United Mileage Plus - Any Singapore travelers ventured into Johor?

I'm going to SIN next week and may have a couple of free days for myself. I've noticed that Hyatt has a resort in Johor, Malaysia, about 45 minutes from Singapore. Is it worth checking out? Is crossing customs into Malaysia difficult or can I just jump in a cab and go? I don't want a major to-do crossing customs, but I've seen everything I care to see in Singapore. Thanks for any advice!

Craigg

You can jump into a cab and go. Customs exists, but isn't a big deal. And buses are of course cheaper than cabs. BTW, probably wise to go into Johor in the morning, and out of Johor in the afternoon, as this is opposite usual direction of travel on the causeway.

Is the trip into Johor worth it? What is the best hotel to stay in? Is it safer to take the airport buses to Johor or better to snare a cab?

Thanks again for all your counsel!

Craigg

Johor Bahru is interesting the Hyatt is not. It is a dump (for a Hyatt) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum60/HTML/000304.html
I was much more impressed with the ?Pan Pacific which I asked to see - staff was competent, rates were similar, room much nicer. Sorry I didn't move there. It is also much closer to town - more food choices, shopping center, etc. but the Hyatt did have a nice view of the water from the executive lounge.
I did write to the manager of the Hyatt and got an inadequate reply eg sorry but we don't know why you thought the room wasn't okay (cracked old furniture, etc what I would expect in a motel 6 but not a Hyatt) oh well I have really enjoyed my stays at Hilton http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

You might consider a quick hop to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia or to Jakarta Indonesia if you are in SIN and have a couple days to kill.

I used to live in Jakarta and have spent a lot of time in KL. If you are interested in this option, let me know by email or post some questions here I can answer.

FWIW: I'd do Jakarta. Nothing like a HUGE, dirty, sprawling, on the brink of civil disorder, third world city to peg the adventure needle! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Taking a cab from the Queen's Street bus terminal is easy and fairly cheap. You can also take an express bus from there but it is a bit cumbersome as you have to get off and on twice to go through Singapore and Johor passport controls.

I personally find the Hyatt quite nice, if you consider the price you pay for a stay. I have stayed in a lot worse rooms in U.S. Hyatts several times.

The Johor Hyatt has Regency Club you can get a room facing the occean/Singapore. But it is not in downtown. Taking a cab is very cheap there. The town is a lot different from Singapore, and I find that contrast quite fun.

Originally posted by Chiangi:
Taking a cab from the Queen's Street bus terminal....

Where is this Queen's Street bus terminal? At the SIN airport?? And are there cabs available around midnitish when the UA flights tend to arrive from NRT & HKG?

Thanks again.

Generally agree with previous posts!

JB is worth a brief visit, IMHO - but one day is really all you'll need! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

crankyusi, the Queen's Street bus terminal is close to Bugis station on MRT subway, a few blocks from there. I think all the taxi drivers at Changi airport would know. It's a bit close to Inter-Continental/Bugis Village.

My understanding is that regular taxis in Singapore cannot/do not want to cross the causeway but taxis from this bus terminal look like from Johor. They come here to pick up people (probably after they unload customers from Johor to Singapore). They depart after they fill up the vehicle with customers and they are very cheap. (Buses are even cheaper but passport controls are easeir with taxis.)

To the question about possible 'connection' with UA, I am sorry I don't know. I only did it daytime.

(But I would think there would be Johor taxis there, given that you can arrange Johor taxis to take a trip to Singapore anytime 24 hours a day.)

Chiangi,

U seem to rescue me quite a bit. Thank you once again and hopefully we get to meet sometime.

Crankyusi

Usually 10+ Changi taxis awaiting the United arrivals at 11:30 pm from NRT and HKG.

JB seems worth a day trip, little more; same chains (Swensens, KFC, etc), few sights compared to Singapore.

Get to JB on the air-con buses from Bugis Village. Have your Malay currency ready.

Consider a day trip by ferry from World Trade Center to Batam Island (30 min) and other Indonesian resorts to the south.

when you get to JB, go to the Tropical Inn in the middle of the afternoon and have High Tea and eat as much you can for a ridiculously small amount of money: malay, chinese , indian and english to choose from, and all wonderful...

i forgot to say,that by far and away the nicest way to get there is on the train from Singapore from the main international railway station,a great victorian edifice....it costs very little and is much less frantic than the causeway which is full of the discreetly charming middle class of singapore driving back from their grocery shopping expeditions in JB and can get slow at certain times of day

Anyone know approx how much a cab from Changi airport to Johor Bahru Hyatt / Pan Pacific would run?

Thanks!

If you have a couple of days consider Tioman Island in Malaysia. Easy to get to from SIN.

EastWest and others - I would be interested in your suggestions about how to spend 3-4 days away from Singapore aroudn Feb or March. Jakarta, Bali and Malayasia all interest me. Thanks