Bringing booze to Malaysia?
 

Tomorrow I'm flying PNH-KUL-PEN. The friend I am visiting in Penang has requested a bottle of spirits and I'm wondering what is the best way to do it. I won't be checking bags and was wondering if I can buy a bottle at the PNH airport and bring it through KUL onto my next flight to PEN if the bottle is still in the bag? I'm flying Air Asia so I will be going through the LCCT and the flights are not connecting.

Or, does it make more sense to buy the bottle in the airport in KUL or PEN? I think Malaysia is one of those countries where booze is 10x cheaper at the airport than outside, but I'm not sure. A liter in PNH is only about $12 so a very good deal!

Any fast suggestions would be appreciated.

I think there would be a limit to the amount of liquid you can take onboard and since your not carrying any checked-in luggage, might make sense to just check at the Duty free store at arrivals in the KUL LLCT. Am sure they would be able to guide you on whether to buy there itself or at the next leg PEN.

Since KUL - PEN would be a domestic flight, not sure what duty free options you'd have access to, on landing into PEN.

You are probably already in flight, but you do realize that booze in PNH is 2x the cost in town.

Some places you can order on flight for delivery to a local address where you land.

Thanks for the suggestions. Because I didn't want to check a bag and was taking Air Asia, I ended up buying the booze at KUL duty free. $20 for a liter, so about the same as the cost in Phnom Penh plus the price of adding a bag. I was allowed to take it on the KUL-PEN flight because it was domestic so no restrictions on liquids.

Depending upon what you kind of booze you bought $20 might be cheaper than you would have found it in PNH. While alcohol is dirt cheap in Cambodia the duty free prices are generally 200% of in-town prices. No joke.

Good to know the markup at the airport is so high. If I ever have to do this I'll buy at Pencil and not the airport!

One of the cheapest places in Asia to buy alcohol is Langkawi (close to PEN), as it is a duty free island.

Cheaper than Cambodia? :eek:

I have no idea about Cambodia, but Langkawi is duty free and has no airport-high-rent surcharge. Definitely cheaper than KUL duty free.

Cheaper than Cambodia and they'd start paying us to drink it!