Malaysia trip, a few questions.....
Discussion
Chaps,
We're booked to go to KL for 10 nights in November. My initial feeling was a couple of nights in KL to recover from the flight and let SWMBO do some shopping, fly to Langkawi and then flop onto the beach for a week and do nothing, before flying back to KL the day before leaving and stay somewhere handy for the airport, like Putrajaya, where the hotels are astonishingly cheap. All hotel transfers, no hassle, no fuss, relax.
But then I figured that:
a) I've never been further east of Oman, so I really should have a look around
b) I'll only see KL and a beach in Langkawi, and lots of airports
c) I can sit on a beach anywhere
d) I fancy getting behind the wheel, hey this is PH after all
So a plan formed in my mind to see a bit of the place. I'm thinking still 2-3 nights in KL, but perhaps using one of the days to rent a car and drive down to Melaka (worth bothering with?) for a nose around before heading back to KL overnight. Then a day and night up in the Cameron Highlands at the Cameron Highlands Resort before driving over to Lumut and a boat transfer to Pangkor Laut for two nights. Then up to Penang, stopping off for a night in Georgetown at the E&O before taking the ferry over to Langkawi for three nights, flying back to KL from there on the last day.
First off, it's a fair bit of driving so my question is can you hire a decent car in Malaysia? Most of the websites I've seen seem to be s
tbox Protons and at the risk of sounding like a twunt, my daily driver is an E65 7 Series so it'll be a bitter pill to swallow driving 500 miles in a Perodua Nippa... Secondly do they have sat nav/GPS units? I realise that it probably won't work out in the sticks but if I'm not going to end up getting divorced then I'd need one for the towns and cities. Thirdly, where would you recommend hotel-wise in KL? The Mandarin Oriental, the Ritz Carlton and the Shangri La are under consideration, any suggestions welcome.
Finally, is this a good idea? It'll mean sorting out hire cars, ferries, navigating, parking, getting lost. It'll probably be a bit fraught at times and a small part of me is still wondering if it's easier to stick with plan A and turn off my brain when I get into the hotel limo and leave it off for 10 days, but I can't help wondering whether I'd regret not making more of an effort. Any feelings on this welcome gents, and any PHers that fancy a few beers with us one night are welcome too.
We're booked to go to KL for 10 nights in November. My initial feeling was a couple of nights in KL to recover from the flight and let SWMBO do some shopping, fly to Langkawi and then flop onto the beach for a week and do nothing, before flying back to KL the day before leaving and stay somewhere handy for the airport, like Putrajaya, where the hotels are astonishingly cheap. All hotel transfers, no hassle, no fuss, relax.
But then I figured that:
a) I've never been further east of Oman, so I really should have a look around
b) I'll only see KL and a beach in Langkawi, and lots of airports
c) I can sit on a beach anywhere
d) I fancy getting behind the wheel, hey this is PH after all
So a plan formed in my mind to see a bit of the place. I'm thinking still 2-3 nights in KL, but perhaps using one of the days to rent a car and drive down to Melaka (worth bothering with?) for a nose around before heading back to KL overnight. Then a day and night up in the Cameron Highlands at the Cameron Highlands Resort before driving over to Lumut and a boat transfer to Pangkor Laut for two nights. Then up to Penang, stopping off for a night in Georgetown at the E&O before taking the ferry over to Langkawi for three nights, flying back to KL from there on the last day.
First off, it's a fair bit of driving so my question is can you hire a decent car in Malaysia? Most of the websites I've seen seem to be s
tbox Protons and at the risk of sounding like a twunt, my daily driver is an E65 7 Series so it'll be a bitter pill to swallow driving 500 miles in a Perodua Nippa... Secondly do they have sat nav/GPS units? I realise that it probably won't work out in the sticks but if I'm not going to end up getting divorced then I'd need one for the towns and cities. Thirdly, where would you recommend hotel-wise in KL? The Mandarin Oriental, the Ritz Carlton and the Shangri La are under consideration, any suggestions welcome. Finally, is this a good idea? It'll mean sorting out hire cars, ferries, navigating, parking, getting lost. It'll probably be a bit fraught at times and a small part of me is still wondering if it's easier to stick with plan A and turn off my brain when I get into the hotel limo and leave it off for 10 days, but I can't help wondering whether I'd regret not making more of an effort. Any feelings on this welcome gents, and any PHers that fancy a few beers with us one night are welcome too.
bennyboydurham said:
Chaps,
We're booked to go to KL for 10 nights in November. My initial feeling was a couple of nights in KL to recover from the flight and let SWMBO do some shopping, fly to Langkawi and then flop onto the beach for a week and do nothing, before flying back to KL the day before leaving and stay somewhere handy for the airport, like Putrajaya, where the hotels are astonishingly cheap. All hotel transfers, no hassle, no fuss, relax.
But then I figured that:
a) I've never been further east of Oman, so I really should have a look around
b) I'll only see KL and a beach in Langkawi, and lots of airports
c) I can sit on a beach anywhere
d) I fancy getting behind the wheel, hey this is PH after all
So a plan formed in my mind to see a bit of the place. I'm thinking still 2-3 nights in KL, but perhaps using one of the days to rent a car and drive down to Melaka (worth bothering with?) for a nose around before heading back to KL overnight. Then a day and night up in the Cameron Highlands at the Cameron Highlands Resort before driving over to Lumut and a boat transfer to Pangkor Laut for two nights. Then up to Penang, stopping off for a night in Georgetown at the E&O before taking the ferry over to Langkawi for three nights, flying back to KL from there on the last day.
First off, it's a fair bit of driving so my question is can you hire a decent car in Malaysia? Most of the websites I've seen seem to be stbox Protons and at the risk of sounding like a twunt, my daily driver is an E65 7 Series so it'll be a bitter pill to swallow driving 500 miles in a Perodua Nippa... Secondly do they have sat nav/GPS units? I realise that it probably won't work out in the sticks but if I'm not going to end up getting divorced then I'd need one for the towns and cities. Thirdly, where would you recommend hotel-wise in KL? The Mandarin Oriental, the Ritz Carlton and the Shangri La are under consideration, any suggestions welcome.
Finally, is this a good idea? It'll mean sorting out hire cars, ferries, navigating, parking, getting lost. It'll probably be a bit fraught at times and a small part of me is still wondering if it's easier to stick with plan A and turn off my brain when I get into the hotel limo and leave it off for 10 days, but I can't help wondering whether I'd regret not making more of an effort. Any feelings on this welcome gents, and any PHers that fancy a few beers with us one night are welcome too.
Hi, great choice on visiting Malaysia.. Its a wonderful country!We're booked to go to KL for 10 nights in November. My initial feeling was a couple of nights in KL to recover from the flight and let SWMBO do some shopping, fly to Langkawi and then flop onto the beach for a week and do nothing, before flying back to KL the day before leaving and stay somewhere handy for the airport, like Putrajaya, where the hotels are astonishingly cheap. All hotel transfers, no hassle, no fuss, relax.
But then I figured that:
a) I've never been further east of Oman, so I really should have a look around
b) I'll only see KL and a beach in Langkawi, and lots of airports
c) I can sit on a beach anywhere
d) I fancy getting behind the wheel, hey this is PH after all
So a plan formed in my mind to see a bit of the place. I'm thinking still 2-3 nights in KL, but perhaps using one of the days to rent a car and drive down to Melaka (worth bothering with?) for a nose around before heading back to KL overnight. Then a day and night up in the Cameron Highlands at the Cameron Highlands Resort before driving over to Lumut and a boat transfer to Pangkor Laut for two nights. Then up to Penang, stopping off for a night in Georgetown at the E&O before taking the ferry over to Langkawi for three nights, flying back to KL from there on the last day.
First off, it's a fair bit of driving so my question is can you hire a decent car in Malaysia? Most of the websites I've seen seem to be s
tbox Protons and at the risk of sounding like a twunt, my daily driver is an E65 7 Series so it'll be a bitter pill to swallow driving 500 miles in a Perodua Nippa... Secondly do they have sat nav/GPS units? I realise that it probably won't work out in the sticks but if I'm not going to end up getting divorced then I'd need one for the towns and cities. Thirdly, where would you recommend hotel-wise in KL? The Mandarin Oriental, the Ritz Carlton and the Shangri La are under consideration, any suggestions welcome. Finally, is this a good idea? It'll mean sorting out hire cars, ferries, navigating, parking, getting lost. It'll probably be a bit fraught at times and a small part of me is still wondering if it's easier to stick with plan A and turn off my brain when I get into the hotel limo and leave it off for 10 days, but I can't help wondering whether I'd regret not making more of an effort. Any feelings on this welcome gents, and any PHers that fancy a few beers with us one night are welcome too.
I'll try to answer a few questions
Renting a car : It should be quite easy to get the bigger Japanese cars (eg Toyota Camry, Honda Civics (new shape saloon)) Most companies like Avis, Sime Darby will have these cars.. And again most of these companies offer sat nav units (i know Avis does)
Driving in KL : can be frustrating especially if you are travelling at the wrong times on the wrong routes because of the crazy traffic jams. Driving anywhere outside of KL is fine. Parking isn't a problem though, there is plenty of parking across most of the country. I'd stick to walking / taxi's if you want to travel within KL during the day.. There are loads of high ways in KL/Selangor itself and road quality on them is much much better than the UK's. I'd recommend going for a late night drive from KL to Sri Hartamas / Damansara.
I vote yes to renting a car and driving around..and yes Melaka is definitely worth a visit - loads of heritage and history in that small city
All comes down to what sort of holiday person you are, if you are willing to do some planning i am pretty sure you'll enjoy your trip more with some sort of transport of your own.
Plenty to do in Malaysia.. Huge shopping malls, great food of all sorts and all the usual tourisy things like sight seeing to do too. The city never sleeps and the night life in KL is epic.
Source : Im Malaysian
John we should get a sticky on Holidays in Malaysia, Thailand etc.
Ok, we’ve posted all this before, but here goes, Shangri-La is a good hotel, and where I’d stay from the places you mention, you can walk to any of the tourist places in KL except China Town and it’s on the Mono rail. Mandarin is too like the places I stay on business for me, but I’m biased I can’t go in there without meeting someone from work, Carlton is in one of the very very few areas of town I’d think twice about walking back to in the night and I wouldn’t stay there for that reason, (but the Champagne brunch on a Sunday used to be good), it is across the road from an area with some dodgy clubs frequented by Indian and Chinese gangs. (bet that’s not in the book).
Two days anywhere is enough in any place in Malaysia,
Lankowi, you can’t drive to Lankowi, (well you can but you go today and your car goes tomorrow). I think Lankowi is a boring awful place, OK for a weekend just, but I wouldn’t fly 12 hours to go there.
Malaka is OK, but done in a good afternoon, leave the hotel walk down the old street, with the antique shop over the bridge see the red church, and the replica boat, done.
The Highlands, why would you come from the UK to go there? OK we go there because it is cold, and Frazers hill has a great English restaurant that does pies. Ganting is a Chinese casino and Alton towers, never been to Cameroon, but I’m told the road is worth the drive in a good car.
The East Coast is OK, but tidal rip is a problem on the beaches, there are a lot more deaths from drowning than are admitted too, my kids were banned from the sea when they were little, and outside the Hotel there is nothing, (they just banned the Chinese lottery for God sake), again if you like sitting round the pool it’s OK.
Penang, well I used to live there and it’s OK but again you can do George Town in a day, and the sea is vey silted as a result of tidal rip.
As I say Malaysia is a great place to live, loads of good weekends, but if you coming from the UK go to Thailand.
Driving, get a Proton or a Peradua, they are OK, the air con is the best, and if they break they can be fixed anywhere, sat-nav do not work, (I actually don’t know anyone who owns one), maps only just work, for many years maps were frowned upon, as a result of the emergency in the 60’s and good maps are only just becoming available.
If you saw the driving you would not want to take the excess insurance risk on driving/hiring a BMW, there is a very good chance you will be involved in a minor scrape, nothing major, but something you could not claim (e.g. bike takes your mirrors in a jam) and would have to pay yourself, you will not want to drive in Kl, cheaper to get a taxi and you would not know where to park, I don’t drive in Kl and I live in the center and have 6 cars,
Driving in Malaysia is Ok drive on the left, basically UK traffic laws and rules, town traffic moves slow, highway are relatively traffic free, (By UK standers incredibly traffic free) but you need to be alert, speeding is common, and passing on the left, tailgating is the norm. You need to be careful in the heavy rain, as people still tailgate and you see some horrendous accidents, easily avoided by keeping your distance.
Do not drive at night, (and I really really mean this) the accident rate goes up hugely, cars and lorries with no lights, huge timber lorries, with no lights in the inside lane doing 20 mph. I plan my long journeys to be in the hotel by 2pm, then you miss the rain and the dark.
The road network is fantastic, double lane highways to all the major places, toll is 10sen a KM, say 3p a Mile. 70 mph limit which nobody sticks to. Security is not an issue you can travel/drive anywhere in Malaysia, there is a slight risk of car jacking in KL in a Merc, 7, Porsche, but nothing to worry about, the only security issue is bag snatching, and that is literally dying out, as the locals beat the offenders to death if they catch them.
If you rent a car you can not take it over any border.
Sorry to be negative, I love Malaysia to live and work but I think it is a very poor place to sit 12 hours on a plane to come on holiday, but then I hate sitting round the pool. My Kids come and after seeing Dad they go to Thailand, as they agree with all the above. Having done all the places you name over the years I don’t bother with holidays in Malaysia but get on Air Asia and go to Phuket, Krabbie, Ko somui, Bali etc.
Ok, we’ve posted all this before, but here goes, Shangri-La is a good hotel, and where I’d stay from the places you mention, you can walk to any of the tourist places in KL except China Town and it’s on the Mono rail. Mandarin is too like the places I stay on business for me, but I’m biased I can’t go in there without meeting someone from work, Carlton is in one of the very very few areas of town I’d think twice about walking back to in the night and I wouldn’t stay there for that reason, (but the Champagne brunch on a Sunday used to be good), it is across the road from an area with some dodgy clubs frequented by Indian and Chinese gangs. (bet that’s not in the book).
Two days anywhere is enough in any place in Malaysia,
Lankowi, you can’t drive to Lankowi, (well you can but you go today and your car goes tomorrow). I think Lankowi is a boring awful place, OK for a weekend just, but I wouldn’t fly 12 hours to go there.
Malaka is OK, but done in a good afternoon, leave the hotel walk down the old street, with the antique shop over the bridge see the red church, and the replica boat, done.
The Highlands, why would you come from the UK to go there? OK we go there because it is cold, and Frazers hill has a great English restaurant that does pies. Ganting is a Chinese casino and Alton towers, never been to Cameroon, but I’m told the road is worth the drive in a good car.
The East Coast is OK, but tidal rip is a problem on the beaches, there are a lot more deaths from drowning than are admitted too, my kids were banned from the sea when they were little, and outside the Hotel there is nothing, (they just banned the Chinese lottery for God sake), again if you like sitting round the pool it’s OK.
Penang, well I used to live there and it’s OK but again you can do George Town in a day, and the sea is vey silted as a result of tidal rip.
As I say Malaysia is a great place to live, loads of good weekends, but if you coming from the UK go to Thailand.
Driving, get a Proton or a Peradua, they are OK, the air con is the best, and if they break they can be fixed anywhere, sat-nav do not work, (I actually don’t know anyone who owns one), maps only just work, for many years maps were frowned upon, as a result of the emergency in the 60’s and good maps are only just becoming available.
If you saw the driving you would not want to take the excess insurance risk on driving/hiring a BMW, there is a very good chance you will be involved in a minor scrape, nothing major, but something you could not claim (e.g. bike takes your mirrors in a jam) and would have to pay yourself, you will not want to drive in Kl, cheaper to get a taxi and you would not know where to park, I don’t drive in Kl and I live in the center and have 6 cars,
Driving in Malaysia is Ok drive on the left, basically UK traffic laws and rules, town traffic moves slow, highway are relatively traffic free, (By UK standers incredibly traffic free) but you need to be alert, speeding is common, and passing on the left, tailgating is the norm. You need to be careful in the heavy rain, as people still tailgate and you see some horrendous accidents, easily avoided by keeping your distance.
Do not drive at night, (and I really really mean this) the accident rate goes up hugely, cars and lorries with no lights, huge timber lorries, with no lights in the inside lane doing 20 mph. I plan my long journeys to be in the hotel by 2pm, then you miss the rain and the dark.
The road network is fantastic, double lane highways to all the major places, toll is 10sen a KM, say 3p a Mile. 70 mph limit which nobody sticks to. Security is not an issue you can travel/drive anywhere in Malaysia, there is a slight risk of car jacking in KL in a Merc, 7, Porsche, but nothing to worry about, the only security issue is bag snatching, and that is literally dying out, as the locals beat the offenders to death if they catch them.
If you rent a car you can not take it over any border.
Sorry to be negative, I love Malaysia to live and work but I think it is a very poor place to sit 12 hours on a plane to come on holiday, but then I hate sitting round the pool. My Kids come and after seeing Dad they go to Thailand, as they agree with all the above. Having done all the places you name over the years I don’t bother with holidays in Malaysia but get on Air Asia and go to Phuket, Krabbie, Ko somui, Bali etc.
Have to sayi agree with a lot of what Berw says, the hotels recomended are all good, would also add the Traders which has been my regular the last few times.
Highways are very good, you will need to make sure you have cash and a topped up Touch and Go card for the tolls. Also make sure that you have a RM50 or 2 in another pocket with your license for the inevitable coffee money experiances .... its actually all part of the fun
Treat security like London, dont leave stuff lying about in the car, watch for pick pockets.
TBH i have found that my Garmin Nuvu satnav has worked perfectly in Malaysia, even in KLCC so no issues there, although you do have to apply some latteral thinking with road works etc
Big Proton or Accord etc would be ideal, defo do not want a premium Beemer etc (would scare you how much they cost anyway)
Melakka nice for an afternoon / evening.
Pangkor and Lumot are very prety and relaxing, not much to do, but great for just being lazy!
Penang is funn of Singapore Chinese, as is Genting
Cameron Highlands / Frazers hill are very prety and some lovely roads / views.
Langkawi is ok for a relaxing few days lazyness, or as an alternative idea, get in touch with SunSail and perhaps charter a yacht for a few days, fantastic cruising around the islands, amazing scenery and i think they do boats with AC too.
Would not recomend East Coast in November as North East monsoon will be starting to blow, so quite big seas and lots of wind, stick to West Coast.
Definitely more touristy stuff to see and do in Thailand, but then you will be with lots more tourists too so swings and roundabouts!
Highways are very good, you will need to make sure you have cash and a topped up Touch and Go card for the tolls. Also make sure that you have a RM50 or 2 in another pocket with your license for the inevitable coffee money experiances .... its actually all part of the fun
Treat security like London, dont leave stuff lying about in the car, watch for pick pockets.
TBH i have found that my Garmin Nuvu satnav has worked perfectly in Malaysia, even in KLCC so no issues there, although you do have to apply some latteral thinking with road works etc
Big Proton or Accord etc would be ideal, defo do not want a premium Beemer etc (would scare you how much they cost anyway)
Melakka nice for an afternoon / evening.
Pangkor and Lumot are very prety and relaxing, not much to do, but great for just being lazy!
Penang is funn of Singapore Chinese, as is Genting
Cameron Highlands / Frazers hill are very prety and some lovely roads / views.
Langkawi is ok for a relaxing few days lazyness, or as an alternative idea, get in touch with SunSail and perhaps charter a yacht for a few days, fantastic cruising around the islands, amazing scenery and i think they do boats with AC too.
Would not recomend East Coast in November as North East monsoon will be starting to blow, so quite big seas and lots of wind, stick to West Coast.
Definitely more touristy stuff to see and do in Thailand, but then you will be with lots more tourists too so swings and roundabouts!
My problem is why sit 12 hours in a plane to then sit and relax by the pool, you can do that in two hours flight. same with shopping I wouldn't dream of 12 hours in a plane to go to KLCC or Pavillion (in fact I can't be bothered to go down in the lift to KLCC at lunch time, and I only go in the Pavillion because its air con on my walk home from the office) its all stuff you can buy in London for the same price, thers an M and S and a Mother care.
Night life is great for lads, but disco's are full of girls, who the wife wont like, so it eating out, which is cheap but save tha air fare and the hotel and you could eat in the best place where you live.
Night Life, Hard Rock European Prices full of Phillapino girls after Nine.
Beach Club, full of all sorts of girls all the time, same with Thai bar,
The Suk Disco, full of Malaysian Chinese girls looking for a suger daddy, borrow my wife's Porsche and see how good looking and charming you've suddenly become.
So for me holiday is about, doing things, and/or seeing things, I can't do see at home. Doing well the diving, fishing is better in Thailand, seeing, there's not much George Town and Melaka are the same and an afternoon you've done it.
Now the driving is great, I know some great bendy roads for the bike, and places where you can hit the speed limiter on the BMW, but thats not for a holiday with the wife. (Mex highway form Sepang to KL is good to see the top end on a BMW no speed traps as it is used by Government Ministers every day)
Places like China town are great, but 12 hours on a plane to buy a fake rolex.
To me so much of the things in Malaysia are great extras to a holiday, business trip, or place to live, (shopping, china town etc) but its 12 hours on a plane and i want somthing I can't do at home for that, (which is why my main holiday each year is a 12 hour plane to Europe for the skining, I can sit by the pool at home)I don't see what the 'core' holiday is in Malaysia.
Thailand is different even Phucket, you can do the Elephant treck, one day then the rafting, then the snorkeling, the temple trip,the quad bike, the Bungie jump etc All the resorts have a tourist desk who will fill your week. Go to the Awana on the east coast of Malaysia, as I do for work, the beach is unusable because of the tidal rip, you can't get a beer unless its with food, no troips from the hotel. Great swimming pool mind, biggest in S E Asia.
Borneo and KK is a little diffrent, but even KK when you've done the mountain and the Orangutan its finished.
I just don't see that Malaysia does enough to fill your time, its big self contained resorts.
Night life is great for lads, but disco's are full of girls, who the wife wont like, so it eating out, which is cheap but save tha air fare and the hotel and you could eat in the best place where you live.
Night Life, Hard Rock European Prices full of Phillapino girls after Nine.
Beach Club, full of all sorts of girls all the time, same with Thai bar,
The Suk Disco, full of Malaysian Chinese girls looking for a suger daddy, borrow my wife's Porsche and see how good looking and charming you've suddenly become.
So for me holiday is about, doing things, and/or seeing things, I can't do see at home. Doing well the diving, fishing is better in Thailand, seeing, there's not much George Town and Melaka are the same and an afternoon you've done it.
Now the driving is great, I know some great bendy roads for the bike, and places where you can hit the speed limiter on the BMW, but thats not for a holiday with the wife. (Mex highway form Sepang to KL is good to see the top end on a BMW no speed traps as it is used by Government Ministers every day)
Places like China town are great, but 12 hours on a plane to buy a fake rolex.
To me so much of the things in Malaysia are great extras to a holiday, business trip, or place to live, (shopping, china town etc) but its 12 hours on a plane and i want somthing I can't do at home for that, (which is why my main holiday each year is a 12 hour plane to Europe for the skining, I can sit by the pool at home)I don't see what the 'core' holiday is in Malaysia.
Thailand is different even Phucket, you can do the Elephant treck, one day then the rafting, then the snorkeling, the temple trip,the quad bike, the Bungie jump etc All the resorts have a tourist desk who will fill your week. Go to the Awana on the east coast of Malaysia, as I do for work, the beach is unusable because of the tidal rip, you can't get a beer unless its with food, no troips from the hotel. Great swimming pool mind, biggest in S E Asia.
Borneo and KK is a little diffrent, but even KK when you've done the mountain and the Orangutan its finished.
I just don't see that Malaysia does enough to fill your time, its big self contained resorts.
i didn't know that little gem of information ... that has been stored away for future hooning!Yeh new surface as well no holes and long straights, on the Kawa the other week, new M5 on the rev limitor trying to keep up (155) and I was pulling away felt safe no traffic, but wouldn't want to push like that every day. Don't telll my son he gets it in the neck from me for 33 in a 30 limit.
Dont discount East Malaysia.
IMO much less dirt, pollution and traffic. In Sabah you can go white water rafting on (Kiulu and Padas) rivers, climb the highest mountain in South East Asia, orang utan sanctuary etc. About a 2.5 hour flight from KL certainly worth a visit. Some nice islands there too.
Plenty of nice food, both local and western. Nice ladies too and people generally much friendlier than KL (due to it being a smaller place I guess)
IMO much less dirt, pollution and traffic. In Sabah you can go white water rafting on (Kiulu and Padas) rivers, climb the highest mountain in South East Asia, orang utan sanctuary etc. About a 2.5 hour flight from KL certainly worth a visit. Some nice islands there too.
Plenty of nice food, both local and western. Nice ladies too and people generally much friendlier than KL (due to it being a smaller place I guess)
concur with a lot of the above. Although i have met berw a few times, wonderfully helpful chap.
I have only been here for a month with my family and there is utterl yno shortage of things to do. if you like the brightlights and city stuff KL will appeal. Vast shopping cnetres without the pretense of the UK and arguably better shops. But in fairness the same shops as home... The food blows me away, its so fresh, good, varied and so cheap it feels insulting paying £10 for my family of five to eat like kings. People on the whole are a nice race, smiling and genuinely friendly not the same doom and gloom.
Driving is about the same, i have had a hired Toyota Vios from Avis in KL (Crowne Plaza) actually fairly cheap monthly. The current hot favourite here is the Myvi, which is a yaris that genuinely looks good. More italian metal here than you could ever imagine and having gone from an E61 and an S4, car prices here are bonkers... although fuel is sod all. So my next venture with some help from berw will be some an 80s munich vagen, fit for a drug lord.
Planning heading to the beach this weekend as a first forray as we are finally getting accustomed to teh temperature, drinking enough water (a local hobby). I am here with my family for a year or few, and the more we look and dig the more there is. Internally flights as pointed out are stupidly cheap, air asia seem to be the courier for those.
east malaysia i have on the list as well, will save that for later in the year!
I have only been here for a month with my family and there is utterl yno shortage of things to do. if you like the brightlights and city stuff KL will appeal. Vast shopping cnetres without the pretense of the UK and arguably better shops. But in fairness the same shops as home... The food blows me away, its so fresh, good, varied and so cheap it feels insulting paying £10 for my family of five to eat like kings. People on the whole are a nice race, smiling and genuinely friendly not the same doom and gloom.
Driving is about the same, i have had a hired Toyota Vios from Avis in KL (Crowne Plaza) actually fairly cheap monthly. The current hot favourite here is the Myvi, which is a yaris that genuinely looks good. More italian metal here than you could ever imagine and having gone from an E61 and an S4, car prices here are bonkers... although fuel is sod all. So my next venture with some help from berw will be some an 80s munich vagen, fit for a drug lord.
Planning heading to the beach this weekend as a first forray as we are finally getting accustomed to teh temperature, drinking enough water (a local hobby). I am here with my family for a year or few, and the more we look and dig the more there is. Internally flights as pointed out are stupidly cheap, air asia seem to be the courier for those.
east malaysia i have on the list as well, will save that for later in the year!
Hi all,
We're off to Malaysia in a month's time - 3 days in KL, then 10 days in a nice 5* resort in Langkawi to relax.
Anyone have any good tips for what to do in KL? What are the best things to see?
I'm also looking for a nice restaurant, somewhere special, as it's the OHs birthday while we're there. Something along the lines of Fat Duck or Claridges in the UK.
Thanks
We're off to Malaysia in a month's time - 3 days in KL, then 10 days in a nice 5* resort in Langkawi to relax.
Anyone have any good tips for what to do in KL? What are the best things to see?
I'm also looking for a nice restaurant, somewhere special, as it's the OHs birthday while we're there. Something along the lines of Fat Duck or Claridges in the UK.
Thanks
My advice would be cancel. 10 days in Langkowi is a nightmare, you will do everything in 3. ( and I lved ther for a year)
3 days in KL is also too long, as I keep saying KL is a great place to live, but as a tourist city not much, you can do Batu Cave and the Temple, the bird garden, China town and the shops, but how much shopping can you do.
Resturant, what do you want? the French one on Chankit Bukit Bingtang, (La Flame I think is the name) and the Cottage in the Equitorial are the ones I use for birthdays etc. There are loads of good chinese ones, but I would not go there for a speciel meal as to many families and kids/noise in most of them. There are loads of good resturants in Chankit Bukit Bingtang Korean, Japanese etc 9even a good fish and chip shop, There are a few 'good' indian resturants on Jalan Tun Razal, Bombay Palace, but the appeal to the expats who miss 'Birmingham/leeds type indians, the real indian resturants in the back streets are quiter. I can't think of agood Italian, they are all closed down.
All the hotels have resturants and all are OK, where are you staying. Wine etc for a special meal is relativly expensive, think about doing it in Lankowi as the drink is duty free there.
Sorry to sound negitve, I'm sure you will enjoy it, but KL does not have much for the tourist really. I am serioous about Langkowi unless you absolutly love lying by the pool you have made a mistake. Lankowi only exists because it is cheap, (tax free) if it had to compete in the real market it would be gone in not time.
3 days in KL is also too long, as I keep saying KL is a great place to live, but as a tourist city not much, you can do Batu Cave and the Temple, the bird garden, China town and the shops, but how much shopping can you do.
Resturant, what do you want? the French one on Chankit Bukit Bingtang, (La Flame I think is the name) and the Cottage in the Equitorial are the ones I use for birthdays etc. There are loads of good chinese ones, but I would not go there for a speciel meal as to many families and kids/noise in most of them. There are loads of good resturants in Chankit Bukit Bingtang Korean, Japanese etc 9even a good fish and chip shop, There are a few 'good' indian resturants on Jalan Tun Razal, Bombay Palace, but the appeal to the expats who miss 'Birmingham/leeds type indians, the real indian resturants in the back streets are quiter. I can't think of agood Italian, they are all closed down.
All the hotels have resturants and all are OK, where are you staying. Wine etc for a special meal is relativly expensive, think about doing it in Lankowi as the drink is duty free there.
Sorry to sound negitve, I'm sure you will enjoy it, but KL does not have much for the tourist really. I am serioous about Langkowi unless you absolutly love lying by the pool you have made a mistake. Lankowi only exists because it is cheap, (tax free) if it had to compete in the real market it would be gone in not time.
Berw said:
My advice would be cancel. 10 days in Langkowi is a nightmare, you will do everything in 3. ( and I lved ther for a year)
3 days in KL is also too long, as I keep saying KL is a great place to live, but as a tourist city not much, you can do Batu Cave and the Temple, the bird garden, China town and the shops, but how much shopping can you do.
Resturant, what do you want? the French one on Chankit Bukit Bingtang, (La Flame I think is the name) and the Cottage in the Equitorial are the ones I use for birthdays etc. There are loads of good chinese ones, but I would not go there for a speciel meal as to many families and kids/noise in most of them. There are loads of good resturants in Chankit Bukit Bingtang Korean, Japanese etc 9even a good fish and chip shop, There are a few 'good' indian resturants on Jalan Tun Razal, Bombay Palace, but the appeal to the expats who miss 'Birmingham/leeds type indians, the real indian resturants in the back streets are quiter. I can't think of agood Italian, they are all closed down.
All the hotels have resturants and all are OK, where are you staying. Wine etc for a special meal is relativly expensive, think about doing it in Lankowi as the drink is duty free there.
Sorry to sound negitve, I'm sure you will enjoy it, but KL does not have much for the tourist really. I am serioous about Langkowi unless you absolutly love lying by the pool you have made a mistake. Lankowi only exists because it is cheap, (tax free) if it had to compete in the real market it would be gone in not time.
Thanks Kelvin.3 days in KL is also too long, as I keep saying KL is a great place to live, but as a tourist city not much, you can do Batu Cave and the Temple, the bird garden, China town and the shops, but how much shopping can you do.
Resturant, what do you want? the French one on Chankit Bukit Bingtang, (La Flame I think is the name) and the Cottage in the Equitorial are the ones I use for birthdays etc. There are loads of good chinese ones, but I would not go there for a speciel meal as to many families and kids/noise in most of them. There are loads of good resturants in Chankit Bukit Bingtang Korean, Japanese etc 9even a good fish and chip shop, There are a few 'good' indian resturants on Jalan Tun Razal, Bombay Palace, but the appeal to the expats who miss 'Birmingham/leeds type indians, the real indian resturants in the back streets are quiter. I can't think of agood Italian, they are all closed down.
All the hotels have resturants and all are OK, where are you staying. Wine etc for a special meal is relativly expensive, think about doing it in Lankowi as the drink is duty free there.
Sorry to sound negitve, I'm sure you will enjoy it, but KL does not have much for the tourist really. I am serioous about Langkowi unless you absolutly love lying by the pool you have made a mistake. Lankowi only exists because it is cheap, (tax free) if it had to compete in the real market it would be gone in not time.
10 days on the beach/pool is exactly what we're after - we're both frazzed and need a break (from India mainly). We just want to relax, so we've found a very nice resort that we can use to just relax and.... well you know the rest.
As for KL, we'd have to fly there anyway so we thought we'd stay over. It's only 3 days and we can occupy ourselves for 3 days anywhere in the world. Even Birmingham.
We're staying in the Crowne Plaza, so really just a bed for the night (we're Priority Club w
es lol). Restaurant-wise, I'd like something western. A nice french or Mediterranean place preferably. We've had our fill of curry and oriental food recently here in Delhi. Have you tried Nero Vivo? It has excellent reviews.
Edited by Beefmeister on Thursday 23 June 07:43
The Berjaya:
http://www.berjayahotel.com/langkawi/index.asp
Got some great reviews, and a personal recommendation from a few friends.
http://www.berjayahotel.com/langkawi/index.asp
Got some great reviews, and a personal recommendation from a few friends.
OK as long as you know what your getting, a weekend in lankowi drives me wild, I can see the crown plaza as i write this (it is across from my apartment), both the places i mentioned are western and are the best two in town for my money (or indeed my employers money) and are walking distence from your hotel.
I'll check the proper name on the french place when i pass tomorrow, I been there loads but I just walk in never looked at the full name.
When you coming if im in town, we can get a beer also loads of track days at sepang at the moment if you are here a weekend.
I'll check the proper name on the french place when i pass tomorrow, I been there loads but I just walk in never looked at the full name.
When you coming if im in town, we can get a beer also loads of track days at sepang at the moment if you are here a weekend.
Berw said:
OK as long as you know what your getting, a weekend in lankowi drives me wild, I can see the crown plaza as i write this (it is across from my apartment), both the places i mentioned are western and are the best two in town for my money (or indeed my employers money) and are walking distence from your hotel.
I'll check the proper name on the french place when i pass tomorrow, I been there loads but I just walk in never looked at the full name.
When you coming if im in town, we can get a beer also loads of track days at sepang at the moment if you are here a weekend.
Flying in on the 22nd July, out on the 26th. Unfortunately as it's the O/Hs b'day weekend i think track days would be out of the question unless i didn't want any nookie for the next two weeks...I'll check the proper name on the french place when i pass tomorrow, I been there loads but I just walk in never looked at the full name.
When you coming if im in town, we can get a beer also loads of track days at sepang at the moment if you are here a weekend.
Beer might not be out of the question though!
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