The last time we were planning a trip to Thailand, 2 years ago, we applied for 60 day visas at the Thai Consulate in Penang. It took 2 days (one to submit, one to collect), two return bus trips and cost Rm110 each. A visa on arrival on Thailand is only valid for 30 days.
Now we're in Langkawi, 55nm north of Penang, our options to obtain 60 day visas are to return to Penang and apply in person or to use an agent. We asked other cruisers in Telaga if they'd used an agent; one suggested a lady who runs a small shop come yacht supply centre in Kuah. We went to visit her. She would take our passports, completed forms and photos and send them down to Penang, possibly hand carried, and our passports would be back in four to five days. The cost was Rm320 each of which Rm150 was the increased visa cost. Our alternative was to use a visa service based at a hotel in Penang. We saw their website and from that their service for visa applications. We'd have to trust a local courier service to carry our precious passports and cash. Parting with your passport is never an easy feeling. What if it's stolen in transit? What if it's a cover for nefarious activities?
However, after speaking with the agent we felt confident to use their service and at only RM200 each plus Rm6 for next day courier delivery it was a saving.
Joining together with two other boats wanting visas we sent our package in the afternoon and the agent phoned to confirm receipt next morning. It was too late to submit that day but he went next morning and, collected them the following afternoon. He phoned again to let us know we had visas and they were already with GDex courier for delivery back to Telaga. He gave us the tracking number too.
The only hiccup in an otherwise great service was the courier company in Langkawi who failed to deliver to Telaga - we had to chase them and then collect from their office in Kuah. Using an agent (Arthur Chin at Hotel Min Good) worked for us; as quick as us returning to Penang, significantly cheaper and GDex courier did their job. Oh, and no-one stole our valuable passports!
Tomorrow we'll clear out from Malaysia and island hop up to Phuket.
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