Accomodation
In Kuala Lumpur (popularly called KL) you find all categories of accommodation, from five stars hotels to youth hostels. The prices are very competitive, even at the international luxury hotels, and some of the medium and budget hotels are real bargains.
Airport
Kuala Lumpur International Airport, KLIA, is an international first class airport with state-of-the art technology and a futuristic architecture. The distance to KL city centre is around 75 kilometres, and the drive takes 1 hour.
Business hours
Banks: Weekdays 9:30 am -3 pm and Saturday 9:30-11:30 am.
Department stores and shopping centres: Daily 10 am-10 pm.
Government offices: 8 am-4:15 pm weekdays, 8 am-12:45 pm on Thursdays
Shops: 9.30 am-7pm
Currency
Malaysian ringgit, RM. One rinngit is 100 sen.
Bills: RM1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and RM 1,000.
Coins: Sen 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and RM 1.
Electricity
The voltage is 220-240 volts, 50 cycles. AC all over China. Two pronged or three pronged triangular plugs.
Emergency phones
Ambulance: 999
Fire: 999
Police: 999
Tourist Police: 241-5522; 243-5522; 249-6590
Holidays 2007
January 1: New Years Day, January 20: Awal Muharam (Maal Hijrah), Februari 18-19: Chinese New Year, March 31: Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday, May 1: Labour Day and Wesak Day (Birth of Buddha), June 2: Birthday of SPB Yang di-Pertuan Agong, August 31: National Day, October 13-14: Hari Raya Puasa*, November 8: Deepavali*, December 20-21: Hari Raya Qurban, December 25: Christmas Day
(*/ subject to change)
Internet
All main hotels are today connected and you find Internet café’s all over Kuala Lumpur. Sometimes the costs in the Business Centers of the hotels are quite high.
Language
Bahasa Malaysia (Malay) is the official language. English is widely spoken in Kuala Lumpur.
Mobile phone
There are good connections all over this giant metropolis, both GSM and CDMA. Beware that it can be quite expensive to use your mobile as you have to pay for all “in and out” calls from abroad. But as it is extremely practical one way to save money can be to acquire a Chinese mobile telephone number. Just by a SIM card at the mobile phone stores which you find all over the city. You can refill with RMB 50 up to RMB 500 cards that can be bought in many places.
Postal Services
Post offices are open Monday to Thursday 8-5 and Friday 8-12:30
Phone cod
Malaysia: 60 Kuala Lumpur: 603
Time Zone
GMT + 8, same as Hong Kong and Singapore
Tipping
Tip is not expected in non-tourist class restaurants and local coffee shops. In tourist restaurants and hotels 10% service charge and 5% government tax are added to bills. The system is called “plus plus” by the locals, and you can see the “++” symbols where this charges apply.
Toilets
There are a lot of public toilets, most of them in “Asian style”, sometimes quite bad. Try to find better restaurants or the high class shopping malls.
VISA
For US and EU visitors, no visas are required for visits less than three months.
Voltage
See: Electricity