Passengers going to the LCCT now have more options instead of the 1 hour bus ride! KLIA Express has recently launched a train service to LCCT which will stop at Salak Tinggi station where dedicated buses will be waiting to take passengers to the LCCT terminal.

The train service will depart from KL Sentral where a one way ticket to Salak Tinggi costs RM12.50 and a return is RM22 for adults and RM6 and RM11, respectively, for children.

However, for a limited time only up to 30 September, KLIA Express is giving away 5,000 free tickets from KL Sentral to Salak Tinggi station for travel between 1 October 2009 to 19 November 2009. Simply register on their website here for your free ticket!

I tried to register for one, unfortunately, was told that tickets were not available for my selected date. Hopefully you have better luck!

How many times have you groaned at long transits between your flights and wish there was somewhere you could go while waiting without paying an arm and a leg?

Well, thanks to the people behind Yo! Sushi, there is now an interesting and affordable option to wait out long transits in the form of Yotel. Read on about Yotel’s unique accommodation concept below!

What is Yotel?

Yotel is an innovative accommodation concept modelled after luxury airline travel and Japanese capsule hotels to provide affordable and comfortable accommodation for travellers in transit or brief overnight airport stays. Currently, Yotel is available at London Heathrow Airport Terminal 4, London Gatwick Airport South Terminal and Amsterdam Schiphol airports.

What Are Yotel Cabins Like?

Yotel offers a variety of cabins for different prices – premium cabins, standard cabins, twin cabins and specially designed cabins for those requiring wheelchair access.

Each standard little capsule is comfortably decorated with comfortable luxury bedding, hot water showers, working desk, free internet access, soft cosy lighting and a flat screen TV. Premium cabins come equipped like first class seats where beds recline with a touch of a button, overhead rain shower and all little touches you can expect to find in a 4-star hotel room. Yotel cabins provide a nice little haven of sanctuary and peace in a busy airport!

How Much Do Yotel Cabins Cost?

Yotel cabins can be booked online or in their check-in kiosks available at selected airports. Bookings are available for a minimum of 4 hours and start at booking from as little as £40 for a premium or Twin cabin and £25 for a standard cabin at YOTEL Gatwick & YOTEL Heathrow. Prices at YOTEL Schiphol are also based on a minimum price for a four hour booking from as little as €60 for a premium or Twin cabin and €35 for a standard cabin. The prices per hour thereafter are from as little as £6.50 at YOTEL Gatwick & YOTEL Heathrow and from €8 at YOTEL Schiphol per hour in a standard cabin.

So if you are looking for an affordable and good way to spend your transit hours without booking an overpriced and miserable day room, try Yotel!

Its the school holidays! If you are wondering where you can take your family without breaking the bank, why not take a short trip down south to take advantage of Singapore’s fantastic Half Price Singapore Surprise specially for Malaysians?

The Great Singapore Sale 2009

The Great Singapore Sale is back and its better than ever! Like last year, Malaysians get to enjoy a whooping 50% off attractions or pay the RM equivalent for Singapore’s top tourist attractions! Can’t wait to find out what they are? Read on below for a complete list of the attractions you simply cannot miss!

Half-Priced Singapore Attractions

Singapore Zoo And Safari Attractions

• Singapore Zoo – Visit the amazing Singapore zoo for rock bottom prices! Adults: RM18, Child (3-12 yrs old): RM9.
• Singapore Night Safari – Don’t miss the unique Night Safari. Adults: RM22, Child (3-12 yrs old): RM11.
• Jurong Birdpark – Catch feathered friends at the finest bird park in the world. Adults: RM18, Child (3-12 yrs old): RM9.

Discover Science at Singapore Science Centre

• Science Centre + 40 min IMAX Movie - Rediscover science and catch a movie on the 5-storey high IMAX screen. Adult RM16, Child (3-12 yrs old) RM8.
• Science Centre + Snow City – Or chill out in sub-zero temperatures! Adult RM18, Child (3-12 yrs old) RM15

Ultimate Sentosa Island Package

• 7-in-1 Sentosa Island Package – Ride a Segway, a virtual rollercoaster and a mini train, tour the Merlion and have your photo taken, fight in a virtual shoot-out and enjoy the Songs of the Sea multi-sensory show. Adult/Child RM91 

Singapore Excursions You Cannot Miss

• Captain Explorer DUKw Tour – Go from land to water in an authentic revamped WWII amphibious boat. Adults: RM29.90, Children: RM20.65.
• City & Cultural Open Top FUNVEEtour – Explore Singapore in a fun open-roof top bus. Adults: RM19.90, Children: RM15.90.
• TOPless HiPPO City Sightseeing – Unlimited hop off and hop on all across Singapore. Adult RM23, Child (3-12 yrs old) RM13.
• HiPPO River Cruise – Check out Singapore’s newest theme tour attraction at the Singapore River. Adult RM15, Child (3-12 yrs old) RM9.
• Original Singapore DUCKtours – Unique land and sea touring adventure on the genuine Vietnam War craft. Adult RM33, Child (3-12 yrs old) RM17, Toddler RM2.
• Singapore Cable Car – Enjoy exhilarating cable car rides. Adult RM18.90, Child RM9.50
• Singapore Flyer – Ride the famous Singapore flyer. Adult RM29.50, Child S$20.65

More details and attractions available here.

There’s no better time to visit Singapore! However, do remember some smart holiday tips before you start your trip.

Happy Holidays!

Credits

Bus and taxi fares are set to soar 30% to 50% very soon, as early as next month!

Nazri said the starting fare for taxis would increase from RM2 to RM3 for the first kilometre and from 10 sen to 13 sen for every subsequent 150m.

He said that when a taxi was stationary, such as during a traffic jam, the proposed rate was 13 sen for every 27 seconds, more than a 100% increase from the 10 sen for every 45 seconds.

Although Nazri declined to reveal the proposed fare increase for buses, sources indicated that the rise would be around 30%. (source)

Is this fair? Read on below.

Clear Signs of Inflation

The majority of the public who take public transport are often those who can’t afford to drive and definitely cannot afford to fork out an additional 50% more for their fares to take them from their workplace and back.

With these hikes, their meagre salaries will be squeezed much further as inflation once again rears its ugly head in an already depressed economy.

Increased Fares For Terrible Service

If you have recently taken the public transport, you will realise that we will soon be paying increased fare for very substandard services.

Our buses are all dirty and wheeze black smoke everywhere on the roads. They have probably not been serviced for more than 10 years and the drivers are often reckless, weaving in and out on the roads and stopping wherever they feel like it. Our buses do not even run on a schedule so be prepared to wait for ages to catch your bus under dirty and poorly maintained bus stops.

Taxis are not better with rundown Protons servicing KL and errant taxi drivers who refuse to use the metre and demand exorbitant rates instead. Safety is another big issue as too many molest and rape cases by taxi drivers to their female passengers have gone unreported.

Before any hikes are proposed, the Government should seriously look into improving these services and giving the public their money’s worth before stealing from the poor man on the street. Perhaps we should start preparing ourselves for train fares and petrol hikes next!

If you were disappointed to see only domestic free tickets offered by Air Asia yesterday, fret not because they have extended their free tickets offer to international flights!

Book now for travel valid from 5 Jan to 30 April 2010 and enjoy flights as cheap as RM111 one way to Melbourne! Can you beat that?!

Hurry now!

The Free AirAsia sale is back! I wouldn’t really call it free as you still have to pay the administrative charges and airport taxes, nevertheless, it is a cheap way to travel if you are thinking of taking a holiday in 2010 and can plan this far in advance.

A million free seats are up for grabs to domestic destinations only for travel from Jan 5 to April 30, 2010. Go online and book today!

New car park rates have been implemented in The Gardens, Mid Valley Megamall! Effective 2 Feb 2009, the Premier Zone will now cost RM5 for the first 3 hours on weekdays and a whopping RM7 on the weekends!

Now for the million dollar question…how many of you are willing to pay RM5 for the first 3 hours of parking there? Or would you rather circle round and round to look for a parking lot in the cheaper zones?

Leave your comments below!

Which offers the better deal?

Malaysia Airlines Travel Fair

The MAS Travel Fair allows travel between 17 February to 30 September which is really good for those who are planning a holiday during the coming March school holidays!

Unfortunately, the no fuel surcharge policy applies to only domestic routes for now so do be prepared to pay a bit more for fuel surcharge and other miscellaneous charges.

AirAsia 500,000 Free Seats

On the other hand, Air Asia’s free seat promotion allows travel from only 12 Oct 2009 to 31 Jan 2010. Though good it does make it a tiny bit harder to plan especially if you are working and have trouble taking leave.

One good thing about AirAsia is that they have totally cut their fuel surcharge on both domestic and international routes so you can look forward to cheaper fares on them.

Read more below to find how MAS Travel Fair compares against AirAsia’s free seats.

MAS vs AirAsia

It is interesting to note that AirAsia’s free seats deal starts just after the end of the MAS Travel Fair which means consumers have the best deals as they can be assured of cheap fares whenever they travel!

A quick check between the two revealed that a planned trip in August was almost the same price for both the airlines, with Airasia just being a tiny bit cheaper as it is not within their promotional period. If this is the case, then Malaysia Airlines is recommended simply for the additional comfort you get for pretty much the same price. Imagine not having to jostle with crowds for boarding and all the food and water you can drink during your flight!

However, if you are planning a trip during Airasia’s promotional travel period, then go with AirAsia’s free ticket promotion because MAS definitely cannot compare with their great deals. In that case, the crowds and Pak Naseer’s Nasi Lemak is a small price to pay for savings of a few hundred ringgit!

So, plan your trips wisely this year and you stand to get great savings on your airtickets! Now, everyone can fly…even in an economic recession.

Photo credits

Are you tired of paying expensive airfares and fuel surcharges?

Or are you fed up of paying cheaper fares and having to rush to board and fly without food or water?

Well, if you are, read how a South African airline is offering an alternative to its passengers…simply pay by the minute!

Read more below for some light-hearted fun on how to save money on airline tickets!

Airtime Airlines takes to the sky later this month, offering three flights a day from its base in Durban to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Passengers purchase minutes much like they would for a prepaid cell phone and redeem them for a ticket. Fees are assessed according to the length of the flight — say, 75 minutes for the run from Durban to Johannesburg — and could save as much as half of what competing airlines charge. (source)

And you don’t even have to worry about paying premium prices for water and food because the airlines is offering complimentary snacks, drinks and amenities as part of its competitive strategy!

What an interesting concept! Can you imagine how much it will cost you to fly to London?!

I thought it was too until I read the fine print and it is absolutely true!

With a purchase of a XD 42″ full High Definition LCD TV or a Samsung 40″ Full HD LCD TV, MBF credit cards is giving its cardholders a guaranteed free 8D/7N holiday accommodation package from 200 resorts in 30 countries!

Read to find out more!

MBF Cardmembers have the option of buying the 42″ and 40″ HD LCD TVs in a single payment option or in interest free installments for these TVs which cost RM3,599 and RM4,599 respectively. In return, they will be given a voucher entitling them to an 8D/7N resort stay for 4 in just about anywhere in the world!

Isn’t this great especially if you have been looking for a new TV?

Imagine partying in Ibiza, shopping in London or skiing on the Swiss slopes! The voucher is valid for one year and is absolutely free with no hidden charges. All you have to do is to purchase your plane ticket and you’re off on your holiday!

With great deals like these, Malaysians no longer have to sacrifice their holidays and leisure trips!

Find out more here.