Travel advice & practical information for travelogue:

'Touring Sabah, Borneo'

Useful addresses

New York

Consulate General of Malaysia
313 East 43rd Street
New York, NY 10017
Tel.: 212-490 2722/23
Fax: 212-490 2049
E-mail: malnycg@kln.gov.my

London

High Commission of Malaysia
45-46 Belgrave Square
London SW1X 8QT
Tel.: 020-7325 8033
Fax: 020-7235 5161
E-mail: mwlon@btconnect.com

Paris

Embassy of Malaysia
2 bis, Rue Bénouville
75116 Paris
Tel.: 1-45 53 11 85
Fax: 1-47 27 34 60
E-mail: malparis@kln.gov.my

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my

General information

We were told that it would be wise to plan ahead and especially book tours in advance. We didn't follow the advice and have travelled for over three weeks, playing it by ear. The only thing I did in advance, was to book our hotel in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah. Apart from that, travelling and arranging everything on the spur of the moment, didn't pose any problems whatsoever.

Climate and best time to travel

The rainy season is from late September to March, but there is a chance of rain throughout the year. When we were travelling in the second half of July, it rained more often than I expected. There even were a few days when it rained all day, even though the temperature was always comfortable.

Money

Compare car rent

Almost everywhere in Malaysia one can use a bank card to withdraw money from ATMs. In a few places we experienced problems. For example in Ranau there were only two ATMs, of which only one worked.

If you know in advance which places you're going to visit, you can find out online if and where there are ATM's where you can use your MasterCard and Cirrus or Visa to withdraw money.

Health

We always bought bottled water, which is sold literally on every corner. We also took malaria pills.

For up-to-date health information, go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention destination Malaysia web site. But always consult your family doctor as well.

Safety and security

We travelled with 4 adults and 4 children (10-13 years) and that went well. We never were worried about safety or security.

Traveling in certain countries or regions brings risks with it. That shouldn't always keep you from traveling there, but part of a thorough preparation is to find out about possible risks.

The CIA World Factbook Malaysia has lots of information. But always also consult your own country's Foreign Department web site.

Plan your trip to Malaysia online

Through online reservation systems like À la Carte Vacations you can book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars and holiday houses. You can build a fly-drive itinerary with maximum flexibility, book a flight plus a hotel hotel for a night or weekend. Without the limitations of package deals from travel organisations and most times for a much better price.

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Off The Beaten Track travel magazine - travel information & travel advice Malaysia