Asia > Malaysia > Johor Bahru
| Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Johor Bahru car hire advice, please use the comments form below. |
Quick Ratings
Price band:
Johor Bahru is in car rental price band: 3/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)
General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Johor Bahru?
Yes. Car rental is good value.
Volatility:
Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Johor Bahru between the peak and the off peak season?
3/10 (0 = stable prices)
Driving score: 5/10
Non car score:6/10
Balance: 7
(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)
General comment -
Why? Visiting Johor Bahru using a hire car
Why do you need a car in Johor Bahru ?
Why not? Visiting Johor Bahru without a car
Why don't you need a car in Johor Bahru ?
Ratings: How does Johor Bahru compare?
Is it worth hiring a car in Johor Bahru? TBC
This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Johor Bahru, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.
How does this compare if:
You are travelling:
Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc
Does car rental make sense on different budgets?
Do you need to hire a car in Johor Bahru? TBC
This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Johor Bahru (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".
Should you rent a car in Johor Bahru? TBC
This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.
See global comparisons
Hiring | Driving | Parking
Trains | Buses | Local travel
Car hire basics:
Public transportation basics:
Regular bus services: YES
Coach (inter-city): YES
Tram: NO
Metro: NO
Commuter Rail:
High Speed Rail:
Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):
As you start ....
Does Johor Bahru airport have a direct rail link?
(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No
Changelog
Has our advice for Johor Bahru car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?
2017 - 6
2019 - 6
2021 - 7
Average score - 7
Notes:
Summary
Do you or don't you need a car in Johor Bahru ?
Kota Kinabalu
Asia > Malaysia > Kota Kinabalu
| Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Kota Kinabalu car hire advice, please use the comments form below. |
Quick Ratings
Price band:
Kota Kinabalu is in car rental price band: 7/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)
General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Kota Kinabalu?
No. Car rental is expensive by global standards.
Volatility:
Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Kota Kinabalu between the peak and the off peak season?
5/10 (0 = stable prices)
Driving score: 2/10
Non car score:4/10
Balance: 2
(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)
General comment -
Why? Visiting Kota Kinabalu using a hire car
Why do you need a car in Kota Kinabalu ?
Why not? Visiting Kota Kinabalu without a car
Why don't you need a car in Kota Kinabalu ?
Ratings: How does Kota Kinabalu compare?
Is it worth hiring a car in Kota Kinabalu? TBC
This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Kota Kinabalu, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.
How does this compare if:
You are travelling:
Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc
Does car rental make sense on different budgets?
Do you need to hire a car in Kota Kinabalu? TBC
This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Kota Kinabalu (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".
Should you rent a car in Kota Kinabalu? TBC
This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.
See global comparisons
Hiring | Driving | Parking
Trains | Buses | Local travel
Car hire basics:
Public transportation basics:
Regular bus services: YES
Coach (inter-city): YES
Tram: NO
Metro: NO
Commuter Rail:
High Speed Rail:
Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):
As you start ....
Does Kota Kinabalu airport have a direct rail link?
(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No
Changelog
Has our advice for Kota Kinabalu car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?
2017 - 4
2019 - 4
2021 - 2
Average score - 3
Notes:
Summary
Do you or don't you need a car in Kota Kinabalu ?
There’s no need for a hire car if you just plan on staying in a resort and heading into the centre of Kota Kinabalu. Plenty of buses and taxis are availablein and around the city.
In & around Kota Kinabalu
Further afield
[james]
I visited Borneo back in 1990, and I have to say that the state of Sabah is one of the few places I have visited that has a railway system, but that I didn’t manage to use. Granted, I was on a tour at the time, so I didn’t have a chance, and the system has also been cut back from Kota Kinabalu to Tanjung Aru.
North Borneo Railway
When I have the chance to go back again, there’s no doubt that I will go on this jungle railway, and I’m tempted by the option of going rafting at the same time! However, I don’t think the option to see the line in it’s full glory should be confused with the tourist line, which costs RM 345, and only goes as far as Papar. That price might include gourmet meals and free transfers if you are staying at the Sutera Harbour resort which promotes the line, but it misses out on the best of the line, which is the stretch below Beaufort, where it clings to the sides of the muddy river.
Now although you can’t do it in a day, a return trip on the whole stretch of the line is going to set you back a mere RM 15.10, so you could make the trip 23 times for the price of the luxury tourist train!
I’ve listed a few blogs which detail this line, although all were written around five years ago. Seat 61 has some excellent information on booking trains between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, but there doesn’t seem to be a way to book this trip online. Bearing in mind that it’s basically treated as a regional service, turning up on the day should be fine – but allow plenty of time to get to the station and buy your ticket, as there is only one option to cover the whole line each day.
[jamesend]
Links
- North Borneo Railway photos and guide
- Whitewater Rafting – using the railway
- Tenom by rail – blog.
- Sutera Harbour – for the tourist train.
Should you rent a car in Kota Kinabalu? Verdict – no
Kuala Lumpur
Asia > Malaysia > Kuala Lumpur
| Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Kuala Lumpur car hire advice, please use the comments form below. |
Quick Ratings
Price band:
Kuala Lumpur is in car rental price band: 2/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)
General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Kuala Lumpur?
Yes. Very cheap car rental by global standards.
Volatility:
Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Kuala Lumpur between the peak and the off peak season?
5/10 (0 = stable prices)
Driving score: 4/10
Non car score:7/10
Balance: 6
(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)
General comment -
Car hire prices have reduced over time. Reviewed to suggest hiring a car and dricing around Peninsular Malaysia + to Penang.
Kuala Lumpur is an intriguing mix of modern skyscrapers and American style suburban sprawl. There’s a healthy balance between downtown and out-of-town places of interest. So what is the best way to make the most of this Malaysian metropolis?
Why? Visiting Kuala Lumpur using a hire car
Why do you need a car in Kuala Lumpur ?
Why is it worth hiring a car in Kuala Lumpur?
Ultimately, unless you are already planning on a longer road trip with multiple days on the road and away from KL, the choice about getting a hire car in Kuala Lumpur is still going to be a relatively marginal one.
Why not? Visiting Kuala Lumpur without a car
Why don't you need a car in Kuala Lumpur ?
If you are looking at options based on using public transport for your time in Kuala Lumpur and then getting a hire car for onward travel elsewhere in Peninsular Malaysia, then look carefully at car-rental prices between the different city centre outlets. However there should be no need to go all the way back out Kuala Lumpur International Airport just to get an decent car rental deal. Instead, you may well find the same deals at Subang airport, which is much closer to the city centre.
[james]
Multi-city trips – best by other means!
Needless to say, if you are looking at a multi-destination south-east Asian trip, we certainly wouldn’t advise hiring a car in Kuala Lumpur and trying to drive it anywhere near Singapore, although you might look at a one-way rental to Johor Bahru. We will also not recommend driving across into southern Thailand, where there are security issues around that border. Furthermore, as far as travel destinations are concerned, the peninsular Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah in Borneo are very much separate entities.
If you are looking at visiting Kuala Lumpur for the first time, then it would be completely natural to compare the city with other relatively nearby major Asian capitals like Singapore or Bangkok. Your first thoughts of this city may well be of enormous skyscrapers, with the landmark twin Petronas Towers, formerly the tallest buildings in the world, being the most prominent mental image. However, the geography of KL is quite different when compared to some other more densely packed cities in the region.
Modern metros but still chronic congestion?
It’s true to say that Kuala Lumpur does have a sleek and modern metro system, much of it elevated above ground level, but public transport is still relatively poor for a city of this size. Moreover, following rapid economic growth in the 1980s and 1990s, the city of Kuala Lumpur sprawled massively around an extensive highway network, giving it a feel that in many respects has more in common with giant Texan oil cities like Houston or Dallas, than it does with many other Asian megacities.
To the south of the city, out towards the main Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) you will also find the technology focused new town of Putra Jaya, a location which might have some expansive parks, but which is also ultimately built around the car.
Is it worth hiring a car in Kuala Lumpur? So does the way KL is laid out make it a natural place to want to hire a car, especially when the roads are of a generally good standard?
Well this is really going to depend very much on what you are here to see and do – if you are just passing through Kuala Lumpur before heading somewhere else, or if you are simply here to see the major urban attractions that the city itself has to offer, then there’s still really not much point in going to the hassle or expense of hiring a car, especially if you are going to need to leave it in one of the city’s giant parking garages.
One of the most impressive natural attractions in the area around Kuala Lumpur is the Batu cave complex, but these are very easily reached at the end of a brief suburban train journey from Kuala Lumpur. [jamesend]
Ratings: How does Kuala Lumpur compare?
Is it worth hiring a car in Kuala Lumpur? TBC
This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Kuala Lumpur, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.
How does this compare if:
You are travelling:
Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc
Does car rental make sense on different budgets?
Do you need to hire a car in Kuala Lumpur? TBC
This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Kuala Lumpur (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".
Should you rent a car in Kuala Lumpur? TBC
This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.
See global comparisons
Hiring | Driving | Parking
Trains | Buses | Local travel
Car hire basics:
Public transportation basics:
Regular bus services: YES
Coach (inter-city): YES
Tram: NO
Metro: NO
Commuter Rail:
High Speed Rail:
Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):
As you start ....
Does Kuala Lumpur airport have a direct rail link?
(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No
Changelog
Has our advice for Kuala Lumpur car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?
2017 - 3
2019 - 4
2021 - 6
Average score - 5
Notes:
Asia > Malaysia > Miri
| Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Miri car hire advice, please use the comments form below. |
Quick Ratings
Price band:
Miri is in car rental price band: 7/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)
General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Miri?
No. Car rental is expensive by global standards.
Volatility:
Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Miri between the peak and the off peak season?
5/10 (0 = stable prices)
Driving score: 1/10
Non car score:3/10
Balance: 2
(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)
General comment -
Why? Visiting Miri using a hire car
Why do you need a car in Miri ?
Why not? Visiting Miri without a car
Why don't you need a car in Miri ?
The town of Miri itself is compact enough. Although its bustling by Borneo standards, this is no Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur. It’s perfectly easy to get between the major hotels on foot, or by taxi if necessary. There are also enough buses scooting around to travel along the coast, and also into neighbouring Brunei. Having said that, despite extensive deforestation, there are still very few roads heading inland anyway, so the main way in and out of Miri by land is the travel along the coast.
Ratings: How does Miri compare?
Is it worth hiring a car in Miri? TBC
This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Miri, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.
How does this compare if:
You are travelling:
Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc
Does car rental make sense on different budgets?
Do you need to hire a car in Miri? TBC
This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Miri (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".
Should you rent a car in Miri? TBC
This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.
See global comparisons
Hiring | Driving | Parking
Trains | Buses | Local travel
Car hire basics:
Public transportation basics:
Regular bus services: YES
Coach (inter-city): YES
Tram: NO
Metro: NO
Commuter Rail:
High Speed Rail:
Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):
As you start ....
Does Miri airport have a direct rail link?
(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No
Changelog
Has our advice for Miri car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?
2017 - 2
2019 - 3
2021 - 2
Average score - 2
Notes:
The real reason for coming into Miri in the first place must surely be to head into the jungle, and in particular to trek into the Mulu caves. The best way to reach this area is to travel by river, and a variety of fast boat and slower local services is available. So there really is not much point in getting a hire car here, so our Miri car hire advice is not to bother.
Summary
Do you or don't you need a car in Miri ?
Asia > Malaysia > Penang
| Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Penang car hire advice, please use the comments form below. |
Quick Ratings
Price band:
Penang is in car rental price band: 5/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)
General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Penang?
Sometimes. Economy rental prices are average by global standards.
Volatility:
Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Penang between the peak and the off peak season?
5/10 (0 = stable prices)
Driving score: 4/10
Non car score:2/10
Balance: 3
(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)
General comment -
It’s easy enough to reach Penang by land and sea from Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur, for example, by taking the train to Butterworth and then taking a ferry from there, or by taking a bus across the bridge into Georgetown.
Why? Visiting Penang using a hire car
Why do you need a car in Penang ?
Penang also has its own airport, and you should have no problem hiring a car here – the roads in Malaysia are amongst the safest in Asia, and some of them are spectacularly engineered.
Why not? Visiting Penang without a car
Why don't you need a car in Penang ?
Penang is an easy enough place to get around using local buses, but a hire car can also be useful for heading back into the mainland and then driving into the rainforest to the east.
Should you rent a car in Penang? It’s far from essential, but it might be worth looking into.
Ratings: How does Penang compare?
Is it worth hiring a car in Penang? TBC
This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Penang, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.
How does this compare if:
You are travelling:
Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc
Does car rental make sense on different budgets?
Do you need to hire a car in Penang? TBC
This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Penang (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".
Should you rent a car in Penang? TBC
This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.
See global comparisons
Hiring | Driving | Parking
Trains | Buses | Local travel
Car hire basics:
Public transportation basics:
Regular bus services: YES
Coach (inter-city): YES
Tram: NO
Metro: NO
Commuter Rail:
High Speed Rail:
Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):
As you start ....
Does Penang airport have a direct rail link?
(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No
Changelog
Has our advice for Penang car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?
2017 - 6
2019 - 6
2021 - 3
Average score - 5
Notes:
Summary
Do you or don't you need a car in [table “1” does not have that cell /]
?