Hi, I'm planning on taking a trip to Malaysia around Chinese New Year. I'm wondering if anyone can tell me whether public transport (ie buses and trains) service will be affected by the holiday. Do they still operate? If so how far do i have to book in advance? I was looking to head to Penang from KL and then back down to Melaka.
Any info would be great :)
If you try to travel on the wrong day it will be hell on earth trying to buy a ticket at the bus station. Don't travel on the day before and the last day of CNY if you can help it. KL is a good place to be at this time, everywhere else will be booked out anyway unless you stay in dorms in backpackers places.
We had to resort to an expensive bus ticket when we went KL to Singapore at the end of CNY last year. Tried to book trains at KL Sentral but even though tickets showed as available, by the time the person went to do the booking, tickets were sold.
It will be a nightmare travelling from the weekend before CNY. Buses and trains still operate but the whole country will be travelling and roads will be jammed!!! The easiest time to travel is in the middle of CNY.
CNY in 2015 is a superlong weekend affair. If I know I'm holidaying on those dates, I'll definitely book my bus trips & accommodations soon. Have a look on www.busonlineticket.com for booking buses.