LanternsB

My top tip for the yellow buses would be a pair of running shoes !

It was a Sunday with seats plenty... Leaves me wondering why they were running (for a prime seat ??). ... Relack lah...

but yes, if you miss it after you pass the custom (if you were slow, went to the loo or there were too many to fit, etc ...) you wait for the next.

Each wait is about 15-20 min ? not too bad for a weekend.

Xx

Singmom

Hi Jessica,

If you are Singapore EP holder and you live in Malaysia, you can drive Malaysian car into Singapore. It is free only first 10 trips, and after that you will need to pay VEP (Vehicle Entry Permit) which is $20 SGD when you enter Singapore. You only have to pay VEP once a day between 2am to 5pm on weekdays, and not on weekends. So if you make two trips to Singapore in one day, you will be charged VEP only once.

You are not allowed to drive Malaysian car into Singapore if you are:
Singapore Citizen, Singapore PR, Resident of Singapore, Long Term Visit Pass or DPass Holder, Work Pass Holder who is also a resident of Singapore

You can read details in Singapore's LTA website.

As for Causeway link bus, I've taken it weekends back and forth, and it really isn't that bad. In my experience, from Jurong East to Gelang Patah or Bukit Indah it takes about 45-60 minutes. I haven't tried it for commuting on weekdays though, from what I hear bus is packed during commuting hours but lot of people do it. I don't think you can park on second link, but you may be able to find parking in Bukit Indah or around Gelang Patah bus terminal.

There is definitely an option to carpool. My friend's husband carpool from LH to Singapore CBD everyday and he says it takes about 1 hour both ways. Sometimes there's a traffic jam coming back, especially Friday evening, but even so he said he can be home in 90 minutes from CBD. There are plenty of forum where people put posts looking for carpooling mate. There's even a van (apparently van lane seems faster than regular car lanes), or women only cars available. I don't know the URL of these forums, but I may be able to ask him...

Nijntje2518

Thanks for this, really helpful - actually, my boyfriend found the same info as you re driving into Singapore (seems it's only for the boys, though )

However, any work pass holder, who is not a resident of Singapore, may drive a foreign-registered vehicle in Singapore only if ALL these conditions are met:
• He is the registered owner of the vehicle.
• He resides outside Singapore.
• He has a valid insurance certificate and road tax to use the vehicle on Singapore roads.
• The vehicle is kept or used outside Singapore for a total period of 6 hours or more every day.
• The vehicle has an Autopass Card to validate its entry/ exit at Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints and to pay for VEP/ toll charges.

http://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaweb...torcycles.html

May I ask if you are crossing at Woodlands or the Second Link? Haven't tried the Causeway Links at Tuas as yet but car-drivers I know who use it regularly find it miles better.

If you do have the links for the car-pooling, that would be great - thanks again!

BTW if anyone can recommend a hotel in Nusajaya - we are going to book in for a week & give it a test-run!

geedee

Legoland hotel should be open soon!!

This car thing is a bit odd... does it mean my wife who is on a Dependant's Pass can't drive in?
I wonder what happens if you do stay more than 18 hours, eg leave your car parked at the airport for a couple of days??

Singmom

Hi Jessica,

I will let you know if I manage to get a link for carpooling.

I used Tuas to cross borders by Causeway Link. I tried going through Woodlands but it was more packed.

There's Traders Hotel (owned by Shangri-la) in Nusajaya at Puteri Harbor which just opened recently, and I heard Renaissance Hotel (Mariott owned thus five starts) in JB is quite nice, too.

LanternsB

hi Singmom

Thanks for the suggestion of car pooling. I would be very interested in that as well though I would no doubt be searching the forums myself.

I hear from several locals (Malaysians) that the bus lane clears faster than one for cars.

Xx

LanternsB

I did the bus thing for both Tuas and Woodlands (weekdays and weekends). There is not much of a time difference when it is clear, but the latter tends to get more quickly jammed and hence takes a longer time.

Nijntje2518

Thanks - that was what I thought, so I guess Nusajaya is the best option for living.

I had a quick Google for car-pooling websites (God bless, you, Google!) and found several - these might be of interest:

http://www.carpoolworld.com/carpool_.html
http://malaysia.metrosources.com/carpool-cid175
http://www.jbshare.info/index.php/car-pool
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Malay...70030109696812

There were more, but I won't labour the point.... it's definitely possible!

LanternsB

That's awesome. Thanks Njtie2518!

Nijntje2518

Hi folks,

Been looking into the MM2H but wondering what the other options are for living in JB / working in Singapore? I've been trying to find info on the long-term visit pass but can't find anything really detailed.

Any experiences / suggestions?

Thanks,

Jessica

Harlow Lad

This is the other option if you have child in school.

"Family Members of International Students who are Allowed to Stay in Malaysia
Certain family members of foreign students are allowed to accompany students in Malaysia on a Long Term Social Pass (for the duration of 12 months or according to the duration of study whichever come first). They include the following types of family members:

Parents of students
Spouses, children and parents of students who come from middle-eastern countries
Spouses and children (immediate family only) of students who are pursuing postgraduate programmes"

Hope this help.

Nijntje2518

Thanks - but no kids, just us & the cats!

Samryan

Can anyone recommend or advise me of the best way of recruiting a full time driver, based in Johor and travelling to Singapore at least three days a week. Six day working week. Starting mid November, salary negotiable.

geedee

There are a few "private hire" car firms around.... they will, given enough notice, drive you anywhere in S'pore and take you back again when you need. I am paying SGD 70 each way, and yes, I might be getting ripped off as I seem to have "rip me off" tattooed on my forehead...

Welcome to the forum.

Nijntje2518

You could try the cheaper option:

http://www.carpoolworld.com/carpool_.html
http://malaysia.metrosources.com/carpool-cid175
http://www.jbshare.info/index.php/car-pool
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Malay...70030109696812