Maybe Border Run To Kuala Lumpur

[twix38]

After advice I am now thinking of a 5 to 7 day visit to Kuala Lumpur to do my Thai border run in March.

Does anyone have experience regarding flight (looks like airasia.com are fine)?

Accomodation: Want good location, quiet, comfortable, safe and reasonably priced. Any suggestions?

Tourist attractions?

Visa requirements?

Do and don'ts?

Safety?

Take USD with me? If so how much?

Assume plenty of ATM machines?

Thanks in advance.

Edited February 7, 2007 by twix38

[naka]

After advice I am now thinking of a 5 to 7 day visit to Kuala Lumpur to do my Thai border run in March.

Does anyone have experience regarding flight (looks like airasia.com are fine)? Air Asia.

Accomodation: Want good location, quiet, comfortable, safe and reasonably priced. Any suggestions?

See link here Hotels in K.L.

Tourist attractions? Not an awful lot, but a nice city.

Visa requirements? Most nationalities do not require a visa.

Do and don'ts? Don't do drugs, death penalty.

Safety? Not an issue.

Take USD with me? If so how much? Not required.

Assume plenty of ATM machines? Plenty.

Thanks in advance.

Naka.

Edited February 8, 2007 by naka

[twix38]

Thanks for help Naka,

Looking like KL is going to be my choice for March, so........

No need for Malaria tablets? Assume KL is non malarial, but are there even Mosquitoes or not really an issue?

Anyone stayed in a good quiet hotel that they can recommend from experience?

Any places to visit apart from petronas tower, little india, china town, central market, KL building, batu caves?

Any trips or near by places that are a must see?

Also assume as I do not need to take any USD with me, that I can just withdraw Malasin Ringgits out of Many ATM that are all around?

Thanks again

[farangsay]

Don't like to rain on anyone's parade but :

A good few years ago I stayed in KL for several days

and although I had some business to do I had a

lot of free time.

Metropolitan KL was a total logjam traffic wise

from Monday am to Saturday PM. So I went on a few

walkabouts. I found KL is not pedestrian friendly.

KL is firmly on my list of towns to avoid.

Penang is not great but it is a much better

town to spend a couple of days in.

Up2U

[Humphrey Bear]

I usually stay in the Federal Hotel - not quiet, 'cos it's on one of the busier shopping streets. But it is chinese owned and run, so although not five star, it gives value for money.

But just across the road in the back streets is an excellent chinese food street. Next door to the hotel is an open area with other eating places and live shows, you have Sungai Plaza and all the other entertainment you could want within walking distance. Also Asia Mall..

For tourist things, there is also Independence Square and all the old British colonial buildings, the Royal Selangor factory, butterfly farm, golf and sailing, a trip up to Cameron Highlands and casino- whatever your heart desires.

[PhilHarries]

Thanks for help Naka,

Looking like KL is going to be my choice for March, so........

No need for Malaria tablets? Assume KL is non malarial, but are there even Mosquitoes or not really an issue?

Correct, I think by law all properties have to be fumigated every few months to suppress the mosquito population. Downside is it also suppresses the butterflies but at least you can eat outdoors without constantly flapping your hands at the swarming flies. However there are mozzies and Dengue fever has recently been around a bit so you might want to consider some repellant, but I've not been bitten once in over a year.

Anyone stayed in a good quiet hotel that they can recommend from experience?

HB's recommendation of the Federal is as good as any but there are a number of cheap guesthouses in that area.

Any places to visit apart from petronas tower, little india, china town, central market, KL building, batu caves?

As naka says it's not really a tourist town unless you like bluddy shopping malls full of glitzy shops selling designer labels. Wouldn't bother with the Petronas towers, you can only go up to the skybridge and then they limit the numbers so you need to be there early. For me a better view can be had from Menara KL (KL Tower), the observation deck is 280 odd metres up and the lift takes you there in 50 odd seconds (popping ears time). Cost is RM20 (200Baht) and there's a revolving restaurant up there but you need to book. I've not been there but have read varying opinions on the food from average to crap. At the foot of the towere is a little bit of preserved "jungle" with walks through and there's a little bit of wildlife to see. The walks are in places a little precarious so watch your step.

Any trips or near by places that are a must see?

Don't bother with Genting, it's only a casino and resort, unless that's your scene, but you get some good views out of the coach on the way up. If you have time the Cameron Highlands are worth the trip but you need a few days minimum.

Also assume as I do not need to take any USD with me, that I can just withdraw Malasin Ringgits out of Many ATM that are all around?

Plenty of ATM's available and the nice thing is that they are all inside the banks (the ATM halls are open 24/7) so you are not drawing a wedge out exposed to the street.Thanks again

I've directly answered your question above but I'll add a few comments.

Yes AirAsia is your most economic option but be aware you'll arrive at, and depart from, the LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal) at KLIA. It's the same airport but about 20 km by road away from the main terminal. There are busses to town at around RM9 (don't quote me on that - never used them) or taxis at around RM95 yes it's expensive. Main thing is to remember it's the LCCT if you're using a taxi on departure or they'll take you to the main terminal. The departues gates at LCCT are a little shambolic and the area furnished in a basic style but it works okay. Watch out for them weighing your carry on (see another thread on that) it's never happened to me but might be new policy.

I disagree with farangsay regarding walking around. I find KL 100% more pedestrian friendly than Bangkok. The sidewalks are more even (but not perfect so watch out), not congested by street vendors and there are plenty of light controlled crossings.

Traffic is a nightmare Monday - Fridays morning and evening rush hours same as any big city worldwide. During the days and Saturday/Sunday it does flow relatively freely but Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Ampang (where the Thai Embassy is) can be a bit of a pain.

Taxis (Teksi) are numerous but the drivers are the usual bunch of scam merchants and sometimes they'll try and avoid using the meter but if you insist they'll usually oblige. As the evening wears on it becomes harder and harder to get them on the meter and you have to negotiate a fixed fare. They'll start at 20 ringitt which is extortionate so just walk away, they'll come down fairly rapidly to 10 and any further requires some hard nosed haggling. The fare on the meter for most cross town runs is around RM7 so I don't mind giving them 10 but it doubles late on (around 11pm when the KLM and LRT shut down). Like Singapore teksis can not be hailed, sometime they will stop but not supposed to, just find a teksi rank and if there isn't one there wait and one will stop usually within 5 minutes.

The KL Monorail and the Putra LRT are great ways to get from place to place and the maximum you'll pay for a cross town ride is RM2. Trains are every 5 to 10 minutes during the day, there's no timetable just pitch up and wait a few minutes. They are both popular, particularly the LRT morning and evning rush hour, so expect to stand.

The city is safe, there is a criminal undercurrent but like Thailand they typically don't bother tourists but in any case take the usual precautions against snatch thieves and pick pockets. Much as some people would have you believe otherwise the police in KL are great. In over a year other than "Good day sir" and other pleasantries they have never approached me. The have been reports of bogus policemen stopping tourists and asking for ID and applying a bit of extortion. If you do get stopped and asked for ID ask first for the copper's ID and write down name and number. If they want to search you, bogus or real, do not let them go through your bags or pockets. Empty everything out yourself, but I have never heard of anyone getting searched. As in Thailand you are required to carry ID at all times but the only time anyone I know was asked was during a raid on a nightclub.

If you want a bit of lowdown on pubs/clubs and nightlife PM me as I don't want to hijack what is supposed to be a Thailand website.

That's all for now folks, search the fora as there has been several similar requests for info regarding visa runs to KL.

Hey mods. How about sub-fora within the visa forum each dedicated to individual visa run destinations? Obviously you can't cover them all but you could do the most popular ones. You could have a pinned general advice piece and then a thread of member's comments. Just an idea.

[naka]

Don't like to rain on anyone's parade but :

A good few years ago I stayed in KL for several days

and although I had some business to do I had a

lot of free time.

Metropolitan KL was a total logjam traffic wise

from Monday am to Saturday PM. So I went on a few

walkabouts. I found KL is not pedestrian friendly.

KL is firmly on my list of towns to avoid.

Penang is not great but it is a much better

town to spend a couple of days in.

Up2U

So ... someone from Bangers is complaining that K.L. is not pedestrian friendly !

Gotta love that :D

Go to bed you silly boy... and no Chang for you tomorrow !

Naka.

Edited February 9, 2007 by naka

[MiG16]

all the above advice are mostly accurate...but Id add in one warning though...theres plenty of snatch theft happening in KL, so beware.

(travelled to KL on an almost monthly basis in the last 2 years...so there has to be some truth in what I say )