Where to stay

BUS
Peninsular Malaysia has an excellent bus system with a network of public express buses and several privately run services A/c express buses (and VIP buses on the more popular routes) connect the major towns, seats can be reserved and prices are reasonable. Prices quoted are for a/c buses. The a/c on Malaysian buses is, like the trains, very cold. There are also cheaper non-a/c buses that ply between the states and provide an intra-state services vary according to whether the bus is a/c or non a/c, express or regular, and between companies. The largest bus company is MARA, the government service. In large town there may be a number of bus stops; some private companies may also operate directly from their own offices. Travelling up the east coast of the Peninsula is often quicker as the roads are less congested; west coast travel is very slow but will be improved with the completion of the north-south highway.

Busses in east Malaysia are more unreliable because of the poorer road conditions. But even in East Malaysia, roads are a good deal better than in Indonesian Borneo (Kalimantan). In Sarawak,the Sibu-Bintulu and Bintulu-Miri roads are rough and often impassble in the wet season, as is the road connecting Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan in Sabah

Car and motorbike travel and hire
Car hire companies are listed in individual towns under Local transport. Visitors can hire a car provided they are in possession of an International driving Iicence, are over 23 and not older than 65 and have at least one year's driving experience. Car hire costs from Rm100 to RM250 per day approximately depending on the model and the company cheeper weekly and monthly rates and special deals are available.

Driving is on the left; give way to drivers on the right. Within towns the speed limit is 50 km per hour the wearing of seat belts is compulsory for front seat passengers and the driver. Most road signs are international but owns means caution. Petrol costs a little over RM1 a litre. Road maps are on sale at most petrol stations; Petronas (the national oil company) produces an excellent atlas: Touring Malaysia by Road. Road conditions are good when compared with Indonesia and Thailand: most are kept in good repair and local drivers are generally safe. However during the monsoon season, heavy rains may. make some east coast travel difficult and the west coast roads can be congested in Sarawak the road network is extremely limited: air or water transport are the only optionn many areas. In Sabah, four-wheel drive vehicles are de rigeur; they are readily available but expensive. On some islands, such as Penang, Langkawi and Pangkor, motorbikes are available for hire for around RM20-25 per day. If bringing your own car into the country. no carnet or deposit is required, The vehicle is allowed to stay in the country as long as the owner has permission to stay.

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