New Singapore hotel option - Doubletree Johor Bahru, Malaysia

[Deleted member 29185]

Although in Malaysia, the reward rate looks very attractive. A lounge there as well.

So the question is, how difficult is the commute across the causeway and customs etc?

 

[Fifa]

Wow - that reward rate is very attractive!
I will also be interested in the responses.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Wow - that reward rate is very attractive!
I will also be interested in the responses.

I initially thought it must be a typo error.....one missed zero, but the premium reward is just 55000 so it doesn't seem so!

 

[markis10]

Depends on time of day but can be an hour or so. Good option for legoland.

 

[Cynicor]

It's a cat 1 which means 5 nights would be only 20k points. At the right time of year for a Diamond, a one or two night stay could probably net as many points as it cost to stay there!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

If visiting Singapore it would be a MAJOR pain in the cough.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

If visiting Singapore it would be a MAJOR pain in the cough.

Why? Is it traffic, customs or what? What transportation is available? Taxis, train, bus?

 

[Cynicor]

New SIN Doubletree.

Traffic, immigration at the causeway.

It's just not close to SIN really, it's like staying in Osaka to visit Tokyo, which some stingier friend of mine have actually done!! Why you would want a 1 hour commute each way (when they can afford not to) is beyond me.

SIN taxis are not allowed over either so you'd either rent a car or take scheduled buses. Horrible....

 

[markis10]

Traffic, immigration at the causeway.

It's just not close to SIN really, it's like staying in Osaka to visit Tokyo, which some stingier friend of mine have actually done!! Why you would want a 1 hour commute each way (when they can afford not to) is beyond me.

SIN taxis are not allowed over either so you'd either rent a car or take scheduled buses. Horrible....

Actually its very close, some 26km from Orchard Rd from memory. And served by the MRT at Woodlands. At 5K a night its worth of consideration vs Singapore pricing.

From Changi its $7 on the bus http://www.changiairport.com/getting-around/to-and-from-the-airport/coach-to-johor-bahru-malaysia (free if your flying 3K/JQ)

 

[Austman]

I do the Singapore - Johor Bahru (universally referred to as "JB") crossing about 20 times/year. I haven't found it very enjoyable, but it's OK.

Locals know when the best times to cross are. I've had zero waiting, up to about an hour, typically about 30 minutes. The crossing is free for Malaysian cars after a certain time. You see cars parked and waiting on the Malaysian side just before. And of course on weekdays, out of rush hour times, it can be quite fast. Taxis might not be allowed but private car companies definitely are - I use them about half the time. The Malaysian ones will even come over to SIN or anywhere in Singapore to pick you up. All for about AUD $50.00. Probably a lot less if you're in Woodlands. You can't walk the crossing any more. Some of the buses look a bit awful but the bigger companies would be OK. Trouble is you have get to or from the bus terminals and in JB at least it's a bit horrible haha. There is a train too - but it's not that frequent - I've only ever seen it once.

JB itself is no Singapore. But it has it's charms. To me it's a more like Singapore was years ago. It's a LOT cheaper than Singapore and many Singaporeans drive to JB just to dine, then drive home. The new DoubleTree is in a CBD location. Taxis are very cheap and metered, so getting around is quite easy . The roads are pretty good too if you have your own car - but parking can be quite an 'art' in JB.

 

[Cynicor]

Actually its very close, some 26km from Orchard Rd from memory. And served by the MRT at Woodlands. At 5K a night its worth of consideration vs Singapore pricing.

From Changi its $7 on the bus http://www.changiairport.com/getting-around/to-and-from-the-airport/coach-to-johor-bahru-malaysia (free if your flying 3K/JQ)

Sure it's close in Aussie terms, but 26km is the entire north-south size of SIN, so it's relatively far away, and the Osaka comparison is more in terms of travel time (Shinkansen/bullet train vs immigration)

It really depends why you are in SIN but it comes down to cost vs convenience. It is VERY cheap if you value pts at 0.5c each, I agree.

 

[markis10]

Sure it's close in Aussie terms, but 26km is the entire north-south size of SIN, so it's relatively far away.

Given the CBD is on the southern shoreline and JB is on Singapores northern tip that's no surprise :shock:.

I contend its not far away at all, given you can do it from Changi in the dreaded bus in two hours customs and all. Points value aside even its cash rates offer around $300 savings a night for comparable accommodation.

JB makes a nice base for a family wanting to visit Lego land, the Zoo etc, or just for the solo traveler wanting to come home via the Middle East in J very cheap . KL day trips are affordable as well. When I am travelling, I am rarely in a hurry to get anywhere, if I am saving those sort of $$$, more so!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I saw this MRT map on line and it seems to show from point 25 to point 26, a line that stops at JB. Is that just wishful thinking, future plan or me reading it incorrectly?

 

[markis10]

Thats wishful thinking/plans AFAIK

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Thats wishful thinking/plans AFAIK

I just read it is planned to be completed by 2018.

 

[markis10]

I just read it is planned to be completed by 2018.

Our time or Malay time? Not surprising that they are trying to ease congestion, they get on average 60000 cars a day crossing alone. And a little bit of trivia, Singaporean cars need to have tanks 3/4s full to leave Singapore.

 

[moa999]

That map has 2-3x the number of stations that presently exist..

And includes Changi T4 and T5.

Ground broke for T4 last year but completion isnt till 2017/18

 

[Deleted member 29185]

26km from Orchard Rd from memory.

The reason I titled the thread as new DT in SIN, was because it came up on a search for SIN in the HH site. The HH site gives it as 12 miles (19km) from SIN downtown, but perhaps the thread title should be changed to a more correct "New Sinapore hotel option - Doubletree Johor Bahru, Malaysia".

 

[markis10]

The reason I titled the thread as new DT in SIN, was because it came up on a search for SIN in the HH site. The HH site gives it as 12 miles (19km) from SIN downtown, but perhaps the thread title should be changed to a more correct "New Sinapore hotel option - Doubletree Johor Bahru, Malaysia".

Batam comes up in most Singapore searches at various sites, no biggie.

 

[woodborer]

My own view is that a stay in JB could be interesting if you has something to do in JB, or you wanted to get an addtional stay registered in HHonors. If commuting to Singapore each day, the whole thing would get old pretty quickly.