1) When to visit

Travel is possible year - round, as it has no defined seasonal weather patterns.

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2) Weather

Langkawi is very warm and humid temperatures ranging from 25c to 35c. Prickly
heat sometimes happen - to avoid it, keep cool, bathing often, dry the skin using
prickly heat powder or resorting to air-conditioning.

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3) Clothing

Light cotton clothes and natural fibres are essential. Do not forget the sun block, sunglasses and hat. It is advisable to travel light, bring as little with you as possible because clothes are readily available at very reasonable price.

At the beach, most Malaysian women swim fully clothes in t-shirts and shorts
(do not go topless - wear swimming suit). It is wise for visitors to be appropriately discreet in dress and behaviour.

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4) Electricity

Electricity supplies are reliable throughout the island. Power supply is 220 to 240v at 50Hz cycle. Most outlets use the three-pin flat pronged plugs and most hotels also have 110v shaving sockets. International conversion socket/plug could
be borrowed from most hotel or you could purchased it from many shops around
the island.

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5) Time Difference

Langkawi is 8 hours ahead of GMT and 16 hours ahead of US Pacific Standard time.

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6) Money Matters

The Malaysian dollar is the Ringgit ( abbreviated to RM ). It is worth 100 sen. Bank notes come in several denominations: RM1 (blue), RM2 (purple), RM5 (green), RM10 (red), RM50 (bluish green) and RM100(purple). Coins come in
denominations: R M1, 50sen, 20sen, 10sen, 5sen and 1sen. The Ringgit is fixed at
RM 3.80 to 1USD currently.

Seven major banks are available in Langkawi: Namely Maybank, Public Bank,
RHB Bank, Bumiputera Commerce, Perwira Affin Bank, Bank Islam and Bank
Simpanan Nasional. Most ATM's are linked to international banking networks
such as Cirrus, Maestro and Plus and not forgetting Visa and Mastercard
allowing withdrawal from overseas accounts easy.ATM's are available at the
Langkawi Airport, Kuah Town and the Jetty Point Shopping Complex.

License Moneychangers can be found all over the island namely : Langkawi International Airport, Jetty Point Complex, Kuah Town, Pantai Chenang, Padang Matsirat, Langkawi Fair. Banks and most hotel do provide money changing facilities.

Credit card such as American Express, Diners Club, Master Card and Visa Card are widely accepted.

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7) How not to offend

Pointing with the forefinger, pointing your feet at a person, putting up feet on the table or touching a person's head is considered rude.

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8) Medical

Registered medical practitioners and qualified dental surgeons clinics are available at Padang Matsirat (near Langkawi Airport) and Kuah Town.
Registered pharmacists also available at Kuah Town and controlled drugs are sold only by prescription. Many hotels have doctors on call to treat emergencies. The government hospital is fully-equipped and has intensive care units to cope with any medical crisis.

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9) Working Hours

Government Business Hours
From 8.00 am to 4.30 pm Saturday to Wednesday
From 8.00 am to 1.00 pm Thursday
- Off Day - Friday
(1st week and 3rd week of the month) OFF Day - Saturday

Bank Business Hours
From 10.00 am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday
From 9.30 am to 11.30 am Saturday
- Off Day - Sunday
(1st week and 3rd week of the month) OFF DAY - Saturday

Others Private sectors / Companies
From 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Saturday to Wednesday
From 8.00 am to 1.30 pm Thursday
- Off Day - Friday
(1st week and 3rd week of the month) OFF DAY - Saturday

Department Stores / Shopping Complexes / Shops / Travel Agencies mostly open daily.

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10) Internet Access / E-mail

Internet cafés are available almost everywhere. The charges range from RM3.00 to RM10.00 per hour. Some outlets are using dial-up and there are also using digital line eg. ISDN. If you are using you own computer / machine, take note that most phone jacks here accept standard - wired RJ11 plugs. Most hotels provide internet access facilities.

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11) Photography and Video

The locals have no antipathy to being photographed, however, it is polite to ask permission before photographing people or taking pictures in mosques or temples.

Colour films and slide films are available and can be developed instantly and at good prices. There are few shops that's do digital prints and digital imaging services such as CD copying, CD storage ect. There are photo shops with wide range of equipments and at reasonable prices too. Please note that Malaysia uses
PAL video systems. For more reliable and professional service it is advisable to
visit Di-Shoppe (the leading camera and photography shop). It has three
branches located at the Jetty Point Shopping Complex, Kuah Town center and at
the Langkawi Airport. (www.di-shoppe.com)

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12) Dining

There are varieties of food you can choose - be it Western, local Malay, Chinese, Indian, Japanese or Thai. All these can be found served at hotels, fine dinning restaurants, street stalls or hawkers. Hawkers normally come alive every evening on most street corners. The quality of food, however, has nothing to do with where it is served.

Hawker food is something no visitor should miss. This is because not only they serve a variety of authentic local dishes, but, prices are also very reasonable.

Open-air hawker centres are scattered all over the island, however, the town centre area operates late until 2 to 3am (opposite the Condo Istana, Jalan Penarak,Kuah or opposite the Tiara Hotel near Kuah). There are also a good
range of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks and fast food outlets are available at
Kuah Town eg. McDonald, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Kenny Rogers.

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13) Safety and Security

Langkawi is not a theft - prone district. In fact, compared with Indonesia, Thailand or Philippines, it is extremely safe here. The island lifestyle has been very easy going and relaxed. People are friendly and helpful. However, it pays to
keep a close eye on your belonging, especially your travel documents. Most hotels
have safe boxes.

The emergency number for police is 999, ambulance is 991 and fire department is 994.

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14) Language

The official language is Bahasa Malaysia, however English is commonly used and spoken by all. Besides the two languages, there are also Chinese, Tamil and Thai. The locals are very friendly and helpful should there be any problem with language.

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15) Telephone

You can direct-dial long distance calls from local payphone, IDD phone in convenience store's and from the hotels. Local calls cost 10 sen for 3 minutes. Payphones are available all over the island. These payphones take coins and plastic cards. The card phone comes in denominations of RM10, RM20, RM50 and RM100.

To make an IDD call from a payphone, you just dial the international access code, "00" followed by the your country code and area code and number or you may
arrange reverse charge calls .

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16) Post

Malaysia has an efficient postal system with good poste restante at the major post offices. Post Office available at Padang Matsirat (near Langkawi Airport) and Kuah Town (the Headquarters). Operation hours from 8am to 5pm. It closes on Friday and Public Holidays. Aerogram and Postcards cost 50sen to any destinations.

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17) Transportation

There are several flights daily from KLIA to Langkawi, Penang to Langkawi and Singapore to Langkawi and vice-versa. You can take Malaysia Airlines Systems,
Air Asia or Silk Air. The Island airport is an international status.

Ferries services are also available from Penang, Kuala Kedah, Kuala Perlis and Satun, Thailand to Langkawi and vice-versa. Ferry terminal at Langkawi is located at Jetty Point Complex, Kuah Town.

At the moment, there is no public buses service and taxi is the main way of getting around. But the easiest way to get around is to hire a car or motorcycle or even bicycle. The vehicles can be rented cheaply from the local registered travel agents or the beach resorts. You can do a leisurely circuit of the island in a day. The roads are excellent and easy riding.

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18) Driving in Langkawi

Cars in Langkawi and Malaysia are right hand drive. When driving on the road, always keep to the left side of the road. Roads in Langkawi are good and well maintain.

Do not forget to fasten your seat belts as it's mandatory to do so for the driver and front passenger. For motorcyclist, you are required to wear helmets.

Do be careful of Buffalows while on Langkawi road as buffalos tend to cross the road or walk along the streets.

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