KL is very good, but have proof of an outward flight from Thailand and dress neatly (no beach wear) and you will be fine. Penang is getting stricter by many accounts, I would never go there.

Between May 2016 and January of this year, the consulate at Savannakhet have given me five T Visas and 1 Non-b Visa. I now have a new passport with no visible TV's. It has been a good run but there are no guarantees in the future. I'll be heading back there in 3 weeks, the baguettes are great in Savannakhet, and the Savan Phattana guesthouse (3 kms south of the consulate) is a favourite (300-400 bt a night).

One more thing Thomas, I downloaded that form but it was different from the forms available at the Consulate (inside the building left of the seated area). Just as easy to pick up a form at the consulate and fill it out while you are seated in the queue.

I was there a month ago. Crossed the border around 6.30 am and there was only one other fellow applying for the VOA, so not necessarily a herd waiting to go into town and to the consulate, that was on a mid week day though. You can get a 40 baht sawngthaew 100 metres from immigration on the right hand side next to a couple of shops. That can take you to the bus station. You can either walk from there to the consulate (20 mins.) or if it's too hot get a tuk-tuk (no more than 100 baht) From the border tuk tuk drivers will offer anything from 200 bt-300 bt to take you to the consulate. There is an okay hotel 100 metres or so down the road from the Consulate, called the 'Douang Praseuth' hotel..I think it was about 700-800 baht...with breakfast and wifi.

I find Savannakhet the best. No need to be right on time at 9 am when it opens, it's the next day that you should get there half an hour or so before pick up time (wait under the shade at the shop across the road). Half the crowd you get at Vientiane, and seems more relaxed and less strict. Need a room, 300-400 baht, the Savan Patthana guesthouse on Sena Road, 020 556 (3 kms south of the consulate) is a very good choice, no, I don't get a commission but the owners are real good people, the manager has even given me a lift to the consulate a couple of times to pick up my passport. You even get a free banana and coffee in the morning, ha!, ha! Yes, avoid Penang, from all reports getting nastier but KL may be an option. I was there a year or so ago, didn't have proof of onward travel, they told me to go across the road to a hotel and book a ticket there, did just that, brought the copy of the ticket back and no problems, just remember to wear clean and respectable clothes (there is a sign inside saying just that, so no singlets, beach attire) and you will be fine.

I got my TV a couple of weeks ago in Vientiane. One fellow from South Africa got all excited that he had been given 90 days..I explained to him that means you have 90 days to use it...he said 'no, no, I have got 90 days'. He was getting angry about it with me so I gave up. Takes all kinds, what a goose.

@Nhung *******

-I must have been lucky, on the last three occasions I have cleared Don Meaung Immigration in quick time. Must depend on how many flights get in at that time I guess.

Might be easier to get an evening flight into Don Meaung. I did just that from Kuala Lumpur last Monday. Plane pulled up at the airbridge at 9.55 pm...quickly walked to Passport Control, three people in front of me, passport stamped within minutes, down the escalator to pick up my luggage, through customs all in about 20 minutes...beautiful.

Got it, my brain is still thawing out from last night's cold snap.