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ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS If you are planning an Adventure Holiday you should check your fitness level before attempting a new or unfamiliar activity, be it climbing Mount Kinabalu, scuba-diving off Sipadan, or even gentle rambles in the Taman Negara National Park. Malaysia's heat and humidity can rapidly drain energy levels of travellers from temperate regions. BANKS IN MALAYSIA Both international and local banks operate in Malaysia. A number of merchant bankers, finance companies and offshore financial institutions are also established here. CLOTHING & WHAT TO BRING TO MALAYSIA Winter Clothing like gloves & scarf are never required in Malaysia, not even a thick jacket. Lightweight, washable, casual clothes are the order of the day in Malaysia - cotton or cotton-rich/synthetic mix (preferably the former) are recommended. A light sweater is a good idea for cooler evenings. Cheap clothes are sold everywhere - batik shirts are colourful and cool, and tee-shirts (including fake designer brands) are a good buy. We strongly recommend our customer not to bring too much clothing. Camping gear is often available for hire in national parks but is likely to be in great demand. There is generally little need to worry about leaving items behind when you come to Malaysia. Toiletries, medicines, photographic film, suntan lotion, insect repellents and sun hats are readily available in most towns. Electrical supply is on a 220v system. Most hotels can supply an adaptor for 110-220 volt appliances. In remote areas power cuts can occur and a torch is a valuable companion. In some locations you will not have the luxury of even a shaving point - but disposable razors are sold widely in towns and cities. MALAYSIA CLIMATE, WEATHER Close to the Equator, Malaysia occupies two distinct regions: Peninsular Malaysia, extending from the Thai frontier to the border of Singapore; and the States of Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo's northern coast. At lower altitudes the weather is normally warm, humid and sunny year-round, with temperatures hovering around 32°C by day and 22°C at night. The seasons follow the monsoon winds. Rainfall comes at any time - in quick, heavy downpours, followed by sunshine within the hour. On the west coast of the Peninsula the main rainfall is generally from September to December. On the east coast and in Sabah/Sarawak the monsoon rains normally occur between October and February. Worldwide climate changes can and do now affect these traditional patterns. An umbrella is always useful! At higher levels (in hill-stations, for example) expect much cooler temperatures, with averages of 23°C by day and 10°C by night. The presence of insects in national park accommodation - and even occasionally in hotels - can be distracting but is a fact of life in the tropics (restaurants are also open-air or open-sided) and not a reflection on standards of hygiene. CULTURE & CUSTOMS Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim and conservative country, and observance of local customs and behaviour is appreciated. Modesty of dress in public places is expected. For formal or semi-formal occasions men can opt for a long-sleeved batik shirt. Outside beach resorts women should not wear dresses or very short skirts or shorts. Topless sunbathing is not acceptable at the beach or poolside. Check the required dress code before entering any place of religious worship. If visiting a Malaysian home it is customary to remove footwear. When trekking please respect the wildlife and environment. ENTRY REGULATIONS FOR MALAYSIA Passport holders entering Malaysia must valid for at least 6 months after the date of return from Malaysia. Entry into Sabah and Sarawak requires separate customs formalities, both on arrival from Peninsular Malaysia and between the two states. It is essential that the name on your passport and the name on your air tickets are identical - especially important for newly-weds - you may not be able to travel if this is not the case. It is your personal responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of a full passport and any visas needed to enter or transit any countries en route. We accept no responsibility for holidays cancelled or postponed because of an invalid passport or rejected visa application. All information given here is correct at the time of printing but is subject to change. Please note that Possession of narcotics and other illegal drugs in Malaysia carries the death sentence. MALAYSIA CUSTOMS & TAX The following are admitted duty-free into Malaysia: Tobacco 225 grammes of tobacco or cigars or 200 cigarettes. Liquor 1 litre of wine or 1 litre of spirits. Goods to the value of RM200 (except goods from Langkawi and Labuan, up to a value of RM500). CURRENCY USED IN MALAYSIA, Converting USD, US Dollar to Malaysian Ringgit. Malaysia Ringgit (RM) 100 sen = RM1.00. Foreign currency and travellers cheques can be converted to Malaysian Ringgits at banks, most hotels and licensed money changers. International credit cards are acceptable in most hotels, restaurants and many shops. Most hotels request an imprint of your credit card when you register, to cover any personal expenses. All airports in Malaysia and our other destinations impose domestic and international departure taxes. Do keep local currency or (where appropriate) US$ available, as these taxes are not included in your holiday prices.
CURRENCY IN MALAYSIA, Foreign Currency To Be Carried In, How much money can you bring into Malaysia? Malaysia's currency is the Ringgit Malaysia (RM). Each Ringgit is divided into one hundred sen. Non-residents are permitted to bring into Malaysia ringgit notes not exceeding RM 1,000 per person, and to take out foreign currency notes including traveller's cheques not exceeding the amount brought in. Tourists would need to seek approval if the amount of foreign currency to be carried out exceeds the amount brought into Malaysia or if the amount to be taken out is more than the equivalent of USD 2500. Banks exchange foreign currency, but do shop around, as money-changers may offer better rates. Passports must be presented when cashing traveller's cheques at banks (where a commission is also payable). When travelling to smaller towns, ensure that you carry enough cash. HOTEL HOME TRUTHS Our hotels are selected to offer the highest standard of accommodation within their respective categories. We do advise you to discuss your specific requirements carefully with us at the time of enquiry. Different sizes or settings can make a significant difference to the characters of two ostensibly similar properties in the same location. Many hotels offer a choice of room categories, too - and upgrading to a superior-grade room, for example, can considerably enhance the pleasure of your stay. As the tourism industry is in a state of continuous local development, especially in the cities, building work can sometime affect the availability of facilities or cause noise. We will always endeavour to ensure that you are advised of any known building work scheduled at your hotel. Traffic noise in cities can also be irritating. In rural areas noise can also be generated by birds and other wildlife, by speedboats, calls to prayer and other local customs and lifestyles of the local community. Hotel rooms are not generally available until around 2pm on the day of check-in, and check-out time is normally between 11am and noon. If your incoming flight arrives early in the morning or your homeward departure is late in the evening it may be wise to pre-book your room for the night before arrival or after departure so as to allow uninterrupted occupancy throughout your stay LOCAL TIME, MALAYSIA TIME ZONE The Standard Time in Malaysia is GMT + 8 hours
MEDICAL MATTERS VAC Health standards in Malaysia are ranked among the highest in Asia. When travelling in Malaysia it is sensible to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (drink bottled water) and to avoid iced water from roadside stalls) The sun is deceptively strong and exposed skin can burn very quickly, even in cloudy weather. Ration early sunbathing and use plenty of high factor sun cream. Water-resistant cream is vital if you are swimming or diving. Wear dark glasses and a sun hat. If you are visiting jungle areas take anti-malaria tablets - your doctor will know which type is suitable. Insect repellents, mosquito coils and nets may be necessary at night. Treat open cuts and scratches immediately as infection in humid climates can delay healing. Do not touch fish, shells, snakes or other marine life near coral reefs as some can be poisonous. Wear plastic shoes or flippers while exploring reefs. ELECTRICITY & VOLTAGE IN MALAYSIA Voltage is 220 - 240 volts AC at 50 cycles per second. TOURIST DRIVING IN MALAYSIA We can pre-book a hire-car of your choice for all or part of your stay in Peninsular Malaysia. Self-drive combines great tour flexibility with the freedoms of the open road. In most cases hire with unlimited mileage is offered. Fuel costs are reasonable with many petrol stations open 24 hours. Driving is on the left, a welcome legacy from British days! Generally speaking traffic is relatively well-disciplined, although extra care is needed during the monsoon season. The Peninsula has an excellent road network, though expect to have to pay tolls if you use the North-South Expressway. International traffic signs are used. An international or full UK driving licence is required and Personal Accident Insurance must be taken. Generally the hirer and any additional driver must be over 23 years of age, with at least a year's driving experience. TELEPHONES Malaysia's telephone system is reasonably simple to use. Local calls from public phones whether coin or card operated cost 10 sen for three minutes. Coin phones permit calls within Malaysia only. Phone cards of RM5 RM10 RM20 and RM50 are easily available from airports, petrol kiosks, most 7-Eleven stores and Hop-ln outlets, and at Telecom offices within the city. There are also credit-card operated phones at most tourist spots - or you can use 'Home Country Direct' at selected Telecom service outlets (calls are charged to your home number). The Central Telegraph outlet at Bukit Mahkamah, Jalan Raja Chulan, provides 24-hour services for overseas calls. To make an IDD call, dial Malaysia's access code 00, followed by the country code, area code and telephone number. Most hotels are equipped with IDD service with a minimal service charge and facsimile services. TIPPING Tipping is not customary in Malaysia and is not encouraged. However in international and large hotels bellboys, room service staff and porters do expect tips from 50 sen to RM2 depending on service rendered. A service charge of 10% and a 5% government tax are levied on food, drinks and accommodation. Some restaurants also levy these charges. PREGNANCY NOTE Some airlines do not accept pregnant passengers who will be 28 or more weeks into pregnancy on the return date of travel unless they have a letter from their doctor, when they may fly up to 36 weeks into pregancy. Please always check with the relevant airline and as a precaution obtain clearance to fly from your doctor. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS Always check the timings on your travel documents, as these can change after your original booking request is confirmed. We recommend checking-in at least 3 hours before take-off as airlines allocate seats on a first-come first-served basis. UNUSED SERVICES We regret that we cannot obtain refunds on pre-booked meals and services not actually used, unless these are caused by delays to travel arrangements, when you should seek an alternative meal or arrangement in compensation
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Sarawak Tour Sabah Tour Diving Tour West Malaysia Tour Star Cruise Brunei Tour Hotel Booking Borneo Wonder, Operate under Great Leap Sdn Bhd With full inbound specialist license issued by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia.
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