[kousik]

Hi,

• For a 4 days stay at Langkawi island (Malaysia) do I need a car to see around? It'll be two of us and our 2.5 yr kiddo.
• If I take a car, any idea of rentals? I guess it is going to be 100MYR/day. Any suggestion on a rental agency? Any suggestion which car?
• Will my Indian Driving license work there? Do I need international permit?
  • My license is not readable anymore after my purse was soaked overnight in detergent water
• Any other tips on visiting Langkawi?

TIA,
Kousik

[Technocrat]

Hi My answres point by point:

- Yes you will be able to cover most of Langkawi if you have your own vehicle & can covera whole lot of area

- The rentals will be close to what you have quoted will vary as per car model

- Yes Indian license works just fine

Typically asiign one day to guided travel as a guide will take you to places which you wouldnt by your self. Ask for rate in hotel they are usually at the lower side compared to the one given by your Indian Operators counterpart.

Visit the Langkawi cable car, when I went there it was their maintenance off day :( So check for the weekly off day when you reach there & plan accordingly.

Whatever you buy bargain hard

[Sks_Biker]

Been there a couple of times. Here are my answers:

* For a 4 days stay at Langkawi island (Malaysia) do I need a car to see around? It'll be two of us and our 2.5 yr kiddo.

Car is the best option. Its cheap and quick way to get around. Just get that and a map from the rentals (I had a gps with me so no problems with that). Oh and petrol is cheap (approx INR25 per litre)

* If I take a car, any idea of rentals? I guess it is going to be 100MYR/day. Any suggestion on a rental agency? Any suggestion which car?

You have plenty at the exit of the airport. The 1st time I had been there I had taken it from the hotel. But taking it from the airport is more convenient as you can drop it when leaving Langkawi.

* Will my Indian Driving license work there? Do I need international permit?

Indian license will work just fine.

o My license is not readable anymore after my purse was soaked overnight in detergent water

Oh my! Make sure atleast important parts of it are legible. The rental agency did not ask for it. But the 1st time I drove there, a cop had asked for it. Better have it in a decent condition.

* Any other tips on visiting Langkawi?

Got a list of places I had visited (had stayed overall for a week). Can PM you if you want it. BTW are you flying directly to Langkawi? I stay in KL, let me know if you need any assistance.

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by kousik

• • My license is not readable anymore after my purse was soaked overnight in detergent water

Be careful. While most rental agencies will be happy to look the other way in order to complete the deal with your rental, the police will not tolerate a partially legible license.
If stuck in a sticky situation, your partially legible license may get you into further trouble. Just be careful.

[Technocrat]

My license is not readable anymore after my purse was soaked overnight in detergent water

oops I missed on this part. I agree with Sks & Sam on this.

[kousik]

Originally Posted by Technocrat

Typically asiign one day to guided travel as a guide will take you to places which you wouldnt by your self. Ask for rate in hotel they are usually at the lower side compared to the one given by your Indian Operators counterpart.

Thanks for the tip, I have no Indian operator's help, most stuffs booked over net by ourselves. We are kinda interested in nature/wildlife so hope the guide will understand our requirement.

Visit the Langkawi cable car, when I went there it was their maintenance off day :( So check for the weekly off day when you reach there & plan accordingly.

That's very valuable info, I hope to find that information even before I start from here!

Originally Posted by Sks_Biker

But taking it from the airport is more convenient as you can drop it when leaving Langkawi.

I am banking on my hotel to give me a complimentary pickup/drop. But maybe I'll take from airport itself. E-mailed kasina rent-a-car ... let me see what they suggests.

Make sure atleast important parts of it are legible. The rental agency did not ask for it. But the 1st time I drove there, a cop had asked for it. Better have it in a decent condition.

Well, actually you can read everything you want to, but with a lot of effort. I don't know how many days Indiranagar RTO takes to issue a duplicate license; problem is, I need to deposit my license and wait a few days. That is delaying the exercise. Well I need to get it done ...

Got a list of places I had visited (had stayed overall for a week). Can PM you if you want it. BTW are you flying directly to Langkawi? I stay in KL, let me know if you need any assistance.

I'll have a short hop in KL. Will PM you for the list of locations.

Thanks very much for the responses,
Kousik

[rahuldeodhar]

ey kousik,


Car Rentals are what you mentioned - but if you get a Proton Wira (sedan) it will go to 120/day - Indian driving license works fine.

Other tips-

Langkawi is very scenic so be prepared to click loads of pics (I mean if you are using digital then you need loads of memory else lots of rolls!)

The beaches are fantastic and its best to use a car to move around. Most of the places you can go yourself - but prior info always helps. Some locals have bad attitude problem - half day tour sends you to some idiotic places so decide beforehand.

Do go to Tanjung Rhu beach - in the sea there is a walkway about knee deep under water - takes you about a km inside the sea. Its fantastic experience to simply walk into the sea. Note - there is a patch where it gets about chest deep - but you can still walk! At the farthest point you can sit in the middle of the sea with people canoeing /water scootering around you! Fantastic experience!

Avoid afternoons as its very hot - some deserted malls around the place where the famous eagle is located. Just opposite is some botanical garden worth a stroll but terrible till 4pm (hot!!!) Other places snake park/crocodile park etc- I am sure you have already researched.


Please keep lot of time for cable car - bloody huge lines there - particularly if kids have holidays.



RD

[kousik]

Ok so I am back from the trip so thought I'll post a followup here for everyone's benefit.

• Langkawi is a small island, but if you are there for 4/5 days and you want to explore every corner, you need a car. Especially if you're staying in a remote corner like Berjaya or Datai, and want to explore restaurants in Cenang beach ...
• If you book directly from the car rental company (over internet), you get a straight 20% discount. But if you land up there and ask your hotel/travel agent to get a car, this discount may not be applicable.
• I have rented from Kasina rent a car [Kasina - Rent A Car] and their service was pretty good. The drop & pickup was completely hassle free and dot on time. I paid around RM 120 per day including CDW (insurance) for a Kembara.
• Indian License works just fine.
• It is a RHD country so you feel at home immediately.
• The road condition is fantastic, not even a single pothole. All have adequate lights and signs. Even if you miss a turn, there is a sign 500m later to tell you about an U-turn.
• Never heard a honk in 5 days.
• Never been approached by any oncoming vehicle with high-beam in night, even in completely dark roads (around airport runway, for example).
• Petrol is cheap. Less than RM 2 per litre -- which is equivalent to Rs 23/lit.
• Petronous bunks are self serviced. You deposit your Credit card, come back and fill yourself. Generally they give you a full tank car and expect to get back in same condition, so you need to fill up full-tank. Auto cutoff does the job.
• Some parking slots are reserved for Taxis.
• Finally, never saw a police/traffic police, except a single car at airport when we were leaving.

HTH,
Kousik

[Sam Kapasi]

An excellent post Kousik, one that we can all benefit from.

Originally Posted by kousik

• Langkawi is a small island, but if you are there for 4/5 days and you want to explore every corner, you need a car.

Or a bike, plenty of bikes here, from small phat phatis, to Fairing clad R1s, Jap Choppers and even Harleys. Not too expensive.

[nitindangoria]

Kousik,
Read your interesting thread.
Can you guide me about the cheapest airline to fly to KL/Langkawi and what time of the year it's possible to get the best airline/hotel rates.
Thanks,
Nitin

[Sks_Biker]

Cheapest Airline from KL to Langkawi is Air Asia. If you are prepared to take a longer route, you can also go KL-Penang-Langkawi (penang is also a nice place to see).

@kousik: Nice to know you had good time there.

@sam: Where did you find R1s? Had seen a couple, but couldn't find a place to rent them. Maybe next time

[wins2807]

Hi kousik

Can you give us some details of good hotels around,We are 4 couples traveling together,is there any service apartment or resorts types which you can suggest us.We are traveling in aug for 2-3 days.

thanks