Travel Tips Guides

JB travel guides on Travel Tips — tips and recommendations from Southern Homestay at KSL D'Esplanade.

← All guides A Touch 'n Go tap-and-go terminal at a Malaysian entry point

JB Money Guide: SGD to MYR, Touch 'n Go eWallet & Budget Tips

How to handle money in Johor Bahru — a realistic MYR budget for a weekend trip, setting up Touch 'n Go eWallet as a Singapore visitor, when to use cash vs card, and where to find ATMs. From Southern Homestay at KSL D'Esplanade.

The Johor–Singapore Causeway at night, looking from the JB side

SG National Day 2026 in JB: Celebrating Across the Causeway

A look at why Singapore National Day long weekend sends waves of visitors to JB — KSL Mall, JPO, food, and staying at Southern Homestay.

View across the Straits of Johor from Woodlands Waterfront Park jetty toward the Johor Bahru city waterfront

Best Time to Visit Johor Bahru: Weather, Jams & School Holidays Explained

Singaporeans: plan your JB trip around drier weather, lighter Causeway jams, and school holidays. Month-by-month guide for 2026 from Southern Homestay.

KSL City Mall interior atrium on a rainy day in Johor Bahru

Rainy Day in JB Near KSL? 8 Indoor Things to Do Without Getting Wet

Stuck indoors near KSL City Mall on a rainy JB day? Go-karting at Level 6, GSC Cinema at Level 2, Funtopia playground, massage, Lotus's supermarket, and the Level 7 pool at KSL D'Esplanade — all under one roof.

Malaysian Ringgit banknotes fanned out — the currency used to pay Malaysia's Tourism Tax

Malaysia Tourism Tax (TTx) Explained for JB Travellers

Malaysia charges a flat RM10 Tourism Tax per room per night on foreign tourists. Here's what it means for your Johor Bahru trip — when you'll see it, how much it adds up to, and what changes for direct bookings.

Colourful children's playground at a Johor recreation park

Johor Bahru with Kids: A Family Weekend Guide

Theme parks on the rooftop, indoor play zones inside the mall, and a half-hour drive to LEGOLAND — here's how to plan a family weekend in JB from a 2-bedroom base at KSL D'Esplanade.

The Victorian-Moorish Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque in Johor Bahru

Famous Buildings in Johor Bahru: A Heritage Landmark Guide

From the Victorian-Moorish Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque to the 1866 Grand Palace and KOMTAR JBCC — a guide to 5 iconic buildings in Johor Bahru, with history, map links and a base at KSL D'Esplanade.

Istana Besar (the Grand Palace) in Johor Bahru, built in 1866

A Short History of Johor Bahru: From Tanjung Puteri to a Modern City

How a riverside settlement called Tanjung Puteri became Johor Bahru in 1866 under Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim and Sultan Abu Bakar, the "Father of Modern Johor" — plus the surviving landmarks you can still visit today.

The Johor-Singapore Causeway and JB skyline lit up at night

7 Interesting Facts About Johor Bahru (JB), Malaysia

Johor Bahru is Malaysia's southernmost city, gateway to Singapore, and home to Asia's first LEGOLAND. Seven genuinely verifiable, fun facts about JB — history, the Causeway, its landmark mosque and more.

A downtown Johor Bahru street scene

First-Timer's Guide to Johor Bahru: SIM Cards, Weather, Plugs & Staying Safe

Practical first-timer tips for Johor Bahru — SIM & eSIM data, what to wear in the heat, Type G plugs, tap water, common scams, Grab vs walking, mall hours and local etiquette. From Southern Homestay at KSL D'Esplanade.

Malaysian ringgit banknotes, the currency you change to in Johor Bahru

Changing Money in Johor Bahru: Where to Get Good SGD-to-MYR Rates

JB's mall money changers usually beat Singapore rates — here's where they cluster (KSL City Mall, City Square, JB Sentral), how to get a good SGD-to-MYR rate, and whether to use cash, card or Touch 'n Go eWallet.

A clean, modern dental clinic treatment room, dentists near KSL

Best Dentists Near KSL, Johor Bahru: A Guide for Singapore Dental Visitors

Trusted, widely-reviewed dental clinics a short walk or Grab ride from KSL City Mall in Johor Bahru — where Singapore visitors save on cleaning, crowns and implants. Anchored to Southern Homestay at KSL D'Esplanade.

A relaxing hot stone massage at a warmly-lit spa, massage near KSL

The Best Massage & Reflexology Spots Near KSL, JB (A Weekend Staple)

Legit, family-friendly massage and reflexology near KSL City Mall — Thai Odyssey, SQ Massage, Bangkok Spa, Eminent and Bali Thai — a JB weekend staple far cheaper than Singapore. From Southern Homestay at KSL D'Esplanade.

The KSL City complex in Johor Bahru city centre, home of Southern Homestay's KSL D'Esplanade units

Johor Election Day: A Visitor's Guide to JB on Polling Day

Johor's most recent state polling day fell on Saturday, 11 July 2026 — a state public holiday. Here's what a Johor election day generally means for visitors: which services stay open and why the Causeway is usually quieter.

LEGOLAND Malaysia in Johor, one of the top family attractions near Johor Bahru

Things to Do in Johor Bahru: A First-Timer's Guide

From LEGOLAND and Danga Bay to Tan Hiok Nee heritage lane and the Pasar Karat night market — the Johor Bahru attractions worth your weekend, and where to base yourself to reach them all.

The KSL City complex entrance with residential towers above, home to Southern Homestay units

Studio or 2-Bedroom? Picking the Right Unit for Your Stay

Studios suit 1–2 people (RM100 deposit), 2-bedrooms suit 3–5 (RM150) — often cheaper per person than two hotel rooms. Here's how to pick.

The Johor–Singapore Causeway with traffic crossing towards the JB CIQ complex

From Singapore to JB: A Painless Weekend Trip Guide

Cross the JB Causeway on Friday before 5pm or Saturday before 7am, then stay next to KSL City Mall so food and shopping are downstairs. A Singapore-to-JB weekend guide from Southern Homestay.