Moving Around

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Transport around Malaysia is not expensive. So you can easily come here, rent somewhere as a base, and travel around.

Air Asia is the budget airline, and has amazing RM1 deals from time to time. It flies to most major cities and towns in Malaysia, and so does MAS. There's been a ding-dong in recent months about which airline flies to which unprofitable, but socially needed, spots. I think that the lousy routes have now been handed back to MAS.

For long distance road travel, you can use a taxi or a coach. A taxi from KL to my place (350 km) costs RM300 (the price varies a bit up or down). A coach will cost RM25.

Coaches are a good way to travel. For some idea of costs: from Ipoh (North Perak) to Singapore, a coach will cost about RM50 (530km - 9hrs). From Ipoh to
KL it's RM30 (180km - 3hrs), and KL to Singapore is about RM35 (370km - 5hrs).

Distances vary a bit depending on route, and costs vary a bit depending on the coach being a 16 seater (super luxury VIP), 26 seater (super VIP), and 45 seater (economy).

There's a train connecting Singapore to KL, and northern stations. It's not just slow, it's lethargic. Train times are about double coach times, and costs are triple. I haven't used the train here since 1978. It hasn't gotten better.

regards, Scott

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Scott,

Agree with what you say, well all except the train bit.  Last year I travelled from Singapore to KL by train and returned by bus.  The timing door to door was very similar, the cost, as I bought the ticket in Singapore was a bit more expensive but it was first class.  And what a way to travel, full of history especially the mementos of the British Empire at the stations.  Maybe I am prejudiced as I always find something special about a long train ride (echoes of the romance, not luxury of the Orient Express maybe!?). Having read a post somewhere about the east coast mainline I have that trip in my diary to do sometime. Would love to do the E&O from Singapore to Bangkok but that's out of my budget at the moment.  Paul

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hi, Paul,

Thanks for the updated info on the trains. There's still (I believe) an overnight sleeper from Butterworth to Bangkok at about RM100.

I once travelled sleeper on the Beijing to Xian train. It was a wonderful 23 hours.

regards, Scott

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In the past year the KL/Sinapore coaches have seen a lift in service. New coaches, less seats, more room. I caught a double-decker from Singapore. The seats were like airlines business class. Each seat had a movale flat screen for videos/games - and they worked. At the Singapore end the cost is S$41, and at the KL end it's RM30.

Puduraya is the central coach terminal in KL. It was upgraded last year from grim to merely unpleasant. Boy is it hot, noisy, and you'll need good lungs or portable oygen for the lower platform level.

regards, Scott