Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Original poster

KL help needed.

57 replies

ScarlettAlexandra · 14/05/2012 09:26

after lots of tears and deliberation we have decided to move to KL for a year or two, depending on how we like it.

i have two small dc's and would like tips on how to fly long hall with them.
what do i do about car seats, high chairs and other baby stuff i will need.

how do i find out about jabs like mmr that my youngest will need but she will be there.

and what about malaria jabs for them.

my heads spinning and can't seem to get any answers any help will be appreciated.

OP posts:
thisthreadwilloutme · 14/05/2012 11:16

That is awful TheBoss. I would have had the jab too! .

KL pavements much better than BKK, buggies are no problem and you will need a buggy for the huge Malls. Not sure how old your youngest is but I took one of those fabric highchairs you can pop on almost any chair. A godsend when traveling but only when ds was little.

Take all car seats and buggies on the plane with you - they will put them in the hold for you for no extra cost.

Original poster
ScarlettAlexandra · 14/05/2012 11:17

sounds like you have been there thisthread i was looking at furnished condos

good old IKEA they have one everywhere. planning to take a travel cot with us, and ds sleeps in a bed anyway.

its four return flights in total. not four times return for all of us. its strange looking at flight costs same airline etc. its cheaper coming home than flying out there. that's just odd?

OP posts:
Original poster
ScarlettAlexandra · 14/05/2012 11:19

i will ask about that better a jab than damaged children.

OP posts:
Original poster
ScarlettAlexandra · 14/05/2012 11:22

i have a double buggy which goes everywhere with me. spoke to the airline and they said it would be put on as we get on so i could use it in the airport.

it was the car seats i was worried about. shipping could be a mare.

does IKEA there have all the same stock then?

OP posts:
TheBossofMe · 14/05/2012 11:35

I know, it was a jab that we were umming and ahhing over until our friend's DD got sick, DD was a bit grumpy after the jab, but not terrible. No worse than her normal childhood jabs.

Please don't take my word for it though, talk to a doctor in KL. It may be a much lower risk in KL than BKK. BKK is in many ways more rough and ready than KL (eg pavements - will confess that I don't really walk around much when visiting since taxis are so easy and we spend so much time in the AMAZING malls!). This extends to health - its dirtier for sure, and the flooding every rainy season is a problem.

KL is cleaner than BKK, more like SG in that respect.

TheBossofMe · 14/05/2012 11:38

Car seats, some airlines allow you to take them as "free" luggage allowance. Alternatively, you can sometimes buy them secondhand from expat groups in BKK - KL may have similar.

IKEA is the same the world over! It even has the meatballs and the ballpark in BKK. Actually makes me a feel a little bit homesick when I go there!

Original poster
ScarlettAlexandra · 14/05/2012 11:41

dh has been for batches of 12 week periods and the pics looked really nice where he was.

how did you entertain you dd on the flight boss. 18 hours is such a long time for two little ones.

OP posts:
TheBossofMe · 14/05/2012 11:53

Is it really 18 hours to kl - its only 10.5 to 12 to bkk. Its night flights to here, so DD really slept all the way once the lights went out - into PJs in the departure lounge, eat before getting on board, have a variety of apps loaded on the ipad just in case, storytime and bedtime exactly the same on board as it is at home, and bingo, out until we are descending to land!

I really would recommend going for a visit before making up your mind. it is radically different to the uk, and a culture shock is a certainty no matter what. I cannot imagine agreeing to live somewhere without visiting first - esp if there is no way back for a period once you are there. I know plenty of people who didn't last the posting when overseas.

Original poster
ScarlettAlexandra · 14/05/2012 12:07

yes its 18 in one go. or 2 smaller flights changing in dubai. don't fancy doing that though two babies on and of and on and off again.

can't afford to visit. ill take dh's word for it. I'm usually happy anywhere i go.

OP posts:
TheBossofMe · 14/05/2012 12:58

Yeah, I have OCD so a bit less happy go lucky! I wish I were more like you!

It really is a lovely city, there is a mall I adore, think its called Kcc. Also the butterfly park and bird park is lovely.

Put up a separate post re flights with little ones, you will get lots of suggestions, ESP from the very helpful oz crew.

upsidewide · 14/05/2012 13:12

Car seats are always taken on for free per child on these international flights. You check them in as you usually would. I would take your own car seats rather than unnecessarily buying when you get there.

A direct flight to KL from London is about 12 hours. However if you have to do a stop over, obviously it is more. Do you have a choice of airlines? BA, Virgin both fly direct (probably more expensive) but are amazing if you are traveling on your own with small children.

KL is a great city. It is westernized enough that it won't be completely terrifying. There is a huge expat community.

I think you will have a wonderful time and your children will love it.

upsidewide · 14/05/2012 13:15

oops, I mean Air Malaysia, I am not sure if Virgin flies to KL.

thisthreadwilloutme · 14/05/2012 13:20

We lived in a different part of Malaysia not KL, but visited lots.

It isn't 18 hours to KL it's 13 tops from London. If regional airport (like us) it is longer but still ok. The flight isn't easy with kids but snacks and a few toys and they will hopefully sleep a bit. Just remember it will pass! I would stay the dubai stop is ok - breaks up the flights, kids can have a run around and burn of some energy.

Buy the culture shock Malaysia book before you go - it helps with etiquette etc.

KL is huge, bad traffic but really a fab place to live. Lots of lovely restaurants and things to do. The park at KLCC is fab for little ones and the cultural village is good, the kids can do batik painting there. You must go to Peter Ho too. It is my favorite shop in Malaysia, lovely gifts for presents. It is difficult to find but so worth it!

TheBossofMe · 14/05/2012 13:30

Just a thought, how old are your two children, op? If both are under 2 you will need another adult flying with you, I think. Is your dh flying with you? If I remember rightly, you need 1 adult per child under 2.

TheBossofMe · 14/05/2012 13:31

The flight really isn't that bad, ESP if you can get a night flight. It's the airport bit that's grim!

thisthreadwilloutme · 14/05/2012 13:35

You need one adult per child if they are sitting on your knee I think. If they have their own seat it's ok.

thisthreadwilloutme · 14/05/2012 13:38

Oh and KL airport is great with kids. Before you go through to security they have a plane the kids can play on. After security there is a mini rainforest in the middle of the airport the kids can wander around and a little train between the terminals. I have been up and down on that train lots of times!

Are you flying business? If you are you can go in the lounges and they have kids play areas and cots. Bliss.

Original poster
ScarlettAlexandra · 14/05/2012 14:20

don't know about business I'm afraid. ds is two so he will have a seat according to emirates who i called ds is 8 months.

it may give me the excuse for buying an ipad for ds Wink

OP posts:
Original poster
ScarlettAlexandra · 14/05/2012 14:21

dd i mean is 8 months old.

OP posts:
thisthreadwilloutme · 14/05/2012 15:07

Do you get an allowance and then book the flights yourself or do the company book it?

If the company book they may only deal with certain airlines and you will probably give them dates and they may give you a couple of options. If they give you a set allowance you can book whatever you like. They may also buy your dd a seat even though she is only young. Our company bought a seat for anyone over 6 months. We took our carseat onto the plane a couple of times and the other times just used the extra seat to spread out.

You may be able to take a cash option and book yourself and make a profit IYSWIM. We could eke two trips home (and flights to Bali if we were lucky) out of the allowance for one flight.

We flew over the years with MAS, Emirates, Ethiad (by far the cheapest at the time), BA and KLM. None were awful, Ethiad were actually really good and ridiculously cheap.

TheBossofMe · 14/05/2012 15:07

If you have a choice, I personally would choose to fly nonstop rather than with a stop in the ME. I heart non stop flights with DD. nothing worse than having to wake a sleeping child mid flight.

tvfriend · 14/05/2012 15:15

A non stop flight is around 12/13 hours. have done it a few times- once when DD was 2 and a half and DS was 1. He still fitted in the sky cot on malaysian Airlines who I would really recommend. Def try and do non-stop. KL airport is fab.
Have not lived in KL but have spent a lot of time there and have friends who live there.
I would say non-branded kids clothes are cheaper. They have mothercare, early learning centre etc.
You should be able to take your car seats on the plane as checked in luggage.
We had to use a hospital for DS while we were there. Was fantastic. The surgeon had trained in London as most of then other Drs we met (or Oz) and it was very clean and efficient.
Great islands to visit when there as well. I love Malaysia!

Original poster
ScarlettAlexandra · 14/05/2012 16:28

whats a sky cot? i like the sound of that. mommy could rest while dd slept ds is easier on long journeys.

OP posts:
upsidewide · 14/05/2012 17:33

sky cot = bassinet on BA they sometimes have the option of a bouncy chair type thing, it's useful if they prefer not to lie completely flat. My DS's loved them.

upsidewide · 14/05/2012 17:34

you will have to request the bassinet seat on any airline, some allow pre-booking others do it on a first come first served at checkin. We have usually been lucky and they may take pity on you given you are traveling with a toddler and a baby. They always seems to with me.