TRAVEL
TIPS
| Driving |
TBA |
| Currency |
(BND)
Bruneian Dollar |
| Electrical |
240 Volts |
| Telephones |
Country
Code 673, City Code, Brunei/Muara 2+6D, Kuala Belait 3+6D,
Tutong 4+6D |
Time:
GMT + 8.
Electricity:
220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are either round or square three-pin.
Telephone:
Full IDD is available. Country code: 673. Outgoing international
code: 00. Public telephones are available in most post office
branches and main shopping areas and there is a private internal
service. There are both coin and card operated public telephones
in Brunei. Telephone cards can be obtained at post offices or
at the Telecom office.
Climate:
Very hot, humid tropical climate most of the year. Heavy rainfall
in the monsoon season, November to December. Average temperature
is 28°C (82ºF).
Required
clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens. Waterproofing
is advisable all year.
Food & Drink: European food is served in
hotel restaurants, along with Malaysian, Chinese and Indian dishes.
Local food is similar to Malay cuisine with fresh fish and rice,
often quite spicy. Alcohol is prohibited.
Shopping:
Special purchases include handworked silverware, brassware
and bronzeware such as jugs, trays, gongs, boxes, napkin rings,
spoons and bracelets; and fine handwoven sarongs, baskets and
mats of pandan leaves. Shopping centres at Bandar Seri Begawan,
Seria and Kuala Belait offer local products and imported items.
The ‘Tamu’ Night Market in Bandar Seri Begawan is
open from early morning to late at night and sells many fruits,
spices, poultry and vegetables, as well as antiques. Food is available
there at the lowest prices in town. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800-2100.
Tipping:
Most hotels and restaurants add 10 per cent to the bill.
Currency: Brunei Dollar (Br$) = 100 cents. Notes are
in the denominations Br$10,000, 1000, 500, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5
and 1. Coins are in the denominations 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 cents.
The Brunei Dollar is officially on a par with the Singapore Dollar.
Currency
exchange: Foreign currencies and travellers cheques can
be exchanged at any bank.
Credit
& debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard
and Visa are generally accepted by hotels, department stores and
major establishments. Check with your credit or debit card company
for details of merchant acceptability and other services that
may be available.
Travellers
cheques: To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers
are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds
Sterling. Hotels and many department stores will also cash travellers
cheques.
