APRICOT 2025 Travel Advice

Arrival at KLIA

Malaysia requires all arriving visitors to complete the Digital Arrival Card (MDAC), with only a few exceptions. More information at the MDAC website.

The MDAC can be completed up to 3 days before arrival in Malaysia. Note that it asks for the address you will be staying at. The hotel name is not needed, but you need the street address, otherwise you will get an error when attempting to submit the registration. If you are staying in Petaling Jaya (recommended) or in Kuala Lumpur, you are in the state of Selangor - accommodation addresses don’t always include this detail.

At time of writing there is no air train between the satellite terminal at KLIA Terminal 1 and the main terminal. You will have to follow the signs for the bus transfer to the main terminal. Note that passengers in business and first class have their own dedicated transfer bus - follow the signage in the satellite terminal. It is quite likely that the air-train to the main terminal will be back in service by the time APRICOT 2025 begins.

When you arrive in the main building of KLIA Terminal 1, you will approach immigration (which is down the escalator from the arrival concourse if you have arrived at the main building gates). If you have forgotten to fill up your MDAC you can fill it up at the kiosks on the right - but there is usually a huge crowd around there, so best fill it up before you travel.

On the right hand side of the immigration area are all the electronic arrival gates, which support 63 countries (see the graphic below for supported passports). If your passport is listed you can use those gates. If it is not, you will have to queue up at the normal counters.

Note that if you have an ABTC (APEC Business Travel Card) and you are from one of the 63 countries, it is better to go through the electronic gates, otherwise you will get a stamp in your passport. This was the advice given by the immigration official at the ABTC immigration counter.

(Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia)

If you go through the normal gates it is recommended to have a print out of your MDAC with you - the immigration officials can normally find it in the system but they prefer you to have a print out, we were informed.

After immigration is the baggage claim area, and beyond that the customs area.

Before you exit the customs hall there are several booths for all the airport transportation services. If you have arranged with the AVANTÉ Hotel to collect you, their transfer company counter is on the right hand side (counter 013), facing the exit, before you head out through the glass doors.

There are two ways of getting to the AVANTÉ Hotel; either by rail or by road.

1. Road options include the hotel's transfer service, regular taxi, private transfer services, or rideshare including Grab. If you use Grab, the app will tell you where the pickup area is. Follow the signs for the other road transport services. Expect the journey to take around an hour assuming normal traffic - it can be much longer during busy periods, or if there is rain.
2. Rail option is the KLIA Ekspres train to KL Sentral. The train journey takes 28 minutes, and tickets can be bought in the arrival concourse at KLIA. Once at KL Sentral you can take the MRT Green Line (MRT Laluan Kajang) from the Muzium Negara station (200m covered walk from KL Sentral - this video covers the walk in the reverse direction: https://youtu.be/-mlOVXLPtV4) to Bandar Utama (5 stops). The MRT card (MYrapid Touch’n’Go) costs MYR10 to buy (valid for many years - perfect for your future return visit to KL), and then you can top it up with what you think you will need for your stay in KL - it can be topped up at the kiosks or the MRT counters. The MRT network is extensive and is the recommended way to get around Greater Kuala Lumpur.

Departure from KLIA

As with the arrival recommendations, the trip from AVANTÉ Hotel to KLIA Terminal 1 takes around about an hour in normal traffic. Drivers recommend allowing 2 hours for traffic, especially in busy periods or if it rains.

Or take the MRT then KLIA Ekspres to KLIA. It will take a bit longer, but you won't be worrying about traffic delays.

Checking in at KLIA is a simple process, and entering the immigration hall is via two entrances past the shopping area of the check-in hall. If one of the entrances is busy try the other one.

Down the escalator is the emigration hall. On the right hand side are the standard counters for foreign passports. On the left hand side are the electronic gates (for the 63 supported countries). If you came into MY through the electronic gates, go out through those gates too. Beyond the electronic gates, lit up in blue lighting, are the counters for First/Business/ABTC/Diplomats where you can collect your matching departure stamp in your passport.

After immigration you have to put your carry-on bags through the customs scanners before heading into the shopping centre in the main terminal.

Note that the satellite terminal only has a bus transfer service at time of writing. The train is no longer running while the system is being renovated, although is likely to return to service by the time APRICOT 2025 takes place. In any case, allow plenty of time to get to the satellite terminal if your flight uses the C gates. The security checks are at the departure gates themselves, not located centrally in the main terminal.

Getting around Greater Kuala Lumpur

The APRICOT 2025 venue is the AVANTÉ Hotel adjacent to the Bandar Utama MRT station on the MRT Laluan Kajang line. This line goes directly to city centre Kuala Lumpur, most notably the TRX Mall. Kuala Lumpur’s MRT system is extensive, making getting around the city quite straightforward. Note that the MRT can be very busy at peak hours (morning and evening commute). Also note that the MRT has women-only designated areas on the coaches.

If you plan to use the MRT to visit locations across KL, myRAPID Pulse app is an essential addition to your application collection on your mobile device. It has the MRT and LRT map (Klang Valley Integrated Transit Map) and a useful route planner, plus the usual additions of any travel app. Tickets can be bought for individual journeys but it is much easier to buy the MYrapid Touch’n’Go travel card, costing MYR10, which you then top up sufficiently for your upcoming travel. You can top up this card at any of the ticket machines, or the counters at each MRT station.

Otherwise, Grab is the commonly used ride-share app, which offers a range of transport options from motorbike (check your travel insurance!) all the way up to Grab Premium for something more luxurious. You can also use taxis but have cash ready as credit cards are not accepted. Be aware that traffic in Greater KL is slow moving, so it is worth checking if you can get to your destination more efficiently using the MRT.