa debate
a year ago
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Mark *************************
@Michael *******
 Malay food comes from the malays. Chinese food comes from the chinese. Indian food comes from the indians. Malaysian food is one big fusion. There is no laksa debate, every state has their own version from Johor to Penang to Sarawak and Singaporean laksa sucks period.
a year ago
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Michael ********
@Mark ************************
 Thats not what Singaporeans would say
a year ago
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Mark *************************
@Michael *******
 nah, ask them. I have mamy singaporeans telling me that.
a year ago
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Mark *************************
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Daniel **********
@Mark ************************
 where would you recommend to stay in penang?
a year ago
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Mark *************************
@Daniel *********
 George Town, Gurney Drive, Batu Ferringhi and Tanjung Bunga!
a year ago
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Philip **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark ************************
 we made our way to batu ferringhi Beach and pretended we were guests and used their pool. At that time I could not comprehend why a pool next to a beach. That is until I took a closer look. An oil slick.
a year ago
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Mark *************************
@Philip *********
 It is not uncommon to have pools by the beach, you can see them in Penang, Langkawi, Tioman, Redang, Pangkor. I know of quite a few people that do not like to dip themselves in sea water, despite how clean it can be. Weird but true.
a year ago
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Andrew *******
@Mark ************************
 jellyfish in the water at certain time of the year ...and they sting !!
a year ago
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Mark *************************
@Andrew ******
 never been stung by a jellyfish all my life, so I wouldn't know 😂
a year ago
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Andrew *******
@Mark ************************
 my experience was a little bit like a brief electric shock...minimal pain but site can become quite itchy for about
*****
hours ..
a year ago
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Mark *************************
@Andrew ******
 your comment might lead a few old farts here to actually buy a jellyfish 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
a year ago
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Mark *************************
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Philip **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Daniel *********
 I stayed on luboh chulia street 40 years ago. Going by google map it hasn't changed much .
a year ago
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Philip **********
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Philip **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark ************************
 unpopular for Thais. They typically don't like indian food. My missus is no different. Some Malay dishes I know about like roti telur is really Indian isn't it. I use to enjoy a masala dosa every morning for breakfast in Penang.
a year ago
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Mark *************************
@Philip *********
 Im lucky to get a thai wife that loves malaysian durians but hates thai durians. She mostly prefers the malaysian version of a certain kind of food like chicken rice, pork noodles, moo daeng, even Char Kuey Tiaw. Heck even all kinds of roti, just without the curry. Really depends on who we are asking. Since my wife is from Lanna, she is used to very thin watery curry, so she dislikes the indian and malay versions which are thick and heavily spiced. She even dislikes southern thai curry, which is quite similar to malaysian curry.
a year ago
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Mark *************************
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Dirk **************
KL is fine but try Penang. Delicious food and wonderful island.
a year ago
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Seb ***********
Love Malay food and like KL for a night of good Chinese food and beers. Highlands is a nice place to take it chill and enjoy the nature
a year ago
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Jack ****************
We spent a week in Borneo and it was fucking awful. Food was 100% bad. People were not friendly. Water was clear, but full of trash, absolute waste of time and energy.
a year ago
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Si *******
@Jack ***************
No need to swear,
a year ago
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Jack ****************
@Si ******
 no need to put chilli in your noodle soup either.
a year ago
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Jack ****************
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Michael ********
@Jack ***************
 Borneo is great, been few times was supposed to go next month for rainforest festival but stuck in Africa
a year ago
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Kel ********
@Jack ***************
 I’ve sailed into Kudat, Miri, Labuan, and Kota Kinabalu, loved them all!
a year ago
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Jack ****************
@Kel *******
 sounds like maybe you slept on your boat instead of a "microtel" that was the only place in KK that didn't smell like urine.
a year ago
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Jack ****************
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Peter ***************
@Jack ***************
 where in Borneo? Kuching and Miri were great! Spent a month there
a year ago
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Peter ***************
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Chong *********
I’m a Malaysian based in BKK. I miss Malaysian food.

There is so much to try.
a year ago
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Chong *********
South Indian
a year ago
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Chong *********
Exactly, Thai food can be quite sweet, Malaysian food is normally savory.
a year ago
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Chong *********
There are a lot of good Banana Leaf restaurants in Malaysia.
a year ago
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Philip **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chong ********
 it's just that roti here are served up as a sweet. My go-to in Thailand is a larp or narmtock pork but not always easy to find in food markets. But we mainly cook at home. A lentil dal would be nice. Never seen lentils in the shops. Bet I won't have any trouble finding them in kl.
a year ago
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Philip **********
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Philip **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chong ********
 it has me intrigued why. For example roti in Thailand is a banana with sweet milk which I would never buy. Just across the border it's served with a curry.
a year ago
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Philip **********
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Michael ********
Great even for few hours turnaround and KL airport good curry restaurant downstairs and supermarket with cheaper british food stuffs.

Also great places to explore climbing kinabalu was a good experience (4000 meters) penang is great, mallaca bit boring for me. Taman Nagara is amazing
a year ago
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Kathy ********
@Michael *******
 any places to stay not to expensive .
a year ago
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Michael ********
@Kathy *******
 Where ? all cities have cheap places.
a year ago
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Kathy ********
@Michael *******
 thanks
a year ago
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Kathy ********
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Ron ********
Take plenty of money for beer if you are a beer drinker. Think Thai beer is expensive? Wait till you see the prices down there.
a year ago
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Philip **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ron *******
 no probably no beer. Not impressed with the Thai beers I have had. Nothing beats my hoppy home brew dark ale.
a year ago
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James ***********
@Philip *********
 beer Lao
a year ago
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Ron ********
@Philip *********
 Right, I can enjoy a lotta kinds of beers, as long as its good and cold. I do like Chang in bottles though.
a year ago
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Philip **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ron *******
 Beer cold and wet with ice for good measure
a year ago
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Ron ********
@Philip *********
 Yes Sir! As fast as I drink it the ice does not water it down too much! Ha Ha!
a year ago
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Ron ********
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Philip **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ironically though I do enjoy a Coopers Ale!! Posted to the wrong reply.
a year ago
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Philip **********
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Mitchell *******
There are suggestions to bounce to Malaysia fairly often here. The FB search isn't the best, but the Malaysia bpunce advice is still the same
a year ago
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Alison *****************
Fly to Penang is great for this
a year ago
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Alison *****************
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