Malaysia

Thomask

Hi

I will be landing in Singapore on 11 March and looking to get to Malaysia for 10 days.

- What are my options? Who are the cheapest for flights? Can you take a bus insstead?

Which are 'must see' cities? Where is the village based where all the tailors are?

- Are ATMs readily available? Do many places offer WiFi (thinking Cafes over hotels)

- Can anyone recommend good backpackers? Thinking of booking ahead to be safe. Is this necessary or is March a fairly quiet time? How much should I expect to pay for a shared dorm?

- What are some 'must do' things?

- Is a Visa required to enter Malaysia? If so, how much is this? Where and when can this be obtained and does the price differ depending where you get it from?

I've read Tripadvisor and found some great info.. but would like to hear your opinions too!

Thanks

ljbnotts

Hi,

It's really easy to get to Malaysia from Singapore. There are buses to Kuala Lumper or you can get a train and there are plenty of low cost airlines.

Air Asia
tiger airlines
jet star
firefly

If you look on any of their websites you will be able to see where you can fly to and it will be cheap! We are of to Singapore in March and will be flying to Borneo to kota kinabulu then over to sandikan to see the orangutans! (Singapore - Kota kinabulu return flight £50.)

Don't worry about the visa you get s tourist visa at the airport and its free, (for residents of the UK with a UK passport)

I've had no problems with ATM's so you should be fine.

Not sure about Backpackers but if you invest in a copy (or borrow it from a library) of the lonely planet/rough guide it will give you a good idea of prices and which hostels are nice. March is the end of the Rainy season so it shouldn't be to booked up but if you really want to stay somewhere book it in advance to avoid disappointment!

Must do things.
Try the local food its amazing, the hawker stalls are cheap and tasty!

In Kuala Lumper - the pertonas towers (must get there by 8am to queue for a ticket to go up them. They only issue a set amount each morning) The views are amazing though. If you can't get a ticket try the sky tower near by and excellent views, also has a revolving restaurant at the top.

In Singapore - the Singapore flyer (like the London eye but bigger)
a Singapore sling in the raffles hotel
the food
night safari

Other places in Malaysia you could easily get to:
langkawi (great beaches, relaxed, massive cable car)
penang (busier than langkawi but still a cool place)
Borneo (orangutans, wildlife)

Hope that helps!

LJB.

amsleeping

- What are my options? Who are the cheapest for flights? Can you take a bus insstead?
AirAsia - cheapest flights
Transnasional or konsortium - best bus companies(be alert that other buses could be crap and the ticketing people might try to pull you into buying from their crappy companies) price on average is about 7-10 quids

Which are 'must see' cities? Where is the village based where all the tailors are?
Must see city - Kuala Lumpur or Penang (modern mix with old), maybe Melaka (historic city.. no big buildings though... only small historic stuff)
Village with tailors? i have no idea

- Are ATMs readily available? Do many places offer WiFi (thinking Cafes over hotels)

Yes, especially in big cities. WiFi is available in most places, McDs, starbucks, shopping malls. Otherwise top-notch cybercafes catered to gamers are always around the corner at 50pence per hour only.

- Can anyone recommend good backpackers? Thinking of booking ahead to be safe. Is this necessary or is March a fairly quiet time? How much should I expect to pay for a shared dorm?
Dont know

- What are some 'must do' things?
Go up KL tower, eat eat eat as much local foods... (mix of chinese, malay, nyonya, indian, bangladeshi, thai, japanese, korean... and even fusion of anything) The variety of food available is several folds more than the any other western country. Be aware of travellers diarrhea though, as the stomach is unprepared for these new dishes.
Shopping is cheap
If shopping at petaling street in KL, get a local to purchase for you... you can try bargaining but you will never ever beat a local, no matter how good you are.
Malaysia has some of the best beaches as well... towards the east coast, or try pangkor island or tioman island... go scuba

- Is a Visa required to enter Malaysia? If so, how much is this? Where and when can this be obtained and does the price differ depending where you get it from?
Not sure.

I've read Tripadvisor and found some great info.. but would like to hear your opinions too!

Incapuppy

I thought you were landing in Singapore on 11 March and going to Vietnam for 10 days?

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1495671

nico26

Hi Thomas
Have a look at thise site http://www.redpalm-kl.com/. http://www.bug.co.uk/reviews/hostels/Asia/Malaysia/Kuala-Lumpur/index.htm
also check lonely plant as well.

Bukit Bintang is really central and a few there and if i remember there is one in chinatown as well also lively for you.

Eat in the food malls really cheap 5-10 ring for anything ie about £1 to £2.
Beer cheapest to drink Wine compared to europe expensive.

The kl tower gives you a better view I think than the twin towers. its really busy anf full of schoolchildren who are there from 8am.

You will get a 30 day entry visa when you arrive. It costs you nothing. They should give you one on plane.

Air Asia do cheap flights with the biggest timetable from Singapore. You can also get the bus but it takes 5 hrs on bus. You can also get a train.

If you fly in to LCCT there are plenty of buses that take you in to KL Sentral and depending where you staying get the tube in really cheap.

Mac Ds and Starbucks all do wi fi which is free.

Notify you bank you going so you can use cards. We have been having problems with ours recently.Never wait until you run out of money before you decide to go to a bank. Go during the day.if possible.If unable to get money out Take passport into bank with card and they should be able to give you it.

Im sure when you are there you will meet plenty of other backpackers who will tell you where to go for disco etc. Jalan P Ramlee is popular for late nights as is Bukit Bintang area.

The elephant sanctuary is a good day out but a bit far. As it Batu caves.
Enjoy.

Thomask

Thanks everyone for your responses!

ljbnotts: Do you know how much the fares are from Singapore to KL? Both for buses and trains? Which would be cheaper and approx how long would each take?

pertonas towers - how much are these?

ngkawi (great beaches, relaxed, massive cable car)
penang (busier than langkawi but still a cool place)
Borneo (orangutans, wildlife)

Are these all cities or main towns? Can they be reached by bus or train? Do you know rough costs or ways to book or is it best just to book once in Malaysia?

amsleeping: Great, thank you. Did you use both these bus companies? Do you book in advance over the net or is it eaiser just to turn up? Where is cheapest to buy tickets.. backpackers or from companie's offices directly?
How much does it cost to go up the KL tower?

Incapuppy: I decided 10 days isn't enough for Vietnam. Going to go to Malaysia instead.

nico26: Is beer expensive? I remember it costing a lot in Singapore!
Do you know much about bus or train prices and where to purchase etc?

Are the bus routes scenicand if so do they stop for long enough to take some photos? Do the buses have toliets?

What is LLCT?

Which countrie(s) did you have trouble using cards in?

Jalan P Ramlee is popular for late nights as is Bukit Bintang area. <- Are these major cities? I'm very interested in some good night life!

Thanks everyone

nico26

Thomas
Put it the wrong way round should be LCTT Low cost travel terminal ie budget airport terminal ,not the international airport which you would fly int if flying Air Asia. Go onto air asia website and put in your dates and it will give you a price. Ive not used the bus to come from airport Just came on the train from Int airport which is 35 ring to KL sentral.

Bus prices from sing to kl vary just google in buses from singapore to kl will come up with list. http://www.journeymalaysia.com/ptasingkl.htm



Beer is 35 ring a jug ie £7, or you can get 6 bottles think roughly same price. Not cheap for booze.

Jalan P Ramlee is a street in KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Centre }which has 5 or 6 very busy bar come night clubs.which keep are open till about 3 am discos also in that area. Bukit Bintang is an area in KLCC which is very busy at night with bars cafes etc. This area is also known as the golden triangle. You will get map at the tourist board which sits on Jalan Ampang


Twin Towers are free as far as I know..Hubby visits Petronas offices often so he got a ticket for me

had trouble in Singapore getting cash from machines.Dont know about malaysia got local cards.

Best bet just google anything and use trip advisor malaysia forums and you will get lots of answers there. Its good for getting tips and ideas. Ive been thre for 4 months and still use it.

fifeken

nico26 wrote: »

Thomas
Put it the wrong way round should be LCTT Low cost travel terminal ie budget airport terminal ,not the international airport which you would fly int if flying Air Asia. Go onto air asia website and put in your dates and it will give you a price.

Should be LCCT - Low Cost Carrier Terminal. And I think Air Asia go in and out of here on all flights. It's 20km from the main terminal so take care if you are transferring.

fifeken

ljbnotts wrote: »

Hi,

March is the end of the Rainy season so it shouldn't be to booked up but if you really want to stay somewhere book it in advance to avoid disappointment!

LJB.

March is start of the spring rainy season in most areas of Malaysia.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/country_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT002590

Tozer

fifeken wrote: »

Should be LCCT - Low Cost Carrier Terminal. And I think Air Asia go in and out of here on all flights. It's 20km from the main terminal so take care if you are transferring.

Is it really 20km?? I know it is a big airport but that seems really far.

Takes about 20 mins by shuttle bus if I recall correctly.

Tozer

fifeken wrote: »

March is start of the spring rainy season in most areas of Malaysia.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/country_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT002590

Depends which coast you go to. There are different rainy seasons on the South China Sea coast to the Andaman coast.