Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
252
Star at around 7am. Just outside the train station, you can find the taxi stand, with cabs
to take you to the Kuala Kedah jetty for the ferr y ride to Kuah.
BY BUS
To be honest, I don't really recommend using this route. If you're coming from
KL, the bus ride is long and uncomfortable, catching the taxi transfer to the jetty can be
problematic, and by the time you reach the island, you'll need a vacation from your vaca-
tion. Fly or use the train. I f you're coming from Penang, the direct ferry is wonderfully
convenient, as are a few flights per day.
BY FERRY
From the jetty at Kuala Kedah, there are about five companies that provide
ferry service to the island (trip time: about 1 hr. and 45 min.; cost: RM25/$7.25/£4.50).
Ferries let you off at the main ferr y terminal in Kuah, where you can hop a taxi to y our
resort for RM20 to RM50 ($5.80-$15/£3.60-£9).
Ferries also ply between Penang and Langkawi.
Langkawi Ferry
has two early-morn-
ing ferries from Weld Quay in Georgetown for RM60 one-way ($17/£11) and RM115
round-trip ($33/£21). Call them in Penang at
&
04/264-2088
or visit their office across
from the clock tower. If you're heading from Langkawi to Penang, you can call them in
Langkawi at
&
04/966-3779.
Visitor Information
The Tourism Malaysia office is unfor tunately situated in K uah town on Jalan Persiaran
Putra, far fr om the beach ar eas. For specific queries, y ou can call them at
&
04/966-
7789.
I f y ou're arriving b y plane, ther e's another office at the airpor
t (
&
04/955-
7155
).
Getting Around
BY TAXI
Taxis generally hang ar ound at the airpor t, the main jetty , the taxi stand in
Kuah, and some major hotels. F rom anywhere in betw een, your best bet is to ask y our
hotel's concierge to call a taxi for y ou. Keep in mind, if you're going as far as one side of
the island to the other, your fare can go as high as RM50 ($15/£9).
CAR & MOTORCYCLE RENTAL
At the airpor t and fr om agents in the complex
behind the main jetty, car rentals can be arranged star ting at RM80 ($23/£14) per day .
This is for the standar d, no-frills model—actually, mine was mor e reminiscent of some
of the junkers I dr ove throughout college, but it still got me ar ound. Insurance policies
are lax, as ar e rental regulations. My rental guys seemed mor e concerned with my pass-
port documents than with my driv er's license. I f you're out on the beach at Cenang or
Tengah, a fe w places r ent jeeps and motor cycles fr om RM80 ($23/£14) and RM30
($8.70/£5.40) per day, respectively. Pick a good helmet.
Note:
If you have an accident,
you could be responsible for all repairs, but resorts usually rent cars that are insured.
BY FOOT
The main beaches at Cenang and Tengah can be walked quite nicely; ho w-
ever, don't expect to be able to walk ar ound to other parts of the island.
Fast Facts: Langkawi
The only major
bank
branches are located far fr om the beach ar eas, in K uah, mostly
around the blocks acr oss the str eet from the N ight Hawker Center (off J alan Persiaran
Putra)—there is an A TM at the airpor t. Moneychangers keep long hours out at P antai
Cenang and Pantai Tengah, but for other resorts you'll have to change your money at the
resort. Along the Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah main road, you'll find at least a half-
dozen small
Internet
places.
13
