EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

The southernmost Malaysian city of any size, JOHOR BAHRU - or simply JB - is the gateway into Singapore, linked to the city-state by a 1056-metre causeway, which is crossed by around 50,000 people a day. It also has good links to KL and Melaka, so there's little to detain you whichever direction you're travelling in. JB's one interesting attraction is the Istana Besar , the former residence of Johor's royal family. Surrounded by extensive gardens, it is a magnificent building set on a hillock overlooking the Johor Straits. To the right of the building is the ticket booth of the Museum Di Raja Abu Bakar (daily 9am-5pm; RM18), which displays gifts from foreign dignitaries, including stuffed tigers and daggers.

The bus station is 3km away from the centre of JB on Jalan Geruda. Plenty of buses run from here to the causeway or you can catch a taxi for around RM5. The train station is slightly east of the city centre, off Jalan Tun Abdul Razak. Flights to JB land at Senai airport , 25km north of the city, from where a regular bus service (RM1.40) runs to the bus station. Heading out to the airport, MAS passengers can take the RM4 shuttle bus from outside the Tourist Information Centre. Alternatively, you can get a taxi to the airport for about RM25. The MAS office is at Level 1, Menara Pelangi, Jalan Kuning Taman Pelangi (tel 07/334 1001). To rent a car (cheaper than in Singapore) contact either Avis, at the Tropical Inn (tel 07/223 7971), or Hertz, 1 Jl Trus (tel 07/223 7520).

The main Tourist Information Centre (JOTIC) (Mon-Fri 8am-4.15pm, Sat 8am-12.45pm, Sun 10am-4pm; tel 07/222 3392) is on Jalan Air Molek, and there is also an office on the causeway (Mon-Fri 8am-4.15pm, Sat 8am-12.45pm, Sun 10am-4pm; tel 07/222 3591). There are moneychangers in the main shopping centres, or try Maybank, 11 Jl Selat Tebrau; Bank Bumiputra, 51 Jl Segget or OCBC, Jalan Ibrahim. There is also a brace of cashpoints on the south side of the Merlin Tower. To get online , try the Pussat Internet Café on the second floor of the Kotaruya shopping centre or the ABC Café, next to the Hawai Hotel on Jalan Meldrum (open 24hr).

JB attracts more businessmen than tourists, but the best of the budget accommodation is Footloose Homestay, 4h Jl Ismail (tel 07/224 2881; $5-10), with a basic dorm (RM14) and double rooms. If you can't get a bed here, try the grim but reasonably clean Hawaii, 21 Jl Meldrum (tel 07/224 0633; $10-15). At mid-wallet, the Rasa Sayang, Jalan Datok Dalam (tel 07/224 8600; $20-25), is comfortable enough, while the plushest place by far is the luxury Puteri Pan Pacific, Kotaraya, Jalan Trus (tel 07/223 3333; $80 and over) - ask for promotions. The liveliest of the places to eat in JB is the large night market across the footbridge from the train station beside the Indian Temple.