The Transtar Experience
Eric thought that I could do with the experience of being on a luxury bus ('cos he say I damn suaku, have to try new things once in a while). So a month ago, he booked some tickets on Transtar where the tickets were going for SGD 56 per piece.
I didn't manage to take a photo of the bus driver and the steward (yes they have a steward on every Transtar First Class Coach), and here's the only one I got. Both of them wore smart suits, wahahahah, very gaya like that.
The seats were huge: only 16 seats on the whole bus.
These came with massage buttons, five different modes to choose from (they all felt the same though).
We had game consoles to play nintendo with too. The games were pretty old, the type I used to play when I was around 8.
Each seat comes equipped with its own LCD screen.
Can listen to music, can watch documentaries. Can watch movies too. Plus the movies were pretty new. Guess which show this came from.
We had okay-tasting dinner in pre-packed boxes. The food tasted OKAY, for meals served on a bus journey. They're not as good as the meals you get on some flights, but Eric said the set he got on a previous trip was WAYYYY better than this.
The next time you have extra cash to spare, you might want to try Transtar. I mean, with a driver in suits, a well-mannered steward, and personal osim massage chairs complete with movies and meals to boot, the four hour + journey back from Singapore–KL IS considerably faster. SGD56 is a little steep of course, but you get what you pay for.
January 17th, 2006 at 9:09 am
Looks interestingly good. ^_^ I wonder if Aeroline will be the same.
January 17th, 2006 at 10:00 am
Where did it stop in KL? Where’s the pick-up point in Singapore? This is much better than Nice 2. Although both serve food and has 2-1 seats. Usually I take Nice 2, which stops at Copthorne Orchid in Dunearn Rd.
January 17th, 2006 at 10:04 am
Plaza Rakyat. Pick Up point is Golden Mile in SG. How much are tickets for the Nice 2?
January 17th, 2006 at 10:31 am
hmmm…looks good. might give that a try, based on your recommendation.
January 17th, 2006 at 10:31 am
Burberry seat covers ah?!
January 17th, 2006 at 10:37 am
Whoa. I bet the buses come with built-in nuclear missiles as well. Just to get through JB traffic.
January 17th, 2006 at 10:40 am
Plan to go Singapore in mid Feb, tried Airasia to Senai & bus to Singapore (not recommended, very inconvenient); tried MAS (but with tickets touching RM700/- round trip…it’s frightfully expensive); drove down before (but with no clue on the road system, not really recommended plus I still have an unsettled parking saman); Senandung Malam (not comfortable at all)
This time I wanna try the executive/luxury bus.
January 17th, 2006 at 10:41 am
Heehee..mmg wanted to try adi but tak jadi go Spore last year only. Waitlah. This year end I shall try.
January 17th, 2006 at 10:43 am
Wah..summore can use Worldcard points to redeem ticket..huahuahua..my Baskin Robbin trips won’t be put to waste after all!
January 17th, 2006 at 10:45 am
i should get paid for this post. grrr…
January 17th, 2006 at 11:34 am
Aeroline is cheaper, but minus the LCD and massage chair of course. Still, not bad.
January 17th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww i wanna try the bus too
January 17th, 2006 at 3:19 pm
Spiller : I heard about Aeroline too. Have you tried it?
January 17th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
S-Kay: Yes. Tried once. Not too bad. KL departure point at The Corus hotel, Sg departure point at Waterfront Plaza. Fare is around RM80++
January 17th, 2006 at 5:22 pm
Tried Aeroline before it’s not bad.
I prefer to catch shuttle bus to JB and catch the coach from there back to KL..
Catch from sg, $50SGD, catch from JB $50RM
January 17th, 2006 at 5:35 pm
That really AIN’T bad… I think the NICE/plusliners, which is also pretty darn good, and leave from KTM station is something like SGD$40… (I think). So for a little extra with all that luxury - It’s all worth while.
January 17th, 2006 at 5:53 pm
Corus Hotel? Quite convenient right. I mean if got no one to send to bus terminal..people can just hop on to the nearest Putra LRT and stop at Ampang Park. Hmm…so many to choose from. As long as I arrive safe and sound can already I guess. But I think NICE would be the most convenient one since I just have to sit KTM without changing over to Putra.
January 17th, 2006 at 5:56 pm
s-kay: if you’re opting for Nice, might as well take First Coach, RM 50 only, the bf’s sis takes it everytime she comes back to KL. it’s comfortable, and reliable. Pick up point is along jalan bangsar, near the 7-11 there.
January 17th, 2006 at 7:13 pm
That sounds fun. One Malaysian bus company also offers similar services (from Pudu to Singapore) but am not sure whether they are as good as Transtar.
January 17th, 2006 at 8:11 pm
Wow. Useful bus service. Impressario! What time is the next bus from Sinkapore to Kuching, Sarawak, ho? sisuahlai(dog)blogspot(dog)com
January 17th, 2006 at 8:44 pm
Looks interesting. I’ve travelled by Nice and their coaches are not as luxurious as this. My cousin from Singapore like to travel by luxury coach and he says that the same ticket bought in KL costs only half as that in Singapore(same coach, same trip, same food.
January 17th, 2006 at 9:40 pm
Hmmmm this ’suaku’ here also didn’t know about the existence of this service. A viable alternative for those with fear of flying …. Thks for sharing this!
January 18th, 2006 at 12:04 am
Hey Minishorts, I agree with you about First Coach being reliable and comfortable. It’s Malaysian owned too!
January 18th, 2006 at 8:27 am
sisuahlai: i think the next bus from kuching, sarawak to singapore will be when the sun rises in the west.
January 18th, 2006 at 9:22 am
Aeroline also picks up and drops off from PJ as well - Asia Jaya, to be exact.
And yes, MS, you should get paid for this post!
January 22nd, 2006 at 12:51 am
wei pretty girl still read my blog or not……the bus finally landed in malaysia? i tried this kind of bus before in taiwan in 2004……i finished movie during return of my destination……and can listen to song surf infonet ……etc.
malaysia one never try before……hmmm is time to go singapore again…
February 9th, 2006 at 3:02 am
Just did SIN - KL on Transtar, and KL-SIN on NiCE++ and Transtar win all the way. It’s a bit more expensive, but really much, much better. Like the difference between flying economy and business. I’ll be going Transtar always in future. And nobody is paying me to say this!!!
July 3rd, 2006 at 5:19 am
Well,I travel often to sin as well.I have tried Aeroline quite a couple of times,and i find it quite comfortable eventhough it doesn’t offer personal lcd tv and massage chair.I wanted to try Transtar at Pasar Rakyat but unfortunately the ticket was sold out for the day i wanted to go.Well,as I prefered,Aeroline because it stops right opposite Holiday Inn Atrium in SIN where I normally stay.Never take economy busses from Pudu Raya,its not reliable.All in all,Aeroline,Nice and other luxury bus are still way better,you get what you paid for.
July 27th, 2007 at 12:10 am
hmm…..anybody tried airebus?? I assume it is read AIR-BUS instead of air(bm) rebus!! teehee……. I need to get a luxury bus to singapore……