I stayed at the Merchant Hotel recently in Georgetown. Clean and well priced. Ask for a room with a winfow. I used Grab taxis to get about.

Miche miche, just to let you know, I was at Samui immigration today. They informed me that it is not possible to obtain a re-entry permit at Samui airport.

Samui does have immigration for international flights. This I can confirm. However, I am not sure about re-entry permits at the airport.

You can get a re-entry permit from the Samui immigration office in Mae Nam.

Shocking!

@Bim ******

, you need to pay buy debit or credit card. There is a separate payment instruction form to fill out with your card details and submit with your application. You can use a Thai or UK card, doesn't matter. Just make sure if you use your Thai card, it is able to be used for international payments. When your application reaches the UK, the office in Liverpool will take the money in pounds sterling. Let me know if you need any other information.

Arrived last night from Penang. Long queues at immigration. Took me 1 hour as well.

Bim, HMPO quote a max of 6 weeks to process. I did mine last month and it only took 2 weeks, but always plan as if it would take longer.

Some people use agents to submit applications and pick up passports from Trendy Building. These agents then EMS to the owner. I did this as I live in Samui and the agent price is much cheaper than travelling up myself twice.

The email from HMPO Bangkok states that they will not post. Has to be picked up by somebody. I guess they may have had issues in the past with lost passports??

Just to clarify. Collected from Trendy building in BKK

@Steve ******

, HMPO will not post your new passport, whatever the address. Has to be collected in person or by a third party with an authorising letter.