Kuala Lumpur Transportation Tips by xuessium

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: There are 3 lines - the Kelana Jaya (formerly Putra) and the Ampang & Sri Petaling (formerly STAR) lines, and they intersect each other.

Well, it is actually quite useful, not to mention comfortable, and a good way to beat the traffic to get around the City with the monorail as there are stations built more or less close to attractions. It is cheap as well, barely crossing MYR1.50 if you travel within the inner city.

You can purchase tickets through the electronic ticketing machines or you can queue up and buy tickets at the counters. Makes no difference in speed I tell you.

Do note that the trains are quite short even though the stations usually have very long entrance gates, so stick to hanging around the centre of the station if you want to ensure yourself a space on the train.

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Website: http://www.putralrt.com.my/default.htm

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: I am not too sure about this line - it was greatly maligned by the press as an obstentatious project and certainly went through birthing pains before it was launched in 2003. More modern and comfortable than the LRT, I find that the stations do not really offer much to visitors as they are located in weird and slightly skewed locations...which means that you still have to walk quite some distance to get to the place you want to go. Also, connecting the LRT from the Monorail isn't as easy as it looks on the charts, as it usually involves quite a bit of walking.

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Website: http://www.monorail.com.my/

'Mode': TO
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: It takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes (one way) to get from KLIA into the City and the taxi fare is about MYR70 (circa 2007).

The journey is long and the route unexciting - mainly rocks and greens. Rather monotonous!
(I would prefer the KLIA Ekspres)

Note: There are many taxi touts hanging around the airport's Arrival Hall soliciting business. Rather shady but I had taken one with friends with no adverse effects - but with the price bargained down aggressively. Not for the faint-hearted. Stick to the cabs waiting in line or book a taxi via the taxi counter just before you exit the customs gates.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: This is an alternative for folks who do not wish to catch a cab from the airport into the city.

The train is at Level 1 of the airport.

You can purchase the ticket at the KLIA Ekspres ticket counter near Baggage Claim, after you had cleared Immigration. Ticket is for RM35 per pax per trip. (The return fare is RM70)

As you get out of customs in the Arrival Hall, turn right and take the lift down 2 levels. Frequency is every 15 minutes per train.

Journey time into the city is 28 minutes. There are only 2 terminals - KLIA and KL Sentral.

I prefer this journey. The train is clean, quiet, cool and bright. If you arrived in the day, you get to see rivers, ponds, farm lands, buildings along the route compared to the monotony of the greens and rocks on the roads if you take a taxi from the airport.

Just before you exit KL Sentral Station, there is a taxi counter where you can book a taxi at specific prices to bring you to various parts in the city. (Or you can choose to connect to the inner city subway networks) Official receipts would be given for the taxis. No haggling over prices and meters with the taxi drivers. Fuss and pain-free way to enter KL.

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Phone: (603) 2267 8000
Website: http://www.kliaekspres.com/index3_klia_ekspres.html

'Mode': TO
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: If you are travelling in a big group, it may make more sense to try to book a minivan taxi to bring the entire group from the airport into the city, rather than take separate cabs.

Go to the "Airport Taxi" counter after exiting.
That will save you the hassle of fending off the touts outside the airport.

Bargain if necessary. You'll be surprised that you may shave some ringgits off your bill.
The cost should be around MYR160 (circa 2005) for a minivan that could carry 6-8 passengers.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Fly, Train or Coach.

FLY: Easiest. Catch Japan Airlines (cheapest at S$128 when on offer), Sri Lankan Airlines (S$160 offer), Qatar Airways, Malaysian Airlines and Singapore Airlines from Singapore's Changi Airport. 35 minutes journey. Downside: the 50-60 Ringgit connecting the 1 hr+ journey from KLIA into KL.
(I am not bothering with Air Asia from Senai)

TRAIN: 8-10 hours ride from Tanjong Pagar train station in Singapore. Not the most comfortable but perhaps the most "romantic" with some imagination.

COACH: NICE, AEROLINE & TRANSTAR buses (costing about S$100 both ways) are the most comfortable. Aeroline coaches depart from Harbourfront and end at Corus Hotel, opposite KLCC in KL. NICE coaches depart from Novotel Orchid Hotel and end at the old KTMB railway station in KL. 5 hours journey for both. (I have never tried Transtar's) GRASSLAND and other coaches (Transnational, Sri Maju, 707 etc) are cheaper (~S$50) but takes 6 hrs as they will make a stop. Grassland, Transnational and Sri Maju coaches depart from Golden Mile Complex along Beach Road while 707 coaches depart from Ban San Street Terminal near Bugis MRT. Most terminate at Puduraya in KL.

Try Golden Mile Complex near Beach Road (SG) and Puduraya (KL) for tickets.

The Singapore-KL Express bus also operates from Ban San Street Terminal (near Bugis MRT, behind the Church of the Lady of Good Lourdes). It is possibly the cheapest way to get to KL but the seats are not as comfortable as Aerolines's, NICE's or Grassland's. (Contact tel: 65-62928254; no known website)

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Website: For coach: http://www.aeroline.com.my, http://www.parkmayberhad.com/nice.html, http://www.transtar.com.sg, http://www.707-travel.com.sg/