{"id":1800,"date":"2022-04-01T10:44:52","date_gmt":"2022-04-01T02:44:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/en-SG\/?p=1800"},"modified":"2022-11-02T18:18:12","modified_gmt":"2022-11-02T10:18:12","slug":"sg-to-jb-land","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/blog\/sg-to-jb-land\/","title":{"rendered":"Driving To JB Or Taking The Bus? Here’s How To Escape The Crowd | VTF 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The latest developments for driving into Malaysia, plus a guide to avoiding traffic at Woodlands Checkpoint. Read on if you’re planning a quick weekend getaway in Johor Bahru!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Driving to JB soon? From today, fully vaccinated travellers from Singapore and Malaysia can now enjoy test-and-quarantine-free land travel \u2014 via all modes of transport! Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to have with you upon entry to JB and Singapore. Scroll down for a guide to avoiding crowded checkpoints for those taking other forms of land transport.

\ud83d\udc9c  Now To 15 May 2022:<\/strong> Book your next getaway with Singapore Airlines using your YouTrip Mastercard and get up to S$200 worth of Cashback and Changi Gift Card! Find out more here<\/a>.

\ud83d\udc9c Stay Up To Date:<\/strong>
\u2013 Ultimate Guide to VTF Travel From Singapore<\/a>
\u2013 Singapore Vaccinated Travel Framework Updates: What You Need to Know<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Driving To JB: Entry Checklist<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Fully vaccinated travellers from Singapore and Malaysia can now enjoy test-and-quarantine-free land travel \u2014 via all modes of transport! Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to have with you upon entry to JB and Singapore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddfe Driving To JB<\/strong><\/td>\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddec Returning To SG<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Entry Checklist<\/strong><\/td>\u2705 Make sure your tanks are 3\/4 full
\u2705  Check on your Road tax validity<\/a>
\u2705 Have your vehicle’s certificate of insurance with you
\u2705 Prepare toll charges \u2014 pay through Nets cashcard (~S$4.20)
\u2705 Bring Touch \u2018n Go card
\ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffb Take note that cards become invalid if unused for 12 months
\ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffb New ones can be found at local convenient stores
\u2705 Prepare road charges \u2014 currently waived until 7 April<\/a> (~S$6.45)
\u2705  Ensure you have a Vehicle Entry Permit<\/a>
\u2705  Download MySejahtera app<\/a>
\ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffb Complete the pre-departure form under the \u201ctraveller\u201d tab
<\/td>
–<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Driving To JB: Via Other Land Transport Methods<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Driving<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

We all love a quick weekend getaway to JB, but the massive crowd at the Singapore Checkpoint can be a real agony \u2014 but \u201cno pain, no gain\u201d amirite<\/em>?<\/span> We however beg to differ. There are ways to escape the horde with a proper plan. Here’s YouTrooper Douglas Yong’s tried-and-tested itinerary.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

18:30 – Enter JB On A Friday Night<\/b><\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

After I knocked off from work on Friday, I met up with my partner-in-crime to have dinner in Singapore. The evening peak hours are always unpredictable, so I wouldn\u2019t want to get stuck at the Woodlands Checkpoint traffic jam while hungry. I also don\u2019t recommend taking your chances to have dinner in JB, because the jam could take up to 3 hours during the evening peak.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After dinner, we called for a Grab around 8.30 pm, and the fare was just under S$30 from the Central Business District to Woodlands Checkpoint. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

21:00 – Tackle Woodlands Checkpoint<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Compared to the weekend crowd, the Friday night crowd is way easier to manage \u2014 because the causeway was rather bare, our buses were able to zoom right across and we cleared Malaysia customs very quickly. Our total journey from Woodlands Checkpoint to JB Sentral took less than an hour! <\/span>
Pro-tip:<\/strong> Automated lanes may not always be the quickest way across. Jump over to the manual ones if they are short!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a breakdown of how much time we spent at each place:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Location<\/b><\/td>Duration<\/b><\/td><\/tr>
Singapore Checkpoint<\/span><\/td>10 minutes<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Bus Terminal<\/span><\/td>30 minutes<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Causeway <\/span><\/td>2 minutes<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Malaysia Customs<\/span><\/td>10 minutes<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Total: 52 minutes<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

22:00 – Check in to Belllo Hotel<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

We picked <\/span>Belllo Hotel<\/span><\/a><\/span> for its convenient location. The boutique hotel sits on Jalan Meldrum, right behind the famous <\/span>Kam Long Curry Fish Head<\/span><\/a><\/span> \u2014<\/span> and is only a 5-minute walk from City Square.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Driving<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve pre-booked the Premier Room for S$64 on Expedia, but decided to top up an extra RM 92.99 (~S$30.63) and treat ourselves to their suite since it was available. That worked out to a total of S$47 per person<\/span>. \ud83c\udf89<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The spacious air-conditioned 26-square feet room had everything we needed \u2014 a queen bed, sofa bed, 48-inch TV, WI-FI, a rain shower, towels, toothbrush sets, cups, an electric kettle, tea, instant coffee, bottled water, hangers, a safe<\/span><\/span>, and even an iron with ironing board. It\u2019s big enough for three to stay, so it was more than enough for the two of us.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The staff were very friendly and were able to accede to our request for an extra blanket within five minutes. For the price paid, we definitely enjoyed our stay.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro-tip:<\/strong> Prepare an extra RM 10 (~S$3.10) for mandatory tourist tax per room, to be paid upon check-in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

09:30 – Check Out<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

After a good night\u2019s rest, we were ready to take on JB! The check-out process took about five seconds \u2013 once the concierge had confirmed our room number, we were able to set off. No paperwork was needed, and that\u2019s definitely a plus point. Kudos to Belllo Hotel for the seamless process.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Driving<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

10:00 – Massage<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

We took a 5-minute walk to City Square JB and headed right up to <\/span>Thai Odyssey<\/span><\/a><\/span> on level 3. The award-winning massage & spa centre offers many treatments, ranging from traditional Thai massage to herbal therapy massage.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Driving<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Because of my aching shoulders, I opted for the 120-minute Traditional Thai Massage at RM 178.10 (SGD $53.99) while my friend chose the 120-minute Thai Aromatherapy at RM 220.50  (SGD $66.84). If you\u2019re also aching from sitting too long in the office, I\u2019d recommend the Traditional Thai Massage to knead out all the stubborn knots in your muscles and discover satisfying cracks that you’d never thought were possible.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro-tip: <\/strong>Make sure to email or call before going to secure a spot!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

12:00 – Lunch<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Hidden in a corner on level 3 of City Square JB (a few steps away from Thai Odyssey), is a popular Korean restaurant opened by celebrity chef Baek Jong-won. The restaurant, Bornga, is always filled with Korean diners (that\u2019s when you know the food is really good!), and serves both BBQ and cooked food.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Driving<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

We had the signature Bibimbap, Grilled Short Ribs Patties, Seafood Pancake, Steamed Egg, and lots of refillable <\/span>banchans<\/span><\/i> that included <\/span>kimchi<\/span><\/i>, beansprouts, omelettes, and many more. The bill came up to RM 151.95 (SGD $50.13), so that worked out to around SGD $25 per person. For the superb quality of food and portion, it was a steal!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Singapore has a few outlets too, but of course, the price in JB is cheaper by a mile.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro-tip:<\/strong> Portions here are huge, so listen to your waiter when he tells you you’re ordering too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

13:30 – Movie<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Catching the latest blockbuster has got to be one of every Singaporean’s favourite activities when in JB. After all, S$6 movie tickets are a hard deal to pass up.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Driving<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

We caught Bumblebee at MM Cineplexes on level 5 of City Square, and the comfy theatre seemed to have been renovated recently with newer cushy seats and decor. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

15:00 – Shopping<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Of course, we couldn’t return without a good ol’ shopping spree. Popular hunts include local brands such as Brands Outlet and Padini Concept Store<\/a><\/span> in Komtar JBCC<\/a><\/span> \u2014 another popular shopping mall connected to City Square. These two stores offer inexpensive clothes that range from everyday T-shirts to trendy wear and office wear.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Driving<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

International brands like Uniqlo, H&M, and Cotton On in City Square are also very popular among Singaporeans because they are relatively cheaper due to the exchange rates. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

16:00 – More Shopping At The Pharmacy<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Bargains don\u2019t just end there! Pharmacies like Guardian and Watsons in City Square JB are full of bargains too. Branded shampoos, conditioners and hair masks, skincare products, oral health products (especially electric toothbrush heads) are also cheaper in JB. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Driving<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

I managed to snag the popular Bio-Essence Bio-Renew Royal Jelly Exfoliating Gel for RM 71.90 (~S$23.70) \u2014 it costs S$32.90 in Singapore!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

16:30 – Snack On Freshly Baked Confectionery<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A weekend JB getaway is never complete without queuing up for fresh confectionery. Located on the third floor of City Square JB is Ming Ang, a famous confectionery shop that bakes all sorts of traditional pastries. Their signature Tambun Biscuit (original, pandan, or coffee) is crispy and non-greasy, perfect to savour at any time of the day.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Driving<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Original and coffee flavours had a waiting time of 30 minutes, so I opted for 3 boxes of pandan Tambun Biscuits instead, along with 3 bags of Heong Peah and a box of Portuguese egg tarts. If only I had more hands to carry across the checkpoints, I would\u2019ve bought more!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The total bill came up to RM 92.50 (~S$30.50).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Driving<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

17:00 – Return to Singapore<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

We had a dinner party to get to in Singapore, so we left promptly after getting our fresh pastries. The journey back to Singapore was even quicker. Here\u2019s a breakdown of how much time we spent at each location.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Location<\/b><\/td>Duration<\/b><\/td><\/tr>
Malaysia Customs<\/span><\/td>5 minutes<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Bus Terminal<\/span><\/td>2 minutes<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Causeway <\/span><\/td>2 minutes<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Singapore Checkpoint<\/span><\/td>5 minutes<\/span><\/td><\/tr>

Total: 14 minutes<\/strong><\/p> <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Driving To JB? Enduring the Crowd isn\u2019t Necessary<\/b><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Driving<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Our journey into JB on a Friday night took less than an hour, and the trip back to Singapore on a Saturday evening was complete within 15 minutes. With just 18 hours in JB, we completed our shopping, massage, movie, and even had a satisfying lunch.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more, after returning to Singapore, we still had 1.5 days of weekends left!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Bonus Pro-tip: Saving time and money.<\/strong><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the whole trip, I didn’t waste time queuing at the money changer. All I did was tap my YouTrip card for every purchase<\/a><\/span> and let YouTrip do the currency exchange automatically. <\/span>When my funds were low, I topped up Singapore Dollars accordingly with a linked credit card (no OTP needed)<\/span>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a quick comparison:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Item<\/b><\/td>Money Changer<\/b><\/td>YouTrip<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Hotel
(<\/span><\/span>RM 92.99)<\/span><\/td>		S$30.84<\/span><\/td>S$30.63<\/b><\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Massage
(<\/span><\/span>RM 398.60)<\/span><\/td>		S$132.21<\/span><\/td>S$131.50<\/b><\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Movie
(<\/span><\/span>RM 34)<\/span><\/td>		S$11.28<\/span><\/td>S$11.22<\/b><\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Restaurant
(<\/span><\/span>RM 151.95)<\/span><\/td>		S$50.40<\/span><\/td>S$50.13<\/b><\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Pharmacy
(<\/span><\/span>RM 71.90)<\/span><\/td>		S$23.85<\/span><\/td>S$23.72<\/b><\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Confectionery
(<\/span><\/span>RM 92.50)<\/span><\/td>		S$30.58<\/span><\/td>S$30.52<\/b><\/span><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Pro-est Tip? Remember to bring your YouTrip card along to enjoy Wholesale Exchange Rates<\/a><\/span> overseas with zero bank fees too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re super excited about how quickly things are returning to \u2018normal\u2019. However, let\u2019s not forget to do our part to help curb the spread of the virus by masking up and adhering to safety practices whenever we partake in travel or social activities. As always, whenever you make your travel bookings online or spend overseas, be sure to use your YouTrip card to skip out on those pesky bank fees<\/a> and make full use of our great currency exchange rates!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sign up now and be sure to check out our YouTrip Perks<\/a> page for exclusive offers and promotions too! For more great tips and articles like this, join our Telegram(@YouTripSG)<\/a> and subscribe to our free weekly newsletter here<\/a> or down below! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And while you\u2019re at it, why not join the conversation with thousands of #YouTroopers in our very own Community Telegram Group @YouTripSquad<\/a>? Get tips and tricks to everything YouTrip including exclusive invites to exciting events and experiences, & be part of the #YouTripSquad! \ud83d\udc9c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay safe, and happy travels!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Related Articles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Music Festivals in Europe That Will Be Happening in 2022
<\/a>Guide To The Best Barcelona Tapas<\/a>
The Ultimate Paris Food Guide For All Budgets<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"YouTrip<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

All currency exchanges are accurate as of 11 Jan 2018<\/span><\/i><\/span>.  Bank card prices are calculated based on 3.25% foreign currency transaction fee.<\/em><\/sup><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Avoid the traffic and enjoy a\u00a0JB\u00a0weekend getaway!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":37988,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8119,8117,623,624],"tags":[39226,39228,39200,39129,39132,39227,39159],"class_list":["post-1800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides-tips","category-itineraries","category-lifestyle","category-travel","tag-jb","tag-johor-bahru","tag-malaysia","tag-travel","tag-trending","tag-vtf","tag-vtl"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1800"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1800\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37988"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}