Originally Posted by EmailKid (Post 28568795)

Happy to do it.

The things you learn in Asia forum, eh ;)

Originally Posted by EmailKid (Post 28565380)

Who knows, there may be others ....

Originally Posted by EmailKid (Post 28570587)

on overnight bus from San Francisco to Los Angeles area, a 500 mile (800 Km) overnight trip with no seats but sleeping pods starting at over $100 per trip.

Originally Posted by EmailKid (Post 28570587)

overnight bus from San Francisco to Los Angeles area, a 500 mile (800 Km) overnight trip with no seats but sleeping pods starting at over $100 per trip.

Originally Posted by invisible (Post 28570824)

You can buy roundtrip flight ticket cheaper than that...

Originally Posted by SilverChris (Post 28568647)

For instance, pedestrians don't get the right of way, you can't make the equivalent of a right turn on red

Originally Posted by EmailKid (Post 28568795)

...The things you learn in Asia forum, eh ;)

Originally Posted by nov11 (Post 28570912)

I have driven in a few countries and I'd say Malaysia is one of the better developing countries to drive in (especially long distance).

Once you leave the major metropolitan areas of KL/Penang, it's a breeze to drive in unless you are caught in holiday traffic. Malaysia has well-maintained highways and signs and Malaysian drivers are generally good outside the city. If you insist on driving in KL (if you want to take a day trip to the suburbs etc.), just be prepared for aggressive drivers.

Also, I think you'd get to Butterworth a lot faster by train than driving (you'll lose flexibility on checking out some stops in between tho). Just be aware that there are automated speeding cameras (AES) along the North South Expressway to/from Penang and those tickets are pricey (google them for the camera's location).



Oppps on (the equivalent of) right turn on red in Malaysia :p Been doing that all the time :p

Depends which part of the US you drive in. I'd say LA doesn't give pedestrians the right of way either :D

Originally Posted by txflyer77 (Post 28568797)

+1 to this. Georgetown has VERY compact roads. I wouldn't try to drive through the heritage area, though the roads out towards Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi much more modern (read: wider).

Originally Posted by SilverChris (Post 28568647)

Not quite as civilised (or predictable) as what you'd find in most western countries. The roads may not be as nicely designed, many motorists treat traffic rules as suggestions, and many practices are different from what you'd find in North America.

For instance, pedestrians don't get the right of way, you can't make the equivalent of a right turn on red, motorcyclists can be erratic (hit one and you're in big trouble), and parking can be quite random (i.e, almost anywhere you like, even if it blocks an entire lane of a busy road). Plus, Malaysia and Singapore drive on the left :D

You might survive driving in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore which are more civilised, but I wouldn't try it in Georgetown unless you're used to such driving conditions.

KL and Georgetown are quite easy to navigate around without a car. Uber and Grabcar (the SE Asian competitor) are reliable and quite cheap. Getting between SIN, KUL and PEN is quite easy by train, bus or flight. I wouldn't rent a car from SIN to KUL as cross-border rentals can be quite expensive.

Originally Posted by hockeyinsider (Post 28574697)

I've driven in the West Indies, including on the left where drink driving is legal or openly tolerated (the bars give to-go cups).

What's the rental car situation like? By default, I go to Hertz but I'm open.

The train sounds best, outside flying, but there's so much more you can see by car. I'm more afraid of car-jacking or getting lost because GPS doesn't work or the signs aren't in English.

Originally Posted by hockeyinsider (Post 28574697)

By default, I go to Hertz but I'm open.

Originally Posted by invisible (Post 28575543)

Don't expect the same level of quality and/or service. It is just a 'hertz' sign run by a local company.

BTW, one feature of local car rentals - they install GPS logger in the car which records speed and then transmits data to local police in case you exceed speed. I do not know if ALL rental companies practice such thing, but AVIS at Kuching does.