It's not often you come across people who have visited Brunei or have it on their list of places to go. Nine times out of ten if you do meet people who have been you will soon realise that they were their visiting friends or relatives, usually on their way elsewhere.
The main reason people ... Read review
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A review by nicolasreed on General: Brunei September 21st, 2001
Author's product rating:
Value for Money
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
Family Friendly
Advantages:
Beautiful tropical forests .
Disadvantages:
No booze, so no nightlife at all .
Recommend to potential buyers:
no
Full review
It's not often you come across people who have visited Brunei or have it on their list of places to go. Nine times out of ten if you do meet people who have been you will soon realise that they were their visiting friends or relatives, usually on their way elsewhere.
The main reason people dont want to go is because their is no booze, which follows that there is no nightlife and as such the tourism industry there is not that stronge. This being the case few people have heard of the country only that its Sultan was once the richest man in the world. This stands to reason as the average holiday brochure does not feature Brunei except for maybe on a borneo adventure.
It seems that over the past few years the Brunei goverment has made a big effort to attract tourists with competitive packages and high class hotels but to date they seem still to have fallen short, more people have heard of Brunei but still few wish to go.
I would say Brunei could be popular with a traveller who is looking for a country that is still very much untouched by tourism and who is not looking for big activity. However, dont be fooled it is not untouched by the western world.
You will still find McDonolds and Pizza Hut. Brunei has one very good mall in the center of town that stocks most brands of clothes, trainers, electrical goods but I dont't remember them being of any good or bad value. Every other shop in the mall seems to sell VCD's (the quality reflects in the price).
The most talked about place in Brunei is Jerudong Park, this is a theme park which was built for the sultans sons 21st birthday as a gift to the people, it was free to enter but rummor has it that a small charge is now being made. It seemed to me that because it is free few people visit, except for on holidays when it is busy. Do be warned that if it is time to pray the park will stop (dont worry they will get you off the ride first).
It was an amazing experience to be on a scary rollercoaster on my own, its one thing to scream your head off with lots of other people but its quiet another to hear your own heart in your throat with impending doom.
You must go and see the fountain show at the park, it takes about 30 minutes from start to finish but it is done so well. Their are massive fountains dancing with lots of coulorful lights it was a beautiful sight.
Talking of beauty I must mention that Brunei its self is a beautiful country full of tropical forests, it has a contrast of buildings some amazing mansions others that can only be discribed as shacks but to me that is part of the charm.
I am yet to meet someone in Brunei who did not speak english (if a little accented), as for visas as a British passport holder (last I checked) you can enter by filling in a imigration card on the plane then you may stay for 30 days. Now to the important stuff booze, yes it is a dry country but they will let you bring in a stricked allowance if you are a none muslim, I think it is 12 cans of beer and a bottle of spirit (but do check).
If you are going to go I would highly recommend a trip to Labuan (an Island off of brunei), the ferry to the Island will take less than an hour but that its self is worth a go just for the views. When you get there you will que for what seems like an age to get stamped through imagration but once through the taxis are ready to wisk you to your chosen hotel.
I enjoyed the Sheraton, it has'nt the best pool area but a trip down the road to a neighbouring hotel can solve that on a cheap day pass. Labuan does serve booze, so down in the sherton bar you will find it flowing along with the nightly band. I thought the Sheraton suite were great and the service even better.
Across the road from the Sheraton Labuan is a mall, do watch out for pick pockets but also for the great bargains you can get here. I really enjoyed the shopping I felt rich and that was only the mall, there are several market areas with even cheaper gear. I would recommend a few days relaxing in Labuan but some people just go for the day (do book the ferry in advance).
Brunei is most definatly a place most enjoyed if you know someone from the expat community because thats how you get to go to any parties. Life in Brunei for a Brit tends to evolve around the Hash, so if you know a Brit there see if you can get an invite I wont tell you what its all about that would spoil the surprise but I will say its fun.
Advantages: Very affordable, Clean, Safe and beaches Disadvantages: Not so much nightlife available
I am disappointed with the review made by the people above...needless to say I am a bruneian so before i start, i must say i will try not to be biased!!!...
For me holiday is a time when we can spent doing activities that we usually do not have time to pursue. So there are trips for partying, shopping and relaxing.
If what you are looking for is drunken nights and partying at the clubs then you might as well do not bother coming to brunei. What ... ...I mean if what you are looking in a country of your holiday is the availability of alcohol then Brunei is definitely not the suitable holiday destination. Don't you find it boring to see stuff that you can see back home?
What I am trying to say is Brunei might not have the drinks and not a shopping heaven like SIngapore but what we can offer is the relaxing type of holiday.
Brunei is lucky because we still have large parts of the country covered ...
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Advantages: Cheap, different, mad! Disadvantages: Not a whole lot to do
The Sultanate of Brunei is a mad old place, and no mistake. Firstly, (and most significantly for an Irishman) it is strictly Islam, and alcohol is not served anywhere. (You can bring in a bottle yourself, but it needs to be declared.) Having a crazy time in Brunei consists of playing pool in a coffee bar. Or you could go to Jerudong Park. This is a huge amusement park which was built by the Sultam of Brunei as a gift to the people - entry and all ... ...in the entire (huge) park, so you get all the rollercoasters to yourself! The Sultan has also built loads of five star hotels, which are all hugely over-staffed, and therefore excellent in terms of service. Ours - the Jerudong Park Hotel - cost 20 pounds per night, and we had a gorgeous courtyard swimming pool all to ourselves (two friends accompanied me). It was intensely hot - about 45 degrees, as Brunei virtually sits on the Equator. Everywhere ...
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Advantages: reasonably priced, convenient for the cinema Disadvantages: -
...tables and chairs giving it that welcoming feel. There is as is often the case, a lack of music in the place, although this ensures that the clientele don’t have to raise their voices to be heard. There are some macabre daubs on the walls which I suppose qualify as art, which is again typical for Vienna. The waiters are not 100% typical Viennese, with Viennese waiters generally tending to be sniffier than Jonathan Meades, and doing about as much bowing and scraping as the Sultan of Brunei, whilst still feeling a tip is in order, even if you have merely ordered a cup of coffee. The waiters here are polite, helpful and the service is fairly speedy although the same can not always be said for getting the bill.
Generally the café is pretty full by day and in the early evening, although it is almost dead by 9pm most week nights. It is big...
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17.07.2001
