Is it better to book a hotel in Hat Yai or Malaysia for a border bounce to renew a DTV in Thailand?

@Sjef **************

Since you have a valid DTV, there is no issue for out and in.

@Paul ******

I don't get point.. but yes you be right is open only in day time but also why should travel in night?

Plus farang live in Thai and don't have car ?!? So how day think go to Malesia from south? (I mean.. if take airplane or train sure don't make this post .

😉

Btw I have car and like I wrote just came back one week ago.. super smooth

@Mauro ********

What prompted me to respond to your original post was your assertion that driving your own car was more "messy", whatever that means.

That couldn't be further from the truth. By far the most straightforward way of entering Malaysia from Thailand is by private car. Its easier and more convenient than traveling on foot - now that's messy! Imagine carting your luggage through the border crossing, dodging lines of cars and trucks at a border not made for pedestrians.

However, train travel is available through the Padang Besar border (as well as by car too), while Sadao is where the Hat Yai to Kuala Lumpur bud passes through. Although there aren't many cross border train services, they are aligned such that you can board a waiting train once you're across and in the relatively near future, there are slated to be more cross border services.

Anyway, since most farang won't be driving (as you can tell from reading many of the posts in this forum) it's worth pointing out various travel options and that when someone asks about how to cross the border, assume they'll be using public transportation.

@Paul ******

I say it's messy came back because go out I think spend Les the. 10 minutes for both check ✅

When I'm back is really messy because have many malesian car go to Thailand and look like immigration ask many paper to everybody.. so maybe I have just only 10 can in front of me but wait like 1 hrs.

Plus have van for pedestrians. They drop people without car make immigration check and you are free to take another van.

Also. Train Traven isn't available now until don't fix train rail. Still broken after flooding.

So you maybe talk about some old experience you have and I respect that. But should listen also who make this just one week ago and who live here.

(I live in Hatyai, but I think you don't live here or you know train now don't work)

@Mauro ********

It's not old experience. Again, I only cross the border by car. It's smooth as silk and yes it takes time but the queues for pedestrians are even longer.

For trains, the short term rail outages due to the floods aren't relevant in the grander scheme of things.

I'm referring to the fact that usually, a train is an option but for those without a car, why not use the cross border bus? It goes from Hat Yai to Kuala Lumpur.

@Paul ******

because many bus line cut service. Because have limited bus now

(From Thailand).

Also because don't recover 100% after flooding.

Plus.. I never do it with bus but some people say can stop also 2 hrs in border line.

I have car normally I go with car. But so long ago I go with train.. in same time to go Penang actually I arrive in kL with car.

(Plus take one speed ticket 🥲😂 , but this is another topic/)

@Mauro ********

Yes, I'm explaining all the transportation options that are normally available. As to whether the bus to KL is currently available in light of the recent flooding I don't know...but who would visit Hat Yai right now anyways? The border crossings are open however and were never closed during the flooding.

@Paul ******

Hatyai start came back to normality but some shop and business will never open again..

I think this city should change something or make some plan for future rain season or will be drama every time when have extreme rain .

(Now is sunny,)

@Mauro ********

Yes, you're right.

@Mauro ********

Most farang don't travel across borders in their own car, because they don't have one but of course I'm also including tourists.

Of course you should consider driving to Malaysia if you have your own car. I always do.

I don't like public transportation and equally, if I've made it as far as the border, of course I'm going to cross the border with my car as I'd be disappointed if I only did an "in-out" that seems like such a waste of time and money when I could at least travel by car into a neighboring country for like 2 nights.

Borders should be open 24 hours (at least busy ones) as that's the norm in many parts of the world. Thailand has 24 hour airports....yet what's the point of a 3am flight? That's an insane time to be flying, considering the logistics of getting to the airport at that time.

However, a 3am border crossing by land makes sense because you might have a medical emergency or perhaps you're a local trader who needs to set up their shop at 5am or because you want to make progress and make it for a business meeting in some city 4 hours drive away or something like that...