BB's Malaysia Wahdah Car Rental to Cameron & Genting Highlands

[BabyBlade]

So I did a 4D3N road trip to Cameron Highlands & Genting Highlands last weekend. Having been to Cameron three times (Rode up twice, drove up once) and Genting (Rode up once, coached up numerous times when I was much younger), this was my first time renting a car in Malaysia to drive up.

To those who are interested in renting a car in Malaysia to self-drive up north, here's my personal experience with Wahdah. I will also include some places that I visited in Cameron and maybe Genting.

Rented from https://www.wahdah.my/ due to reasonable rates and ease of convenience. Wahdah offers pick up services as near as Caltex JB Sentral which is right beside City Square Mall in JB for a small fee.

1. Easy to understand and navigate website



2. Pretty wide range of cars from the Malaysian brands, to the more common Japanese and Korean cars. Good mixture!

Such as the small Perodua Axia, Myvi, Bezza, Proton Saga to the usual Honda Jazz, City, Kia Forte, Toyota Vios, Sienta, Camry, and even the super big Hyundai Starex etc.

Prices indicated on this page shows the rate for the entire duration of your booking, not inclusive of other options such as additional driver, pick up and return fee, and also refundable deposit, just to name a few.

You can select for prices to be shown in SGD, RM or USD.




The next page will allow you to select extra options and all charges are indicated clearly.




3. Easy submission of documents - passport photo, driving license onto website. Just snap photos on your phone and upload it.

4. Confirmation details (in pdf file) sent to my email right after I confirmed my booking.

5. Live chat. Any questions, just use their live chat feature. I had to add an additional driver one month after I made the booking and it was a breeze. Confirmation email was sent to me right after I submitted my payment details.

6. Check your booking by just logging into your account.



7. Contact person details for your booking is also indicated on your booking slip, just in case. I whatsapp-ed the person just a day before my trip just to be sure.

Paid RM 704.90 (SGD 235) for my trip from Friday to Monday, inclusive of collection, return fee and additional driver. You can choose collection and return time. Mine was collect 7am at JB Sentral and 11pm return at same location. There is also a refundable deposit of RM 300 which will be refunded to you at least 15 days after returned of car.



Renting a car in Malaysia is a good alternative for those who don't wanna risk driving your own car up north for various reasons. Renting a car in Malaysia is also cheaper than renting a car from Singapore to enter Malaysia for those who do not have a car.

For my trip, my friend and I rode our cheap kup (motorcycle) into JB and parked in a safe location there. This way we didn't have to take a bus across the causeway etc.

[BabyBlade]

On collection day itself, we arrived at a little past 7am and spotted our rental car. Upon confirmation of booking, the number plate of your rental car will also be indicated on the pdf file sent to you.

 

They say 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do' right? What other car to choose from than the Myvi 1.3 VVT LX. It's also the 2018 3rd gen Myvi. Quite a new car. The Wahdah sticker is only pasted on the bottom front windscreen on the left hand side.

 

 

Exterior wise looks good. I was expecting an older looking and worn out car. Some minor scratches here and there and some scratches and paint chips on the bumper. Interior is clean. Phone mount & holder is provided for GPS usage. 

 

The Myvi has all the necessary basic features. No fancy high tech features. Bluetooth for connecting your phone's music/spotify. Dual USB for charging your phones. Decent boot space. Windows are quite tinted. 

 

 

Collection was straightforward and hassle free. Showed my booking document to the Person in Charge. Checked the car and indicated which parts already scratched on the paper. 

 

Within 5 minutes the key was in our hands. 

[BabyBlade]

Mandatory stopover at Jejantas Ayer Keroh R&R for A&W. I don't even fancy A&W that much but 200km is about my usual drive/ride time before I start to feel the fatigue and eyes strain and need a toilet break.

 

 

Interior of our little Myvi.

 

 

 

[Enye]

wah goddess....why your companion no driving licence and let you 1 person drive the whole trip?

 

   

[BabyBlade]

wah goddess....why your companion no driving licence and let you 1 person drive the whole trip?

 

Have license la. That's why I paid extra RM 20 for additional driver.

[Hamburger]

Why not a BMW?

 

 

At least a perodua can design a steering wheel better than Toyota.

 

Steering wheels look chunky and feels good to hold.

[Tohto]

Why not a BMW?

 

 

At least a perodua can design a steering wheel better than Toyota.

 

Steering wheels look chunky and feels good to hold.

 

I think the center dash board also look better than a small Toyota.

[BabyBlade]

Enroute to Cameron Highlands via Simpang Pulai. We had a slow slow drive. Comfortable cruising speed for this little 1.3 Myvi was best at about 110km/hr to 130km/hr, max 140. Sweet spot is at 110 imo. Very smooth to drive. Anything faster steering becomes a little too light for my liking. No point driving fast with an Eco car also.   We took about 7 hours plus to reach the place we were staying with one lunch stop and one pit stop for refuel.

 

Would totally recommend renting at least a 1.5cc though if you're driving far north or intending to drive up mountains with it, for more comfort (power). As the saying goes there is no replacement for displacement. Price difference not much anyway.

 

 

Where we stayed, Father's Guesthouse. Backpackers style. Parking available just next to it, if not you can just park across it along the streets.

 

It is situated at Tanah Rata but away from all the hustle and bustle. Previously trips I stayed at Golden Hills and also Strawberry Park Resort but decided to stay in a more quiet part of Cameron this time. Father's House is just a minute or two drive away from the restaurants at Tanah Rata. You can even walk there.

 

 

That's our Myvi parked right next to the guesthouse. 

 

 

How it looks like at night:

 

 

Very chill vibe to this whole place. Usually you'll have many Caucasians enjoying a beer or two with their friends out on these benches. This is just one building. At the back of this place is another guesthouse, which I stayed at.

 

 

[BabyBlade]

Why not a BMW?

 

 

At least a perodua can design a steering wheel better than Toyota.

 

Steering wheels look chunky and feels good to hold.

 

Just wanted a cheap compact car to drive around from A to B and easy to park la haha. And something not flashy. Good enough to blend in with the locals. Confirm Myvi la. There's always a Myvi in front and behind of you in Malaysia.

[BabyBlade]

Lunch for 2 pax at Delicious & Happiness Kitchen, Brinchang. 4 star rating on Tripadvisor.

 

Second time here and food still as good and big portion. Best of all, everything cost just RM 67 including one bottle of beer. If you're looking for a budget friendly Chinese restaurant, this is it. 

 

 

[BabyBlade]

Brunch at my favorite Yong Teng Cafe at Tanah Rata run by an elderly couple who are deaf/mute. 4.5 star rating on Tripadvisor.

 

No problem with communication though. You write your order on a piece of paper and then hand it to the uncle. It's a very small shop with a simple menu but food is tasty and price is very cheap! Paid RM 33 for Nasi Lemak, Pancake, Chicken Chop and two drinks. That's like just SGD 11. Where to find??? 

 

 

Nasi Lemak is nice. Curry is on the slightly spicy side.

 

One of their must try - Pancake. Actually more like a crepe. I would say go for their Banana Pancake.   Worth a visit if you're in Cameron Highlands.

 

 

[PSP415]

Pancake looks yummy. Got the come eat me invite. The bananas look glazed over with syrup? Or its just the camera lens drooling.

[BabyBlade]

Pancake looks yummy. Got the come eat me invite. The bananas look glazed over with syrup? Or its just the camera lens drooling.

[Shibadog]

Just wanted a cheap compact car to drive around from A to B and easy to park la haha. And something not flashy. Good enough to blend in with the locals. Confirm Myvi la. There's always a Myvi in front and behind of you in Malaysia.

 

any difficulty in finding parking when going to Tanah Rata town center or Brinchang town center?

[BabyBlade]

any difficulty in finding parking when going to Tanah Rata town center or Brinchang town center?

Not at all. Drove to Brinchang Night Market also. Many cars but didn't have to wait for parking. Just parked a bit further down the roadside.

 

If you go during Malaysia's holiday period then maybe different story.

[BabyBlade]

Random shots driving around Tanah Rata.

 

 

[Shibadog]

Not at all. Drove to Brinchang Night Market also. Many cars but didn't have to wait for parking. Just parked a bit further down the roadside.

 

If you go during Malaysia's holiday period then maybe different story.

 

that's nice. Thanks for the info

[BabyBlade]

Anybody who's been to Cameron, has surely been to Boh Tea as well. There's two Boh Tea Plantations. One at the lower part of Cameron Highlands which is smaller and easier to go while the bigger and more popular one is at Brinchang - Sungai Palas Boh Tea Plantation. I've been to both and I would say I prefer the view of the bigger Boh Tea, but the smaller one is less crowded and nicer to just have a cup of tea with your friends and enjoy the view.

 

The drive up to Boh Tea might also be relatively challenging for a new driver or someone unfamiliar with it. Single lane to accommodate a two-way traffic but most drivers go slowly here and will give way to each other. If you can't see whats in front of a bend, just sound your horn to warn. Glad we rented a Myvi and not anything bigger!

 

Beware of pot holes as well. Went down one huge ass pot hole that was camouflaged by what we thought was a harmless puddle of water while giving way to the oncoming car on the right. 

 

Back at Boh Tea because it's my friend's first visit to Cameron Highlands! 

 

 

 

The cafe at Boh Tea is crowded, always crowded and expensive. Food is also very mediocre. There's nothing much to do up there except enjoy the breeze and the greens and do some tea shopping. Though I must say their products are readily available at supermarkets anyway.