simond

Fellow Fodorites, my family and I (4 people) are staying 3 nights in KL in late June. We will have lots of luggage and 2 tired kids after long flight from Sydney and want to pre-book a mini-van (etc) for the transfer in from KLIA to the MO (and back). Malaysian Airlines won't help and the MO is quoting US$171 each way (GULP!). Does anyone have any suggestions - given we arrive at 10.00pm we would prefer to have a service pre-booked before we land so there are no hassles on arrival. Thanks for all suggestions.

harzer

What is MO?

I think you are best to do what everyone does and take the train up.
Trains run every 20 minutes or so from the airport and take about an hour for the trip into town. From the main station take a taxi to your hotel. All of that might set you back $US30. Do NOT pay $US171 even for a return trip.

Harzer (Adelaide)

Fenno

The train takes 30 minutes, it's about an hour by car. You may be too tired and crotchety to transfer from the train to taxis so it might be best for you to take two taxis to the Mandarin Oriental (assume this is MO?) You buy a prepaid taxi voucher just as you pass through Customs and on the way to Meet and Greet area. Trouble is I can't remember exactly what it costs - from memory it was RM90 for a limo, maybe cheaper for a taxi. They may have mini-vans available, never had to ask about that. I think that if they don't, best to just take 2 taxis on a prepaid basis and it would be fine, will definitely be far cheaper than US171 each way.

simond

thanks very much for both your responses - and "yes" Fenno, "MO" is the Mandarin Oriental (and apologies for any confusion I may have caused). We were NEVER going to pay the price quoted by the hotel - I think they must have thought I wanted to BUY the car! cheers

jchong

Wow, US$171 one way is exorbitant!! I don't know how MO thinks they can get away with quoting that much.

You can hire the airport taxi for much less - I think about US$24 one way to MO. This is for the "budget" taxi, essentially a smaller car. They have the "premium" taxi, using a larger car, for a higher charge (~US$30-35). With the amount of luggage you have I think the premium taxi would be appropriate.

I wouldn't recommend the train because you have to interchange to taxi in town. Last thing you need is to deal with the luggage after a long flight. Besides, the train fare is about US$9 per person (not including taxi transfer). With 4 pax, the taxi is cheaper.

NoFlyZone

No question about it: http://www.kliaekspres.com/web%2005%20a/exkl/E_XKL.html

We used this service last month and there is none better anywhere almost!

For RM130 for two people their free porters put you and your bags on the train. At the other end your bags are moved to a Mercedes for you and you are taken to your hotel.

jimena1

Hi NoFlyZone, I was just wondering from a previous talk that you had posted. How was your trip on Malaysia airlines. We are doing something similar and was just wondering how did it go?

Clark55

simond, we were in KL last year & had to get a taxi to the Marriott hotel in the centre of town, we were 4 adults with 4 large suitcases & 2 trolleys. We followed the advise from the experts here on the forum & went to the official taxi desk at the airport & after checking how much luggage we had they gave us a coupon & a station wagon promptly loaded up the luggage & took us to our hotel. I really can't remember what it cost us but it was very cheap compared to European prices & certainly not even near $171 (I would've fainted if they had asked me for so much.) probably not even $20
However, returning to our arrival as soon as we passed through customs & came into the arrival hall there were at least 5 people trying to convince us they were official airport staff (They were dressed very officialy with blazer & tie) & would find us a taxi for a cheap price, we kept saying we were going to the official taxi desk & they kept saying they would acompany us there but kept trying to convince us they were trying to save us money if we would follow them, as we approached the taxi desk they suddenly disappeared.