Traveling to Asia have a few questions if you can help
Traveling to Asia have a few questions if you can help
Author
Discussion

Tampon

Original Poster:

4,637 posts

241 months

Monday 23rd November 2009
quotequote all
Right Me and Fiance are arranging travels in april next year. I have been tasked with finding a few things out. I will list them, if you can help with any of them I would be very grateful.

Visas
1) Laos, we will be traveling in from Thailand ( north ), can we get a visa as we go accross the boarder by land rather than air ? or do we have to sort it before hand

2) Cambodia, same question can a visa be got as you enter by land rather than air.

3) Malaysia - we will get a 30 visa when we fly into KL at the start, now we will be there for a few weeks then of to thailand, we will be coming back a few months later, do we get another 30days ( free ) visa when we come back or can we use the "remaining" days of our previous ?

Hotel
4) We would like a hotel in KL for the first couple of nights, we have found a few around the £40 a night mark and was just wondering if anyone knew of somewhere cheaper, that had a pool ( big must have ) or a area we should stay in, things we should do etc.

Cheers guy I have a feeling a lot more questions will be popping up soon enough !

Ben

FunkyGibbon

3,821 posts

280 months

Monday 23rd November 2009
quotequote all
2) Cambodia - e-visa one of the slickest immigration procedures I've experienced.

ETA - I'd use someone like Trailfinders or Kuoni to help square away all visa issues

Edited by FunkyGibbon on Monday 23 November 13:55

SimonV8ster

12,779 posts

244 months

Monday 23rd November 2009
quotequote all
Agree on the Cambodia e-visa- brilliant!!

Seem to remember I kept having trouble resizing my photo or something so just sent it to them, came back with a few minutes all done for me !!

v15ben

16,021 posts

257 months

Monday 23rd November 2009
quotequote all
The Laos visa can be done on the border. The nearest embassy is actually in Paris so not a practical thing to do before you go anyway.

The Cambodia e-visa is good though I did mine for $20 USD in a shed (literally!) with a bag scanner somewhere on the Mekong Delta. If you end up doing on the border it's a quick and easy process helped with a few bucks to your tour guide wink

You can just get another Malaysia visa when you return, no need to use the original one. They'll just stamp your passport on entry every time.

I'm not 100% on specific hotels in KL but can have a look at work. I'd advise staying somewhere near Sentral or Bukit Bintang as there is plenty going on in both places. The area closest to the Petronas Towers has a few hotels, but it is fairly quiet there in comparison to the central areas.

If you've got any other questions about that area then I'll try and give you my experience. Was in the region for 4 months last year smile

anonymous-user

70 months

Tuesday 24th November 2009
quotequote all
if you have a European Union passport you will get a 90 day visa when you enter Malaysia, 9not 30) it is renewed for 90 days each time you enter, if you go to Thailand by road or Rail from Malaysia you should get a 30 day visa, but with the ongoing trouble at the border area (don't worry about this it will not effect a traveler) thay are currently only giving 14 days, if you need more ask very nicly and there is no problem or get a 90 day visa from tha Thia embessy in KL or the consel in Penang.

anonymous-user

70 months

Tuesday 24th November 2009
quotequote all
If you want a pool 40 pound a night is very good, thats around 200rm, you can get down to 100rm plus 10% tax plus 5 % serice charge without apool ( e'g' Hotel YK38 is brand new and near my place, everyone say good but no pool and 100rm ++), you'll see everything in Kl is ++ it means plus 10 plus 5 as above. Pools can be a problem in KL as they are heated by the sun, and KL is quit overcast, so there is no radiation heat, the pools at the cheap can be in the shadow and surprising cold, but if your are used to UK temp then you will not be worried.

I'd recommend around Jalan Bikit Bingtang (BB)or Jalan Sultan Ismail, good hotels, Federal, Park Royal, Istan and the Ritz to name a few, get a taxi from the airport if two or more people as this is cheaper than the train for two.BB is good for shopping, loads of low cost e.g. BB Plaza, and upmarket designer like Star Hill, Time Square, Lot 10, Pavillion. loads of pubs and resturants, and the best on street eating in Kl at jalan Alor, and the computor shops at Imbi Plaza and Low Yat, you can get to KLCC and the Twin Towers easy,and into China Town.
If you want more info let me know

XJSJohn

16,090 posts

235 months

Tuesday 24th November 2009
quotequote all
Last time i flew into Cambodia (Siem Reap) the queue at Imigrations to buy your visa on arrival was huge!! Glad i got mine done before i left.

remember Laos and Cambodia prefer USD ... dont bother bringing many bills bigger than $10

Last time i was in KL (getting pished with Berw) i stayed at the Radius, its not stunning but the rooms are perfectly adequate, right next to some good bars and food, also convenient access to public tranmsport. Didn't see the pool, but it does have one and i think my room rate was RM100 / night with breakfast which is about GBP18.


anonymous-user

70 months

Wednesday 25th November 2009
quotequote all
Radius has a pool, on the roof, can see it from my front window

XJSJohn

16,090 posts

235 months

Wednesday 25th November 2009
quotequote all
Berw said:
Radius has a pool, on the roof, can see it from my front window
If you can see it from your window then the OP probably does not want to use it ... given that you will no doubt be giving him some very un muslim gestures after a few too many down the old battlecruiser hehe

wink

Tampon

Original Poster:

4,637 posts

241 months

Wednesday 25th November 2009
quotequote all
I will put on a show for you......

phumy

5,797 posts

253 months

Wednesday 25th November 2009
quotequote all
Tampon said:
I will put on a show for you......
I hope the show has nothing to do with your forum name.......hurlhehe

anonymous-user

70 months

Thursday 26th November 2009
quotequote all
actually I had alook last night its on the roof, around the 5 floor, and the tower of the hotel stands over it, so it will be shaded in the afternoon

XJSJohn

16,090 posts

235 months

Thursday 26th November 2009
quotequote all
Berw said:
actually I had alook last night its on the roof, around the 5 floor, and the tower of the hotel stands over it, so it will be shaded in the afternoon
so OP won't be putting on that big a show wink

AJS-

15,366 posts

252 months

Thursday 26th November 2009
quotequote all
A couple of things worth knowing about the Laos visa. Yes you can get it on the border but only at certain crossings. Friendship Bridge from Nong Khai is the biggest crossing and you can definitely get the visa here, no problem. Don't be fooled by the touts etc, just take a couple of passport photos and get it at the office. Last time I went paying in US$ worked out better than Thai Bhat.

You can not get a visa on arrival if you take the newly opened railway into Laos. If you go by train (and I'd recommend it compared to buses) then get off at Nong Khai and cross the bridge.

Other crossings I'm not so sure about. I'm fairly positive you can get the visa at the second Friendship Bridge near Mukdahan, but if you are up north near Chiang Mai and want to go to Luang Prabang then I have no idea where/when visas are available. As a rule of thumb though, more likely at big crossings with heavy traffic rather than the scores of small crossings locals use all the time.

If you do intend on crossing at a quieter point, get your visa at the Laos consulate in Bangkok, or if you are there, Kohn Kaen. I have never done this but I am told it is fairly simple.

Tampon

Original Poster:

4,637 posts

241 months

Thursday 26th November 2009
quotequote all
AJS- said:
A couple of things worth knowing about the Laos visa. Yes you can get it on the border but only at certain crossings. Friendship Bridge from Nong Khai is the biggest crossing and you can definitely get the visa here, no problem. Don't be fooled by the touts etc, just take a couple of passport photos and get it at the office. Last time I went paying in US$ worked out better than Thai Bhat.

You can not get a visa on arrival if you take the newly opened railway into Laos. If you go by train (and I'd recommend it compared to buses) then get off at Nong Khai and cross the bridge.

Other crossings I'm not so sure about. I'm fairly positive you can get the visa at the second Friendship Bridge near Mukdahan, but if you are up north near Chiang Mai and want to go to Luang Prabang then I have no idea where/when visas are available. As a rule of thumb though, more likely at big crossings with heavy traffic rather than the scores of small crossings locals use all the time.

If you do intend on crossing at a quieter point, get your visa at the Laos consulate in Bangkok, or if you are there, Kohn Kaen. I have never done this but I am told it is fairly simple.
Awesome, these are the little things that are great to know, thankyou