4/5 days - KL or Singapore

[gotoPzero]

I need to spend a few days outside Thailand in early January for my visa run.

I was thinking KL or Singapore for a long weekend but got no clue on either.

Anyone got any advice?

Or maybe Da Nang and spend a few days on the beach?

Max 2 hr flight from BKK.

[RichFN2]

I found KL more interesting and cheaper than Singapore, Singapore is the perfect place for someone who has never been to Asia before but coming from Bangkok you will likely find it relatively boring and very expensive (especially alcohol). It is very clean and safe without the Bangkok madness which you love or hate.

KL sits somewhere in the middle of Bangkok and Singapore.

[MrBen986]

Ever been to Penang? George Town is a lovely old place, absolutely gorgeous old buildings, lots of delicious Malay, Indian and Chinese street food, plenty of things to see and quite interesting if a little embarrassing British colonial history. My favourite bit of Malaysia, and we always pop in for a few days when in that part of the world. Plus it's a very short fight from Bangkok.

The Nasi Lemak and Doughnuts at the front of Sri Weld food court are my fave breakfast in the world!

[gotoPzero]

No will have a look at that sounds interesting.

Rich thanks - narrows it down

[peter tdci]

MrBen986 said:

Ever been to Penang? George Town is a lovely old place, absolutely gorgeous old buildings, lots of delicious Malay, Indian and Chinese street food, plenty of things to see and quite interesting if a little embarrassing British colonial history. My favourite bit of Malaysia, and we always pop in for a few days when in that part of the world. Plus it's a very short fight from Bangkok.

The Nasi Lemak and Doughnuts at the front of Sri Weld food court are my fave breakfast in the world!

I've just come back from a couple of weeks spread over Singapore, Malaysia and Bangkok. I loved George Town and would go back again. Langkawi is another place on my 'to visit' list, but it didn't work for this trip.

[MrBen986]

peter tdci said:

I've just come back from a couple of weeks spread over Singapore, Malaysia and Bangkok. I loved George Town and would go back again. Langkawi is another place on my 'to visit' list, but it didn't work for this trip.

We spent Jan and Feb this year in Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, and decided late on that we just had to go back to George Town for a few days despite not having planned to - think it was the fourth time!

I went to Langkawi a few years back. Enjoyed it but it's mostly a beach resort type of place and it didn't feel particularly different to beach type places we've been to in southern Thailand, whilst the beaches were not as nice as places around Krabi, Koh Lanta etc.

Edited by MrBen986 on Monday 23 October 11:29

[HotJambalaya]

gotoPzero said:

I need to spend a few days outside Thailand in early January for my visa run.

I was thinking KL or Singapore for a long weekend but got no clue on either.

Anyone got any advice?

Or maybe Da Nang and spend a few days on the beach?

Max 2 hr flight from BKK.

are you sure they'll give you enough days when you come back from your visa run? I thought they'd clamped down on all that?

Have you done all the extensions you can at the immigration office too? When i was in phuket i had a great company that would do the extensions for a tiny fee.

[gotoPzero]

6 month METV so its 60 days stamp at a time.

[XJSJohn]

if you need to do anything in the embassy as part of your Visa Run, then Singapore is much easier. If its just a destination then as much as i like Singers it will cost you an arm and a leg in hotel, beer, taxi's etc.

Penang is a bit of a retirement island for Singaporean and HK Chinese, but as mentioned, Georgetown is nice

Langkawi is nice but a poor second to the Thai islands at the north end of Phang Nga bay.

From BKK there are regular flights to KL, Jakarta, Bali, HCMC, and Hong Kong, all of which are nice places to spend a few days depending on your tastes.

KL is always a fun place and affordable, as is HCMC

Hong Kong is almost as expensive as Singapore

Bali is a nice beach destination (or you can weave some Yoghurt at a yoga retreat in Ubud)

if you just need to get across teh border, there used to be a great run into Myanmar at Helfire Pass (go west from Kanchanaburi) that i drove over a fair few times in-between jobs to top up my 30 day stamps

[tobythekid]

Can't go wrong with either to be fair. I prefer Singapore (partly because I lived there) for experience but KL is definitely A LOT cheaper. Not really worth doing both in such a short time. Could also try some places like Penang or Georgetown but may be harder to access.

[gotoPzero]

Cheers still not sure where we are going but need to book fairly soon I think we are swaying towards KL with George Town as a close second.