Kuala Lumpur trip

[RSKeisuke]

no offence, but whats the reason some people choose to take coach when airfare only costs $70+ ? ( Just booked mine for Oct trip)

because

-flying only take you to airport, NOT KL city
-you waste time checking-in at airport and commuting to KL city

 

[cheers80]

Price is alright. Just some info:

sitting lounge at Novena Office - with drinks and maybe snacks
Booking can be by phone in and expected to pay only 2 wks before departure.
on board coach - botlle of drinking water, some biscuit or snack before departure.
26 seaters, normal with self entertainment system - bring your own head phone
Normal head phone you can get any where, not sure where to find, go DAISO either at
Plaza Singapura or IMM for $2/pair
Those holding Sony Errickson hp, hte head set can be use, but bit too short
Journey time ~5hrs, alight at Bangsar LRT, 1 stop away from Central station (Very close to
Mid Valley but you can't xcross over from here)
No surcharge throughout the year, and kids half price.

Comfort stop
SG-KL - only once, to KL - stops usually with muslim stalls unlike the other operator. I don't know what is the different. This is what my colleague told me as he didn't like it. can't get food he like.
KL-SG - only once, but stop has a mini supermarket selling local products.

Thanks..headphone can it be the normal mp3 earphone?

actually wat i am concern is, how r the seats in the bus. at least must be comfortable.. got reclincing seat rite?

can bring own food (like bread) anot? haha

 

[tomicaguy]

because

-flying only take you to airport, NOT KL city
-you waste time checking-in at airport and commuting to KL city

To add, not everyone stays near Changi Airport. Taking a cab to airport or from airport can be pretty expensive.

Coaches depart in town, in the west of Singapore.

From KLIA to city centre, another hidden cost. The fastest way is by KLIA Express and that sets you back S$30 for a return ticket.

 

[feryl]

Coach

- first class coach costs about $60 per way. Total $120
- assumes hotel is not near to coach stop, taxi should cost about S$10 each way.
- Taxi to and from SG bus terminal, about $10 each way. If by mrt, negligible.
- Total estimated cost, about $150 - $170
- Time taken, about 6 hours. If suay or traffic accident, tire punchik, 7 hrs. Actual travelling time, about 5 hours.
- Only hassle is having to get off at checkpoint twice, squeeze with people then get onboard again.


Plane

- Budget air without check-in luggage = $70 with taxes (jetstar)
- Budget air with check-in luggage = $100 with taxes (jetstar)
- Need to get to changi airport T1 90 mins before take-off.
- Taxi to airport $25-45. if by MRT, negligible.
- Actual flight 45-60 mins.
- Plane taxi-ing, walk slowly out of plane into KLIA, 30 min.
- KL Express (30min) - $15 each way. Monorail to most hotels (10 min) negigible.
- Total cost, about $150 - 170 if you take MRT from airport.
- Time taken, about 4 hrs. If suay, about 5 hrs. Actual traveling time = 90 mins.
- Hassles? flight delays, lost luggage, dragging luggage from plane - train - monorail, vice versa.


Cost-wise, i think bus has potential for savings. But flights are not much more expensive. If you like to go Malaysia to chill and don't have luggage, flights might be a good choice.
Buses are probably good for people who can distract themselves for 5 hours.
I get car-sick easily so planes are my preference by far.

 

[lwm999]

Coach

- first class coach costs about $60 per way. Total $120
- assumes hotel is not near to coach stop, taxi should cost about S$10 each way.
- Taxi to and from SG bus terminal, about $10 each way. If by mrt, negligible.
- Total estimated cost, about $150 - $170
- Time taken, about 6 hours. If suay or traffic accident, tire punchik, 7 hrs. Actual travelling time, about 5 hours.
- Only hassle is having to get off at checkpoint twice, squeeze with people then get onboard again.


Plane

- Budget air without check-in luggage = $70 with taxes (jetstar)
- Budget air with check-in luggage = $100 with taxes (jetstar)
- Need to get to changi airport T1 90 mins before take-off.
- Taxi to airport $25-45. if by MRT, negligible.
- Actual flight 45-60 mins.
- Plane taxi-ing, walk slowly out of plane into KLIA, 30 min.
- KL Express (30min) - $15 each way. Monorail to most hotels (10 min) negigible.
- Total cost, about $150 - 170 if you take MRT from airport.
- Time taken, about 4 hrs. If suay, about 5 hrs. Actual traveling time = 90 mins.
- Hassles? flight delays, lost luggage, dragging luggage from plane - train - monorail, vice versa.


Cost-wise, i think bus has potential for savings. But flights are not much more expensive. If you like to go Malaysia to chill and don't have luggage, flights might be a good choice.
Buses are probably good for people who can distract themselves for 5 hours.
I get car-sick easily so planes are my preference by far.

Another difference:

Coach
- First/business class seat with snacks, entertainment

Plane
- Economy seat without any frill

 

[prayhard83]

The seats are three per aisle, one pair on the right and one single on the left.

First Coach also leaves from The Plaza (Beach Road) other than Novena (which has MRT)
Buses are well maintained. They have no online booking so you still have to go to their office
to make payment. Speed wise I feel they are quite fast. The stop between SG-KL is very basic, only
toilet break and some converted vans selling things. The KL-SG stop is the stop I like, has a supermarket
selling alot of variety of local products. Very convenient.

how abt entertainment on board? can watch movies? the headphone mentioned is it those normal 3.5mm plug?

 

[bbmars1128]

Thanks..headphone can it be the normal mp3 earphone?

actually wat i am concern is, how r the seats in the bus. at least must be comfortable.. got reclincing seat rite?

can bring own food (like bread) anot? haha

No proeblem, all incline seats till quite low.. like lying down, been travelling with them for the past 5 yrs. Normal 3.5mm head. Please do bring them along as I am not sure SG office sells them. Didn't see any of them last Dec when I went to KL, but it was on sales in KL office - RM5). As said, those using Sony Erricson hp will know. remember those days where walkman was a boom? The same headphone which is available easily. Another point, as I can recall, 1st coach do operates at 1st World hotel at 1 Utama too.

Why by coach not fly? Actually, the key difference to me, you are likely to be in KL city earlier by the most 1 hour and even that will depends on travel condition. As I can recall, when budget flight was launched, there were 2 separate tests to see which ever was the better choice. the 2nd report came out with something like very margain different in time taken to recach KL City centre. Needless to say, COST more. Of course, if you are considering luxury coach,... .it may cost more too. I only took it once with 5 star return ticket than was $89 peak period ( the 1st time to KL after many yrs)

Its already a hassle taking taxi in KL itself where many don't run on meter.. something I hate but no choice if really need them. So at KLIA, you will also face such a problem unless you know where to catch them, not foregtting all the cost that incurr for the travel to city... For coach, depending on which agencies, you may end up going directly to your hotel paying much lesser. No hassle of carrying your lugguage, dragging them and taxi, etc..

 

[buswhiz]

the best thing is, now you can buy bus ticket online, just like buying air plane ticket online. Its so convenient without the hassle of going down to the counter. you can go to this website, www.busonlineticket.com to purchase your bus ticket. Starmart express is offering bus ticket @ $30, a bit cheaper than first coach, but no snack provided.

New bus like Mahligai, they offer 18seater business coach, a much bigger space, travel only at 10pm at price of $40.

 

[feryl]

To each their own I guess.

Personally, I will take coach if it was dramatically cheaper (> $100) since the travel time difference is negligible. At the moment, price difference is quite narrow (+/- $50).

Furthermore, flights are also more straightforward for me. I am very familiar with airport processes. Since I don't travel in groups, i take the KL Express, it cuts out the taxi element. Then stay at Hilton or Meredien, just next to KL Sentral.

But the butties above have provided good advice nonetheless. I might try buses sometime in the future.

 

[tomicaguy]

Furthermore, flights are also more straightforward for me. I am very familiar with airport processes. Since I don't travel in groups, i take the KL Express, it cuts out the taxi element. Then stay at Hilton or Meredien, just next to KL Sentral.

Hilton Honors or SPG member?

I frequent these hotels too.

 

[bbmars1128]

No problem of bring food on 1st coach service. I had been travelling with kids on early moring departure and afternoon return from KL. Both time, you will be somewhere during the meal time.

SG-KL = Usually, stops 1 hr before lunch and you will get some bites (mostly malays food)
I used to packaged meals for my family, place them in thermal cases and by
noon, food still warm.

KL-SG = buy somewhere in Bukit bintang Plaza (chicken rice), but last trip bought from
Pavalion which was mere 5min away from where I used to check in. Again, place
in foldable thermal bag, eat near dinner time.

So far, last trip, someone else did this too, they eat on coach before coach, but most don't

I had done this too on my 1st trip with 5 star on their luxury coach too. never been a problem

 

[feryl]

Hilton Honors or SPG member?

I frequent these hotels too.

All of them

It's free to join anyway.

 

[arrvin]

Damansara

Was introduced to this hip area with new shopping centres and places to chill.. if never heard of and never been there, worth a visit to see another place to shop and relax in and ard KL area

 

[tekster]

Personally, I still prefer bus than the plane. However, most of the time I drive up.

bro, when u drive up, do you make any stops? any interesting stops along the way? do u also use a GPS? how about sharing some coordinates?

Was introduced to this hip area with new shopping centres and places to chill.. if never heard of and never been there, worth a visit to see another place to shop and relax in and ard KL area

any names for shopping centres or chill shops to go to? might just go there for my next trip.


I just came back from KL on mon morn 1am. went to whack some all-you-can-eat durians. RM9 per person. whacked like 5 durians.

Details for those interested:
Map: http://www.durianss2.com/about_files/Map.gif
GPS coordinates: N03 07.062 E101 37.448
Address: Jln SS2/65, Petaling Jaya
website: http://www.durianss2.com/
Contact: (012)234-5619 (12pm-midnight)

 

[biodraft]

im going for the man utd asia tour.

gonna stay there until monday morning. i scared book coach and hotel when im there hor, then no rooms haha

 

[jbhavan]

hi guys. i'm planning for a 3days 2 nights trip to KL. may i know what are the plans that you guys had before? or where are the places i can visit in KL, eat, shop and slp? on a budget thou.

I'm going for Man Utd tour too! I am going on Friday morning and coming back on Sunday noon. Going on Friday to catch the training session in the afternoon. Going by First Coach.

Have you thought of how you gonna get back to the city after the match? That's like 80000 ppl who'll take the LRT! Hahha, gonna be crazy prob have to pre-book a cab.

 

[jungon]

im also going for the asia tour. but driving all the way up...

 

[takuyazzz]

i'm gg too, friday to sunday. which hotel are u guys staying at?

 

[tekster]

you guys got any cheap lobangs for hotel stay? so far, the ones i found are like RM120-RM140. At Bukit Bintang stretch.

 

[tomicaguy]

Man U coming on the 18th July eh?

Looks like I have to avoid going KL that weekend.

Must be huge crowd again.