Travel and Tips

Don Desmond Aralis
1061111660

Climate
Equatorial with fairly uniform temperatures year-round, ranging from 21ºC (70ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF). Humidity is high (85-95%). Annual rainfall varies from 2,000mm to 2,500mm and most rain can be expected between November and February.

Clothing
Very casual. There are no dress restrictions on the islands and light cotton clothing, t-shirts and shorts would be suitable. In some villages and rural areas, modest clothing is more appropriate.

Customs
Tioman is a duty-free island, which means that cigarettes and alcohol can be bought at rock-bottom prices and that resorts and restaurants are exempt from the usual 5% government tax.

Please note that there is no duty-free exemption for cigarettes and alcohol carried over the Malaysia-Singapore border into Singapore. When crossing from Malaysia to Singapore, you are required to carry your luggage through the customs checkpoint for inspection

Shopping
Most of the duty-free shops can be found in Tekek and mostly stock alcohol and cigarettes at duty free prices (no perfumes or chocolates). Every village has one or two souvenir and convenience stores and some of the resorts have their own small convenience store stocking T-shirts, sunscreen, batteries and other essentials.

Language
Bahasa Malaysia is the official language but English is widely spoken and understood.

Time
Malaysia is eight hours ahead of GMT and 16 hours ahead of U.S. Pacific Standard Time.

Driving
Visitors will need an international driving licence. Driving is on the left-hand side of the road and it is advisable to observe the speed limits, which are generally 50km/h in the city or residential areas and 80km/h or 110km/h on the highway and expressway.

There are no roads on the island apart from the short stretch between the airport and the Berjaya resort and the jungle road between Tekek and Juara. There is a secure car park at the jetty in Mersing.

Police stations
There is a police station in Tekek and a small police station in Salang.

Anti-drug law
Visitors to Malaysia are advised that the trafficking of drugs in the country is an offence punishable by the death penalty

Religion and culture
The official religion of Malaysia is Islam but there is freedom of worship. When entering mosques, women are required to cover their hair and no shorts or tank tops are allowed for either men or women

There are no dress restrictions, but it is best to dress modestly when visiting villages or Muslim families. For the beach a normal bathing suit or bikini is perfectly acceptable, but topless sunbathing will not be well received.

Shoes are usually removed before entering homes and also in some shops and restaurants.

Tipping
Tipping is not mandatory but is widely practised. RM2-RM5. Most hotels and restaurants include a 10% service charge in all their bills.

Immigration
Citizens from the following countries are required to have a visa to visit Malaysia : North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam and the People's Republic of China. Nationals other than those stated will receive a visa upon arrival or are allowed to enter Malaysia without a visa for a visit not exceeding one month. However, it is recommended that visa enquiries are made at the Malaysian embassy or Malaysian consulate closest to you, as regulations are subject to change.