Hat Yai International Airport [url=http://www2.airportthai.co.th/airportnew/hatyai/]](HDY)
Taxi rides to Hat Yai city can be found at the airport entrance for which the drivers will ask around 250 baht,you also can use the airport limo service which costs 300 baht. A minivan service into the city costs 100 baht. A blue colored [[Thailand#Songthaew|songthaew[/url]] runs into town for 30 baht and can be found at the far end of the parking lot. From Phet Kasem Rd, Hwy 4135 (Sanambin Panij Rd) links to the airport. Car rental is available on arrival from [url=http://avisthailand.com/]Avis[/url].
There are no official currency exchange offices in the airport. Staff of limo/minibus booth will exchange ringgits or dollars for you (or accept them for their service), but the exchange rate will be poor.
There are daily flights to/from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) on Thai Airways[url=http://www.thaiairways.com].]Hat Yai (HDY) is also connected daily to Bangkok Don Mueang Airport (DMK) by Nok Air[url=http://www.nokair.co.th[/url],]AirAsia[url=http://www.airasia.com[/url]]and OrientThai[url=https://www.orient-thai.com/booking/en/[/url].] There is a new route to UTP (Pattaya) introduced by Airasia, few times a week.
Tiger Airways[url=http://www.tigerairways.com[/url]]operates daily flights to [[Singapore[/url]], and Air Asia to [wiki=dc5df51ea7e4a83d5663ca4ced03a1aa]Kuala Lumpur[/wiki] and [wiki=57e94893120121f19fa688c7b1f02df2]Chiang Mai[/wiki].
Hat Yai is on the southern line connecting [wiki=3d147c6ba113929f5a004a5e9dcc832e]Bangkok[/wiki] to [wiki=a9415c23ce2b227d76c5570d388fa3dc]Butterworth[/wiki] and [wiki=dc5df51ea7e4a83d5663ca4ced03a1aa]Kuala Lumpur[/wiki] in [wiki=3f0e49c46cbde0c7adf5ea04a97ab261]Malaysia[/wiki].
*To/from Bangkok: Five trains daily to and from Bangkok. Express trains depart at 16:16, 17:34 and 18:05 while the slower Rapid trains depart at 14:18 and 15:26. Trains go via [wiki=75d32d219c5589eb557db3ac58ea8407]Surat Thani[/wiki], [wiki=1de1d24b80dd73847dc5fc077c08457e]Chumphon[/wiki], [wiki=7a772bf343960b249c01abef50f9bd89]Hua Hin[/wiki] etc.
A 3rd class ticket with reserved, upholstered seat sets you back 259 baht (Hat Yai-Bangkok) on ordinary trains and slightly more for Rapid/Express trains. Buy tickets directly at the respective railway stations, surcharges are imposed if bought at other agencies!
*To/from Sungai Kolok, Thailand: Three trains to [wiki=e0a78769cfb53bbeb76a4bb37dcbcb86]Sungai Kolok[/wiki] daily departing at 05:36, 07:18 and 11:30.
*To/from Malaysia: The State Railways of Thailand's [url=http://www.railway.co.th]]International Express leaves Hat Yai for [[Butterworth[/url]] near [wiki=470cd95e392ad2cca999777aa6b95949]Penang[/wiki] daily at 05:50, going via [wiki=e5db30d68389ab98e1aebebd9006c579]Padang Besar[/wiki]. In the other direction, trains leave Butterworth at 13:15 and arrive in Hat Yai at 17:30. The train then continues to Bangkok. The Senandung Langkawi operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (Malaysian Railways) [url=http://www.ktmb.com.my]]departs Hat Yai for [[Kuala Lumpur[/url]] daily at 15:00 (Thai time), arriving at KL Central at 05:30 (Malaysia Time) the next day. Trains from Kuala Lumpur depart at 21:20 (Malaysia Time) and arrive in Hat Yai at 09:27 (Thai Time) the next day. The Senandung Langkawi goes via [wiki=38ec90889122d2ef7444d09f6ec169c0]Bukit Mertajam[/wiki] and [wiki=e5db30d68389ab98e1aebebd9006c579]Padang Besar[/wiki]. Note that Malaysian time is one hour ahead of Thai time: noon in Thailand is 13:00 in Malaysia. Be sure and check the departure time on your ticket as many tickets have Malaysian departure times even though Hat Yai is in Thailand.
* Surat Thani 3rd class tickets cost 55 baht, but the journey takes 7 hours! Good for stunning views of the countryside. See timetable at railway station. Sleeper cabins 1st class, 2nd class air-con & fan sleeperettes, and 3rd class (now upholstered seats!) are available.
Hat Yai has a large bus station located near the Diana Department store (N 06° 59.699 E 100° 28.962). Buses can be taken to all major towns in the south of Thailand and up to Bangkok. Depending on the route, different classes of bus are available. These range from local orange colored buses without air-conditioning to luxurious 24-seat coaches with toilets and reclining seats.
Buy tickets only from the ticket counters, do not allow yourself to be directed to agencies by touts (this includes tuk-tuk drivers in the bus station). You will pay more and most likely get a later time.
Other scheduled, inter-provincial buses serving Hat Yai: [wiki=75d32d219c5589eb557db3ac58ea8407]Surat Thani[/wiki], [wiki=dd38c4ce6700ee7992d922b1bcbbbc19]Phuket[/wiki], [wiki=69ab31efe822f0e9f8c477a8717aa672]Satun[/wiki], [wiki=d7d56e3c53034420b9a894f6b9919cd5]Trang[/wiki], [wiki=f59c5c5f065a976dc979f4229e208f6e]Krabi Town[/wiki], Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Bus to [wiki=e70de789014386333f274a3d549d7bf8]Songkhla[/wiki] goes past the clock tower along Phetkasem Rd (ถนน เพชรเกษม), at the intersection close to Montri 1 Rd (ถนน มนตรี 1).
To/from [wiki=3d147c6ba113929f5a004a5e9dcc832e]Bangkok[/wiki]: Air-con buses by [url=http://www.transport.co.th/]The Transport Co. Ltd[/url] (บริษัท ขนส่ง จำกัด (บขส.), bor-kor-sor) run between Bangkok southern bus terminal (สายใต้, sai-tai) and Hat Yai bus terminal daily. The distance is ~954 km and normally takes 12 hours.
* 24 seat VIP bus (พิเศษ, phiset) costs 1,072 baht, departs from Bangkok at 17:00, 18:00, 19:00 and 20:00. For the return, departures at 16:00, 17:00, and 18:00.
* 32 seat Class 1 bus (ม1พ) costs 828 baht, departs from Bangkok and Hat Yai at 17:30.
* 47 seat Class 2 bus (ม2) departs from Bangkok at 07:00, 17:00, and 21:45; Hat Yai at 08:00, 15:30, and 17:00 for 535 baht.
To/from [wiki=dc5df51ea7e4a83d5663ca4ced03a1aa]Kuala Lumpur[/wiki]: There are several Malaysian bus companies that go to/from Kuala Lumpur, you can get tickets either at tour agents or from the bus company shop. Cost of ticket varies depending on company and time of departure.
* [url=http://www.kbes.com.my]Konsortium Bas Ekspress Semenanjung[/url], 32, Prachathipat Rd, Hat Yai. Tel. +66 74 351 280 and +66 74 351 281 have 5 buses every day which leave Hat Yai to [wiki=dc5df51ea7e4a83d5663ca4ced03a1aa#Puduraya]Kuala Lumpur[/wiki], departure at 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 12:00, and 19:00. Tickets cost around 520 baht and it's a 10 hour journey if you factor in waiting at immigration, a meal stop, and traffic when you arrive in Kuala Lumpur. From Kuala Lumpur, 5 buses every day depart from Pudu Sentral at 09:10, 22:00, 22:30, 23:00 and 23:30. RM50-60. Can buy online. Bus can drop at Hat Yai Bus Station.
* [url=http://www.busonlineticket.com/bus/alisan-golden-coach-m-sdn-bhd]Alisan Golden Coach Express[/url], 17/1 Chee Uthit Road (on Google Maps it is called Thanon Sheutit), Hatyai, Songkhla, 90110 Thailand. Tel: +66 74 243 775 have 3 buses every day which leave Hat Yai to [wiki=dc5df51ea7e4a83d5663ca4ced03a1aa#Puduraya]Kuala Lumpur[/wiki]. Departures at 09:00, 11:00, and 19:00. Tickets cost around 400 baht and it's a 10 hour journey if you factor in waiting at immigration, a meal stop, and traffic when you arrive in Kuala Lumpur.
To/from [wiki=470cd95e392ad2cca999777aa6b95949]Penang[/wiki]: Scheduled air-conditioned minivans leave on the hour during the day from Georgetown's Lebuh Chulia (parking lot of E & A Hotel) The fare is presently set at RM30-35, advance booking is recommended. The journey including border formalities requires about 3-4 hours.
To/from [wiki=ac99f362be231d9eb9ec51c5dc37b0b4]Ipoh[/wiki]: There is a daily bus from Ipoh at 12:30 going to Hat Yai, departing from the long-distance bus terminal, cost RM45.
To/from [wiki=458e4cbc78201c1aec5fc53a31c59378]Singapore[/wiki]: The main terminal for buses to and from Thailand is at the Golden Mile Complex, 5001 Beach Rd. It's at the northeastern end of Beach Rd, where it meets Crawford St. The lavender MRT station is within walking distance A number of travel agents specialising in buses and tours to Thailand operate from there. Grassland Express (Tel: 6293 1166) has a bus at 19:00 to Hat Yai for 55 Singapore dollars. Other operators at Golden Mile complex: Transtar Travel, Tel. 6299 9009; Sri Maju, Tel. 6293 4160; City Line Tour, Tel. 6396 6969; Konsortium, Tel. 6392 5000; Star Mart Express, Tel. 6396 5681/6396 5682; Five Star Tour, Tel. 6294 7011; Alisan, Tel. 6292 2112.
There are three border crossings to choose from, all easily accessible from Hat Yai. [wiki=116948fadfb97f32e3ac7b4e4a4a36d8]Dannok[/wiki], [wiki=e5db30d68389ab98e1aebebd9006c579]Padang Besar[/wiki] and [wiki=e0a78769cfb53bbeb76a4bb37dcbcb86]Sungai Kolok[/wiki].
To/from [wiki=116948fadfb97f32e3ac7b4e4a4a36d8]Dannok[/wiki]: Vans run from Hat Yai right up to the Thai immigration complex in Dannok in [wiki=ea75d1725e6c6b59d79d552a29d065f1]Sadao[/wiki] district. Journey time is about one hour and the fare is 55 baht. Vans leave Dannok in front of the 7-11 store on the left side of the street after leaving the immigration complex. Note that the distance between the Thai and Malaysian immigration checkpoints is about 1 km, quite a distance to walk in the heat. You can take a motorcycle taxi between them. Bus and minivan to the border stop running around 18:00, so ask if there will be a return before boarding.
To/from [wiki=e5db30d68389ab98e1aebebd9006c579]Padang Besar[/wiki]: Regular buses depart Hat Yai's bus terminal for Padang Besar (only to the Thai side). Journey time is about one hour, price 50 baht (Aug 2012). If you are crossing to Malaysia immediately, ask to be dropped off right at the gates of the Thai immigration complex before your enter town.
To/from [wiki=e0a78769cfb53bbeb76a4bb37dcbcb86]Sungai Kolok[/wiki]: A minibus run from Hat Yai bus terminal right up to the Thai immigration complex in Sungai Kolok by passing through the provinces of Pattani and Narathiwat in about 4 hours. 180 baht. When considering this option, please consult local advice on current security threats. Many travel advisories around the world consider it an area to avoid (according to a travel agent nothing has happened to this minibus service in the last 4 years, as opposed to the Hat Yai-Sungai Kolok train. The threat is a sleepy driver and the numerous roaming cows on the street. [url=http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=460740]Last issues[/url] )
Minivans connect to and from all major locations in southern Thailand with Hat Yai. Where they depart from depends on the destination but the locals will be able to point you in the right direction. They are generally cheap and quicker than the buses but often overcrowded thus making them uncomfortable and dangerous.
There are also minivans connecting Hat Yai to [wiki=470cd95e392ad2cca999777aa6b95949]Penang[/wiki] in [wiki=3f0e49c46cbde0c7adf5ea04a97ab261]Malaysia[/wiki]. There is no standart price, different agencies quote prices between 400 baht and 650 baht. [url=http://cathaytourthailand.com]Cathay Guesthouse[/url], which is not far from train station, has probably the best rate set at 400 baht. Agencies near the bus terminal usually ask for 450-500 baht. Minivan times to Penang are 09.30am, 12.30pm and 03.30pm. Journey takes about 4-5 hours, depending on time spent at Sadao border. Tickets from Penang to Hat Yai are cheaper, about 35 Malaysian ringgit.
Taxis (tuk-tuks and motorbikes) are abundant in Hat Yai. They are available from any hotel. A ride within the city costs 20-60 baht. Ask the person at reception to write down the Thai address for you and show it to the driver. Rides to places outside the town are negotiable. Shared taxis going outside town can be found at the old market.
In February 2014, Hat Yai Inter Top Tour - 150 Niphat-Uthit 3 Rd (Cnr. Manasruedee) has one bike for rent, for 300 baht, passport photocopy and no deposit.
The Cathay Guesthouse rents motorbikes starting at 200 baht per day for semi-automatics. Malay and English spoken. In January 2014, they cost already 250B. They only accept customers who leave their passport.
There's a place close to the Genting Hotel about 2 km east of the train station that rents out motorbikes. +66 87 293 4695.
You can rent a used motorbike or a scooter in some repair shops. For example there is one at 47, Thanon Nipatuthit 1. The owner speaks English, he is a decent man, so better be careful with the motorbike otherwise he will stop renting them out. His tel +66 81 328 7625. Normally he would require your passport as a deposit and 250 baht a day for a scooter.
NEVER, EVER GIVE YOUR PASSPORT AS A DEPOSIT, in Thailand or anywhere else!
A copy, signed with a note indicating the purpose of the copy has to do it. If you give your passport away you will have to pay whatever they ask to get it back in the event something happens. Not even the police will get the passport back to you before you have paid. And they ask for a lot more than just repair costs!
Car rentals available at the airport at [url=http://avisthailand.com]Avis[/url]
Chinese New Year. With sizeable Thai Chinese population, Chinese New Year is celebrated everywhere in Hat Yai especially in the city centre.
* Songkran Festival. The festival marks Thai New Year, which is traditionally celebrated from 13 to 15 April. In recent years, the festival has been held as Hat Yai Midnight Songkran to attract visitors.
* Loi Krathong. Held in November.
ASEAN Market (Poet tai) - Located next to Hat Yai Bus Station. Wide market famous for second hand brandname clothes, bags and shoes, but interesting locally designed new clothes and some vintage decorative stuff can be found here as well. Lot of food stalls inside. Wednesday to Sunday, 17:00 to 22:00.
* Green Way Market - Located near the Hat Yai Bus Station but along the main road to Songkhla. Very similar to ASEAN Market. Wednesday to Sunday, 17:00 to 22:00.
* Kim Yong Market - Located at Supasarn Rungsan Rd. This is the most attractive & famous place for shopping. There is plenty of food, home appliances, chocolate, cosmetics, watches, CD games, etc.
* Suntisook Marketplace - Located at Nipat 1, 2 & 3. Sells the same products as the Kim Yong Market.
Lee Garden Plaza - The most popular mall for Thai teenagers. Restaurants include Sizzler, Swensen's, McDonald's and Fuji among others. Shops inside sell books, clothes, mobile phones and souvenirs. There is a multiplex cinema and a games complex which also includes Karaoke booths.
* Central Department Store Hat Yai - Probably Hat Yai's most upmarket store. Clothes, cosmetics, books, household goods and there is a TOPS food supermarket on the highest floor.
* Robinson Department Store Hat Yai - Located near the Hat Yai train station.
* Odean Shopping Mall - Mostly clothes.
* Diana Shopping Mall - Clothes, mobile phones, restaurants and a bowling alley.
* Siam Nakarin Complex - Office supplies, furniture, restaurants, food center, IT/mobile phone and other small shops.
* Tesco Lotus Hat Yai 1 - Located near the Prince of Songkhla University, a large supermarket that sells food, clothes, household items and lots more. There are also a number of restaurants and smaller shops just outside the main supermarket.
* Tesco Lotus Hat Yai 2 - Recently open in Hat Yai Nai.
* Big C Extra Hat Yai - Formerly Carrefour. Has HomePro, Office Depot and several restaurants.
* Big C Supercenter Hat Yai
* Makro Hat Yai - Cash & carry wholesale.
Hat Yai is a touristy area with a flood of tourists from Malaysia and transit passengers. Local people seem to have a habit of overcharging all foreigners. The situation is one of the worst even compared to other touristy areas in Thailand.
* Learning a few Thai phrases usually doesn't keep you from being overcharged because Thais get used to Malaysians pretending to be a local by speaking a few Thai words.
* Talking about honesty doesn't mean much to the people in Hat Yai, but smiling will help. When you are asked to pay an inflated price, name any poor country, say you come from there, and insist that you don't have money. Sometimes it works.
* See how much local people pay for their food. It's unwise to ask them directly because they don't feel like betraying their neighbours by telling you the Thai price.
* Use common sense. Street vendors may charge you 25 baht for a skewer of BBQ'ed meat balls (Thai price ~10-12 baht). This is almost the same price as in Singapore, so you better walk away.
* Consult the staff in your guesthouse and ask them how much they pay for a particular food such as noodles and congee.
Basic facilities, is one of the older bigger hotels several decades back.
* Simple rooms, Asian toilet, have to buy toilet paper. Sells European breakfast and have transport service. Friendly staff. Bed bugs & noisy. january 2014: single rooms 200 baht, a bit damp, dark and crumbling but always clean.
* Airy and remodeled Sep 2011. Much better condition room than you can get in the city centre for similar prices. 495 baht for a spacious room with queen bed, ??? baht for a room with two beds. Clean. Free Wi-Fi. TV and big fridge. Hot water. Elevator. Some decent local food places to eat over the road (turn right to get great noodle soup or pad thai). A long stroll or short ride to the city centre. Gym downstairs, 30 baht/day or 600 baht/month, or 450 baht/month for restricted memberships (AM-only or PM-only).
*
* Simple cheap clean old fashioned rooms with small bathroom.
* Indra Hotel - Thamanoonvithi Rd/Next to Monkey Pub. Nice inexpensive place to stay near market and transportation (bus agents). It is recommend that you inspect a room before booking.
* Laem Thong Hotel - 46 Thamanoonvithi Rd, one block from railway station. Fan rooms 320 baht.
* Good standard rooms, big and have European toilets, free toilet paper and can ask for more. Staff friendliness appears to fluctuate. Bedbugs reported, and mattresses old and sagging in the middle. [2015: Hard as a rock mattress, no sagging, no bedbugs noted. Try to get room on the second floor to have a chance at wifi from ancient router that doesn't seem to reach all the floors and rooms. Still 400 baht. Definitely 'down at the heels' hotel (towels so thin they only have one side, suspicious stains on sheets) but excellent location and you won't do better within this price range. Easy walk to the train station.]
* Florida Hotel- Cheap, clean and old hotel. Includes elevators, mini pub (under renovation as of July 2015) and massage. Cable TV, WiFi and hot shower included. About 700 metres to reach famous spot (Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel). Just drive along and passby Diana department store for 500 metres. 690bhat for 2 single bed (2persons/couple). 1000bhat for 2 king size bed (4 persons/family)
Cable TV with English channels, hot shower, double bed. Free Wi-Fi in the lobby. Free wifi in rooms too. Password given when you check in
* Opened in 2007. The standard rooms are very nice and comfortable.
*
* New Season Hotel is a deluxe hotel, situated in the heart of Hat Yai. Has 112 rooms and 7 junior suites, with panoramic view of the city and mountain. Each room features intnet access, safety deposit box, minibar and TV. 24 hour surveillance and car park is also provided. On-site there is a Thai massage and a coffee shop providing Thai, Western and Chinese dishes
* Pretty large rooms, air-con, free Wi-Fi, TV, and OK room service.
* Decent city views. Mini fridge. Feels 30 years old. No English TV channels.
* Clean and has consistent hot water. The service is okay (some have reported poor service but if you encounter this, complain to manager and it's resolved). Very quiet despite the presence of a karaoke and massage parlor. Oil massage for 300 baht, turkish massage (which means 1,5h of body massage and sex) 1800 baht. 90 baht for 10 hours of WiFi. Expect lots of muslims from Malaysia. In general this hotel is good if you are looking for expensive "fun". In other case there are better and cheaper places in Hat Yai.
* Buffet lunch/dinner is worth a try, 50% off for seniors.
* 148 rooms.
* Winstar Hotel is a new standard hotel designed and decorated with Chinese modern style, situated just beside Diana Shopping Centre. Room amenities includes Internet access, air conditioning, hot & cold water shower, mini bar and cable TV. Other facilities includes Fountain Beer Park, Lim Breng Restaurant, Star Coffee shop and Thai ancient massage.