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TRAVEL GUIDE TO MALAYSIA
Airport Taxes
When you depart Malaysia, there is a M$ 40.00 departure tax. Fees must be paid in
local currency upon check in.
Departure tax for Domestic flights is approximately M$ 5.00.
Baggage
On Domestic flights,
passengers are allowed 44 pounds of luggage per person. On International
flights, passengers are allowed two pieces of checked luggage. Excess
luggage fees will be charged if you check more than the stated
allowances, and these charges are your responsibility. At most
major airports, baggage carts are available for your luggage, usually
for a small additional fee.
Climate
and Clothing
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Temperature fluctuates little throughout the year in Malaysia.
Average temperature is between 21 to 32 degree Celsius (70 - 90 F).
Humidity is high. Rain tends to occur between November to February on
the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, on western Sarawak, and
north-eastern Sabah. On the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia the rainy
seasons is April to May and October to November.
It is ideal to have light clothing to wear year round. In the
evenings, a light wrap may be advised. It is also advisable for ladies
to wear long sleeves and loose pants or long skirts when entering
mosques and temples.
Communications
There are public telephone boxes in most towns in Malaysia; local
calls cost 10 sen for an unlimited amount of time. Phone cards are
recommended for long-distance calls. Cards of M$5, M$10, M$20 and M$50
are sold at Shell and Petronas stations, newsagents and most 7-Elevens.
Note that the Uniphone only takes M$20 or M$50 cards. Check for an
international logo on the phone booth before dialing overseas. To call
abroad from Malaysia, dial 00 + IDD country code (see "Basics") + area
code minus first 0 + subscriber number.
Each Malaysian town has a General Post Office. Overseas mail takes
four to seven days to reach its destination, packages are likely to take
much longer and are quite expensive.
Internet cafes are abundant throughout Malaysia. Many hotels also
provide internet access. Prices are very competitive, ranging between
M$3 and M$10 per hour with decent connection speed.
Currency
The Malaysian unit of currency is the Ringgit (M$),
which is divided into 100 sen. Currency comes in notes of M$1, M$5,
M$10, M$20, M$50, M$100, M$500 and M$1,000. Coins are issued in 1 sen, 5
sen, 10 sen, 20 sen, 50 sen and M$1 denominations. 1US$ is about M$
3.80. Foreign currencies can be converted at banks, hotels and money
changers.
ATMs are available throughout
Malaysia, especially in big cities and tourist areas. Both
Visa and
MasterCard have
extensive lists of ATMs around Malaysia that accept their cards. It is
advisable to carry local currencies when visiting rural areas
or some of the coastal islands.
Customs Regulations
The country's regulation requires all travelers to
declare the amount of local and foreign currencies in their possession
on arrival into and departure from Malaysia. Travelers Declaration Form
(TDF) for this purpose can be obtained from any Malaysian Embassies/High
Commission, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board Office and all entry/exit
points in Malaysia. Non-residents entering Malaysia are
permitted to import up to a maximum amount of M$ 1,000 only and any
amount of foreign currencies. Conversely, they are permitted to export up
to a maximum amount of M$ 1,000 only and foreign currencies not more
then what was originally brought into the country.
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Electricity
Voltage is
220-240 volts AC at 50 cycles per second. Electrical appliances will require an adapter
that can change the shape of the plug prongs, as well as an electrical
voltage converter that will allow a normal 110-volt American appliance
to take 220 Volt current. Throughout Malaysia 220 volt is used,
although 4 & 5-star hotels are wired for use of 110-volt electrical
appliances. Most hotels have a hair-dryer in each room.
Food and Water
Tap water is safe to drink in Malaysia, though it's wise to stick to
bottled water (M$2 a liter) in rural areas, and in Sarawak and Sabah.
Using ice for drinks is generally fine, too, making the huge variety of
seasonal fresh fruit drinks, available in hawker centres and street
corners, even more pleasant.
Heath
Matters
No vaccinations are required to enter Malaysia, but travelers
visiting deep jungle areas in peninsular Malaysia or the island of
Borneo should consult with their physicians regarding malaria
medication.
The levels of
hygiene and medical care in Malaysia are higher than in much of the rest
of Southeast Asia; staff almost everywhere speak good English and use
up-to-date techniques. There's always a pharmacy in main towns. Private
clinics are found even in the smallest towns; a visit costs around M$30,
excluding medication. The emergency department of each town's General
Hospital will see foreigners for the token fee of M$1, though costs rise
rapidly if continued treatment or overnight stays are necessary.
Holidays
Weekly holidays vary from region to region. In
Selangor, Melaka, Penang, Perak, Pahang and Negri Sembilan, there is a
half-day holiday on Saturday and a full-day holiday on Sunday. In the
states of Johor, Kedah, Perlis, Terengganu and Kelantan a traditional
half-day holiday is observed on Thursday and full-day holiday on Friday;
Saturday and Sunday are treated as weekdays.
Major Holidays:
-
New Year's Day - Jan 1st*
-
Hari Raya Aidil Fitri- Jan*
-
Chinese New Year- Jan/Feb*
-
Labour Day- May 1st
-
Vesak Day- May*
-
The King's Birthday- Jun
-
National Day* - Aug 31st
-
Deepavali- Oct/Nov**
-
Christmas Day- Dec 25th*
* National Holiday
** Except Sarawak and Labuan
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Passports and Visas
Visitors must be in possession of a current
passport or other internationally recognized travel document with
minimum validity of six months beyond the intended visiting period in
Malaysia. No visas are required for most countries for stays not
exceeding three months; These countries include but are not limited to:
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg,
Norway, South Korea, Sweden, Tunesia, U.S.A. , France and Germany
(except for local employment). For further information, please check
with the Tourism Malaysia Office.
Time Difference
Malaysia is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean time (GMT) and 13 hours
ahead of United States Eastern Standard Time.
Tipping
Tipping is usually not necessary, unless
service is excellent. Most hotels and large restaurants automatically
add a 10% service charge in addition to the 5% government tax to the
bill (indicated by a ++ sign on menus and rate cards).
On tours with private sightseeing, gratuities of $5-$10 for travel
guides, $2-$3 for drivers per person per day is customary.
Transportation
Airport transfers and sightseeing in our
programs are
provided via private cars. While on your own, you are free to explore on
your own through a variety of transportation. Public transport in Malaysia is extremely reliable. If
you wish to explore on your own, various means of public transportation
are available.
Taxis: Most taxis are fitted
with meters. Taxi rates are currently M$ 2 for the first 2km and 10 sen
for every 200 meters thereon. A surcharge of 50% is levied between
midnight and 6.00am.
Trains: Malayan Railways (KTM)
offers an inexpensive yet comfortable service on the peninsula. Foreign
tourists may purchase at main railway stations a KTM Rail pass, which
grants unlimited travel for ten days (M$85) or thirty days (M$175). For
information about service from Kota Kinabalu to Tenom (East Malaysia,
Sabah), contact Sabah State Railways at (088) 54611.
Buses: Bus services are both extensive and inexpensive, but mostly not air-conditioned. Local buses are often slow, noisy and full.
What to Pack?
Bring light clothing that is easy to wash and
iron. Sandals and light shoes are adequate. A sweater is handy for cool
season nights and drastically air-conditioned buildings.
Other essential items
include: Valid Passport.
Travelers Checks. Copy of Your Airline Ticket. Your Medicines. Departure
documents. Voltage converters. Travel alarm clock. Camera(s), batteries & films. Sunscreen/Tan lotion. Pocket size
Kleenex. Extra luggage locks/keys. First Aid kit. Soft, foldable
slippers. Extra set of eyeglasses. Folding Umbrella. Comfortable
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