Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Accessible Journeys
(
800-846 4537;
www.disabilitytravel.com
) In the US.
Mobility International USA
(
541-343 1284;
www.miusa.org
)
In the US.
Nican
(
02-6241 1220;
www.nican.com.au
) In Australia.
Tourism For All
(
0845 124 9971;
www.tourismforall.org.uk
) In the UK.
Visas
Visitors must have a passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry. You may also be asked to provide
proof of a ticket for onward travel and sufficient funds to cover your stay. The following gives a brief overview of the
visa requirements - full details are available on the website
www.kln.gov.my
.
Citizens of Israel cannot enter Malaysia. Nationals of most other countries are given a 30- or 60-day visa on arrival,
depending on the expected length of stay. As a general rule, if you arrive by air you will be given 60 days automatically,
though coming overland you may be given 30 days unless you specifically ask for a 60-day permit.
Visa Extensions
Depending on your nationality, it may be possible to extend your visa at an immigration office in KL, Melaka or Penang
for an additional one or two months. Extensions tend to be granted only for genuine emergencies. It's normally easier to
hop across the border to Thailand, Singapore or Indonesia and re-enter the country - this counts as a new visit, even if
you re-enter the same day.
Women Travellers
The key to travelling with minimum hassle in Malaysia is to blend in with the locals, which means dressing modestly
and being respectful, especially in areas of stronger Muslim religious sensibilities. Regardless of what local non-Muslim
women wear, it's better to be safe than sorry - we've had reports of attacks on women ranging from minor verbal ag-
gravation to physical assault. Hard as it is to say, the truth is that women are much more likely to have problems in
Malay-dominated areas, where attitudes are more conservative.
In Malay-dominated areas you can halve your hassles just by tying a bandanna over your hair (a minimal concession
to the headscarf worn by most Muslim women). When visiting mosques, cover your head and limbs with a headscarf
and sarong (many mosques lend these at the entrance). At the beach, most Malaysian women swim fully clothed in T-
shirts and shorts, so don't even think about going topless.
Be proactive about your own safety. Treat overly friendly strangers, both male and female, with a good deal of cau-
tion. In cheap hotels check for small peepholes in the walls and doors; when you have a choice, stay in a Chinese-oper-
ated hotel. On island resorts, stick to crowded beaches, and choose a chalet close to reception and other travellers. After
dark, take taxis and avoid walking alone in quiet or seedy parts of town.
