Holiday Withdrawal Symptoms......Tell me where you're going?

PompeyPete

camelot1001 wrote: »

Thanks for your replies.

I've booked 2 nights in KL for when I get there and 2 nights in KL before I leave. I would like to go to Penang/Langkawi and Malacca but everything is completely flexible at the moment.

I am going over Christmas and New Year and I will be a solo traveller. Bearing in mind I'm 55 I don't want too much 'entertainment'!

I can't help with Malaysia [other than Sarawak and Sabah in Borneo], but you should realise that Christmas and New Year is very much Peak holiday season in SE Asia, and the place will be awash with tourists. The earlier you can go firm and book accommodation and flights, the more chance you'll have of achieving the itinerary you set for yourself.

Doshwaster

camelot1001 wrote: »

Thanks for your replies.

I've booked 2 nights in KL for when I get there and 2 nights in KL before I leave. I would like to go to Penang/Langkawi and Malacca but everything is completely flexible at the moment.

I am going over Christmas and New Year and I will be a solo traveller. Bearing in mind I'm 55 I don't want too much 'entertainment'!

2 nights is about right for KL to help you get over the jet lag but otherwise it's mostly just shops and hotels. The night markets are good for food.

Penang and Langaki are both worth 3 or 4 nights each. You can fly into one and take a ferry across to the other which is a lot more fun than a short hop on a plane. The two islands are next to each other but couldn't be more different. Penang is an Asian melting pot of Malay, Thai, Indian, Chinese and old Colonial cultures (and cuisines) which makes it home to some of the best food anywhere. Langkawi is just a relaxing place where not much ever happens.

The advantage of Malaysia over Thailand is that it is a lot easier to have a holiday away from "entertainment"

As above, just make sure that you have all of your accommodation and travel booked in advance. Even though Malaysia is a Muslim country, Christmas is peak holiday season especially from Europe.

PompeyPete

Doshwaster wrote: »

The advantage of Malaysia over Thailand is that it is a lot easier to have a holiday away from "entertainment"

I think if you want "entertainment" in Thailand then you need to know where to find it. Avoiding it is very easy.....at least we've never had a problem in about 10 visits, but we do give places like Sukhumvit and Soi Cowboy a wide berth in Bangkok.

Doshwaster

PompeyPete wrote: »

I think if you want "entertainment" in Thailand then you need to know where to find it. Avoiding it is very easy.....at least we've never had a problem in about 10 visits, but we do give places like Sukhumvit and Soi Cowboy a wide berth in Bangkok.

A lot of the hassle of Thailand, especially as a single male traveller, is constantly being approached on the streets with offers of "entertainment" but you hardly get any of that in Malaysia, Cambodia or Vietnam - though I'm sure it's all there if you know where to look.

lady1964

camelot1001 wrote: »

I've just booked to go to Malaysia in December, can you recommend places to go please? What were your hotels like? My eyes are crossed looking at all the reviews!

Thanks

lady1964 wrote: »

Just got back last night from our 10 days in Malaysia.

Our first 3 days were spent in KL, nice hotel The Royale Chulan, quite well located with a free bus around a 10 minute walk away, allowed us to do some exploring for free. There's tons of construction going on in the city. We went to Batu Caves and tbh, I was slightly underwhelmed but glad we went.

Headed off to Penang for 7 nights, first 4 in a beach resort in Batu Ferringhi, we mostly relaxed around the pool during the day & ate locally at places along the night market strip. Moved to Georgetown for the final 3 nights, great hotel with our balcony overlooking the Andaman Sea, used the free bus there too and went to Penang Hill which we both enjoyed. Weather was very hot & humid but virtually no rain to speak of.

Overall, we really enjoyed it and are likely to return at some point I think, possibly as a stopover if we go ahead with our plans to return to Australia next year.

Feeling the jet lag now though :-(

The Royale Chulan in KL was nice, well located but there is a lot of construction going on around the area, that said, KL has a lot of construction going on all over. We did Petronas Towers, Batu Caves and generally mooched around the city using the free bus where we could.

We stayed at The Bayview hotel (resort) in Batu Ferrenghi Penang, it's at the end of the strip just past Hard Rock Hotel so a bit out of the way but peaceful for that reason. I thought the hotel a bit basic compared to the other two we stayed at but it was clean, inexpensive and on the beach.

In Georgetown we stayed at the Eastern & Oriental, which was the most expensive but the most beautiful hotel with a fantastic room, great pool & a good location. We went to Penang Hill, relaxed by the pool and mooched around using the free bus and walking.

I preferred Penang over KL, would probably give KL a miss if we went back to Malaysia but would visit Penang again.

camelot1001

Thank you all.

I've booked Langkawi for Christmas, Penang for a few days after but am now stuck! Looking at Malacca but can't quite work out if there are beaches there as well as some history.

Also looking at the other side, Johor region but not sure yet. I have 5 nights still to fill, including new year.

Doshwaster

camelot1001 wrote: »

Thank you all.

I've booked Langkawi for Christmas, Penang for a few days after but am now stuck! Looking at Malacca but can't quite work out if there are beaches there as well as some history.

Also looking at the other side, Johor region but not sure yet. I have 5 nights still to fill, including new year.

Sorry, can't help with Malacca or the east coast but I found this old thread about Malaysia which might give some ideas: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2953372

littlereddevil

I think the weather on the other side isn't great then

camelot1001

Thanks Doshwaster, really interesting thread.

bylromarha

totallybored wrote: »

Where did you buy your stationery in Cambodia? I normally buy quite a bit in Bangkok (there is a branch of Loft but it's not cheap!)

PBC is excellent for stationery in Cambodia. A few branches in PP...I come out with way too much stuff!