kota kinabalu: March 2010

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Brunei to Labuan

We are going to Brunei early Feb. (Orchard Garden hotel). Planning a ferry trip to Labuan for the day and possibly doing a half day tour while there. Any feedback on the hotel, ....the Labuan trip, and even Bandar Seri bagawan would be greatly appreciated.

Brunei to Labuan

Orchid Garden quite a nice hotel. Bill Clinton stayed there...as per photos in foyer. Manager is an Aussie, so it has the best coffee in town (not much else to choose from). Day trip to Labuan can be quite interesting...but no need to stay there any longer.

Cheapest transport from airport to BSB

Could anyone give me some advise on the cheapest transport from and to the airport in BSB. We will be arriving around 5:30 in the evening on Thursday.

Cheapest transport from airport to BSB

BSB airport not set up well for transfers. Airport taxis can cost $20-$40 for relatively short trips. Bus stops are close by...but can be hard to find- but will take you in to town fofr $1 (not far). Where are you travelling to in BSB? If a hotel, get them to pick you up.

Where to book city tour and taxi cost from airport.

Hi All,

We are in arriving in Brunei on Sunday (from the UK) for 2 day / 3 night stopover at the Empire hotel before transferring to Kota Kinabalu. I have a couple of questions I hope some of you can answer for us.

1) We would like to do a tour of the city and water village. Would it be best to book this at the airport on arrival or does anyone have experience of booking such a tour at the Empire. How much should we expect to pay for two people?

2) How much should we expect to pay for taxi transfer from the airport to the Empire hotel?

3) Can anyone confirm that Singaporean dollars will be perfectly accepted by everyone (city shops, taxis, etc.) as for payment?

Thanks

Richard

Where to book city tour and taxi cost from airport.

Hi Richard

Last went to Brunei in October 2004, so I expect things may have changed.

We were collected from the airport by a shuttle bus provided by the Empire Hotel. I%26#39;m sure it should be included for you as well. Perhaps you should check it.

As for tours, we just used the hotels free shuttle bus again to drop us off in the city and right behind the mosque is the waterway with steps leading down to the water. We stood there for about a minute and dozens of boats came speeding towards us for our business. I%26#39;m afraid I can%26#39;t remember the price, but negotiate. I%26#39;m sure this is much cheaper than booking at the hotel. We ended up giving our man extra money in the end!!!

Can%26#39;t help you with the Singpore dollars, can%26#39;t remember.

Where to book city tour and taxi cost from airport.

You can use Singapore dollars in Brunei without any problems.

For a city tour, as you exit the airport terminal there is adesk om the left where I booked a 1/2 day city tour which visit the main mosque, the royal regalia, Kampong Air water village and general points of interest around Bandar Seri Begawan.

Sorry can%26#39;t remember the cost.

Thanks Bigw,

I%26#39;ll take a look when we get there.

Rich

Airport transfer for 8 people

We have 8 people needing to go from Brunei aiport to the Empire hotel-country club. What would be the cheapest way to go to and from the hotel. The hotel has quoted us 55.00 Brunei dollars each way. Does anyone know of a cheaper way?

Airport transfer for 8 people

Hi Suzyjoe,

I posted a similar query just after you.

We are actually flying out to Brunei tomorrow (only 12 hours to go!), and in the absence of any other info I was intending to just jump into a taxi at the airport after agreeing a price.

If you go to www.tourismbrunei.com/info/ground.html the stated taxi fare from the airport to the Empire is $25, and so I will insist on approx. this fare before setting off. I think the Empire%26#39;s price of $55 is a bit steep, considering you could just take two standard taxis for less.

We are traveling on to KK, and then touring round Sabah, and will be back in the UK towards the end of March. If you %26#39;re not traveling out for a few weeks I might be able to update you then (unless one of the local experts hasn%26#39;t beaten me to it!). I%26#39;ll check back on this thread when we get back.

Cheers

Rich

Airport transfer for 8 people

Thanks Rich, we are leaving Sydney in three weeks, on Thursday 22 March, will you be back before then? Thanks for your help.

Hi again,

We get back on early on Wed 21st, so it might be close call, especially with you over in Oz. I%26#39;ll try to post quickly when I get back, but I guess you%26#39;ll have probably made your decision by then regarding booking a taxi via the Empire.

One things sure though, either way we%26#39;ll be in for a treat stopping at the Empire; first stop, that lake sized swimming pool! (I guess I%26#39;m just experiencing a bit of holiday fever, having just made it through another damp grey winter in Manchester).

Cheers, Rich

Hi again suzy joe,

Currently in KK enjoying a the end of a fab holiday.

At Brunei airport there were no taxis; and taxis are very few and far between in general (therefore expensive). At tour stand outside the airport the price was $35, which was non negotiable. We waited for a taxi for a 5-10 minutes and in the end took the offer from the tour company.

Transfer from the Empire (which is amazing by the way!) back to the airport was also $35 by hotel saloon. This seems to be the price. If you fancy a tour of the city, book this at the airport, its $10 cheaper than booking at the Empire (with the same company).

I think that $50 is probably a good deal for you guys and you should take this one up.

I hope you enjoy your stay as much as we did and try the sea food buffet in the Atrium restaurant is its avialable.

Rich

Rizqun Hotel

Staying in Brune for just 2 nights in April. Want a really central hotel as I%26#39;ve read taxis and buses can be hard to find.

Very few reviews of Rizqun Hotel but those I%26#39;ve read say it%26#39;s more central then Centrepoint Hotel.

And does anyone know of a street map for the city which pinpoints locations for all hotels please?

I%26#39;ve managed to find 2 mini-maps, which only highlight the Sheraton and others. But I%26#39;ve been told Sheraton is a long way from centre of city.

THANKS.

Rizqun Hotel

MsHongKong ... Rizqun Hotel is just next second block to Centrepoint Hotel in Gadong commercial center. Same buidling owner, but Ridqun is newer.

Sheraton Utama is 1km walk to city center; but 5km to Gadong. So, it really depends where are the commercial areas U are referring ... city center (BSB), Gadong, Kiulap, Seri Complex, etc. each is roughly 3 - 5 km between each other.

Regret I do not know of a map existing for reference.

Probably U still need transport, private or taxi, to move around during the 3 days / 2 nights to fully experience your stay,

Brunei is fabulous !!

James

rosacea

10 hours stay in BSB

Hi, i will be travelling with my mother in september to perth, with transit in BSB. Is the bus service good in BSB? Is it easy to get a bus from town to the airport and around the famous mosques %26amp; water village?

Would it be cheaper to get a tour around? And would they transport us back to the airport thereafter?

Thank you.

10 hours stay in BSB

The bus sevice in BSB is basically useless.. However as you exit the terminal there is atour desk which will help you with short tours to and from the airport.

10 hours stay in BSB

may i know roughly how much is the tour cost? and do they have specific time for departure? tq

The local tour may not fit in neatly for your 10 hours ... as your connecting flight is likely early noon or at night. An alternative way is to have a friend who is willing to drive U around ... dropping U off for a few hours at your own leisure where U like. No place in BSB is more than 20 mins%26#39; drive from the airport.

Hi,

Don%26#39;t know about the buses or tours, but you could also try taking a taxi to the food market on Jalan Sungei Kianggeh. Not sure what it would cost. We went and had some local food there and you can catch a water taxi from the canal nearby to take you around the kampung. The taxi driver offered one hour %26#39;round and round%26#39; for $20 and we knocked him down to $10, so he took us for only 45mins. Was pretty interesting.

Its only a short walk through the city area to the Omar Ali Saffudien mosque which we were lucky enough to enter, and you can even walk over into a kampung from there. Our water taxi took us to another mosque too but we didn%26#39;t try to go in, just admired it from outside.

Hi there is a tour desk in the transit lounge. They will arrange a tour for you depending upon what time you arrive. There are quite a few trips to choose from depending upon your available time.

You will need to get a visa on arrival and this will cost around $5 Br. If you can carry this with you to expedite things, however you can change money in the transit lounge or it is most likely the immigration counter will allow you to go to the money changer nearby. Make sure you have spoken with the tourist counter first in the transit counter as they will assist also.

Keep in mind also that checkin upon return now takes a fair bit longer as they are checking all carry on bags for liquids greater than 100ml. Best to leave all these in your checked bagged as with all knives and sharp instruments, and water bottles etc.

Hope this helps a little.

Roger

I was in BSB in May 06 for about 12 hours. I found the bus service into town to be fine - had to wait maybe 20minutes for the bus. The bus stop is just a few minutes walk from the terminal. Once in town, I went to the main tourist office who arranged a tour. While at the tourist office there was another group who had a shorter stopover and the tourist office were able to arrange a shorter tour for them (dropping them back at the airport). I got the tour guide to drop me at a large shopping mall and then took a taxi back to the airport with no problem.

Once in town it is quite easy to walk around to see the mosque and get to the water village. There were plenty of people on the waterfront offering a tour of the water village. Though as i remember, the larger mosque is not in the centre as our tour guide drove us to the mosque and to outside the sultans residence.

weather

Hello eveyone Iam due to fly out next tuesday but checking the weather it seems to be thunderstorms , is it the usual downpour the brilliant sunshine or do I need to bring wet weather gear, can someone advise me please. Ta

weather

Hi,

The current weather is unpredictable. It can be very hot in one day followed by gloomy in late afternoon. Or it can be the other way round. i.e raining in the morning and hot in the afternoon. But be sure that the weather at night will be 80% raining currently.

weather

thenks for you remarks,it helps to know what to bring

living in Brunei

my family and i will be relocating to brunei come this July. We will be bringing our 2 gilrs, a 5 yr old and a baby. any ideas on where we could rent a serviced apartment with a pool, somewhere in Jerudong? or somewhere near the theme park/university of brunei?

living in Brunei

We recently finished a two-year stint in Brunei. Unfortunately,the idea of serviced apartments has not really taken off there. The university is a little remote from everything and the once-grand theme park is now virtually a ghost town. There are quite a few complexes of (excessively) large houses, grouped around a pool or common area -- but these are often rented by organisations en masse and can be a little claustrophic. One central serviced apartment is D%26#39;Anggerek Apartments. There is a cafe that serves good food. You could take a suit3e there for a month or so while you checked permanent housing out. Check their internet site www.danggerek.com and you can get much lower rates than they advertise online if you asked directly for long-term. A final choice may depend at which school your girl attends (probably JIS or ISB).

Accommodation(Seria) and distance between Seria and BSB

I plan to have a short trip to Brunei and my target destination will be Seria.

I wish to know that:

a). is there any accommodation available at Seria?

b). what is the distance between Bandar Seri Bagawan and Seria?

c). is it easy access within these 2 places? because I may need go to Seria everyday for my 4D3N or 5D4N trip

d). what%26#39;s the guide in Seria? I mean any recommendation on places to go or food maybe? It%26#39;s hard to find much information about Seria online.

Thanks for your kind reply

Accommodation(Seria) and distance between Seria and BSB

There is a perfectly acceptable Chinese-run hotel across from the bus station. At $B55 (single), it is much cheaper than Kuala Beleit or B.S.B.

It is only about 100 K to B.S.B., but travel on public bus takes 2 hours or more. A taxi or private car would take half that by using the expressway, which the bus does not. The last bus to B.S.B. leaves Seria (and v.v.) @ 4 PM.

Seria is an oil town. Everything you need in basic services is here, but not much more. Plenty of stores and places to eat, but nothing much geared for the leisure traveler.

Accommodation(Seria) and distance between Seria and BSB

There is a perfectly acceptable Chinese-run hotel across from the bus station. At $B55 (single), it is much cheaper than Kuala Beleit or B.S.B.

Seria is an oil town. Everything you need in basic services is here, but not much more. Plenty of stores and places to eat, but nothing much geared for the leisure traveler.

Hello Calven- I have been to Seria several times on business and plan to go there again next week. I usually stay at the Sheraton in Bandar Seri but kind of far to go back and forth everyday. I hear Centrepoint in Bandar Seri is much better but, like I said, far to drive and the highway is only one lane each direction in some places.

On my trip next I also plan to stay in Kuala Beleit and I was told the Sentosa hotel is quite nice. I found a link to other hotels in the area if you are interested. Seems like the Riviera is also convenient and not too bad. Good luck.

Leo

email: kib57931@hotmail.com

http://www.tourismbrunei.com/info/place.html

Leo

email: kib57931@hotmail.com

http://www.tourismbrunei.com/info/place.html

Good grief

The original post is 2 years old. I think he/she has been and gone.

Thanks. I should have noticed but didn%26#39;t.

distance to town

We will be arriving by cruiseship in Bandar Seri Begawan and are wondering if it is possible to walk into town or do we need a taxi? Thanks!

distance to town

I reckon, it is not possible to walk some 15km into town from cruiseship berth; however, I%26#39;m sure the cruise operator would have arranged several local tours for that few hours. Not sure if taxi is available from berth area. Enjoy U short stay.

distance to town

Thank you leejames33. I will find out from the cruiseline if they have any tours available for their passengers.

I assume the ship will berth at Muara Port, which is quite some distance from the centre of town. There are usually some taxis available in that area (or at least nearby where the Labuan ferries depart from) - but I would assume you may get a tour. Unfortunately, Brunei is not all that geared up to either tourists or public transport.

Terrace Hotel Brunei

This is the worst hotel we have ever seen , we were booked in for a 3 night stay in june and found it so disgusting we put our bags down, looked at the awful state of the room and walked out. The smell of damp and stale sweat was obvious. We would not advise any one to stay there. Mike and Val U.K. June 2007.

Terrace Hotel Brunei

This is a very old hotel. Won%26#39;t be surprise with what you have describe. You should have tried the newer hotel like grand city hotel or traders inn. This two hotel will cost less than B$100.00

rosacea

Kota Kinabalu - Brunei - on the way to KK with young kids

We%26#39;re planning to go to Kota Kinabalu in February with our children (aged 8, 4 and 4). Our plane lands in Brunei and there%26#39;s 7 hours till our connecting flight so I thought I%26#39;d stay over for a few days in Brunei.

I%26#39;ve looked at the Empire Hotel but it%26#39;s out of my budget and someone has suggested the Centrepoint?

I need a hotel with a pool and close to some kiddie stuff (water play/beach, playground, zoo, horseriding, etc.)

Otherwise, is there anything for us to do for the 7 hours whilst we wait although I%26#39;m nervous about this as the kids will be shattered after the long flight from the UK!

Any help or advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance

Sharon

Kota Kinabalu - Brunei - on the way to KK with young kids

hi,

you can take the kids to Jerudong Park. it is a huge theme park with roller coasters etc..... and best of all its free!!!!! there is a huge variety for all ages.

google Jerudong Park and have a look. it is in Brunei Darussalam.

have fun

serena

Kota Kinabalu - Brunei - on the way to KK with young kids

Hi,

We stayed in the Centrepoint for a couple of nights when we first arrived in Brunei. It%26#39;s ok, is in a good location for shopping and some fantastic restaurants. Not much for the kids though! The Empire would be your best bet, as they are run more like a resort, with more pools etc. Be warned though - watch your kids at the pool as there are no life guards!

The Centrepoint is in a good location for doing Bandar Seri Begawan (about 15 mins drive away) where you can visit Kampong Ayer (the water village), and you can also travel a bit fruther down the river to see the Proboscus monkeys (just past the back of the Sultan%26#39;s Palace!). There are also some pretty good museums in Bandar (all free!) - would recommend the Malay Technology museum, which tells you all about longhouses, and the Royal Regalia museum, which is all about the Sultan.

Jerudong Park is nice to walk round, but the rides there have recently been dismantled and sold off, as it%26#39;s cheaper to replace them than to repair them, so as far as i%26#39;m aware there aren%26#39;t any rides there.

The beaches are nice, but as we%26#39;re in a Muslim country, we would advise against bikinis. You can wear bikinis at the Empire though.

The climate in Brunei is very hot and very humid, so you probably don%26#39;t want to be rushing around too much, and not much opens before 10 am. It%26#39;s not called the Abode of Peace for nothing!

If you want to know anything else, let me know.

Lesley

Kota Kinabalu Brunei Sandakan

Hi,

We are looking at doing a trip based in Kota Kinabalu in Jan. There are 2 adults and 3 children(14, 12, 10 yrs). We are thinking about 10 days and would like to visit Turtle Island Orang-utan%26#39;s in Sepilok and maybe Brunei. Is this feasible? Can anyone give us a suggsted itnerary and accomodations

THanks

Lisa

Kota Kinabalu Brunei Sandakan

Hi Lisa

Did anyone reply to you?

I%26#39;m planning a similar trip with my kids in february - I believe we%26#39;re out of luck for turtles though as they%26#39;re just there from May to October.

It would be great to compare itineries and share advice

Thanks

Sharon

Kota Kinabalu Brunei Sandakan

Hi Sharon,

No replies yet but I did get some info from Sepilok Jungle resort. I have copied email below. The man%26#39;s name is Johnny if you want to contact the resort direct

Cheers

Lisa

have drafted a plan for you...have a read and see if this is what you want

Dec 25 - airport pick up at 10am, kinabatangan river (overnight bilit Adventure Lodge) (LD)

Dec 26 - tranfer back to jungler esort, visit sepilok in the afternoon (overnight jungle resort) (BLD)

Dec 27 - turtle island (BLD)

Dec 28 - check out and airport trnasfer (B)

Pls refer below for the price

Airport trnansfers at RM10 per person X 5 persons X 2 ways = RM100

River in air cond room at RM499 per person X 3 + RM249.50 X 2 persons = RM1996

Sepilok at RM130 X 3 + RM65 X 2 = RM520

turtle island at RM430 X 3 + 215 X 2 = RM1720

room at jungle resort in mini suite with balcony with extra bed at RM330

total price is RM4666 for your whole family for 5 persons..pls note that room at turtle island is common bathroom. if you want room with attached bathroom, you need to add RM50 per room (total RM100) to get the air cond room with attached bathroom.

Thanks so much - I%26#39;ll look into it.

My grils are quite a bit younger than yours (8 and twins at 4) so am quite anxious.

We have the Shangri-la booked in Kota Kinabalu and I haven%26#39;t booked the accommodation in Brunei yet.

When do you get back? We leave on the 10th feb - if you%26#39;re back before then, it would be great if you could give me some tips!

My email address is sharon.bentley@o2.com

It would be great to hear from you!

Sharon

Hi,

We spent 3 weeks touring around Brunei and Borneo in March. We spent some time in Brunei and then based ourselves in KK stopping alternatively at the Rasa Ria and STAR before / after 7 days wildlife tour through Sabah.

It is certainly feasible to take in Sepilok, Turtle Island and Brunei in 10 days; it just depends on how much RR (if any) you would like. After much searching we booked our tours through a Malaysian tour operator (Marimari), which were very prompt and professional. However I believe you can go directly to tour operator http://www.wildlife-expeditions.com/ for a cheaper price. Marimari at least seemed quite flexible and willing to put together an itinerary to suit our needs. Sepilok-Turtle Island could be done as a 3D2N package with return flights to Sandakan.

Please note that turtles (at least green) come all year to Turtle Island. When we were there in March, 15 turtles landed that evening! We were lucky, but the numbers did not seem unusual for that time of year. Of course these things can not be guaranteed, and you might be in for a wait. If the numbers on the Island exceed approx 30, then they split the group into two viewings of different turtles. If you are unlucky, you could be up very, very late so make sure you have a pack of cards or other entertainment. Sepilok is amazing, and will be great fun for your children too. We loved the jungle tours on and around the Kinabatangan River, but they are not particularly suitable for most children. Mt Kinabalu Park is also very interesting for wildlife but more child friendly.

Really, there is nothing much worth seeing in KK and the Sunday market isn%26#39;t very good. Instead spend your time on the Islands opposite and take your snorkelling gear if you have some. The STAR was much cheaper than the Rasa Ria on all fronts. In fact the Rasa Ria is expensive by any standards (especially for alcohol), but you can view Orang-utans at the Rasa Ria (not a patch on Sepilok though, more of a tourist attraction). Both Rasa Ria and STAR are very good hotels, both have good and bad points, which we found were endlessly argued over in KK forum. Personally I preferred the STAR. If you like a drink, then take advantage of the happy hours, or take some duty free. Alternatively we got a very good price (£3pppn) on the Horizon club at the STAR; free buffet and alcoholic drinks from 5-7pm! Children are frowned upon in the club though, so double check with the hotel first before booking the club.

For Brunei, you shouldn%26#39;t need more than 2 days unless you would like to journey into the rainforest. If your budget can stretch to it, then the Empire hotel is truly amazing and you will (probably) never stop in such opulence again!! We had the pools to ourselves most days. Some pools are shaded and all are child friendly (with supervision). Arrange pick-up drop-off via the hotel of your choice, and a one day tour including water village can be arrange upon arrival or through operator above.

I can provide some pictures of any of the hotels or places you plan to visit should you wish. Either way you will be in for a fabulous holiday.

Hope the above helps out.

Richard

Spambo,

I just noticed you other post regarding the price for the Empire. We originally stopped over in Brunei because we were on a cheap Royal Brunei flight to KK (I suspect similar to you).

I checked the cost for the Empire, and we paid £98/room/night. We got this rate via airline network (packaged in with flights). I believe you can get the empire slightly cheaper still via marimari or also try pinganchorage, but we preferred to keep flights and hotels with UK operator (one company) and tour with marimari.

I also forgot to mention, Feb/March is the best time to cruise the Kinabatangan River. Since it is toward the end of the dry season the rivers and tributaries are much reduced, and so do not flood into the surrounding forest. This attracts lots of monkeys and wildlife to the rivers edge at dawn/dusk for easy and reliable viewing from the spotting boats. We actually saw gibbons, which were told was very, very unusual for the Kinabatangan (in fact the local river guide had not seen one any in that area for over a year).

Regards

Richard

Richard,

Your information was extremely helpful. With the Rasa Ria, do you think it is worth spending the extra MSR250 per night (AUD90) to get buffet dinner for 2A and 2C included along with free non-motorised sports and free laundry? Or is it wise to just pay as you go?

Also how did you get from Brunei to KK? We are flying in from KL to KK via Air Asia but they don%26#39;t seem to have flights from Brunei to KK.

Lisa

Hi Lisa,

I think there were three restaurants as follows at RR;

- An expensive and plush restaurants (international fine cuisine) where people went to have a nice romantic meal, price was circa £20-30pp + drinks. As mentioned above, wine is very expensive, especially for you guys from oz (£15 / bottle for an average to half decent bottle)

- An ethnic open air restaurant where you can sample small amount of traditional foods (Malay, Indian, Asian, etc). The food set up is a central eating area surrounded by individual stalls where each prepares different cuisines to order. The food was very good here and very more-ish! From what I can remember, the price for a buffet was in the region £15pp (90MR) + drinks.

- A standard buffet restaurant serving all type of foods (there are theme nights also - e.g. bbq sea food); basically this is a standard hotel buffet, nothing special. Price was again in the region of £12-15pp. This will be where you can eat the inclusive buffet dinner.

The price you are quoted seems quite fair for inclusive food; but it kind of depends what type of food you would be looking to eat. We preferred the ethnic foods, but this is our personal travel style.

By Malaysian standards the prices are very expensive and are actually comparable to UK prices; but it is not really possible / practical to eat out of the resort for most people. Also look out for the happy hours at the bars (different times at different bars) for two4one offers on cocktails. We found the STAR much better value for money because they could not charge so much because it was closer to KK where the food is very much cheaper than at either Shangri La. Still the Rasa Ria has a good beach, better rooms and a much nicer, more relaxed ambiance. Both hotels are very nice indeed (It’s like splitting hairs), they just appeal to different styles of holiday and you will enjoy a comfortable stay at either hotel.

Entry to see the Orang-utans was 50MR for hotel patrons.

Flights from KK to Brunei can be taken via Royal Brunei airways. Our flights from the UK included free stopovers in Brunei, but I think the flights from KK are in the order of £30-40.

I’ll post you some photos of Rasa Ria .

Richard

This info is great.

We have booked 2 nights in Brunei (not confirmed accommodation yet but would love to stay at the Empire).

7 nights at Rasa Ria because of the sanctuary - my twins are only 4 and I thought Sandakan may be a bit too old for them

7 nights at the Tanjung Aru because of the kids club and proximity to the airport.

I am hoping to take my eldest (she%26#39;ll be 8) on some kind of adventure, I%26#39;d like to show her how people live so perhaps a visit to a local village (or long houses?), Turtle Island, perhaps Sandakan.

She%26#39;s also been reading about Borneo%26#39;s indigenous pygmy elephants but I can%26#39;t find anything about seeing them anywhere.

The twins will stay at the hotel with their Grandma whilst we do an overnight trip.

My husband is also an avid diver so I%26#39;d like to book him some dive packages (the actual trip is his 40th birthday present) and a white water rafting experience. Did you experience any?

It would be great to hear all your tales and advice - my email address is sharon.bentley@o2.com

PS what were the Royal Brunei flights like?

Hi,

I%26#39;m a Brit living in Brunei. Myself and my husband have been to Sabah 3 times, and have loved it more and more every time. We spent New Year 2005 in Sandakan and down the Kinabatangan River. We saw the Borneo Pygmy Elephants at 6.30am New Years Eve at the back of our lodge (2 adults and 2 babies). We also saw them in Danum Valley in Feb this year, but we had to go looking for them that time. The surrounding forest wasn%26#39;t flooded at all in Kinabatabgan. I cannot begin to tell you what wildlife we saw. Female Orangutan and baby nesting for the night, crocodiles, so many birds. Would thoroughly recommend a stay there.

We also visited Sepilok and Sandakan. We haven%26#39;t done the turtles, so can%26#39;t advise on that.

We stayed at Tanjung Aru on our first trip to KK - fantastic resort, would recommend. The next two times we stayed at the Shangri-La in the centre of KK - very reasonable, clean and comfortable. Ideal location for KK centre.

If you have any questions about Sabah let me know, and i%26#39;ll do my best for you.

Lesley

Hi Lesley

Where did you stay in Sandakan and did you do a prearranged tour or did you just book the tours when you got there?

It is going to cost us roughly $1600 Australian Dollars for 3 nights for 3 Adults and 2 Children. Does this sound reasonable to you?

Regards

Lisa

Brunei for 2 days in October

I have 6 whole days in Sarawak in October Is it worth flying from KL to Brunei first, spending overnight in Brunei and then flying next morning to Kuching? Or should I just go directly to Kuching?

What airline should I use to get to Brunei and how should I book it? How much advance is needed? Is it cheaper to purchase once I am in KL (which won%26#39;t be until 18th).

Any help or suggestions are welcome.

Brunei for 2 days in October

Dear Simpson

Evening greetings from Brunei Darussalam.

At this moment, there isn%26#39;t any direct flight from Brunei to Kuching. The alternative way of coming to Brunei is either via KL to Labuan or KL to Miri. If you opt to fly to Labuan, you will be able to catch the ferry. If you opt to fly to Miri, you can reach Miri by land.

For direct flight, you can fly with Royal Brunei Airlines, Malaysia Airlines or Air Asia. You can try booking on lines for economy airfares.

Hope the above helps.

Please do not hesitate to post any question. I%26#39;ll always do my best to answer your questions.

On behalf of my country, welcome to Brunei.

Thank you %26amp; best regards

2nd Ambassador

Renting a car in Brunei

Hi,

I%26#39;ll be in Brunei for about 4 days in the beginning of November. Staying at Empire Hotel. Should I rent a car? From the US, so not that used to driving on the wrong side of the road :). How is driving in general in Brunei. What about car rental companies? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

Renting a car in Brunei

Dear Inthistogether

Mornng greetings from Brunei Darussalam.

For a duration of 4-days, you should rent a car to drive around. I have seen plenty of Americans driving on the road of Brunei. I presume there should not be any problem for you.

As for car rental companies, there is no advance booking required. November is normally a ';low-month'; for the car rental industry. You can take your time to flip through the yellow pages of the local telephone directory. The rental rate for an ordinary sedan is on or around B$75.00 to B$80.00.

Please do not hesitate to post more questions as and when required.

On behalf of my beloved country, a warm welcome to Brunei.

Best Regards

Ambassador

Travel between bandar seri begawan and kota kinabulu

I would be grateful for any information regarding travel between Bandar Seri Begawan and kota Kinabalu.

I do realise that there are scheduled flights between the two cities but I would prefer to travel by road or sea.

Is this possible and what are my options?

Travel between bandar seri begawan and kota kinabulu

There is a ferry which you can catch.I thibk the ferry is 2.5 hour or 2.

Your hotel should be able to advise you.A road trip will take ages!!!!We have driven it in a car and its 6 hours....and many borders....you wouldnt think so but trust me!The road trip is fun but only if you have the time.There will certainy be buses.

Travel between bandar seri begawan and kota kinabulu

Thanks Beadnut .I think the ferry sound like the way to go.

I will see if I can get some information on where to catch it from, how frequent it is and how much it costs.

I think the way it goes is a ferry from Brunei to Labuan then a different ferry from Labuan to KK. I think it takes longer than indicated above with connections etc. I%26#39;m pretty sure that there is no direct link by ferry from Brunei to KK.

THe flying time from Brunei to KK is only about 20 Minutes.

There are a number of places of interests in Brunei worth visiting. Apart from city tour, eco-tour is another option - if you are a nature lover.

You are able to travel to Kota Kinabalu from Brunei by ferry boat. The boat schedule is as follows:-

0730hrs, 0830hrs, 0900hrs, 1300hrs, 1530hrs %26amp; 1640hrs.

The ticket is about B$15.00 to B$20.00 per way. It takes only 45-minutes to one hour from Brunei to Kota Kinabalu.

More information can be obtained from the Service Counter outside the arrival hall of the airport.

It must be the worlds fastest ferry. The flying time is 20 Minutes and that is direct. The distance from Brunei to KK is in excess of 200 Km. I%26#39;m fairly sure that you can%26#39;t go direct by ferry you have to go via Labaun.

You may be better off flying(40 min flight) in all or the ferry is.....1.5 hours to labuan and 3 hours to kk.Thats not counting any possible waiting times.Where the other time comes from the other poster is BEYOND me!!!!!I bet they have never done the trip.....trust ne I am correct on times.If you drive it in a car its 6 hours.Many borders to cross,and only worth it if you live here and have the time.

Thanks all ! and Beadnut I agree with you and I have decided to fly to KK and will visit labuan as a seperate trip from either Brunei or KK if I get the time %26amp; if not next time.

Two middle aged travellers flying into Brunei and wanting to go on to KK for a couple of days on the way to Sydney. Do you think it is worth doing just for two days and does anyone know how frequent the flights are from BSB to KK? Also a recommendation for a hotel close to ferries to islands?

SALLY

There are two flights a day from Brunei to Kota Kinabalu. Have a look at http://www.bruneiair.com.

Two days in KK is not a lot . I have spent nearly 40 days there over the last 3 years and am going back again in March. There is still a lot to see. If you have an extended time in Brunei I would suggest that you reduce that time and spend more time in KK.

It will be worth the visit to get an idea of the city but that is about all.

If you mean the islands off KK, Sutera Harbour has its own marina with regular services. You can also go from near Shangri-la Tanjung Aru and there is a wharf on the edge of the city.

Missed some of your questions

The road trip is long an difficult and with the short time you have would not recommend it. There are several ferries a day via Labaun andthe total trip is about 5 hours including transfers.

Search on ferries and you will find times.

PS flying time is only about 30 minutes in the air.

Transit in Brunei

Hi there

I will be arriving in Brunei 27 Dec at 6:30 am on my way to Bangkok and have an 8 hour wait until connecting flight. Is it easy and relatively inexpensive to do short tours during my wait? Do I require a visa or are transit passes needed? I will also be having a stopover on the way home and am wondering what things there are to do at night time (nothing crazy, just some pretty sights etc).

thank you, kaz

Transit in Brunei

There is at least one travel desk at the airport which can to short 1/2 day City tours. I also beleive that Royal Brunei Airlines will arrange transit tours. You will need a 72 hour transit visa but they are issued at the airport. There is a fee and payment is only accepted in Brunei or Singapore Dollars. I think it was $5. They let me exchange currency at the Airport.

rosacea

Brunei for business...please help

I have never been to Brunei and I will be staying for 4-5 nights in early December at the Rizqun International Hotel Brunei. Can anyone tell me about this hotel?

Also I am interested in massages---best place to get one? Reasonable price?

Also I love great food..where is good to go?

Thanks!

Brunei for business...please help

Rizqun International Hotel is located in the commercial area of Gadong. Being new, it has the distinct advantage to offer you a nice stay. There are great food outlets within that area ... depending on your preference and taste. A massage session a few blocks away will likely set you back by B$30.

Brunei for business...please help

Which food outlets are around there and very good? I arrive on Saturday night and will need a place to eat around the Rizqun.

The massage places are easy to find?

Brunei Visa

Can anyone tell me if it is still possible to obtain a tourist visa at airport when you arrive in Brunei?? If so, is it advisable to do this rather than get it organised before we leave Australia. If you can buy at airport what would be the cost ??? I suppose you would need Brunei dollars?? or could you pay in another currency i.e. Singapore dollars.

Any info would be great

Astra

Brunei Visa

You can get a tourist visa at the airport. I think the cost was $15. You can pay either in Brunei Dollar or Singapore dollars as both currencies are accepted in Brunei.

I did not have the currency so they let me go to the currency exchange counter to change my Australian dollars.

Brunei Visa

Thanks for the info. You say that Brunei accepts Singapore dollars, is that everywhere in Brunei. Would save me having to get Brunei dollars.

Regards Sue

Singapore dollars are accepted everwhere in Brunei.

Many thanks

Regards Sue

Palm Garden Hotel, Qiulap Brunei

Hi,

I wish to stay at Palm Garden Hotel, Qiulap Brunei, but I dont have information about this Hotel. The only information that I have is the hotel is open by the Artis Wu Zhun%26#39;s father. I wish to make reservation before I go Brunei but I dont have their contact number or email address.

Anyone know about this hotel? Please place comment for this hotel.

If anyone know about their contact number and how to get there please let me know.

Thanks

Palm Garden Hotel, Qiulap Brunei

I am staying at the hotel right now and have mixed feelings about it.

On the whole I think it is OK and havent felt it bad enough to want to change hotels.

The location is fantastic with hundreds of shops and restaraunts a short walk away.

The staff (as most people in Brunei are very friendly and helpful.

There is a modern gym next door if you are into that sort of thing which is free to use for guests.

Now for the gripes...

-Christmas carols on repeat play at a volume I can hear in my room. I have taken to calling the front desk at bed time and asking for it to be turned off. :)

-That modern gym has cranking music on friday nights which is controlled my some ametuer. (volume fluctuating all the time, music stops and starts randomly and the same song over and over) it stops at a reasonable hour but interferes with watching TV or reading a book.

-The beds are hard rather than firm.

-The fridge doesnt really cool drinks and I cant see a thermostat

-the WiFi network (which is free to use) is configured poorly so often doesnt work.

-supplied breakfast is pretty bad (2 tespoons of cold baked beans, a cold beef? sausage, toast and egg.) I havent been bake since the 1st day :-)

I would rate the hotel as a 3 star place and if it wasnt for the excellent location and great staff I would definately move to another hotel.

Hotel contact details are:

+673 2233448

palmgarden@brunet.bn

BSB to Miri by bus

Has anyone recently taken a bus from BSB to Miri? how long does it take and where does the bus leave from?

cheers

BSB to Miri by bus

Strangely (perhaps not for Brunei!) there is no direct bus from BSB to Miri. There should be. There are no longer even any flights. Options are to hire a car/driver...or take a bus to Kuala Belait and then a wait and then another bus across the border. I am told there is a daily unofficial bus...but do not know any contact details. The easiest way would be to hitch with a kind driver who will take you there in a couple of hours.

BSB to Miri by bus

Thanks for your help. We have decided to book our own driver who will take us (3 adults, 2 children)for $120BN in about 2.5 hours.

cheers

miri to Brunei or Labuan

I am trying to organise connecting flights from Kuala Lumpur and then onto Kota Kinabalu to either Brunei or Labuan. It seems my best bet is to fly from KL to Miri. Can anyone tell me how I can get from Miri to either Brunei or Labuan?

We are on a tight schedule so I didn%26#39;t want to have to do overnight stopovers in KL to wait for flights. We fly into KL via Air Asia at 16:55 on 31st Jan and need to fly out of KL again on the 9th at 15:20. Only the flights from Miri, Sandakan or Kota Kinabalu fit with these times.

thanks

Lisa

miri to Brunei or Labuan

Hi Lisa,

The only way to get from Miri to Brunei is by bus, which according to my guidebook, means changing buses 4 times.

As far as I can see, the only way to get to Labuan from Miri is by air. You can then either fly to KK or get the boat.

Why not just fly into Brunei from KL or fly direct to Labuan (Air Asia Express have recently started flying between the two, and are cheaper or look at Malaysia Airlines or Royal Brunei). Then you can either fly straight out to KK or get the boat from either (although the Brunei boat stops at Labuan first!). Or fly direct from KL to KK????? According to my guidebook, Air Asia have 5 flights a day between the 2!

Lesley

miri to Brunei or Labuan

... Lesley ... The only way to get from Miri to Brunei is by bus, which according to my guidebook, means changing buses 4 times.

Normally, we can depend on private transport @Rm50/pax from Miri to Brunei.

Hi Lisa,

we are trying to get from Brunei to Miri and the buses seem to take around 5 hours and require several changes. We found a tour company who will take us by private bus (there are 5 of us) for $120BN and they say it takes 2.5 hours. The company was Intrepid, do a google search on Brunei Bay.

Hope this helps.

Visit Brunei

Which of the two, are conveniently located,

D%26#39;Anggerek or Abd Razak Hotel Apartments?

Also, what is best to do and buy in Brunei?

Plan to stay there for 3nites.

All advise/suggestions are much appreciated.

Visit Brunei

I would recommend Abd Razak Hotel Apartments since its conveniently surrounded by a group of shopping centres and more nearer to the city centre whereas D%26#39;Anggerek is at a residential area.

For local tours, go to freme.com/bn_bwn_bruneitours_b2c_fit_en_bnd/…

A city tour that includes the royal regalia, the Jame Asri mosque and the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque is a must. You should also take a drive around the city by night passing by the Sultan%26#39;s palace as well as the Jame Asri Mosque.

If you love nature, you can go to Temburong for the day to have a tour of the national rainforest.

There%26#39;s also one place not to be missed, that%26#39;s the luxurious Empire Hotel %26amp; Country Club, a beautiful place to take pictures. Staying there could be pricey, so I would suggest having hi-tea there at the Lobby Lounge, and then taking a stroll around its premises. Contact details and any available dining promotions, you can go to http://www.theempirehotel.com/

rosacea

ferry from memunbok to brunei

Hi, does anyone know if you can ctahc a ferry from Memunbok to Brunei, or do we have to go via Labuan,.

cheers

ferry from memunbok to brunei

Dear Stillbackpacking

Evening greetings from Brunei Darussalam.

There is no direct sea route from Menumbok to Brunei at this moment.

It%26#39;s easy for you to visit Brunei via ferry from Labuan; which is a sea journey around 45-minutes to 1-hour+.

Please feel free to post any query on Brunei. I%26#39;ll do my best to answer.

On behalf of my beloved country, welcome to Brunei Darussalam.

Thanks %26amp; Best Regards

Ambassador Kpg Serusop

ferry from memunbok to brunei

Thanks for the wonderful help - looking forward to seeing Brunei in person,

Warm Regards,

Julie

Malaria & Temburong

Hi All,

We are planning to visit the Temburong Nat Park in June. I know that anti malaria pills are generally not needed in Brunei. Does that only apply to cities or to Tamburong as well? In oter words would you advise taking pills?

Thanks

Malaria %26amp; Temburong

Yeap, anti-malaria pills are generally not needed in Brunei including Temburong.

Brunei - Borneo - Indonesia

Are there any one-way or return tours/excurssions/bus routes from Brunei to Indonesia showing off some of the local wildlife?

I will be visiting Kuala Lumpur and I would like to visit Brunei and Indonesia and thought this may be the best way to do it. Any ideas?

Brunei - Borneo - Indonesia

Hi dave,

My suggestion is that you fly from KL to Kuching then from Kuching on a Trans Borneo Highway Journey.

Kuching to Bintulu

Bintulu to Miri

Miri to Labuan (via Brunei by ferry)

Labuan to KK

KK to Sandakan (overnight in Sukau for Wild Life)

Sandakan to Lahad Datu

Lahad Datu to Tawau (or Sempoerna for some Island excursion)

Tawau to Indonesia or back to KL

Recently returned from Brunei

We have just returned from a trip to Asia which included a 9 day vacation in Brunei. I found it extremely difficult to find information on Brunei when I was planning our trip so I am posting this review in the hope that it may assist others as they plan an upcoming trip.

We stayed at the Rizqun Hotel which we highly recommend (see separate report under the hotel name).

Firstly I would say that 9 days is much too long, maybe 3-4 days would be more appropriate as there are not too many highlights to see.

Our hotel was located in Gadong, a lively suburb of BSB, popular with the locals. There is a large shopping mall and lots of cafes and restaurants there and the area seems to be the centre for the night life of the city. However don%26#39;t look for nightclubs etc. One of the main attractions of Gadong is the night food market which is excellent - there are local foods of every kind served in an extremely hygenic way - we were very impressed and visited several nights.

Taxis tend to be expensive in Brunei but if you are staying in Gadong local buses nos. 1 and 20 run every 15 minutes into the city centre at a cost of B$1. Local water taxis ply the riverside area of BSB and for a negotiated fee it is possible to get them to take you to see the Proboscis monkeys in the mangroves up the river and also to tour the water villages which are extremely interesting. There are several museums in the city but it is impossible to get close to the Sultan%26#39;s Palace although it is permitted to tour the Mosques out of prayer times.

The highlight of our visit was a tour to Temburong National Park and the canopy walk. However it is important to note that there are 1220 steps to the top, plus another 200 to the actual walk! The tour costs B$135 p.p. and includes snacks, tea and lunch en route. The boat journey is worth the cost alone!

Other tours are available but individual travel is not recommended or encouraged.

If you are not staying at the Empire Golf and Country Club then it is certainly worth a visit. It is most impressive and if you wish only to lie around the pool and relax then this is the place for you. It is a little remote from the city and the taxi fare each way is B$30.

Tourists seems to be a rare commodity (which is not a bad thing) and although most people speak English it is difficult to obtain information about the country as other than a handful of recommended tours there is not much else to do.

It must also be remembered that this is a Muslim country and no alcohol is available. Dress is conservative, in fact we did not see anyone in shorts or suntops.

Recently returned from Brunei

Thanks for sharing the review as I%26#39;m looking at planing my next overseas trip and may look at it as a stop over place.

Recently returned from Brunei

Bandet, how did you book your tour to Temburong Ntonal Park? We are planning to include Brunei on our trp to SE Asia in October.

Thanks,

Jane

Hi Jane, you will find there are many tourist companies that organize tours in BSB, also your hotel will have lots of information. All prices are pretty much the same. We actually booked through our hotel (Rizqun) with Mona FloraFauna Tours. The cost of the tour was B$138 p.p. We could not find a tourist information office for general information on the area, I really don%26#39;t think there is one. If I can be of any further assistance please let me know.

Thanks! Good to know that tours are available from hotels.

On the Brunei Tourist Office - there are several.

I got off the bus at the bus terminal in the city centre and walked up Jalan Cator half a block to Jln Sungai Kianggeh and there was a tourist info office on the corner. The guy mentioned that they had previously been in an office 2 blocks further away from the river (I think that was the General Post Office building in Jln Elizabeth Dua)

My Brunei map which I picked up there gives the official contact details as:

Brunei Tourism:

Tel: 673 2382822/2382831

Fax: 673 2382824

Email: info@tourismbrunei.com

Hope that helps.

Hi bandet,

Could you please tell what did the tour to Temburong National Park include? what were you able to see there?

Also, what would be the cost of a water taxi to take us to see the Proboscis monkeys in the mangroves?

Where is Gadong? How close is it to Terrace Hotel or Sheraton Hotel?

Thanks

Hello b m2001, Gadong is on the outskirts of BSB, a short bus ride from the city centre at a cost of $1 so you could go there in the evening if you wish to go to the night market, the restaurants or the mall.

The water taxi is taken from the riverside in BSB and it is up to you to negotiate a price (we managed to pay only 20 bnd. It is only a short boat ride to the mangroves to see the monkeys but the best times to go are early morning or early evening. You can take a tour of the water villages at the same time which is very interesting. The whole thing takes about an hour but of course it is up to you how long you would like to take and the cost will vary accordingly.

The tour to Temburong is the most worthwhile and memorable tour. It leaves around 9.00 by boat up to Bangar, then by SUV (including stop for refreshments) to another river then by long boat up to the forest. The walk is taxing in the heat to the viewpoint but different types of trees and plants are illustrated on the climb. The ants are huge and interesting to watch. We did not see much else with regard to wild life. At the top you climb up the viewing towers (you certainly need a head for heights here) but is well worthwhile. On the way back you stop for lunch and then the return journey to BSB.

Hope this helps - if you need anything further let me know. Enjoy your trip.

Hi bandet,

Thank you very much for your quick reply.

We will be leaving for Brunei on 24.04.08.

I would grately appreciate if you could also answer few more questions:

1. what time do buses stop their service?

If we go to Gadong night markets, it would be good to know how can we return to downtown.

2. do you know if the taxis charge according to the taxi meter or should be the price negotiated upfront? Is it easy to catch a cab?

3. Is there a bus that goes from downtown to the The Empire Hotel and back?

4. I would like to take a Temburong tour. In this respect - will we see the big nose monkeys on this tour or should we still get a water taxi to take us to mangroves to see them?

Since we decided to go to Brunei only yesterday and have to leave in 2 days I didn%26#39;t have much time to gather lots of information, so any advise and tips on any topics will be greatly appreciated.

Hello b m 2001, well you certainly decide to do things quickly! I am afraid I cannot tell you what time the buses stop running but your hotel will tell you that. Taxis always seem to be around but they are expensive and seem to all charge the same amount. The average cost of a journey - even a short one is 30 bnd. There is no bus to the Empire - you have to get a taxi and the cost is $30 each way for about a 15 min trip but I suppose it is worth it just to see it. We used the pool while we were there which was nice.

You will not see the Proboscus monkeys on the canopy walk - you have to do it from the riverside in BSB. When you walk to the water the taxis will come and the operator will wave his finger in a circular motion - that is asking if you would like a round trip. As I said - negotiate before you board the boat.

The night food market is excellent and exceptionally clean - we ate there several times as the variety and quality of food is much better than many of the restaurants. There are many coffee shops around so it is easy to pop in for refreshments and to cool down. We went into the museum near the Sheraton which houses the sultan%26#39;s coach etc. - it is free and very interesting.

Most people speak English so it is not difficult to find out information. I hope this information helps you. I check my mail regularly so if there is anything else ......

bandet, thanks a million

After tossing up a bit and reading reviews we decided to book Jubilee Hotel. We chose for its location - walking distance to all the attractions and pretty good price. And they also provide free transfer from the airport. Practically all reviews about it seem to be positive. In any case, we would only need a clean and comfortable place to sleep in as we will be out all days.

I understand you stayed in Gadong. Do you happen to know if there is a night market not far from Jubilee Hotel? (In case you don%26#39;t know the location of Jubilee hotel - it is not far from Chinese Temple, General Post Office and Parliament House).

Needless to say we would try to see and do as much as possible (we will have 4 full days there). I am very thankful for all your advise as now I have pretty good picture of what we will have to see and do.

Local Places to eat near the Empire Hotel

Hi. I am staying at the empire hotel during my holiday and want to know if there are any cheap places to eat within walking distance of the hotel? I understand that the hotel has a few restaurants within the complex but was wondering if there was anywhere good to eat near the hotel so that i dont have to spend $30 on a taxi everytime i want to eat locally.

Also, does anyone know what is in the area of the hotel? Shops, Cafes, Nothing at all?

Can anyone help?

Local Places to eat near the Empire Hotel

Hi Waimatao,

The Empire Hotel is one of my favourite hotels to stay in when my family and I need a break locally.

Unfortunately, its located 10-15 mins drive away from the city centre and there%26#39;s no eateries or shops within walking distance. The 3 restaurants within the hotel itself are quite good, an italian restaurant (Spaghetini), the seafood restaurant next to the main Pool (The Pantai), international cuisine (The Atrium), and a Chinese restaurant (Li Gong), oh, and there%26#39;s also tea buffets at the Lobby during the afternoon. There%26#39;s a couple of high end shops and some ATMs (HSBC is one of em) within the hotel itself.

There%26#39;s also a movie theatre, a bowling alley and golfing, if you%26#39;re an avid golfer. Generally, The Empire Hotel %26amp; Country Club is a resort where you%26#39;d spend your time relaxing next to the pool, enjoying some beach activities, watching the sunset..

But if you%26#39;d rather explore for places to eat, and you love strolling through the shops, I would suggest staying at the Rizqun International Hotel (also a favourite Hotel to stay in, http://www.rizquninternational.com/) instead, which is smack in the middle of the shopping area and near the night food markets of Gadong. The room%26#39;s in par with the Empire though the Empire%26#39;s rooms are bigger, the pool%26#39;s also good, but also not as big as the Empire.

Hope this helps.. have a good stay here in Brunei!

Local Places to eat near the Empire Hotel

Thanks for your advice

Sadly to say, there are not much to see or look around in the sounding area of the hotel, esp food.

To get the best highlight of local food in Brunei is to head down to the Gadong Night Market. Best time to head down is around 7-8pm~~where stalls starts packing up around 10.30pm~

I am a certified local freelance lady tourguide, if u are interested in going anywhere or doing any extra outings, eg Water Village, Mosque, Sultan%26#39;s Palace, Proboscis Monkey, by all means, im here to help/arrange. Just drop me a txt.

rosacea

Royal Brunei Airlines

Travelling to Aus in October 2008, can anyone tell me what RBA are like eg: seats, in flight entertainment, food, etc., are like?

Royal Brunei Airlines

I have travelled the Brunei-NZ leg a few times and had a huge variation. The best - all the personal screens worked, we received the meals we wanted, we got enough water to drink.

The worst - the seat fell off when I stood up - we moved three times because individual screens weren%26#39;t working, they ran out of the meal I wanted, the staff couldn%26#39;t be bothered to leave the back where they were gossiping.

The last time I flew with them was when they had a 12hr delayed flight and had not rung to tell me before we left home. Had 12 hrs in a very average hotel, then an 11+ hr flight (with child).

I now fly Singapore. Others have not had these bad experiences...to be fair.

Royal Brunei Airlines

Many thanks for your honest opinion on Brunei Airline, will think again and possibly find a different airline.

We travelled in May with RBA from Sydney to Hong Kong via Brunei and back. My Wife and I and our 2 little girls aged 4 %26amp; 2.

I think we may have received better treatment because of the girls (that happened eveywhere in Asia) but we had a great experience with them.

Yes on the way out from Sydney we had the old plane (without seat back screens etc...) but I knew this and was prepared with a laptop for the kids.

Food was great, and I still say that regardless of the food poisoning I had after eating a cold cut roll on the flight home. I liked it so much I ate my wife%26#39;s too... Others might complain, but hey it can happen anywhere.

Seats were fine (but that said we did have the row in front of a wall to put a bassinet up) a definate bonus, but I wasn%26#39;t uncomfortable in the seat at all.

Timing was all pretty much as scheduled - except when we left Brunei to Hong Kong the airport closed for the King of Jordan to leave in his 747 - but who do you blame for that?

Hope that helps and tempers other comments.

Matt

Thanks Matt for your opinion of Brunei Airlines,

very helpful,bit concerned about no seat back screens

as its a very long flight from the UK to Brunei but will take everything into account when booking our flights. Tansorgirl

Tansorgirl, have a look at booking with Singapore Airlines. The flight are via Singapore and are cheaper than Royal Brunei. The London-Singapore-London legs are now serviced by the brand new AirbusA380 aircraft.

Many thanks, will do, Tansorgirl.

Airport Money Changer & Visa on Arrival

Hi again,

Thanks for the reply to my last post. Just a couple of more questions

we are travelling on NZ %26amp; Aust passports do we both need to pay visa on arrival and how much for 6 days?

Also our flight to Brunei arrives after 11pm is the money changer still open at the airport at this time?

Thanks

Airport Money Changer %26amp; Visa on Arrival

Hi Travelliter,

Nationals of Australia are advised to obtain visas before arrival although it is possible to obtain one at Brunei International Airport for a stay of up to 30 days (a visa is required in advance for longer stays);

Not too sure how much.

Money Changer will be closed then.~

Hope this Helpz

Airport Money Changer %26amp; Visa on Arrival

Travelliter,

Alternatively on the currency change, get some Singapore currency before you arrive in Brunei since its accepted here. Singapore currency notes and coins (except the $1 coin) are accepted all over Brunei and is on par with Brunei currency.

safe to wander in BSB at night

is it safe to wander around BSB at night? i would be grateful for your comments?

safe to wander in BSB at night

Brunei is very safe to walk around at night - probably one of the safest places in the world! There is no alcohol, so that is not a problem. Also, groups of young people are not permitted to wander round in large groups. And anyway, the main shopping centres are open until fairly late. You should feel very comfortable.

where can i buy affordable jewelries in BSB

i was informed that jewelries are affordable in Brunei, is it true? please tell me where can i buy one... thanks...

where can i buy affordable jewelries in BSB

Hi Owen,

What kind of jewelery are you looking for?

Gold??

My family business runs a couple of retail jewelery shops in Brunei. If anything specific that you are looking for, do not hesitate to drop me a line.

Hope this helps..

where can i buy affordable jewelries in BSB

i wanted to buy jewelries...you know the usual stuff necklace, bracelet, rings, pair of earings...yes, gold...if you can just give me the name of the retail store so that i can come by and see by myself... or if you can give me the place where it is being made then it would be better. thanks

Borneo Stopover?

Next December, my family and I are going to Saigon to a couple days for business. However, we are considering spending about two week in other places. We have traveled extensively throughout Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Peninsular Malaysia, and Singapore. We were wondering if anybody else has had some enjoyable stopovers around Asia that would be fun to tie in. Anywhere is the Asian Vicinity would be nice. Would Borneo provide a fun, safe trip for our adventurous family?

Help with itinerary for a short visit

hi, my flight will arrive in Brunei at 1835 and leave the next day at 12pm. Could someone pls help me re-arrange my itinerary so i can see all the places below in the most logical way. I%26#39;m staying at the Orchid Garden and not too sure how far is it from the hotel to the town centre. Is it easy to catch bus/train to town?

Jame%26#39;Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque

Istana Nurul Iman

Royal Regalia Museum

Yayasan complex

Kampong Ayer - Venice of East';

What must see first in brunei? I would like to take night time photos at these amazing architectures and perhaps do the shopping and Kampong Ayer in the morning.

Are you allowed to go inside the palace during day time? If entry is allowed, i can visit the palace in the morning.

I will have to come back to Brunei on my way back so if I miss one or two places this time, I can come back next time.

Thanks for your help

Help with itinerary for a short visit

No need to tell you your time is too short.Get a taxi driver to give you a tour of the city at night and stop off to take photos of Mosques as they look best at night all lit up.Do the water village and river trip tour next morning 1-2 Hr and skip the rest.You can only see inside Royal Palace a couple of times a year.

Regards

KIWIKEITH

Help with itinerary for a short visit

you will have no trouble seeing everything you have listed in one day. Try getting in touch with My Nature Kingdom via this forum for tour guide. Don%26#39;t think you can go inside the Istana outside of Hari Raya but can definitely photograph it from the outside although vegetation rather restricts your view these days!

hi Cict,

There are purple buses running along the main roads outside the hotel, probably 15-20mins walk. Buses are not punctual, they do not have an accurate time schedule or a proper bus stand. But if u could catch one, i only cost BND$1 per ride. Look out for purple bus. It takes u right to Bandar Seri Begawan. Taxis are way 2 expensive. There are no trains in Brunei

For ur info, these are the opening times n day for the mosque.

Open: 9am-11.30am, 2-3pm, 5pm-6pm

Close: Thursdays

*Fridays* open from 5pm-6pm only.

Hope this help, feel free to drop me a line if u have any other info that u need in Brunei.

Mbile Phone Operators

Hello, does anyone know the names of any mobile phone operators in Brunei? I%26#39;m trying to work out my roaming costs

Mbile Phone Operators

Hi Melissa,

There%26#39;s 2 mobile phone operators, DSTcom and Bmobile.

atm in ferry terminal

Can anyone confirm there is an atm in the ferry terminal

Thanks

atm in ferry terminal

Ferry terminal at Muara, Brunei, is very basic. I was there a couple of years ago and there was not an ATM then. I think there are a couple in the Muara shops a couple of kilometres away.

Flying Royal Brunei and Alcohol

Whilst not an alcoholic....I was shocked today to hear that our flights with Royal Brunei from London Heathrow to BSB and onto Perth will have no alcohol at all! We have been advised we can take on board our own drinks, but can somebody please answer a couple of queries please. Upon disembarking and re embarking in BSB, will any liquids/drinks we have not finished, not be confiscated if we have to go through security checks etc again? Thus meaning we can have no drinks on the BSB flight to Perth. Any advicemuch appreciated and thank you.

Flying Royal Brunei and Alcohol

Brunei airport is very small and from memory there were people talking alcohol off the plane that were definitely in transit. You could certainly not buy alcohol in Brunei airport. If I was you I would call the airline, and double check, but I am sure you will find that transit passengers will be ok to take unopened alcohol back onto the plane. I would suggest you buy more alcohol than you are entitled to and drink say two bottles enroute to Brunei and leave two unopened for the London leg.

Flying Royal Brunei and Alcohol

Thanks for your reply, I will contact Royal Brunei as suggested and keep you posted.....should be interesting!

Just wondering how you got on with the alcohol issue. We are travelling the other way with an overnight stay in Brunei and we are hoping to take our duty free alcohol purchased in Australia onto Malaysia for our own use while on holiday there. Do we need to put it in a checked in luggage?

thanks

Hi Sandy. The rules are still very unclear to me with drink and royal brunei, but here goes what happened to us. I purchased two small bottles of wine in Heathrow to board onto the Royal brunei flight. We had a refuel in Dubai but could leave our bags on the plane. Next stop was Bandar. Here we had to take everything off this flight to reboard another. I had one sealed bottle of wine left (we drank the other) You leave the plane, into Bandar airport and have to go through security again in order to re board. Immeadiatly my wine was confiscated!!!

When we left australia I did not take the chance as it was obvious really I would have it taken from me again when changing flights at Bandar. Bearing in mind though I was checking back in with alcohol. I do not think you should encounter this problem but would not be sure. I did try in Australia to query this with Royal Brunei check-in, but %26#39;she didnt know!! Enjoy your trip though which no doubts you will!

I have just been thinking that yes you will have a problem. Unless you either drink all your alcohol whilst in Bandar for the night or you will have to pack it in the hold(wrapped up well)to be checked in as Bandar will obviously not let you check in for Malaysia with alcohol in hand luggage.

many thanks that as I expected and I think we%26#39;ll probably just take a nice bottle of wine for the night in brunei and possibly pack an unopened bottle of something else in our check in luggage prior to leaving Brunei

rosacea

Sunday, March 28, 2010

what to do and where to stay in brunei

hi,

i%26#39;d like to ask what are the best places to visit or must-see places for the halfday stay we will have on the 1st of March in Brunei. and where can we stay that is clean but cheap. we are 7 in a group.

also how much is renting a van for a half day tour and is it worth it or taking public transpo is still ok.

thanks so much,

cathy

what to do and where to stay in brunei

Yes I would also like to know as I%26#39;m thinking of doing a stop over for a few days and it would be nice to know what to see and do?

what to do and where to stay in brunei

hi,

already been to brunei.

we stayed at KH Soon services and Rest house just across Brunei Hotel. it cost us 17 brunei dollars per head. u can take the bus and have a round trip for only B$1 for bus no. 1 which can take u also to the Bolkiah mosque.

the rest house is near the terminal and within the city proper so everything is almost walking distance. u can walk to the Sultan Omar Ali mosque.

not much to see though in Brunei. maybe u can just take the ferry to lawas then bus to kota kinabalu.

hope this helps

theres always sumthing to do, just dont expect it to be the kind of holiday that everyone expects.

eco-tourism has always been big in brunei, u cud try head down to temburong and for a price u cud stay at the research station, while ur at it go jungle treking or river kayaking,

i think they provide meals there (at the research station) as well so u dont have to hunt or forage.

if u dont fancy all of the above then i advise u to head on to sabah or sarawak in neighbouring malaysia. theyve got great nightscenes and theres alcohol =)

hope i wasnt too late in replying or are u alredy at sabah getting a nice tan lol

hi there,

thanks for ur reply. maybe theres a lot of eco-tourism in brunei and if we had more time, maybe we could have visited them.

were not much into nightscenes and alcohol, if the place have them then its ok.

we came from kota kinabalu climbing mt. kinabalu and had a side trip to brunei, thats why i was asking what we can do for a half day trip.

our trip ended march 3. so thanks anyway.

rosacea

City Tour Package or Rent a Car

We are going for a weekend trip to Brunei. As this is our first trip there, we are hoping to have a good overview and some insights of the country. We would like to visit the places around the city - kampung air, the mosques, the palace, the museum ,Jerudung park and have high tea or dinner at Empire Hotel. Can this be acheived in a day? Shall we take a city tour or rent a car?

City Tour Package or Rent a Car

Hi (I initially posted 1-8 for another query but added some more places of interest particular to your query here)

There are a few places that you can visit around Bandar Seri Begawan within a day.

1) Royal Regalia building (which houses the royal equipments used in many of the Brunei royal functions as well as history on the Sultans of Brunei)

2) Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque (you can visit during non-praying times %26amp; make sure sure to cover up when visiting and remove shoes/sandals if planning to enter - applies to any mosques)

3) The Brunei Museum (http://www.museums.gov.bn/) and nearby tomb of Sultan Bolkiah (5th Sultan of Brunei)

4) The Arts and Handicrafts centre

5) If you%26#39;re not interested in going round Kampung Ayer (water village) in a boatride, have lunch at the RMS Portview Restaurant (serving Western/Italian dishes) by the riverside opposite the Yayasan (shopping complex) opposite Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. You can observe the daily happenings around Kampung Ayer there.

6) If you like nature, take a walk to the Tasek Lama recreational park (which I think is only minutes%26#39; walk from the Sheraton Hotel in the capital city). There is a nice trail and a waterfall there (don%26#39;t need hiking shoes, it%26#39;s fairly easy walk and the area is obviously lined up with trees so it%26#39;s pretty shady in most parts).

7) If you want to go shopping, Kiulap/Gadong areas are the places you can go to (~ 10-15mins%26#39; drive away from capital city Bandar Seri Begawan). The Jame Asr Mosque is another beautiful place to visit at the Kiulap/Gadong area.

8) In the late afternoon, if you want to sample local food - go to the Gadong market area where you might possibly catch the Pasar Malam (literally translates to night market) where foodstalls are set up and you have got plenty to choose from.

9) Istana Nurul Iman (Sultan%26#39;s palace). You can only view it from outside. The only time you can come around inside it and actually shake hands with the royalty is during Hari Raya festivities when it would be open to public from 2nd to 4th days of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

10) Jerudong Park - a lot of the bigger rides are no longer open but it is worth it to visit for a short while (I especially like it in the early evening/night time and you can imagine the splendour it would have had during its better days).

11) The Empire Hotel is definitely worth a visit as well if you are not staying there (especially during sunset). High tea is generally on Sat/Sun at the Lobby area. Nice English Hi-tea but also worth to go to their Restaurants, especially the Pantai restaurant (by the poolside serving seafood bbq). Go to their website for more info (http://www.theempirehotel.com/).

I%26#39;m not so sure about City tours but renting a car can also be troublesome if you are not familiar with the roads in Brunei. Some roads are not that straightforward and I%26#39;m not so sure as well if there is a reliable updated roadmap for Brunei (if I%26#39;m wrong, someone please correct me). Definitely, quite a number of my expat friends found themselves lost first-time driving in Brunei! So best thing is probably to arrange with your hotel to see if they can provide a reliable driver who can bring you around.

Hope this helps and hope you get to enjoy Brunei.

What to do on a day visit to Brunei

We will be spending a day in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, from about 0830hrs to 1700hrs. Can anyone suggest places we should see, things we should do. Is the water village of Kampong Ayer nearby? Walkable or local transport? Many thanks

What to do on a day visit to Brunei

as a local i have to tell u:

DO NOT GO TO KAMPONG AYER

at least for the time being.

the whole village has been in disrepair for ages and the colour of the water around the village aint exactly the best looking ones ive seen.

id rather u go to the mosques, like the jame asr%26#39; and the omar ali mosque. both are really worth going to, esp if ur an architecture freak!

the brunei musuem is a good place to go as well, its not far from BSB (45mins to an hour?) and i think its free to enter.

DEFINITELY definitely go to the royal regalia building in town! its got lots of nice things to see. also, last time i heard, the churchill memorial museum was located there as well, but i havent been there personally so u have to do some research urself.

hope this helps.

What to do on a day visit to Brunei

There are a few places that you can visit around Bandar Seri Begawan within a day.

1) Royal Regalia building (which houses the royal equipments used in many of the Brunei royal functions as well as history on the Sultans of Brunei)

2) Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque (you can visit during non-praying times %26amp; make sure sure to cover up when visiting and remove shoes/sandals if planning to enter - applies to any mosques)

3) The Brunei Museum (http://www.museums.gov.bn/) and nearby tomb of Sultan Bolkiah (5th Sultan of Brunei)

4) The Arts and Handicrafts centre

Thank you to Seri Kenangan and Ikatora for all your suggestions and advice.

rent car brunei to miri

Hello,

Does anyone know if it is possible to rent a car in Brunei and drop it off in Miri?

cheers

rent car brunei to miri

We arranged a car through Hertz in Brunei with a driver...who dropped us off in Miri. That was the easiest and quickest one way transport. I don%26#39;t think any rental places would do one way.

rent car brunei to miri

Thanks for the help. I was wondering if Hertz supplied the driver and how much did it all cost?

cheers

Yes...Hertz provided the driver to us as they did not do one-way rentals to self-drivers. You will need to contact the local Hertz agency to get all the details and costs, but it was a very good service. The driver picked us up and drove to Miri Airport, with some good commentary and local knowledge on the way, without being too much like a tour guide. I think it was around $40 or $50 (Brunei) per person for a minimum of 2 or 3. It was a year or so ago, but we found it the best way to get there...especially if more than one travelling.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Sunday, March 28, 2010

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