Borneo Holiday Tips
1 – Is Borneo Safe for Tourists?
We would always say check with your governmental advise when travelling anywhere in the world. Below are some examples of advisory web notices that you can look at.
Generally speaking we believe Borneo to be a safe destination with low crime rates but, as with all other holiday destinations, you should keep yourself safe by not travelling alone in the night, staying within the tourist areas or with a guide when outside of these areas and making sure you don’t flaunt your valuable out in the open! Dress respectively, especially within public areas and religious buildings and make sure you know the laws of the country. When taking a Borneo holiday we want you to have a great time, so follow these common sense tips and use your own too!
UK – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/malaysia
Australia – https://smartraveller.gov.au/Countries/asia/south-east/Pages/malaysia.aspx
2 – What is the Capital City of Borneo?
We get asked this all the time and yes it’s a little confusing at first! There are two main states – Sarawak and Sabah, separated by Brunei – this makes up Malaysian Borneo. Kuching is the capital of Sarawak and Kota Kinabulu is the capital of Sabah. People generally use these two as the base to explore Borneo.
3 – What is there to do in Borneo?
Wow, what a question. Where do we start and does this question even have an end? We would urge you to take a look through our website at some of the many things to do in and around this beautiful holiday destination. A holiday to Borneo can be as quiet or as exciting as you want to make it. Like any other trip, we urge you to plan ahead and get some information to make your holiday that much more exciting but organised. You could also Ask Bob!
4 – What vaccinations do I need for Borneo?
We will never [pretend to be medical experts and so this is a question you need to ask your doctor! In general, the World Health Organisations (WHO) have recommended the following vaccinations but, again, do check before booking your holiday as it is you that is responsible for your health!
- Adult diphtheria and tetanus.
- Hepatitis A.
- Hepatitis B.
- Measles, mumps and rubella.
- Polio.
- Typhoid.
- Varicella.
5 What is the weather like in Borneo?
Again, this is a question that is asked time and time again and we would really love for you to have some great weather when in Borneo but let’s not forget that it’s a tropical climate! General speaking, July is the hottest month and can have average temperatures of 30°C (86°F). The coolest period is generally January around 27°C (81°C). In July you can expect around 10 hours of sunshine. January tends to be the wettest month. Remember – we can’t guarantee what the weather will do during your holiday!
6 – Do I need a visa for Borneo?
You really need to check with your Borneo/Malaysian consulate/embassy for this answer! This can vary from country to country such as some countries do no require a visa for a number of months, but others do. This is a question that is difficult for us to answer here as there are so many visitors to Borneo from around the world!
7 – What animals live in Borneo?
Wow. This is something we love to answer as you can imagine. We are proud and very protective of our animals in Borneo with many wildlife sanctuary’s and people looking after the species we have. There are Proboscis monkeys, Orangutans, Sun Bears, Pangolins, Pygmy Elephants and so much more! Borneo is a wildlife lover’s dream. Again, take a look around our site to see some more information on this.
8 – Is it safe to drink tap water in Borneo
We recommend that you use bottled water from reputable sellers, check that the cap is sealed. Bottled water is generally readily available and cheap to buy.
9 – Do I need to tip in Borneo?
Most people will not expect a tip but this depends upon where you are dining. We would usually recommend leaving some change on the table when leaving as this will be kindly accepted. If you are using a guide, then it is courteous to tip as it would be for hotels staff and housekeeping staff too.o see some more information on this.
10 – What do things cost in Borneo?
Again, this will depend upon where you are eating/shopping/staying but, in dollars, you could expect to pay around $3 for a meal or as much as $15 – $30 in restaurants. Bottled water is about 40 cents.
I hope you have found the tips useful and pleas do leave a comment below either asking more questions or telling us about your trip! We love to hear from you! More than anything, have a safe and exciting Borneo holiday of a lifetime!
See you soon!
Borneo Bob.