Reasonable cost of driver/guide in Kuala Lumpur??
Nov 28th, 2004, 07:47 AM
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Reasonable cost of driver/guide in Kuala Lumpur??
We are arranging a driver/guide who fortunately has a new A/C car. He will be with us for 2 hours the first day, then 12 hours on day 2,3 and 4 (including waiting time while we have dinner etc.). We plan a day driving in and around KL and suburbs (to some very local antique shops where so we need his language skills) on another we will drive about 150+ miles toward the Cameron Highlands,but not the entire way which is too far. On another day we will likely travel 100 miles to the National Forest, Butu Caves and some small villages I have heard about.
Is $$450USD for this schedule including gas excessive. Since it will be hot and humid in KL itself we rather be in A/C until we get to each destination even though we will have some traffic?? Can anyone give me a frame of reference for what will be about 40 hours +/-? Thanks!
Is $$450USD for this schedule including gas excessive. Since it will be hot and humid in KL itself we rather be in A/C until we get to each destination even though we will have some traffic?? Can anyone give me a frame of reference for what will be about 40 hours +/-? Thanks!
Nov 28th, 2004, 10:14 PM
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I haven't hired a car with a driver in KL since I live here so the best I can do is to give you an idea of what we would pay for gas, drivers and cab rides in KL.
Almost all cars in Kuala Lumpur have A/C - in fact is would be quite a task to find a car or cab without A/C in KL - ok some public buses are without A/C but that's about it.
US$450 is approximately what we would pay to hire a personal driver (for your own car) for a month. Gas is approximately US$0.37 a litre.
A cab ride to the city / suburbs from the airport which takes about an hour varies from approximately US$12.50 to US$25 depending on the type of vehicle.
Almost all cars in Kuala Lumpur have A/C - in fact is would be quite a task to find a car or cab without A/C in KL - ok some public buses are without A/C but that's about it.
US$450 is approximately what we would pay to hire a personal driver (for your own car) for a month. Gas is approximately US$0.37 a litre.
A cab ride to the city / suburbs from the airport which takes about an hour varies from approximately US$12.50 to US$25 depending on the type of vehicle.
Nov 30th, 2004, 07:00 PM
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What a friend and I did was spotted a driver on the street and he came over to my friend and I and asked if we needed to go somewhere. We had him take us back to our hotel.We then remembered that we'd also seen his car in front of our hotel a few hours before we'd spotted him on the street. He seemed very nice. I asked him if he could be our private driver and he said no problem since that is what he does anyhow...along with being a taxi driver... so I negotiated a price and he ended up our driver. At that time, companies were charging US$15.00 per hour. We paid 35RM per hour...divided by 3.77 at the time...April 2001. Happy Travels!
Dec 1st, 2004, 09:59 AM
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Thanks for the input. Based on 40 hours or so the $450 US with petrol is a fair price. I know the car is a new 2003 4-door sedan he bought according to the Ritz 6 months ago but likely not a Benz.
I assume a 10% tip if he is very helpful and reliable if fair?
I assume a 10% tip if he is very helpful and reliable if fair?
Dec 1st, 2004, 07:18 PM
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Apropos of StanKase's last question, is tipping common/expected in Malaysia? This subject has cropped up in a number of threads and the answer in respect of a number of Asian countries has been "no", other than when engaged in by foreigners not familiar with local custom. I'd be interested to know what the situation is in Malaysia.
Dec 2nd, 2004, 02:16 PM
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Guenmai; I finally located Mr. Pau. He never received the letter I sent a month ago or he speaks but cannot read english. The cell number must have had 1 or 2 digits off but the head concierge at the Ritz-finally located him and he is charging 500 RM for a 10 hour day.But since I am using him for 10-12 hours on 3 days and a few hours on a 4th day I am giving him 2000 RM plus petrol for the days we are going outside the 10-15 or so mile radius of KL.
But as of now I still do not have his correct cell but will before I leave.
A question for you. I assume his spoken english is good and he is knowledeable of the sights along the way to the Cameron Highlands, National Park, Batu Caves near Genting Highlands and where to purchase quality authentic antique (200 years or older) in KL.Do the Malaysian take look positively on a Chinese guide/driver vs. a local.
I NYC you cannot find many American born taxi drivers. It is what makes NYC what it is.
But as of now I still do not have his correct cell but will before I leave.
A question for you. I assume his spoken english is good and he is knowledeable of the sights along the way to the Cameron Highlands, National Park, Batu Caves near Genting Highlands and where to purchase quality authentic antique (200 years or older) in KL.Do the Malaysian take look positively on a Chinese guide/driver vs. a local.
I NYC you cannot find many American born taxi drivers. It is what makes NYC what it is.
Dec 2nd, 2004, 05:01 PM
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Stan....You found Mr.Pau...That's great!Yippy! I've got to tell one of my best friends...the one who came along with me on the trip that time.She's asked about him. Please post his cell phone number when you get it and ask him if the address I gave you is still his correct address. I'll probably need him for summer of 2006 when a friend and I plan to take the Orient Express between Singapore and Bangkok and stop off in KL.Maybe he can drive us to Butterworth where we'll have to stop on the way to Penang. As for the places you want to go, I'm sure he'll know how to get there although I used him only for KL. But I think he's originally from Malaysia or else moved there when quite young, so he's Malaysian. His ex-wife and kids live in N.Y.He's remarried with a young child by the new wife. I think it would be best for you to research the places you want to go to and antique stores or ask the folks at the Ritz Carlton. And as for the antiques, check out the book... The Treasures and Pleasures of Malaysia and Singapore by Impact Guides. I got the antique store that I had Mr. Pau take me to out of that book. As for how old the antiques were, I don't know. It was called Ahmed Toko Antik 25/15-23 Jalan Raya Muda in Kampong Bahru...Tel.298.4258.Could you ask Mr. Pau if he got the photo I took of him standing outside the above antique store back in April 2001? I sent him a 5x7 photo, but never knew if he received it or not. I don't know how reliable the mail service is in Malaysia.I mailed thank-you gifts to three of the staff members at the Ritz Carlton, but never knew if they received their gifts either. I mailed them to their houses. We all exchanged addresses. They were a wonderful group. It was up on the 20th floor....Club Level...where the free meals(culinary presentations as they call them) were served. Happy Travels!
Dec 5th, 2004, 07:36 AM
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I just found out Mr. Pau is really only knowlegable of sights in KL and a 10 mile or so radius. We plan 2 days of long trips and he admits to not being familiar with those places other than how to get from here to there.He is 500MYR for a 10 hour day including waiting time (while you have lunch or whatever).
So the outcome is a professional driver/guide and with gas for about 32-36 hours over 3 days+. It will be 4000MYR at 3.8, as of today, to $1USD or $1050USD. A lot of money or double what I iniatially wanted to spend. That is the cost of going through the hotel. But, if the touring is at Ritz hotel standards I suppose it is worth it.
To hail a cab who says they know-it-all and then go on long uninteresting trips wastes my 3 days+ in KL outer city destinations.So I do not have Mr. Pau's cell either.
So the outcome is a professional driver/guide and with gas for about 32-36 hours over 3 days+. It will be 4000MYR at 3.8, as of today, to $1USD or $1050USD. A lot of money or double what I iniatially wanted to spend. That is the cost of going through the hotel. But, if the touring is at Ritz hotel standards I suppose it is worth it.
To hail a cab who says they know-it-all and then go on long uninteresting trips wastes my 3 days+ in KL outer city destinations.So I do not have Mr. Pau's cell either.
Dec 6th, 2004, 04:59 PM
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Stan...I didn't notice your post to me until after I had posted the above to you. Over $1,000 is an incredible amount of money....especially compared to BK where it would probably cost about $60. for a day of driving.It's too bad you weren't able to get Mr. Pau's number. I guess I'll have to search for him in summer 2006. I plan to do all the travel research myself and then have him drive me. That's what I did last time although I just stayed within the KL area. But next time I plan to go out of the KL area. Whom did you contact at the Ritz Carlton to inquire about Mr. Pau? Maybe I'll just try contacting that person soon and try to get his new cell phone number now and not have to start over tracking him down in summer 2006. There's was a driving-company that I have written down somewhere.I had it written down before I left for KL and then didn't use it since I found Mr. Pau on the street and bargained with him.I just saw it written somewhere last weekend, but I've misplaced it. If I find it I'll post it to you. Maybe you can try them.Happy Travels!
Dec 9th, 2004, 06:31 AM
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The conceirge named "Joe" finally located him. Joe is away now until the late Dec. The hotel travel service charge is 140MYR/hr. with gas . With the Cameron Highlands being 175km away the 9 hour trip will be 1200MYR. It is a new 4 wheel drive sedan (some tricky roads) and the guide is authorized and insured andd bonded. The city tour for 8 hours likely uses little gas so it is 700MYR for the day.
What Joe told me was if I asked Mr. Pau about many sights and customs well out of town he admitted he would not be that helpful. But, in city he is good and now charges 500MYR dor a 9-10 hour day (includins his waiting time if you shop,eat,etc), but he does have a new car-2003 model.It might be 600+MYR by 2006 with the way the USD is going.
What Joe told me was if I asked Mr. Pau about many sights and customs well out of town he admitted he would not be that helpful. But, in city he is good and now charges 500MYR dor a 9-10 hour day (includins his waiting time if you shop,eat,etc), but he does have a new car-2003 model.It might be 600+MYR by 2006 with the way the USD is going.
