Arriving to Kuala Lumpur
KLIA - Kuala Lumpur International Airport is the main gateway to all international routes for Malaysia and the major hub for domestic flights.

Upon arrival to KLIA, you will be impressed and perhaps surprised by the size of the Main Terminal Building. At 241,000 sq. meters, KLIA was built to handle an annual capacity of 25 million passengers. The graceful curved ceilings, held up by conical pillars and conspicuous steel frames with shiny granite floors and large glass-paned walls give KLIA an very modern look compatible with the Kuala Lumpur's forward looking vision. With its look, style, amenities and facilities some travelers may find a resemblance to the airport in Hong Kong.

While many nationalities do not require a visa for short social or business visits however there are nationalities that need to obtain a visa prior to entering the country and Malaysia has specific rules for obtaining and using a visa. For more information on visa requirements click here.

Foreign nationals entering Malaysia must present a valid passport or travel documentation with a minimum validity of at least six months beyond the intended stay period. Be advised that your passport is also necessary for travel between Peninsular Malaysia and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak.

Together with your passport, you will need to present a completed Disembarkation Card, Travel Declaration Form and Customs Declaration Form to the immigration officer. With the Travel Declaration Form you are required to declare the amount of currency you are carrying. The permitted limits are detailed below.

Permitted currency limits:

	Residents and nonresidents alike are permitted to carry into and out of Malaysia Ringgit notes not exceeding RM 1,000 per person.
	There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency note and traveler's cheques carried into Malaysia by residents and nonresidents.
	A resident is permitted to carry out of Malaysia, foreign currency notes including traveler's cheques, not exceeding RM 10,000 or the equivalent thereof per person.
	A nonresident is permitted to carry out of Malaysia foreign currency notes including traveler's cheques, only up to the amount brought in.

After presenting the Disembarkation Card and TDF a thirty to sixty day permit is given to most nationalities upon arrival (see visa info). As a rule, if you arrive by flight, you will be given sixty days automatically. Coming overland though you may be given only thirty days unless you specifically ask for a 60 day permit. Extensions are obtainable at an immigration office in the country for a total stay of up to three months.

After clearing immigration you can proceed to baggage claim where luggage carts are available free of charge.

Customs Formalities
Once you have claimed your luggage, proceed to Customs area and present your "Customs Declaration" to the customs officer. Be forewarned: trafficking in illegal drugs carries a mandatory death penalty in Malaysia.

Dutiable Goods
Certain goods such as the following, imported by visitors are liable to duty: carpets, garments, clothing accessories, jewelry, chocolates, handbags, spirits and alcoholic beverages, tobacco and cigarettes (see below for more info). Visitors bringing in dutiable goods may have to pay a deposit for temporary importation, refundable on departure. To get your deposit returned the goods are to be presented at the time and place of departure together with the deposit receipts.

Exemptions on Dutiable Goods
Foreign nationals visiting Malaysia for 72 hours or less (except Labuan, 24 hours and Langkawi, 48 hours) receive a duty exemptions for the purchase of souvenirs, gifts and items intended for personal use up to a limit of RM 200.00 (RM 500.00 in Labuan and Langkawi) Items include:
Wines and spirits - up to one litre.
Tobacco - up to 225g (200 cigarettes or 50 cigars).
One pair of leather footwear.
New clothing - up to 3 pieces.
Cosmetics, personal hygiene items (not including powder, hair products).

Duty Free vs. Free Duty Goods
Duty Free Goods are items that are exempted from import duty only in designated shopping zones in Malaysia.
Free Duty Goods are goods that are free from duty nationwide all the time.
Free Duty Goods:
Free Duty items include: Cameras, perfume, cosmetics, watches and clocks, fountain pens and cigarette lighters (except plastic), computers, cameras, portable radios, carpets made of jute, fishing equipment, golf clubs (except balls) and most musical instruments.

Prohibited Goods - Below is a list of prohibited items:

	Flick knives and daggers
	Pornographic material. Taped video cassette should be submitted for clearance by Customs - as pornography is illegal in Malaysia
	A special permit is required for the carriage of firearms and ammunition.
	All passengers must declare the following items to the Plant Quarantine Office upon arrival: plant produce and plant parts including fresh plant produced and processed products, soil and growth/rooting media, insects and other organisms, microorganisms, herbarium and dried flowers. Penalty for failure to do so is up to RM 10,000 or imprisonment up to two years or both.
	Passengers arriving from South and Central America and Central Africa are required to report to the Plant Quarantine Office.

Health Regulations:
Be advised that a Yellow Fever vaccination is required for all visitors coming from Yellow Fever infected areas or endemic zones except for children under 1 year of age.

Upon passing Customs, you will pass rest rooms, duty free shops, moneychangers and ATMs etc. Exchange rates at the airport are not as good as money changers out in the city however if you do not have any local currency, you will need to change some now for the payment of the airport taxi, coaches or KL Express Train.

Just before you exit the Main Terminal Building through the glass doors to the public arrival area, you will see transportation counters. This is where you purchase your ticket(s) for airport taxis, coaches and the Kuala Lumpur Express Train (see below).

Transport Options
There are 3 modes of transportation that you can take to the city center.

Airport Coach
Airport coach buses leave every 30-35 minutes departing from the Arrival Concourse (Level 3) from 6.45pm until 12.30am. Approximate time to city is about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. Cost is RM 25.00 per person.

There are also Airport Coach minibuses that do drop-offs and pick-ups at selected downtown hotels. Whilst this is an economical option it is not for those pressed for time as Kuala Lumpur is notorious for its "traffic jams" - especially during morning and afternoon rush hours or during heavy rain. (That said, traffic jams in KL pale in comparison to those in Bangkok and Jakarta).

Taxis / Limousines
You will need to purchase a taxi voucher at one of 3 designated counters:
1. The counter in international arrival area located just after customs and before the public arrival area. The counter staff for the Airport Limo will be there to assist you.
2. The Arrival Hall by Door 3.
3. In the Domestic Baggage Claim Area (for domestic arrivals).

It is advisable to buy your voucher at one of these areas before exiting the public arrival area as there are many illegal taxi touts that will badger you for business and charge whatever they think that they can get.

There are 2 types of taxis available - Budget Taxis at RM 66.00 per one way and Premier Taxis that charge RM 91.00 per one way. Purchase your voucher and head towards the exit door number indicated on your voucher and present it to the driver waiting there.

Be advised that there will be a 30% surcharge from midnight to 6.00 am. Journey time is approximately 50-55 minutes under good traffic conditions.

KLIA Express Train
The latest addition to the pride and joy of Kuala Lumpur is the new KLIA Express Train which links to KL Stensun Sentral (Central Station (not to be confused with the old KTM Central Railway Station downtown) which is just 10 minutes from most hotels in the city centre (Golden Triangle et al.) and just slightly longer to Chinatown or PTWCC.

The trains are clean and quick. Travel time is just under one half an hour to reach KL Central Station with trains leaving every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 20 minutes during off peak hours. The last train departs KLIA at 01.00am.

Cost to take the KLIA Express is RM 35.00/per person one way between KLIA and Central Station. From Central Station you will need to take a taxi to your hotel. As at the airport, you need to buy a voucher from the Taxi Counter. Cost depends on the distance to the hotel but averages RM 12.00 - 15.00. As well there is a surcharge of RM 1.00 for each piece of luggage placed in the boot. As such, at this time taking the KLIA Express Train only pencils out for the single traveler.

Alternative Arrivals: Singapore to Kuala Lumpur
Another popular way to enter Kuala Lumpur is via Singapore. There are 2 popular, economical and, in case of trains, perhaps even romantic modes of transport you can choose from - Coach or Train.

Coach / Bus
This is very popular and economical mode of transport from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. The coaches are large and very comfortable - usually having 24 seats with 8 rows of 2 or 3 seats. Coaches operate daily with frequent departures throughout the day however expect a 90 minute holdup at Johor Bahru while clearing customs/immigration.

Total ride time is about 4-5 hours. You are dropped off at the Kuala Lumpur Stesun Sentral (however there is one operator, AeroLine that has a drop off at the Corus Hotel in the Golden Triangle). These are privately run operators and you can find them in Singapore at Golden Mile Shopping Complex on Beach Road, at Copthorne Hotel or Hotel Royal on Newton Road. Cost is approximately US$20-25 per person one way.

Trains - KTM
The national railway of Malaysia, KTM (abbreviated from Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad) operates an express train service departing Singapore three times daily. Morning, afternoon and overnight. The morning train departs Singapore at 8.30am arriving in KL at 3.00pm. The afternoon train departs Singapore 3.30pm arriving in KL at 9.30pm and the overnight train departs Singapore at 11.00pm and arrives at 6.30am.

The trains are clean and comfortable. With air-conditioned first class (known as AFC) fare only about US$25.00/adult and US$12.00/child and ASC (air-conditioned second class) running about US$10.00/adult and US$ 6.00/child it is a great way to see the countryside.

More interesting though may be the overnight train with its sleeping berths - a sleeping berth in second class will only set you back about US$ 10.00/adult. Certainly an interesting option for the budget traveler looking for a unique experience.