Temporary Bus Transfer Plaza: Fill & Download for Free

Here are some tips that will be useful to budget and business travellers. Some of these tips are more DIY/backpackers, some others more business-oriented. Since I have been on both sides, I thought I'd straddle the fence... I'll keep adding as they come to mind (old age, you see...). In between I'll try to reorganize this answer by country/airport.Home: HKGInternet.Wherever there is a Cathay Pacific lounge, the WiFi password is cathay1234. Find the lounge, sit nearby and enjoy.Bonus Track. Generally speaking, passwords for the wifi network of airline lounges are usually posted in plain sight on the reception counter. If the airline you're flying with has a lounge, go there, present your boarding pass, and while the attendant is busy trying to find you, grab the password. It may be a small piece of paper, or a sign board. Accept gracefully that you are not allowed in, leave and start browsing.​​And because in Korea they always refuse to do things like the rest of the world, even when they receive directives from HQ, of course the network name and password are different at ICN.EDIT Cathay Incheon finally fell in line. Network name and password are the same now.Immigration.If you are a South Korean or Singaporean citizen (and, since recently, German & Australian), Hong Kong has a reciprocal eChannel agreement. Other visitors who might qualify can also access HK's eChannel. See e-Channel Services for Visitors.Power [not to the people, stoopid. The 220V kind].If you're not from the UK, HK, Singapore, chances are that you have the wrong kind of plug:​​Caveat emptor. But besides this little problem, this is one of the points where HKIA shines. According to Hong Kong International Airport, there are 1,300-odd charging points around the airport. And that's just the approved ones. Usually around seats in front of the boarding gates. Like this one:​​There are plenty more for the cleaning teams on the huge pillars that hold the structures together. Plus the advertising poles have free juice too:​​All you need is an adapter. If you travel a lot, an adapter is anyway required. Mine is a SKROSS - Travel Adapters, USB Chargers, Cables, BatteriesWorld Adapter EVO USB - -.Second Home: BKK/DMK (Bangkok)In Suvarnabhumi airport (BKK), King Power has a lounge. Invitations can be obtained from their hotel, Pullman King Power, if you stay there (plus it is a nice hotel).​​Also, staying at KP Pullman, at least on the executive floor, gets you a 500 THB voucher per night spent there. These can be redeemed at the downtown Duty-Free shop next door. I save these and use them in batches of 4,000-6,000 THB.​​Note that this voucher was valid until November 31, mwahaha. The new ones are blue.If you are a Gold member or equivalent of your airline of choice, when flying to Bangkok, ask a flight attendant for a Fast Track card, even if you are flying economy. She might say Oh I don't mind but immigration will reject you because you are not flying business. No ma'am, the access to this restricted immigration channel is for first, business class travellers, diplos, APEC card holders, and so-called elite status frequent flyers.Bonus track. When giving the immigration grouch your passport and immigration form, do not give this card, or even show it. Many times they won't ask for it. Keep it for when leaving Bangkok. Very useful, as departure security is a mess.​​Some countries you might visit after Thailand require an ID photo, like Laos. And finding a photo booth in Suvarnabhumi is a nightmare on its own. Here are the two best solutions.Airside, there are photo booths before immigration. They are atttached to the exchange bureaus. That's because Thailand immigration requires ID photos for their visa on arrival procedure (countries like China, India, etc). If you are planning to go to Laos, or apply for a Myanmar/Cambodia/Vietnam visa downtown, take two minutes to get some photos taken.Arrival lobby. There's, as far as I know, no photo booth anywhere. But. If you need photos urgently, go to the (tourist) police station, I think near gate 4, they charge 200 baht, the gun-carrying bandits, for four crappy ID photos. Keep in mind that Laos will charge you 1 USD extra if you don't have a photo. That's 36 baht. If you're on a budget, just pay the extra buck at the Lao immigration point.​A photo booth attached to an exchange bureau.If you are flying to Koh Samui on a budget, do not fly Bangkok Airways. They have a quasi monopoly on this route (they own the airport), and thus charge whatever they want, which is plenty. Fly AirAsia to Surat Thani, with a ferry transfer to Samui. Conversely, if you are in a hurry, do not fly AirAsia to Surat, it takes half a day, as opposed to 45mn with BA.In Suvarnabhumi, there are plenty of lie-flat seats on level 3 (one level down from the main shopping area), but you'll have to roam about to find them (it's a frigging huge airport) and snag one that's empty.Luggage lockers: I never had the need, except maybe once, for a 24-hour trip to Udon, but considering the mess the arrival hall is, I suspect there aren't any. What I did instead was leave the excess luggage at my Bangkok hotel, and I picked that up when I came back. I had a few hours transit time.What I could have done though is leave my excess luggage at Phaya Thai station. Near the AirportRail station, at the interconnection with the BTS, there's a bunch of lockers.Wifi: There’s a bunch of networks, but some require registration/identification. Here’s what you can do.If you’re near the Thai Airways lounge, here’s the password.If you find yourself near a King Power shop (including downtown), they usually have a strong network. Here’s the password.If you’re near the Cathay lounge, you know what to do.Well I found some for you, and with an Internet corner as a bonus. They're on concourse G, Just before gate G1, a little further down from the Cathay Pacific Lounge. Here's what they look like:​​​Pretty good spot too.If you need to repack / pack better something fragile while at DMK (Don Mueang "International Joke of an" Airport), the best and cheapest solution is the post office, near AirAsia's check-in counters. You buy a box bigger than your stuff, and the employee will very kindly pack it in bubble-wrap for you. All this for a couple USD... I had a bottle of wine to check in, it was packed in a box, and the counter girl looked at it, shook her head, and told me to repack it better. Post office did the trick.Wifi: I don’t remember using wifi in Don Mueang, except near the King Power shops, airside, in the international departure area. As mentioned below, I have a good SIM card, which provides plenty of data for little money. Unless I need speed for a big download, or Starcraft 2, my AIS SIM card is usually enough.​​Piece of crap airport. I don't understand how it could go to seed like that.While at Koh Samui airport, if you are departing from a non-A/C lounge (there's only one A/C lounge), go to the duty-free shop. Browse around, then walk further down. There's the A/C lounge...​​Nice boarding lounges, but when it's really hot or raining...​Do like the gentleman there, walk over to the DF shop. The A/C lounge is right behind.​​If you do fly Bangkok Airways (fly, fly fly with me....) make sure you get the AIS free SIM card voucher. It comes preloaded with a little credit. Redeem it at the AIS shop in Central Festival Chaweng (if in Samui) or at Suvarnabhumi airport. Then get a recharge for 300 THB (at AIS or 7/11) and dial *777*702#. You'll get 1.5 GB data valid 10 days. Enjoy, kap.A point of note. Extension of the validity is based (stupidly, if you ask me) on the occurence of a recharge, not its value. An AIS employee told me once, while I wanted to put in 500 THB, to do it at the machine, 20 baht by 20 baht. Every time you do a recharge, you add one month of validity, regardless of the amount. So from then on, I did… Every time I get some 20-baht bills, I set them aside for a recharge session. I think my card, as of August 2018, is valid until January 2020 or something…Sidebar, GuvnorOn the subject of adult beverages, one of my favorite subjects, import taxes on foreign booze in Thailand reach 500% now, and getting hammered is either expensive, or even more detrimental to health (local rotgut like Sang Som, Mekhong et altri are really bad for you. Do not touch that stuff!). If you're going to USM to party (c'mon, don't be shy, you don't go to Samui to visit temples, although there are a few nice ones), load up on booze at the arrival duty-free shop, which is just behind the immigration counters, before luggage pickup. Grab first your luggage and go back to the DF shop. Take your time. Buy everything you'll need. Put it back in your luggage. Customs are way too lazy to check luggage. Walk out. You'll thank me later.​​The arrival shop; if you're shocked by the prices, wait until you see what duty-paid prices look like...Former Home: SELAt Incheon airport (ICN), if you arrive at/leave from the remote terminal, stupidly baptised "concourse", when boarding the train, stay on the side of the train where you boarded: the doors at arrival open on that side too. And the trains are full, which means bottlenecks at the escalators. Then delays upstairs when you have three immigration counters for 300+ foreigners ahead of you.​That's the kind of bottlenecks I'm talking about. Two planes' worth of fuhreenahs clogging the pipes. That day it took me 45 minutes to get my passport stamped...EDIT [2018/7/9]: ICN has opened early 2018 a swanky new terminal, T2, which houses SkyTeam™ airlines (KAL, AF, KLM, Delta). The airport line has been extended to reach T2. Shuttles and airport buses serve this terminal too. Note that while physically T1 and T2 are not far, the shuttle trip takes a long time, 15–20 minutes, as it has to go a long way around the airport compound.I’ve visited T2 twice, on a temporary pass, to have a look at the duty-free shops. I haven’t used the facilities as a traveler so can’t comment yet. The terminal did feel a little empty, as it hasn’t reached full capacity yet.T1, main terminal and the “concourse” (grrrr) have been rearranged, with Asiana taking over the east side, previously occupied by Korean Air (it feels a little like a kid sitting shotgun after his big brother left), and Cathay moving to the main terminal.As mentioned https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-airport-tips/answer/Didier-Szende/comment/22893577 by Josephine Stefani (陳圻), HK Passport holders can register for the automated clearance in Incheon. And Koreans can register for eChannel in HKG, for course. A few other countries have passed since mutual agreements, like Germany and the US.Again, if you are at the "concourse" (grrrr), there are very nice easy chairs where you can lie down, between the Cathay Pacific and Asiana business lounges.​​​If you need to recharge your mobile device, here's where ICN really shines. In the arrival hall, the huge pillars supporting the structure not only have electrical outlets, they even warn you it's 220 volt, and if you need 110 volt, go ask the information counter. There's a pillar, and thus 2 electrical plugs, every 10 meters or so.​Nuff said?Do not ever ever ever ever take taxis at ICN or GMP, unless you speak fluent Korean, and are aware of the many tricks[*] these subhumans will use to cheat you out of your money. While taxis downtown are mostly honest, at least crooks of an acceptable level, their airport cousins are the worst scum of the Earth. If the last man on Earth was a Seoul airport taxi driver, he'd still try to scam other living creatures. They're that bad.[*] These include, but are definitely not limited to:Turning the meter on when they arrive in the taxi queue. I’ve seen meters that seemed to have been on for 10–15 minutes before I boarded. I rectified that situation promptly.Turning the meter on “night shift” during the day. It’s more expensive. This can be combined, of course, with the previous trick.Demanding a fixed (and egregious) amount; and/or, if taking a taxi in Seoul to go to the airport, that the client pays the return trip airport-Seoul.A universal trick, not limited to Korea indeed: taking the unwitting passenger to a trip around the city. Considering that the city is about 75 km wide, there’s a lot of potential right here.Inventing any kind of surcharge, just because.There are many "limousine" buses that serve ICN, including the KAL Limousine lines, which mostly serve international hotels. GMP is now served well by the subway, and you should use that.​​​On the other hand, the train that serves ICN is a joke, and a very good example of government corruption. It was supposed to be a high-speed train (based on the Korean version of the TGV, the so-called KTX), and was used during Korea's application to the World Cup[1]. Needless to say the train line was never intended to be a KTX, was finished years after the World Cup, and is a slow train with many stops in the middle of nowhere. Useless...​KTX vs AREX. Not quite the same...​​[1] I was one of the many translators who translated Korea's (successful) application to the World Cup from Korean to French and English, and I happen to have translated this very paragraph.Alice in Wonderland: TYOUnless you absolutely absolutely have to, do not fly into Narita (NRT). Haneda (HND) has now [again] flights to many international destinations[2]. It is a 20-minute train ride away from downtown (way faster and cheaper than Narita Express), with faster immigration and customs (enjoy while it lasts) and nice connections to domestic flights, if you are flying somewhere else.​’nuff said?[2] A quick look at フライト検索 | 羽田空港国際線旅客ターミナル Haneda flight information shows [with a quick helping of Javascript] that it has the following daily flights:Bangkok: 2 [I Suppose BKK], Beijing: 4, Doha: 1, Dubai: 1, Frankfurt: 1, Guangzhou: 1, Hanoi: 1, Ho Chi Minh City: 1, Hong Kong: 2, Jakarta: 2, Kuala Lumpur [I suppose KUL]: 1, London (LHR): 1, Manila: 2, Munich: 2, Paris (CDG): 1, San Francisco: 2, Seoul (GMP): 7, Seoul (ICN): 1, Shanghai (PVG): 2, Shanghai (SHA): 3, Singapore: 6, Sydney: 1, Taipei (TPE): 1, Taipei (TSA): 3.Note that for some cities with 2+ airports, the airport is not specified (Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur). 8 flights a day to Seoul, 7 of which to GMP. You have no reason to fly NRT<->ICN: who wants to ride public transportation for 100+ kilometers when you can cut that distance by half?On the subject of Japan and mobile phones/SIM cards, you can get online a (data) SIM card from b-mobile VISITOR SIM | b-mobile wireless internet, shipped to Haneda's post office, where you can pick it up and start browsing while on the train. Speed is so fast that you can use it to make good voice calls, either with Skype out, or your favorite chat app's voice call function (Line, Kakao Talk, Whatsapp, etc).​​If you live in HK, or drop by HK before going to Japan, you can get a China Unicom SIM card for Japan (or Taiwan, or Korea).SIM Cards for AsiaDo not buy alcohol in Japanese duty free shops. The prices are higher than liquor stores downtown. There are a few places where alcohol is cheaper in duty-free shops, but Japan is not one of them. Hong Kong and Seoul may be cheaper (although with the recent changes at Incheon, the new contracts and hikes in rents and profit-sharing, and thus in margin % for the operators, the prices are going up up up).Another sidebar, GuvnorSpeaking of booze and Japan, places like Sokuhai are the cheapest around. The places are smallish, and are packed with the most common and not so common stuff.​This one's my "local", in Ginza.See お酒のソクハイ, their website.​Cramped shelves...Another option is Liquors Hasegawa, リカーズハセガワ本店 JR東京駅八重洲地下街, in the Tokyo station underground maze.​​There are actually two Liquors Hasegawa shops there. One that’s near the entrance, and is nothing more than a corridor-sized space crammed with spirits.And a much larger shop at the rear of the underground mall.​​The capital city of a country that's a not country: TPELikewise in Taiwan, if you're flying within Asia, Songshan airport has international flights. Songshan is in Taipei city, not an hour's drive out. And again, it has domestic connections. Last time I went to Taipei, I flew Haneda-Songshan. I was checking in at my hotel within 30 minutes of my arrival.​Easy choice...If you have to land in TPE, forget taxis. Take the airport subway. Cheaper and faster than a taxi.JKT, aka CGKIf you are flying into Jakarta, try to split your flight into two: your place to Singapore with whatever airline you want, and Singapore-Jakarta with Garuda. The reason is that most foreigners need[ed] (see below) to queue twice: once to buy a visa, and once to get through immigration. On a foreign airline, you have 300+ foreigners. All queuing twice. On Garuda, you have 3. The rest are Indos who use a different line. When flying Cathay, Hong Kong to Jakarta, it took me 2 hours. When flying (numerous times) Garuda from Singapore, about 5 minutes. Remember that after immigration you still have a 2-hour taxi ride into town.Lately I have little business in Singapore, alas, and more in KL. And it just so happens that Malaysian airlines is doing its utmost to attract customers. A triangle HKG-CGK (via KUL, of course)-KUL-HKG [hence 4 four flights but with a stop in KL on the way back] costs in Economy about half of HKG<>KUL on Cathay. And in Business Class, it costs about a fraction above HKG<>CGK. You have to play your cards right, and try different flights and dates, but it works out quite nicely.Indonesia has suspended in 2016 I think the buy-a-visa process for many countries, hoping to foster tourism. So now you only have to queue once, at the same counters. But if you arrive very early or very late — a few months ago I arrived at 4 am, which I don’t recommend — you have to go all the way down, to the local immigration counters. Which have fortunately segregated counters for foreigners. However, if the Immigration officer asks you the purpose of your visit, state HOLIDAY, or VACATION, or anything but BUSINESS. The visa exemption, see below, is TOURISM PURPOSE ONLY.​​The new visa stamp. No money, no sticker. Weeeeeeeeeeee.Bonus track. If you are an elite member of SkyTeam, whatever airline, after immigration go to the small Garuda arrival lounge, hand over your luggage tag, go inside and have a drink. A Garuda employee will grab your bag for you. [EDIT: that lounge, as of August 2016, has been taken over by Customs. Ouchies.]Taxi!So. Once you’ve arrived at Soekarno Hatta, you’re not quite there yet. The airport is far, and distances in Jakarta are not calculated in kilometers, but in hours. The airport is about 30 km from Monumen Selamat Datang (Grand Indonesia, Plaza Indonesia shopping malls, Grand Hyatt, Kempinski, Pullman, Mandarin hotels). Depending on the day and the time of day, it can take 35 mn (my record so far) to 3 hours (my other record). Arriving on a Friday evening is asking for trouble. Monday morning 8 am, airport to city, nightmare. City to airport? Super fast. Last week, it took my taxi 40 mn…Next, do not book one of the limousine/taxis right after Customs. And do not change money at the money changers right across from them. After Immigration, and before luggage pickup and Customs, withdraw some money from one of the ATMs. You’ll get a better rate from your bank card than the money changers. Then, armed with cash, leave the airport terminal, and look for the Blue Bird taxi stand.Do not take any other taxi than Blue Bird if you value your wallet and the sanctity of your various orifices. The taxi attendants (the guys loafing around at the stands, supposedly there to help you, but in reality to fleece you, have this nasty habit to offer a flat rate, making it sound like it’s compulsory. Last time, they were all asking for 400,000 rupiah for a ride downtown. Maaf ya, asshole, I may be just a hapless-looking bule, but I know how much a ride costs. Even the Korean family behind me smelled a rat. They couldn’t speak English, so they just said nonono and left.That’s the meter just before arriving at my hotel. Add 16,000 rupiah for the tolls.When leaving Jakarta, you can get free WiFi. Except that the SHIA network never worked for me. The Pura Indah Lounge, near the entrance to D1-D7, has a reasonably strong one. [EDIT: last time in late 2016 it worked…]Near gate D3 I found an open network, SuperWiFi-WEB. It held all the way to the plane, which was a nice surprise.Shopping.Indonesia’s Independence day is August 17. Please write it down if you’re into Duty-Free shopping. Lotte DF was offering 17% discount (not a coincidence), on top of which some brands offered an extra discount ranging from 10% to 30%. Lotte DF’s prices in CGK are so-so, but with the 17%+ discount, some of the products I checked out were REALLY worth buying. The rest of the time, well, they’re usually more expensive than KLIA, HKG or ICN.KLIA.I have been coming more to Kuala Lumpur lately, and this airport has a few points in common with Jakarta and Singapore. Yeah, both of them…Like CGK, the airport is very far. As in 1 to 3 hours to downtown by taxi, depending on the weather and traffic. Jakarta is slightly worse, but damn, if you take a taxi at the wrong hour, you’re in for a long crawl in KL too. I usually take a limousine taxi just before exiting into the arrival hall, 76 ringgit. To give you a point of comparison, meter taxi, same timing, same distance, 120+.On the other hand, there is a train that goes to KL Sentral, the train station. Of course once you’re there you still need to find a taxi to your hotel/home, but you’ve made better time than with a cab.Like Singapore, security is casual at the entrance, and thorough at the boarding lounges. This is probably costlier for the airport, but ensures everybody passes through good security controls. And like in Singapore, people arriving in KL and leaving KL cross each other in the corridors of the terminals. Not the best design, but hey, whatever works.The terminals are interconnected by a train, like in Singapore. Depending on where you’re going/coming from you might have to take the train. Budget a little time for this.Like in Jakarta, the number of places where you can sit down if you don’t have access to a lounge is limited. They’re usually upstairs. Wifi works well, though, and unlike Singapore, you don’t need a phone number.Cathay Pacific and Malaysian Airlines have great lounges. Not sure about others.Shopping.The duty free shops are run by Eraman. The selection is okay — there’s actually LOTS of alcohol, for a Muslim country that taxes alcohol and tobacco with a sin tax. Plenty of chocolates too. The prices are usually not bad.SingaporeIf you are from Hong Kong, Australia, USA, Malaysia, or the PRC), Singapore has a reciprocal eIACS agreement allowing a faster immigration clearance using the automated gates (conditions apply). Besides, almost all long-term pass holders, permanent residents, and Singapore citizens are also eligible for the eIACS. See here for more details: enhanced-Immigration Automated Clearance System.Upon departure or arrival, proceed to the automated immigration gates simply scan your passport, enter into the gate, scan your thumbprint, get out of the gate, have your boarding pass checked (for departure), and you’re all set.Terima kasih to Eric Valega Prawirodidjojo for his contributionFukuokaOf all places, why FUK [Yeah, I know, I couldn’t resist mentioning its IATA code]? Because I can!InternetThe airport has a strong network throughout the airport, fukuoka-ap_Free-Wi-Fi. So strong that even the “Fukuoka Lounge” (used by many airlines) doesn’t have a separate network. Funny enough it requires a login through Google/FB/etc for mobiles but not for laptops.Connection to the cityFUK is not very far from downtown, but Japan prices being what they are, avoid taxis. Fukuoka has a nice subway and bus system, but the International Terminal is kind of isolated, like Haneda ten years back. You have to get to the Domestic terminal in order to catch the subway. Get out at Gate 4 and turn left.See the blue bus through the window? That’s the one!That’s the bus stop. The bus will take you all the way around the airport:Remember to board the bus at the rear — and exit at the front. That’s how they do it there.Get off the bus and walk straight. You’ll arrive at the Subway entrance/exit 1A — remember that number when you retrace your steps.The subway network in Fukuoka is not exactly terrifying — like it can be in Tokyo. They have a stored value card — Nimoca — but Suica, Pasmo and friends work too.Shopping.Nothing to buy there really. As far as I can see, the prices at the Duty-Free shops are more expensive than downtown, and the product mix targets a very specific clientele: Korean and Chinese females. And most larger shops downtown offer tax-free discounts.There are only a couple of shops selling basic food items and drinks. Do not go to the airport hungry — there’s only so much soft ice-cream you can eat (one of the shops serves udon and ramen, of dubious quality). Although the 510 Yen ice-cream was criminally good.

Petaling StreetChinatownPetaling Street is a Chinatown located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Haggling is a common sight here and the place is usually crowded with locals as well as tourists.Chan See Shu Yuen TempleSri Maha Mariamman TempleChinatownCentral MarketSze Yeh TempleMasjid Jamek (closed on Fridays)KL railway stationNational Palace Royal MuseumMuzium Diraja Istana NegaraJamek Mosque, officially Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque, is one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is located at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak River and may be accessed via Jalan Tun Perak. The mosque was designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, and built in 1909.Do note you neeed to dress modestly and for woman need to wear a hijab to enterSri Mahamariamman Temple, Kuala LumpurTempleThe Sri Mahamariamman Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Founded in 1873, it is situated at edge of Chinatown in Jalan Bandar. In 1968, a new structure was built, featuring the ornate 'Raja Gopuram' tower in the style of South Indian temples.Chan See Shu Yuen Temple is one of the largest and oldest surviving Buddhist temples in Malaysia. Located at the southern end of Jalan Petaling, it is characterized by a typical open courtyard and symmetrical pavilions, and decorated with colourful paintings, woodcarvings and ceramic fixtures. Built between 1897 and 1906, it is quite an elaborate temple: from outside you can see the intricately carved kwang-tung roof, gables and specially-crafted terracotta friezes with monumental Chinese history and mythological scenes. The interior of the main temple has pillars with scenes of gold-painted warriors battling lions, dragons and other mythical creatures. Most BookedHotels Rating Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur 4.5/ 5 Shangri-La Hotel - Kuala Lumpur 4.6/ 5 The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Autograph Collection 4.6/ 5 Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral 4.5/ 5 Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur 4.7/ 5 PARKROYAL Kuala Lumpur 4.1/ 5 Impiana KLCC Hotel 4.1/ 5 Hilton Kuala Lumpur 4.4/ 5 Hotel Sentral Kuala Lumpur 3.3/ 5 Corus Hotel Kuala Lumpur 4.0/ 5 Most BookedTours Half-Day City Highlights Tour Best City Highlights Half-Day Tour City Tour After Dark with Dinner Private Traditional Cooking Lesson Private Half-Day City Heritage Tour with Lunch Heritage Buildings & Icon of City Tour Private Night Heritage Trails Guided Perdana Botanical Gardens Tour Evening Street Food Walking Shared Tour Private City Street Eats Evening Tour of Chinatown Interested in this tour? Book it here. Private Kuala Lumpur Heritage Trails at Night Duration 3h Free cancellation USD 63 per traveler Book Design of Chan See Shu Yuen Temple Behind a glass wall in the main temple are statues of the Chan See Shu Yuen Temple’s three main deities, including Chong Wah, an emperor of the Sung Dynasty; above them is a mural of a brilliant yellow sun. Meanwhile, decorating the edges of Chan See Shu Yuen Temple are blue ceramic vases and small statues of peasants (guardians of the temple) armed with poles crowned with lanterns; on either side of the entrance gate are shrines to the male and female guardians. Chan See Shu Yuen Temple serves a dual function as both a shrine and a community centre. Originally built as a kongsi (clan house) for families with the surnames Chan, Chen or Tan, the clan founders are depicted at the central altar of the temple. Besides the temple’s beautiful architecture you can also see black-and-white pictures (some are hand drawn) of deceased clan members above the altars on the right and left of the main temple during your visit to the temple. Chan See Shu Yuen Temple is easily accessible via the Pasar Seni LRT: it is only a 15-minute walk from the station. Chan See Shu Yuen Temple Opening Hours: 08:00 – 18:00 Hide Map Use ctrl + scroll to zoom the map3. Chan See Shu Yuen TempleMap data ©2019 GoogleTerms of UseReport a map errorMapSatelliteSin Sze Si Ya Temple (simplified Chinese: 仙四师爷庙; traditional Chinese: 仙四師爺廟) (also called as Sze Yah Temple)[3]is a Chinese temple located at 14A Lebuh Pudu, close to the Central Market of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[2]It is built by Yap Ah Loy's for two deities who help guiding him during the Selangor Civil War. The temple is the oldest Taoist temple in the city.[4]History[edit]The information board at the front entrance says the temple site was founded in 1864 by Kapitan Yap Ah Loy, dedicated to patron deities of Sin Sze Ya and Si Sze Ya.[1]The deities has guided Yap to defeat the enemies and defend the town of Kuala Lumpur during the civil war from 1870–1873,[1]with the two patron deities are actually based on two real persons of Sheng Meng Li (Kapitan of Sungai Ujong) and Chung Lai (Yap loyal lieutenant).[4]The temple structures was finally built in 1883.Kuala Lumpur railway stationRailway StationThe Kuala Lumpur railway station is a railway station located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Completed in 1910 to replace an older station on the same site, the station was Kuala Lumpur's railway hub in the city for the Federated Malay States Railways and its successor Keretapi Tanah Melayu, before Kuala Lumpur Sentral assumed much of its role in 2001. The station is notable for its architecture, adopting a mixture of Eastern and Western designsNational Palace Royal MuseumMuzium Diraja Istana NegaraThe Royal Museum is located in the old National Palace, or Istana Negara which,from 1957 until 2011, was the official residence of the King and Queen of Malaysia or, to give them their more formal titles, His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Her Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong.The old palace ceased to be the official residence on 15th November 2011 following completion of a new palace complex at Jalan Duta.The old Istana Negara has now been converted to a museum and is open to the public.History of the PalaceThe National Palace is located on an 11 hectare site in the leafy centre of Kuala Lumpur. It was built in 1928 as a private residence for a Chinese tin tycoon called Chan Wing who made his fortune by developing the Hong Fatt Tin Mine which is where The Mines development now stands.Mr. Chan Wing's home cost RM150,000 to build and although it had 13 rooms at that time it must still have been quite crowded as he had 26 children and 8 or 9 wives.He had to flee Malaya during the Japanese occupation as he was known to be a supporter of anti-Japanese resistance in China. His descendants still have active business interests in Malaysia and beyond.During the War, the Japanese used the building as an officers' mess. After their surrender, it was used by the British Royal Air Force for a while and then served as a temporary Palace for the Sultan of Selangor while his new Palace at Klang was being built.The Palace was then acquired by the Federal Government in 1957 and, after undergoing extensive renovations and extensions, it became the National Palace.The Malaysian Monarchy SystemMalaysia has a unique constitutional monarchy system whereby the King, who is also Ruler of one of the states that make up Malaysia, serves for a fixed period of 5 years before being replaced by a Sultan from another of the states. The King is elected by the Conference of Rulers and in practice the Monarchy has rotated in turn between each of the 9 states with Sultans.These states are (in order) Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Perlis, Terengganu, Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Johor and Perak.The current King is Almu'tasimu Billahi Muhibbuddin Tuanku Alhaj Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, GCB KStJ, the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, as well as the 27th and current Sultan of Kedah.The remaining 4 of Malaysia's 13 states (Sarawak, Sabah, Melaka and Penang do not have Sultans - they have Governors instead).The King, as Supreme Head of State, has roles and functions in matters relating to legislation, judiciary, military, religion, diplomacy and pardoning.Royal Etiquette and ProtocolIf you are ever fortunate enough to be invited to the Palace for dinner you will need to brush up on your etiquette. I used to recommend a fascinating official website on the Malaysian Monarchy (unfortunately no longer available) which told you everything you needed to know. For example, it said us that at the dinner table we should "Avoid yawning or belching loudly". I should think so too!And if you are ever hosting a function for VVIPs you will need to know the Federal Order of Precedence to avoid offending anybody. The same website informs us that naturally the King and Queen occupy the number 1 and 2 positions in the order of precedence. The Prime Minister only comes in at number 6. When planning your seating arrangements you might also need to know for example that the Governor of the Central Bank (No.40) takes precedence over the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur (No.41).The Royal Museum - ReviewIt is interesting to be able to wander round a palace which until very recently was occupied by the King and Queen. The official reception rooms are, as you might imagine, elaborately furnished with extravagent use of yellow,the royal colour,and plenty of gold leaf.The private apartments and bedrooms are more simply furnished and you get the impression that perhaps the best items of furniture were transferred to the new palace, leaving the second best items behind in the museum.The palace also lacks the personal possessions of the royal families who once occupied it and for that reason I think there are better royal museums in Malaysia such as the Royal Gallery in Klang, or the Galeri Sultan Azlan Shah in Kuala Kangsar.Still this Royal Museum is well worth a visit.Opening HoursOpen daily from 9am to 5pm.Admission FeeAdult RM10 (foreigners), RM5 (MyKad holders).Child (ages 6-12) RM 5 (RM2 for MyKad).How to Get to the National PalaceThe location is marked on my Top KL Attractions page. The palace is surrounded by busy highways so you really have to arrive by car, taxi or tour bus.There is free bus to travel around the cityGo KL City BusOrganizationGo KL City Bus is a free bus service that serving the city centre of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The service owner is Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Awam Malaysia and the operators are Konsortium Transnasional and Rapid Bus.GO KL Bus RoutesGreen LineIt runs from KLCC to Bukit Bintang. If you are in the mood for shopping then taking the Green Line is preferred. The very famous Petronas Twin Towers lie on the Green Line.Purple LineIt runs from Pasar Seni to Bukit Bintang. The Purple Line is often more preferred when one wishes to check out places for sightseeing. The KL Tower lies on the Purple Line.Blue LineIt runs from Titiwangsa Bus Terminal to Bukit Bintang. Blue Line is mainly used by people for work as it’s route covers the major workplaces of Kuala Lumpur.Red LineIt runs from Titiwangsa Bus Terminal to KL Sentral. Use the Red Line if you’re out for leisure activities in the city.Also check: Rapid KL buses in Kuala Lumpur GO KL Bus InterchangeBus Terminal Jalan Tun Razak, Medan MARA and Maju Junction for Blue and Red lines.Concorde Hotel and Life Centre for Blue and Green lines.Wisma MPL, Menara ING and The Weld for Purple and Blue lines.Pavillion, Starhill Gallery and Bukit Bintang for Purple, Green and Blue lines.GO KL Bus ScheduleGo KL bus Operating HoursWorking Day: 6:00 AM to 11:00 PMWeekends and Holidays: 7:00 AM to 11:00 PMGo KL bus FrequencyWorking Day – Peak Hours (7:00 AM – 10:00 AM & 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM) : Every 5 minutesOthers: Every 10 minutesGo KL Bus featuresFor people with disabilities, each bus has a wheelchair access rampWi-Fi is also available in some buses for the convenience of passengers.There are separate (reserved) seats for differently abled people, women and the elderly.Prominent tourist places on GO KL routePetronas Twin Towers – Green LineKL Tower – Purple LineMerdeka Square (Dataran Merdeka) – Red LineNational Mosque of Malaysia (Masjid Negara) – Red LinePavilion Kuala Lumpur – Green LinePlaza Low Yat – Purple LineGO KL bus Route MapThe bus will only stop at designated stops the bus captain will not pickup passengers at non designated stop once the bus move you need to wait for the next bus the bus captains very puncture in time you have to be fast if the bus captain close the door and move you need to wait the next bus once the bus captain close the door just wait for another bus it comes every 15- 20 minutes it is consider rude to knock the bus door and ask the bus captain to open let you in if you seat rail LRT,MRT,Monorail or KTM once the door close you need to wait for another train right? So it just the sameSuria KLCCTake GOKL free bus green line to KLCCTenants[edit]mynews.comRoyal SelangorSephoraLaneigeMcDonald'sParksonIsetanIsetan SupermarketCold StoragePetrosainsTGV CinemasBooks KinokuniyaSonySamsung ElectronicsOppo ElectronicsCelcomStarbucks CoffeeThe Coffee Bean & Tea LeafOldTown White CoffeeNando'sSubwayRotiboySan Francisco CoffeeHokkaido Baked Cheese TartTexas ChickenOmega WatchRolex WatchTAG Heuer WatchWendy'sAl Rajhi BankAlliance BankAmBankBank RakyatCIMB BankHong Leong BankHSBCMaybankPublic Bank BerhadRHB BankStandard CharteredBox of BricksToys R UsArmani ExchangeOld NavyBrands OutletCotton On BodyGuessUNIQLO& Any More Fun, Family, Food, Fashion, Beauty, ShopsSince its conception the mall primarily houses upscale tenants, specialising in a combination of foreign luxury goods and high-street labels, and mid-range retail chains, totaling at more than 350 shops. In addition to retail spaces, the building includes an art gallery, an underwater aquarium and a science center.I suggest you take Grab or other e hailing to travelGood habits go a long wayChoose the right serviceAlways make sure that you select the right Grab transport service to avoid any unwanted surprises!Book only when you’re readyTry not to make your driver wait unnecessarily. Do remember, waiting charges may apply.Don’t cancel without good reasonCancellations don’t benefit either party. So don’t do so unless you absolutely have to, and this includes not showing up when your driver arrives.Use GrabChatSave money on texts and calls! GrabChat allows you to communicate with your driver easily and for free, even for overseas numbers! Use it to your advantage and help your driver locate you.Care for your driver’s vehicleHelp keep your driver’s vehicle clean and don’t slam the door when you exit.Clarity is keyGrabPay vs CashAlways check the mode of payment at the start and end of the ride. Make sure you are paying the right amount.Choose the right destinationYour driver will drop you off at the location you’ve selected as your destination. To avoid confusion and last-minute changes, choose the right drop-off location when bookSERVICESwhat do we offerTour with us and experience Kuala Lumpur like never before, and explore the city with a panoramic view to remember. It's THE BEST CITY TOUR OF KUALA LUMPURTips We recommend for you to start your tour in the morning to avoid traffic congestion after 4PM. Peak Hours : 4PM onwardsTOURMAPA stop to start from. Learn more about our stop!For starter, you may need to get to know our Tour Map first.Got roof top for you to enjoy the sun Type of Tickets* Child Category: 5 - 12 years oldStandard Adult24 HoursRM 50.00Non-Malaysian | Valid for 24 hoursStandard Child/Student/Disable24 HoursRM 25.00Non-Malaysian | Valid for 24 hoursStandard Adult48 HoursRM 74.00Non-Malaysian | Valid for 48 hoursStandard Child/Student/Disable48 HoursRM 38.00Non-Malaysian | Valid for 48 hoursFamily Package24 HoursRM 140.00Non-Malaysian | Valid for 24 hourshttps://www.myhoponhopoff.com/shop/cart.php1. Bukit Bintang KioskGPS Location : -Click Here-2. Bukit Bintang CounterGPS Location : -Click Here-3. Malaysia Tourism Information CounterMalaysia Tourism Centre, 109, Jalan Ampang, 50450, Kuala Lumpur.GPS Location : -Click Here-TOURS PACKAGESDeveloped by HOP ON HOLIDAYSBATU CAVES SHUTTLEDaily departureEnquire Today! walk in for more infoKL CITY OF LIGHTSDaily DepartureEnquire Today! walk in for more infoPUTRAJAYA NIGHT BRIDGEDaily DepartureEnquire Today! walk in for more infoTourist Police Counter opens 24 hours a day to assist you in providing information on laws, customs and things that are prohibited in Malaysia. The police in charge will advise you on actions that you should take if your passport is loss or stolen. Do not hesitate to reach them at 24-hour confidential hotline 03-92354999.Embassies & High CommissionsAustralia : 03-2146-5555Canada : 03-2718-333France : 03-2053-5500Finland : 03-4257-7746Germany :03-03-2142-9666India: 03-253-3510/ 511Indonesia: 03-2145-2011Italy : 03-4256-5122 / 5228Japan : 03-2142-7044Korea : 03-4251-2336Netherlands : 03-2168-6200New Zealand :03- 238-2533Norway :03- 2163-7100Singapore : 03-2161-6277Sweden : 03-2148-5433Taiwan : 03-2142-6711United Kingdom : 03-2148-2122United States : 03-2168-5000Taxi / CAB CompaniesComfort Radio Cab (Hq): 03-6253-1313Comfort Radio Cab : 03-8024-0507City Line Cabs : 03-9222-2828/ 7878Super Cabs : 03-7875-7333Saujana : 03-2162-8888Wira Cabs : 03-2144-3630Shah Alam Taxi: 03-5519-1740Sunlight Cab:03-90575757Out Station Taxi : 03-238-0213Airport Taxi : 03-2380213Tourism Information OfficesHeadquarters : 03-2693-5188MTC : 03-2164-3929Domestic AirlinesMalaysian Airlines : 03-7846-3000Air Asia : 03-7809-6888Pelangi Air : 03-5511-0557Berjaya Air: 03-78468-228KLIA Infoline : 03-8777-8888Transportation ServiceKLIA : 03-87873894Hentian Duta : 03-6203-3064KLIA Limosine Services : 03-8787-3030Subang Airport : 03-7846-1833KLIA Ekspres :03-2267-8000Flight Info :03-8776-0257Airport Limo/ Taxi : 03-87873691Rapid TransitSTAR -LRT : 03-2698-4977PUTRA-LRT: 03-7625-6999KTM COMMUTER: 03-2272-2828KTM: Railway Service : 03-2273-8000KTM (Booking Ticket : 03-2274-3377KLIA Express Link:;03-2267-8000Emergency Services NumbersPolice & Ambulance : 999Fire Brigade : 994Civil Defense :991St.John's Ambulance : 03-9285-1576Red Cresent Society : 03-4257-8726Accidents / Natural Disasters : 991** The Information given above is correct at the time of publishing and is subject to change with prior notice.This are useful malay pharseWelcome to Malaysia- Selamat Datang Ke Malaysia.Good Morning- Selamat PagiGood afternoon -Selamat tengah hariGood evening - Selamat petangGood night -Selamat malamGood bye- Selamat tinggalJumpa lagi - see you againYes- YaNo - TidakThank you- Terima kasih (Thank you very much - Terima kasih banyak banyak or in writing ribuan terimakasih)Please sit down - Sila dudukPlease come in - Sila masukPlease - SilaExcuse me- tumpang laluI come from - Saya datang dari..My name is - Nama saya...What is your name - Siapa nama anda (though in a advertisement with little kids getting to know each other-- the kids asked - apa nama, which is also acceptable)Can you speak Bahasa Malaysia - Boleh cakap bahasa MelayuI like it here - Saya suka berada di siniWhere are you going- pergi ke manaI am going to ..Saya pergi ke....Turn right -belok kanan : turn left - belok kiri ; go straight - jalan terusJunction - simpangPlease stop here- Sila berhenti di sini....How much - Berapa hargaThat's too expensive - Mahal sangat (mahal is also the Philippines Tagalog for expensive)Can you reduce the price - Boleh kurang?Wait a minute - Tunggu sekejap (usually when the shop assistance has to refer to his/her boss or a senior person)I would like to change money -Saya hendak tukar duit/wangCould I make an enquiry - Tumpang tanya (useful if you feel lost)Where is the toilet - Di mana tandas...?In the back - di belakang ; over there- di sana ; over here- di siniWhat time is it - jam/pukul berapa sekarang?One thirty or half past one- pukul satu setengahQuarter past one - pukul satu sukuQuarter to one - Suku sebelum pukul satuwhat time does the bus leave -pukul berapa bas bertolak (bus- bas ; plane- kapal terbang ; boat - sampan ; ship- perahu; train - kereta api)Since you will be bargaining and exchanging money, words for numbers may be helpful:1 -Satu2- Dua3- Tiga4- Empat5- Lima6- Enam7- Tujuh8- Lapan9 - Sembilan10 -Sepuluh11 - Sebelas12- Dua belas13- Tiga belas20 - Dua puluh21- Dua puluh satu100- Seratus101- Seratus satu105- Seratus lima1000- Seribu3000- Tiga ribu3030 - Tiga ribu tiga puluh3330 - Tiga ribu tiga ratus tiga puluh1,000,000- SejutaHere are some useful words, which could help in moving aroundAirport -lapangan terbangpost office - pejabat posshop - kedaimoney- duit, wanghour- jam ; minute -minit ; day - hariweek - mingguMr- Encik, TuanMrs- PuanMiss -CikThe higher echelon of Malaysian society are given titles of Dato', Datuk, Dato' Seri, Tan Sri or Tun, and they are addressed by their title. Generally, a Datuk's wife is addressed as Datin, the Tan Sri's wife is Puan Sri, and a Tun's wife is Toh Puan. However, husbands are not given courtesy titles and are to be addressed by their own titles, if any, otherwise it is Encik or Tuan.When you address a significantly older Malay man, you may call him "Pakcik" and a lady "Makcik". Someone obviously younger can be addressed as "Adik". For a man of similar age or slightly older than you, the term would be "Abang" or "Bang" (pronounced "bung"); whereas a slightly older woman would be "Kakak" or more commonly "Kak".I- sayayou (to someone the same age- awak, anda or kita) But kita applies in Borneon Malaysia only.you (formal) encikhe, she- diawe- kami (excluding the speaker), kita(including the speaker). E.g. Barang kita - if the goods (barang) belongs to both the speaker and the person he/she is talking to-kita is onethey- merekawhat- apa; who-siapa; where(place) - di mana: where(direction)- ke mana; when- bila; why-mengapa; how- bagaimana; mengapa - why; which - yang manato eat- makan ; to drink- minum; to sleep - tidur; to bathe- mandi;And now, to words for food:-bread- rotidaging - meatcow - lembubeef- daging lembuchicken -ayam (ah-yarm)fish - ikan (ee-karn)vegetables- sayurfried noodles- mee gorengfried rice- nasi gorengsimmered noddles- mee rebussalt- garam ; sugar- gula; spicy - pedasdelicious- sedapa cup of coffee - kopi satu (black coffee- kopi o ; coffee with milk - kopi susu). If you do not want it sweet- kurang manis, for no sugar- tanpa gula.a cup of tea - teh satu ( a favourite tea Malaysian like is called teh tarik, and more ginger tea- teh halia)ice lemon tea - teh o limau (if want ice- teh o ais limau)water - air (ah-yayr)air- udaraAdd- tambah (e.g. if you want to add rice - tambah nasi)big- besar ; small- kecilPasar - marketDiscretion and body languageTwo things to avoid in this moderately conservative, Muslim region are public shows of affection (holding hands is OK, kissing is not) and drinking alcohol outside designated bars or clubs – even in resort areas frequented by foreigners. In a situation where you need to make a complaint, the most effective approach is not to raise your voice but to go out of your way to be reasonable while stating your case.As for body language, note that touching someone’s head, be they Muslim or otherwise, must be avoided, as the head is considered sacred in Eastern culture. Handshakes are fairly commonplace when meeting someone; Muslims often follow this by touching the palm of the right hand to their own chest. Some Muslims may be reluctant to shake hands with the opposite sex; however, in this case a smile, nod and that same right-hand-palm gesture will suffice. Muslims and Indians also avoid using their left hand for human contact or eating, while polite Chinese wait staff or shop owners might hand over your change with both hands. Never shake the hand of the opposite genderMalaysians are very nice and helpful people if you are nice to us we will be very nice to you most of will walk the extra miles to help others so feel free to ask Malaysians for direction .Hope you have a pleasant stay in Kuala Lumpur

30 Reasons to Love the Costa del SolThe Costa del Sol is found in the province of Malaga and stretches along the coastline for 159 km from Manilva to Nerja. Most of this coastline is composed of beautiful beaches of all types. Malaga is the capital city, with a metropolitan population of about a million. East of Malaga there are the cities of Rincon de la Victoria, Torre del Mar, Velez-Malaga, Algarrobo, Torrox and Nerja. West of Malaga one can find the cities of Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Mijas Costa, Fuengirola, Marbella, San Pedro de Alcantara, and Estepona. A bit inland are the famous cities of Antequera and Ronda. The Costa del Sol is Spain’s best resort for several reasons.1. ClimateThe Costa del Sol has Spain’s best climate. The average temperature throughout the year is 18.5 C. There are at least 300 days of sunshine, and thus the title of Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun). The winters are the mildest in Europe and there is plenty of tourism then, when northern Europeans want to escape their snow clad countries. There is little rain in winter, and even if it rains, the skies clear afterward and the sun shines again. Truly the climate is ideal in the Costa del Sol. Two cities on the Costa del Sol, Marbella and Torrox Costa, have the best microclimates in Europe, with surrounding mountains protecting these cities from cold, northerly winds. The mild winters are appreciated by those who come to live here permanently, or those who want to spend winters here and return to their countries in spring. So winters are mild and summers are cooler than inland Spain.2. Friendliness of MalagueñosThe native Malagueños are a very friendly people who enjoy the company of all types of visitors, whether they are Spanish from other regions, other Andalusians, or foreigners. They are probably the friendliest of all Spanish and they have a custom of hospitality that is ingrained. They are used to having all types of guests, from the earliest centuries of their history. The Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths, Vandals, and Moors came and stayed. This land was alluring to all visitors, and the Malagueños are a mixture of all these people. The tourist boom that started in the 1970’s continues and keeps bringing tourists to the beaches and resorts of the Costa del Sol.The Malagueños are innately charming. The majority are outgoing and optimistic about their future. They like to talk and they like to party and have fun. They enjoy eating good food and they have a long history of culture associated with their food. They always try to help visitors, no matter where they come from. The visitor is really welcomed with open arms.Everyone connected with the tourist industry speaks enough English to be understood, so the language problem does not exist in the Costa del Sol.The Malagueños are amazingly tolerant of all people, no matter what color they are, what religions they have, what country they come from. There are Moslem mosques, Protestant churches, Jewish synagogues, and a Buddhist shrine. They are also tolerant of people with different types of gender orientation. Malaga is now one of the best gay destinations in Europe, with many gay bars.3. Malaga AirportMalaga Airport is the third largest in Spain, after the airports in Madrid, Barcelona. Connections to other Spanish and European cities is easy and there are many low cost airlines that are now coming to Malaga, so it is getting more inexpensive to travel to Malaga. Work is now going on to build a second runway and a new passenger terminal has just been inaugurated, so the capacity of the airport has doubled. Easy access to Malaga is very important for tourism, because tourists lose enthusiasm when they have to make too much effort to reach a tourist destination.4. New AVE Service from MadridMadrid is the transportation hub of Spain for both national and international flights. At the end of 2007, the new AVE route from Madrid to Malaga was inaugurated and passenger traffic increased tremendously to Malaga from Madrid, especially on weekends. Many Madrileños want to spend their weekends on the beaches of Malaga, instead of in their big city of Madrid, to relax and decompress from high pressure jobs. The AVE now takes only 2.5 hours each way. Malaga is also connected with high speed trains to Seville and Cordoba. Work on the AVE to Granada is continuing.5. Great BeachesWith 159 kilometers of coastline, one expects to find good beaches in Malaga. The beaches of Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Marbella, and Torre del Mar are world class. They are clean and have many facilities, such as bathrooms and beach showers. Blue Flag beaches are beaches that meet quality standards and the Costa del Sol has very many Blue Flag beaches.The beaches have very good seafood restaurants that are economical or moderately priced. Fresh fish is served on a daily basis, and eating fish is one of Malaga’s enchantments.The blue flag is given to the best quality beaches in Spain. In 2009, 23 beaches in the Costa del Sol received this honor.1. Los Boliches-Las Gaviotas (Fuengirola)2. Torreblanca (Fuengirola)3. Carvajal (Fuengirola)4. Santa Amalia (Funegirola)5. El Castillo-Ejido (Fuengirola)6. Fuengirola7. San Francisco ( Fuengirola)8. Torrecilla (Nerja)9. Burriana (Nerja)10. Malapesquera (Benalmadena)11. Arroyo de la Miel (Benalmádena)12. Algarrobo Costa13. Ferrara (Torrox)14. Misericordia (Málaga capital)15. La Cala de Mijas16. Cabo Pino (Marbella)17. Venus-Bajadilla (Marbella)18. Casablanca (Marbella)19. Guadalmina (Marbella)20. El Padrón (Estepona)21. El Cristo (Estepona)22. La Rada ( Estepona)23. Sabinillas (Manilva)6. Golf ParadiseThe Costa del Sol has at least 40 beautiful golf courses, many of them designed by the most famous golf course designers of the world. There are many more golf courses that are nearing completion or are starting construction. The good news is that most of them are being watered with recycled water. The few that are not using recycled water are in the process of converting to recycled water because there is a new law forcing all golf courses in Malaga to use recycled water. So ecologists will be satisfied regarding this matter.7. CultureFew tourist destinations in Spain have as many cultural offerings as the Costa del Sol. A very large number of artists, both Spanish and foreign, live in the Costa del Sol because the light is marvelous, which makes painting appealing. There are a large number of cultured people, again both Spanish and foreign, who enjoy the arts in the city. Among the major cultural offerings are:a. Picasso Museum - Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga and this museum shows his work. It is one of the few museums that show representative work from each of his seven different work periods, from the Blue Period to Cubism.b. Picasso Birthplace Museum - Located in the Plaza de la Merced.c. Cathedral - Started during the Renaissance. This is one of Spain's most beautiful cathedrals.d. Alcazaba and Roman Theater - The Moorish fort on the hill overlooking Malaga is the best preserved Moorish fort in Spain. At the bottom of the fort is the Roman amphitheater.e. Museo del Vidrio y Cristal - The new museum of glass and crystal is housed in a beautifully restored 18th century palace and is one of its kind in Spain.f. Basilica of La Victoria - One of Andalusia’s most beautiful Baroque churches.g. Contemporary Art Museum - A free museum showing Europe’s best contemporary art.h. Municipal Museum - This museum shows Malaga’s history.i. Palacio Episcopal - The Archbishop’s palace is a beautiful Baroque building that has large art exhibitions that change every two months. Entrance is free.j. Cervantes Theater - This theater shows flamenco, musicals, ballet, and drama.k. Gibralfaro Castle - The Moorish castle is on top of the Gibralfaro Mountain and has the best views of the city below.l. Museum House of Dolls - This museum has 50 miniature houses and is the best museum of its kind in Spain.m. Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares - This museum shows costumes and many other exhibits that highlight Malaga’s culture.n. Museo de Arte Sacro - This little museum near the Cathedral shows beautiful religious art, both paintings and sculpture.o. Archivo Municipal - There are many temporary exhibitions in this building, always free to the public.p. Benalmadena Pueblo Museo Arqueologico - Contains many Pre-Columbian artifacts in a new building with very educational exhibits. The collection was donated to the city by a rich resident.In 2011 Malaga will have a Thyssen Museum and will exhibit part of the Carmen Cervera Collection. The 16th century Palacio Villalon is now being remodeled to be the new museum. There are about 10 new museums that are on the way for the city. Work is continuing in the Palacio de la Aduana to house the Museo de Bellas Artes and the archaeological museum.8. Beautiful GardensThere are some exceptionally beautiful gardens in the Costa del Sol.a. Malaga Park - In the heart of Malaga, adjacent to the port is the Malaga Park, a hundred year old park that has been recently remodeled. This park is known for its semi tropical plants and is 800 meters long.b. The Garden of Pedro Luis Alonso is located by the Town Hall and has a beautiful rose garden that contains 10,200 rose bushes, with 70 different varieties.c. The Botanical Gardens of La Concepcion - On the outskirts of Malaga are these huge semi tropical gardens, the biggest garden of this kind in Europe.d. Villa Padierna Hotel - In Estepona is this new Tuscan style hotel with beautiful gardens and some of the best Roman statuary in Spain.e. Puente Romano Hotel - This Marbella hotel has wonderful gardens that border a stream.f. Kempinski Palace Hotel - This hotel in Estepona has lush gardens around many waterfalls and cascades.9. Transportation HubMalaga has a big transportation interchange building, called Vialia (Maria Zambrano Station), where one can take the AVE, the Cercanias train, and the bus to other cities in Malaga or to other provinces. Vialia is one of the biggest of its sort in Spain, making transportation connections easy. Malaga is also building a Metro system that will also be connected to Vialia. The bus system in Malaga is easy to use and it goes everywhere one wants to reach in the city.10. Good RoadsThe A7 motorway parallels the coast of Malaga. It has parts that one needs to pay tolls, but these toll roads make journeys faster. The main roads in the Costa del Sol are very good, but many have a lot of traffic. More ring roads are being built to alleviate the traffic.11. Good FoodMalagueños love to eat and there are many very good restaurants all over the coast. Some are at the high end and have famous national chefs. All types of restaurants can be found in every city along the coast, from the most sophisticated to the simplest. Many restaurants are of new construction and are beautiful, with beautiful gardens beside them. The most sophisticated restaurants are located in Marbella and are expensive and frequented by the beautiful people of Europe.The small town of Benahavis, close to Marbella, is calling itself the culinary capital of the Costa del Sol and boasts about 20 good restaurants. The town gets crowded on weekends as people flock to these restaurants.The Costa del Sol now has five one-star Michelin restaurants, which goes to show that good food can be found here.There are hundreds of chiringuitos (inexpensive fish restaurants) along the Costa del Sol, where one can eat fresh fish. The ones on the beaches of Torremolinos are especially popular. Besides fish they also serve meat dishes and salads.In Malaga one can eat at many inexpensive restaurants that have menus of the day, complete meals for a low price. There are very many good tapas restaurants too.12. Great ShoppingThe Costa del Sol has some of the best shopping in Spain. Sophisticated people will enjoy shopping in all sorts of shops, from souvenir stores to stores with famous brand names and quality goods. The variety of stores is unique to the Costa del Sol and can compare with stores in Madrid and Barcelona.a. Puerto Banus - This is the home of international brand names. It can compete with Calle Serrano and Ortega y Gassett in Madrid. Besides, it has a beautiful yacht harbor. The most expensive jewelry stores are also found here.b. Old Town in Marbella - Very good shops in the old center of Marbella.c. Downtown Fuengirola - There are very good shops around the Plaza de la Independencia. Many good leather stores abound.d. Calle San Miguel - This street in Torremolinos is one of the best shopping streets in Spain. Some very good merchandise is found here, as well as affordable jewelry stores owned by merchants from India.e. El Corte Ingles - This giant department store chain has two branches in Malaga City, one in Puerto Banus, another near downtown Marbella, and another in Fuengirola (Las Lagunas).f. Nerja - Some very good stores can be found here in Calle Pintada.g. The Costa del Sol has some of the biggest shopping centers in Andalusia, including La Cañada in Marbella, Plaza Mayor in Malaga, Larios Center in Malaga, and the Rosaleda Center in Malaga.h. Calle Larios in Malaga is the main shopping street in the city. The streets close to it have very good quality shops.Other beach resorts have only inexpensive shops and really very few good stores.13. The White TownsRonda, Mijas, Nerja, Frigiliana, and Casares are some of the internationally known white towns of Malaga. They are some of the most beautiful and charming towns in all of Spain, completely unforgettable. Ronda is the queen of the white towns and Hemingway called it the most romantic town in Spain. A trip to the Costa del Sol is incomplete if one does not go to Ronda. These white towns have very long histories and show architecture that comes from the times of the Moorish conquest. Everything is whitewashed twice a year and that is why these towns are called white towns. The Axarquia is the region that is east of Malaga. There are white towns there that are very charming, such as Comares and Competa. The white towns are a whole different world.Access to Ronda is not easy now because it takes about an hour from the coast along a narrow two lane road that winds through the mountains. However the AVE will soon reach Ronda and make access easy. A new four lane highway is also planned. Access to the other white towns mentioned here is quite easy, as they are all quite close to the A7 motorway.14. Beautiful BuildingsIn many areas of the Costa del Sol, one finds beautiful apartment buildings that mix the traditional architecture with modern Mediterranean architecture. Many have beautiful semitropical gardens surrounding them, or are beside golf courses. Many people have bought second homes here to escape harsh winters in other places. Other foreigners have decided to live here permanently because Malaga is a beautiful place to live in. Some of the most beautiful construction is in Marbella, where one can find whole apartment buildings faced with marble and other fine stones. One example is the Benabola Building in Puerto Banus.15. Beautiful WomenMalaga is famous for being the home of many beautiful women. Marisol was a child star who became one of the biggest and most beautiful movie stars in Spain. She is a native of Malaga and has retired to a quiet life in the Malagueta, in Malaga City. Malaga’s women have won many of the Miss Spain contests. One of them, Amparo Muñoz, was the only Miss Spain to win the Miss Universe Contest. She became a famous movie star. One just has to walk along Calle Larios to see many beautiful women walking there. Besides, the women of Malaga are also known to be very feminine. Another beautiful woman is Elisabeth Reyes, the Miss Malaga of 2006 and Miss Spain for the same year. She is now one of Spain's most beautiful international models.There are also many handsome men to be seen. The mixture of the races has produced a strong and beautiful race. Juan Garcia Postigo, Mr. Malaga of 2006, won the Mr. Spain contest in 2006 and later won the Mr. Universe Contest in 2007.16. Holy Week in MalagaMalaga and Seville have the best Holy Week processions in Spain. The processions in Malaga show the deep faith of its people and every night of the week, there are six to nine processions that wend their way around the downtown area, finishing in the wee hours of the next morning. The processions are a giant spectacle, with colorful costumes that may date from the middle ages in design. The thrones carried by the men and women of the different cofradias (religious brotherhoods or clubs) are beautiful works of art in gold and silver, made by the best goldsmiths and silversmiths in Spain. The sculptures of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Apostles may be several hundred years old, done by famous sculptors. More than a million people come to Malaga for Holy Week.17. The Malaga FairEvery August Malaga has its fair, which runs for 10 days and is the biggest fair in Europe. People dress in native colorful costumes and parade around the city on foot or horseback. Beautiful women parade in horse drawn carriages around the city. There are many free dance exhibitions of flamenco and Sevillanas downtown. Every night, people flock to the fairgrounds at the edge of town in the Cortijo de Torres, where they have many temporary buildings housing restaurants of many clubs. People eat, drink, and dance. The festival grounds are lighted with hundreds of thousands of lights and there are also rides. The whole town is on vacation and everyone tries to have a good time, even during the height of the summer heat.18. Good HotelsThere are about 19 five star hotels in the Costa del Sol, most of them being in Marbella and surroundings, the most beautiful being the Gran Hotel Guadalpin, a jewel of design, in the best location, near downtown. There are also about 80 four star hotels, distributed over the Costa del Sol. One can find a good hotel one is comfortable in, no matter what Costa del Sol destination one chooses. Many of the good hotels have beautiful spas attached to them for the convenience of clients. The Vincci Seleccion Posada del Patio Hotel is a new 5 star hotel that just opened in Malaga City.The most beautiful spas are those at the Villa Padierna, near Marbella, and the Villa Padierna Carratraca Spa.19. Amusement Parks and Other Places of AmusementsThere are many park attractions to entertain people of all ages. There is no other destination with so many amusement parks. One will not be bored in the Costa del Sol.a. Bioparc Fuengirola - One of the best zoos in the World in the center of Fuengirola. Winner of several awards.b. Aqualand in Torremolinos.c. Benalmádena Cable Car - Rises above a 700-metre slope in 12 minutes, reaching the Calamorro Peak, with a wonderful view of the coast.d. Benalmadena Casino Torrequebrada Sala Fortuna Show - The Hotel Torrequebrada has a gambling casino and the Sala Fortuna show has a beautiful dining room and wonderful shows.e. Benalmadena Dolphinarium and Aquarium - A good place to entertain children.f. Crocodile Park in Torremolinos.g. Sea Life in Benalmadena (by the Marina ).h. Selwo Safari Park in Estepona - Safari style park.i. Tivoli World - Benalmadena - Many rides and restaurants.j. Aquavelis Water Park - Velez-Malaga.k. El Ranchito Equestrian Center - Torremolinos.l. Funny Beach - Marbella.m. Karting Mijas - Mijas Costa.n. Parque Aquatico Mijas Water Park -Mijas Costa.o. Selwo Marina - Benalmadena Costa.20. Cultural Visit to AntequeraThe nearby city of Antequera (half an hour away from Malaga) is a very Baroque city, with about 35 wonderful churches, monasteries, and convents. The Municipal Museum is in the Palace of Najera and has the Ephebe of Antequera. An ephebe was in ancient Greece, a young man aged between 18 and 20 who had just reached manhood or full citizenship and was undergoing military training. The statue is made of bronze and is full scale, being hollow inside. It shows a young nude man with arms outstretched, and with a garland of leaves in his hair. The Ephebe is a beautiful work of art and was made in the 1st century AD, during the Roman period. There are only 6 of these statues discovered in Europe, and the one in Antequera is the most perfect. The statue is the best Roman find in all of Spain.Antequera also has the Church of San Jose, which contains the Descalzas Museum, a museum that contains many wonderful works of religious art.21. Cruise Ship DestinationBarcelona is the most popular cruise ship destination in Spain, followed by Malaga. Malaga has just opened a new maritime terminal to handle more passengers, and the port is expanding to handle more cruise ships.22. Beautiful Yacht HarborsPuerto Banus in Marbella is an internationally famous yacht harbor where the biggest yachts of the world go to. Puerto Marina in Benalmadena is famous for its unique dreamlike architecture. These two yacht harbors are world class.23. Beautiful CountrysideThe countryside around Malaga is very beautiful and scenic. From the beaches, the land goes into hills and mountains. There are many farms and groves of fruit trees, as well as olive trees. The countryside near Antequera is one of the most beautiful in Spain. The Axarquia is the area east of Malaga and is another area that has a beautiful countryside. The Serrania de Ronda is the mountain range around Ronda and it has some spectacular countryside too.24. Night LifeThe Costa del Sol is famous for its night life. Puerto Banus is full of bars and nightclubs. Marbella has other famous discotheques scattered around the city that are famous internationally. Another haven for night life is Puerto Marina in Benalmadena. Malaga City has night life in the city center. Torremolinos also has plenty of night life.Marbella has some famous international discotheques. These include La Notte and Club Olivia Valere. These places are expensive and one has to have a big bankroll to patronize them. There are many more nightclubs that are not as expensive.25. Good Medical CareThe last thing on one’s mind when one plans to travel is that one will have a medical emergency or accident during one’s trip. If this happens in Malaga, one should not worry because Malaga is a big city with very good doctors in public and private practice and one will be attended to in an efficient manner. There are good public and private hospitals and clinics in Malaga and Marbella. In the Costa del Sol, one is not too far away from good medical care. Other smaller resorts in Spain may not have good medical care and one would have to be transferred to a big city hospital that may be far away.26. Nature ParksThere are several nature parks in or very near the Costa del Sol.Fuente de Piedra is a small town in the province of Malaga, and it has about 2000 inhabitants. It is located 19 km from Antequera. It is famous for the Laguna de Fuente de Piedra, which is a national reserve where flamingos breed, with the largest population of flamingos in Europe. The Romans called the town Fons Divinus (divine spring) because of the medicinal properties of the water in the lake. There is an interpretation center in the park where one can get explanations for the park. The marshes at the edge of the lake show the flamingos and their young, and one can walk along its edges and take nature pictures.El Chorro is an area which has three beautiful turquoise lakes, located 12 km from the town of Alora, which is about 40 km away from Malaga. The lakes were formed when the Guadalhorce River was dammed in 1921 at a place called Garganta del Chorro, a limestone gorge. Around the lakes there are pine forests with much wildlife. There is a nearby pass that is 700 m high and is called the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes (the Gorge of the Bagpipers). There is an extremely dangerous path along the face of the gorge called El Caminito del Rey (King's little path), which was opened by King Alfonso XIII. Several people have died walking on this path that is 100 meters above the river because of its poor condition, falling off the cliffs, so the path has been closed by the authorities. However there are plans to improve the path and reopen it in the future. There is a railroad line that was used in the 1965 film "Von Ryan's Express". The whole area is one of the most beautiful areas of the Province of Malaga.The El Torcal Natural Park is a karstic or calcareous landscape, the most amazing one in Europe. It occupies an area of about 20 square kilometers and includes the Sierra Pelada. There are towers, walls, spires, passages, and capriciously shaped rocks. They were formed by the water and the wind over a period of thousands of years. This area has been protected by the government since 1929. The area has many flowers that bloom in spring, as well as many eagles, vultures, owls and small birds.27. Christmas in Malaga CityChristmas is a special time in the city of Malaga. There are more than 3 million low voltage lights that are placed in the Alameda Principal, Calle Larios and the streets around it, and the Paseo del Parque. The designs of the lights are changed every year and are simply beautiful. When the lights come on at night, it turns Malaga into a magical land. Many tourists now come in December to be able to see these wonderful lights.28. Wine Tasting at the Antigua Casa de GuardiaThe Antigua Casa de Guardia (Alameda Principal, 18) is the oldest tavern in Malaga, and it was founded in 1840. One can try many different wines from Malaga, many which are stored in oak casks in the tavern. There is a very long bar, without chairs, where one stands while trying the wine. The atmosphere is that of the 19th century.The Bar El Pimpi is a historic bar where many celebrities have gone and where one can have wonderful tapas while trying their wine selection. There are many other good bars in town.29. The Costa del Sol Is InternationalBecause the Costa del Sol is so beautiful, it has lured thousands of immigrants from all over the world. These immigrants have made the Costa del Sol very sophisticated and very international. They have all contributed their culture to the area's culture in a very positive way. Many of them have small businesses here. That is why the Costa del Sol is one of the most cosmopolitan areas in Spain. Two out of every three tourists who come to the Costa del Sol return in the future because they enjoyed it so very much.30. The Costa del Sol Is a Year Round ResortUnlike other resorts north of Andalusia, Malaga is a year round resort, with a large population. A few chiringuitos on the beach may shut down for winter, but most of the restaurants and stores do not shut down for winter. There is a large population the whole year, so everything remains open.Hola! PlusGuests one of the kind platform assists villa owners & property management service companies to register their guests to Policia in just few mins. Visit today ..