Postby aikliang » Thu Oct 01, 2009 12:03 am
I used to work in Langkawi about 4 years ago, now in Johor Bahru.
Normally if you fly in at the airport, you can be guarantee 95% of the time the car rental are legal but if you come in using the ferry, beware. Cars in Langkawi are very cheap eg. I bought the Toyota Altis when it was 1st launched cost me only RM 68K, in mainland cost was nearly RM 105K. Proton Waja mainland about RM60K, Langkawi around RM 30K. The locals would buy the cars and then rent out as hired car. Locals are not worried cars will go missing as the cars cannot be easily taken out.
To be safe, it is much better to rent from reputable car rental companies and travel agents. If you want I still have some contacts in Langkawi and I can pm you their contacts. Driving in Langkawi is very simple, it is very hard to get lost as there are proper signages to guide you.
Try not to visit Langkawi during LIMA (Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace) unless you want to see the air show (highly recommended but please check schedule). What happens is that the hotels will charge the rack rate i.e. the highest they are allowed to charge. Normal pratice for hotel is they charge below rack rate eg. City Bayview in Kuah Town, their rack rate is about RM400 per night but you can get a room for about RM 200. Nearly everyone will jack up the price. I used to hear tales of roti canai being sold at USD 10 per piece!!!!
Food wise beware if you are not local. The way you speak they can immediately identify you are non-local. Try not to patronize the tourist areas as the prices are quite pricey. Their reasoning is you only come once. There are lots of bars in Langkawi especially along Pantai Cenang area.
Being duty free, cigarettes and liquor is cheap. I bottle of Hennesy VSOP 1 litre sells for around RM 350 per bottle (not sure what is the cost now). If you stay for more than 48 hours you are entitled to take out one litre of liquor and 200 sticks of cigarette. 1 can of beer cost about RM 2.50 when I was there and if you are a regular you can get it for RM. 1.50. Cost would have probably gone up by now.
Some things to do in Langkawi are snorkeling, island hopping, feeding the eagle, jungle trekking. If can try to get some minyak gamat. This is good for nearly anything from mosquito bites to aches to whatever. If you are adventureous, you can hop onto a ferry to Satun in Southern Thailand and then a 2-hour drive to Hatyai.
It is not the mountain that we conquer but ourselves - Edmund Hilary
brudder on highlighting this gray area concerning that extra certified license one should first be made aware of. 
