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| Brunei |
| Travellers Information |
| Visas:
Citizens of 14 countries (including Belgium, Canada, Germany, the
Netherlands and Sweden) can stay 14 days without a visa; British,
Malaysian and Singaporean citizens can stay 30 days without a visa. US
citizens can stay up to 90 days without a visa Health risks: None Time: UTC plus eight hours Electricity: 220-240V, 50 Hz Weights & measures: Metric Tourism: Estimated 12,000 visitors per year |
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| When to Go | |
| Weather's
not much of a consideration when heading for Brunei - whenever you go it's
bound to be warm and wet. September to January is the official wet season,
when things are even warmer and wetter. Things tend to close down during
Ramadan, when all Muslims must fast between dawn and dusk for a month, so
it's worth checking if your visit will fall in this period. See also next
weeks weather forcast for Brunei.
Getting There & Away |
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| Most
visitors fly into and out of Bandar Seri Begawan. Brunei has direct air
connections to 27 destinations including regional Asian capitals and a
number of Australian cities. Because of the difference in exchange rates,
it's almost 40 per cent cheaper to fly to Brunei from Malaysia than vice
versa. Departure tax is US$3 to Malaysia and Singapore and US$7 to all
other destinations.
There are express boats between Bandar Seri Begawan and Lawas and Limbang in Sarawak, and the duty-free island of Labuan off Sabah. There are boats between Labuan and Sabah. The main overland route is via bus from Mirir to Sarawak, but it's also a relatively easy matter (although fairly expensive) to travel overland between Limbang or Lawas in Sarawak to Bangar in Brunei. Getting Around |
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| Transport
around Brunei is by bus, hire car or taxi. The public bus system is cheap
and reliable but only in and around the capital. If you want to explore
the hinterland you'll probably need to hire a car. Surprisingly,
hitchhiking is a viable option in Brunei: a thumb in the air is still
novel enough to get a ride although, like anywhere, it has its dangers and
is not recommended as an ideal means of transport.
Money & Costs |
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| Brunei's
accommodation can be fiercely expensive. There is only one budget
accommodation option in the country, but it cannot always be relied upon
for a bed. Mid-range accommodation is a bit of a disaster, though some
top-end hotels are not that much more expensive than the equivalent in
Malaysia. Transport and food are more expensive than in Peninsular
Malaysia, but not outrageously so.
Although the official currency is the Brunei dollar, Singapore dollars are equally exchanged and can be used. Although it's comparatively easy to change both cash and travellers' cheques, banks will give you a better rate (around 10% more) for travellers' cheques. Meals Events |
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| Most
festivals are religious celebrations or mark the anniversaries of
important events in the sultanate's history. The dates of religious
festivals are based on the Islamic calendar, so the dates are not fixed.
Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, is one of the most important events
on Brunei's calendar. Chinese New Year takes place in
January/February, and Brunei's National Day is 23 February.
Activities |
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| Most activities in Brunei are of the organised, lycra-sports-gear, pay-to-play variety. The Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium is of Olympic proportions and includes a track and field complex for keen runners, a tennis centre, squash courts and a swimming pool. Golfers can enjoy an international standard course at Mentiri Golf Club, and there's also a driving range near the airport. Hear the pins rattle at the bowling alley on Jalan Tutong. | |
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