Answered4 years ago

What are the latest experiences and advice for crossing the southern land border from Malaysia to Thailand at Padang Besar?

Border Crossing Thailand Immigration Visa Experience Land Border Padang Besar Travel from Malaysia to Thailand

Sven *******

asked Jan 11, 2023

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So, it is established as common advise that crossing into Thailand on land borders from Laos is the safest bet for travelers with a history of frequently visiting (or COVID extensions). But getting to Laos by air from Europe is a bit cumbersome.

Thus, I am wondering what the latest reports on the southern land borders with Malaysia are - particularly Padang Besar. Flying into Kuala Lumpur and then taking the modern, electrified train to that border crossing sounds tempting.

Then again, there are some (albeit a bit dated) reports of people suggesting that border crossing is particularly rude on the Thai side.

It is also a bit confusing crossing there, as there are two ways to cross: 1) from the Malaysian train into a Thai train (that only runs two times a day) - in which case stamping out and stamping in happens both and conveniently so in the train station on the Malaysian side in between separate tracks. Or 2) from the Malaysian train onwards over land (in which case the convenient immigrations booths inside the train station cannot be used, but the actual land border booths have to be used - and while there is a pedestrian crossing from the train station over the tracks to the actual land borders, it has been shut down by the government, forcing people to take a local taxi, instead of just walking across).

Who can share some recent experiences of this border crossing?

Also, could anybody advise on how to get from that border directly to Hat Yai Airport instead of Hat Yai downtown?

Cheers.

Answer summary

The discussion focuses on crossing the southern land border from Malaysia to Thailand at Padang Besar, highlighting experiences and concerns about immigration on both sides. Reports suggest that while the Thai side may exhibit rudeness, particularly for those with frequent border bounces, the immigration process via the train has been smooth post-COVID. Suggestions include alternative entry points through Laos or using VIP entry services. Additionally, advice on getting from Padang Besar to Hat Yai Airport is also solicited.

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Paul *******

Getting to Laos by air from Europe isn't cumbersome in the least. You could fly on a through ticket with THAI/Thai Smile to Vientiane or Luang Prabang (the latter seems to be on/off) or via Hanoi on Vietnam Airlines directly to Luang Prabang or Vientiane. Another option is from Germany (Frankfurt) to Ho Chi Minh City and then to Vientiane via Phnom Penh (its the same flight, that makes a stopover in Phnom Penh along the way).

You need to do better research than simply make an easily debunked claim like you just did.

4 years ago

Meno *****

I've heard of several people doing the land border run through Malaysia via the train.

Everything is pretty smooth with immigration this way, as the immigration office is used to many of the people from Malaysia coming and going into Thailand.

And from what I gather, because usually everybody crossing the border here is getting on the train, they don't really waste time dilly-dallying on other things like harassing foreigners on small details, nor bribes 👍

This Padang Besar Train Immigration just opened up when covid restrictions started easing a few months ago...

On the other hand, a few hundred meters away is the Land Border Crossing Immigration Office to Thailand, and I have definitely heard of difficulties crossing there...

4 years ago

Paul *******

The bus from Kuala Lumpur to Hat Yai is a lot faster than 13h44m. My suggestion is to take the bus to Hat Yai but beyond that if you prefer the train that's fine. I did take the bus from Songkhla to Bangkok once simply because it's much faster than the train. Prior to that, I had taken the train from Kuala Lumpur to Padang Besar. I then took a bus from the Thai Padang Besar to Songkhla before leaving a day later on the aforementioned bus to Bangkok. The next day, I flew to northern Thailand.

4 years ago

Sven *******

@Paul ******

I see. What made me assume a bug ride of more than 13 hours was, that it is listed as such on 12go.asia. Seems to be hard to be planning with exact times when it comes to buses.

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4 years ago

Paul *******

@Sven ******

It's more likely to be an 8 hour bus ride, something like that.

4 years ago

Paul *******

@Sven ******

"I feel safe in all parts of Thailand". Let's see how safe you would feel in the restive 3 southernmost border provinces. Any travel insurance you may have is voided if you go there.

4 years ago

Paul *******

I'm not sure you would have felt safe on that train that derailed. Also, the trains on the Thai side are so slow that whatever time you may have gained on the Malaysian side will be evaporated. The Malaysian bus from Kuala Lumpur is super modern and comfortable and there's an expressway all the way to the border. Once across, it's barely an hour to Hat Yai, compared with 90 minutes by train when it's running, which in recent times it hasn't. Generally they will put you on a bus.

4 years ago

Paul *******

Check to see if the train from Padang Besar to Hat Yai is even running. Two bombings last month and a third incident where railway sleepers were removed makes this a very unreliable method of travel.

It would make more sense just to catch the daily Kuala Lumpur-Hat Yai bus then complicate things with a train/bus combo changing at Padang Besar and wheeling your luggage through immigration on foot.

4 years ago

Sven *******

@Paul ******

Was considering the bus, too. But I am not a big fan of long distance bus rides. And the train (at least on the Malaysian side) is supposed to be modern and rather fast, with a "first / business class" etc. Sure changing to the old Thai local train with luggage will be a bit painful. If not the local, local train, one could also continue with the Special Express train a little later. Not worried about bombings and what not - I feel safe in all parts of Thailand. What do you know about the bus running that route? Comfortable / VIP with single seat (don't like sitting next to a person so close that I would touch them for 13 hours 44 minutes).

4 years ago

Sven *******

@Meno ****

Thank you for this detailed response. So I am guessing I will be taking another train to Hat Yai, first, making use of the immigration in the train station. So I don't have to bother with that alternative land border crossing.

4 years ago

Meno *****

@Sven ******

... No need... Just use the train station immigration office.

FYI: the way to use it is when taking the train to the border from either Malaysia or Thailand

4 years ago

Brandon ************

You're correct that there have been a few reports of the Thai side being rude. But every story I've heard has been from people doing a border bounce, leaving Thailand and re-entering the same day. Also a few reports of demands for money if your history isn't great.

Have you looked at flying into ChiangMai? Reports there that is very easy to enter.

Also if you're trying to end up in Bangkok, it might be easier and cheaper to just hire a VIP entry service to meet you at the plane on arrival. They'll grease the wheels to make sure you get in just fine, but the worse your history in Thailand, the more it will cost (2000-5000).

The owner of this group offers VIP entry services at the Bangkok airports

@Thai *****************************

4 years ago

Sven *******

@Brandon ***********

As always, thank you for your prompt reply. I am leaning towards not trying to enter by air, not even in Chiang Mai. If denied entry at an airport, it is just a lot of issues (being detained, being put pack on a costly plane of the same carrier and having an ugly stamp in the passport). While at land borders, it is mostly just being turned away / around (ok the cancellation of departure stamp in the country one just came from would also suck to have in ones passport). Also, very few flights to CNX do not go via Bangkoks airports (where most swampy things happen).

As for that VIP service. Was about to make use of it. The advertised 2000 THB sounded reasonable. Up to 5000 baht (as you mentioned), I might have considered it. But I learned, their pricing differs a lot. For people having been in Thailand for more than a year during the past two years (not that there is any legal mentioning of this in any Thai law), they suddenly charge more than 8500 baht for that service. In my opinion that is a bit much of brown envelope money.

4 years ago

THAI ******************************

@Sven ******

Yes our prices differ based on history.

We need to prescreen, and preapprove your arrival.

Our services are gaurenteed entry.

While you can attempt to enter on your own without using our services we cannot promise we will be able to help if you contact us after you have ran into issues, and even in the event we can help the costs can be much more expensive.

Our existing visa clients can use our prescreening services for lower prices.

4 years ago