Singapore or Kuala Lumpur?

iltisman

If you keep your options open on arrival in Singapore you can find cheap side trips to Langkawi etc.

Voyager2002

shapala wrote: »

Thanks everyone!....very informative posts so massively appreciated. Ok, so if in Singapore, how much would a 2 course meal (starter and main) with a couple of beers or glass of wine cost approximately? Are we talking London prices of £30-40 per head for a decent (not 5*) place?

Yes, that was certainly my impression.

(And the high price of alcohol means that if it becomes "a couple" of beer that would nudge the price upwards from there.)

Voyager2002

iltisman wrote: »

If you keep your options open on arrival in Singapore you can find cheap side trips to Langkawi etc.

Have you looked at the map? Langkawi is close to the border between Malaysia and Thailand, a lo-o-o-o-ong way from Singapore. KL would be a far more convenient gateway.

Perhaps you were confusing it with Tioman?

slinga

shapala wrote: »

Thanks everyone!....very informative posts so massively appreciated. Ok, so if in Singapore, how much would a 2 course meal (starter and main) with a couple of beers or glass of wine cost approximately? Are we talking London prices of £30-40 per head for a decent (not 5*) place?

Would be interested to know.

If you want to fly to Sing or Malaysia and then eat British food that's fine.


In Singapore a nice steak downtown might cost S$ 120 for two, nothing special. A bottle of wine can cost from S$ 60 upwards. You might find wine at S$45 a bottle if you're lucky.
Or some places allow BYO but impose corkage, but at least you can then have a wider choice of wine.


Some places will do a Buffet with fine spreads like the Beach Road Kitchen in the Marriot. iirc it was S$ 100 per person for all you can eat of Alaskan crab, oysters, prawns, Prime beef rib, lamb and pork joints and loads of local dishes, big cheese selection and any dessert you can think of. Extra for free flow of wine. Get there at 6pm and take your time

Most hotels will do these buffets.


Or Muthus in little India for a great selection of curries especially fish head curry - not to be missed, Banana Leaf also does the same.


Clarke Quay or Boat Quay for a noisy bar night out, some good restaurants but it's a tourist area so prices are higher.


Peranakan cooking is great, just google some restaurants.


Steam boats are worth trying.


I could go on but ...

richardw

If you find good fares on Singapore airlines go to Singapore and if you can also spend your hotel points at the Marina Bay Sands.

Doshwaster

KL is fine for 2-3 days if you like luxury hotels for Travelodge prices, a lot of retail therapy and the night food markets are great fun but otherwise it is wise to move on soon to the rest of Malaysia and SE Asia. KL is certainly no Bangkok.

Penang is a gem. It's as if the whole of Asia is crammed onto a small crazy island which creates some of the best food options in the world. A short hop will take you to Langkawi which is a quiet relaxing place where nothing much ever happens

You could easily spend 2-3 weeks in Malaysia, Cambodia or Vietnam without seeing a fraction of what you might want to so my usual advice is not to overstretch yourself. Better to take your time and do 3-4 places properly than to wear yourself out with non-stop travel. You can always go back again to do the bits you didn't get around to.

Voyager2002

Doshwaster wrote: »

KL is fine for 2-3 days if you like luxury hotels for Travelodge prices, a lot of retail therapy and the night food markets are great fun but otherwise it is wise to move on soon to the rest of Malaysia and SE Asia. KL is certainly no Bangkok.

Penang is a gem. It's as if the whole of Asia is crammed onto a small crazy island which creates some of the best food options in the world. A short hop will take you to Langkawi which is a quiet relaxing place where nothing much ever happens

You could easily spend 2-3 weeks in Malaysia, Cambodia or Vietnam without seeing a fraction of what you might want to so my usual advice is not to overstretch yourself. Better to take your time and do 3-4 places properly than to wear yourself out with non-stop travel. You can always go back again to do the bits you didn't get around to.

KL offers a good deal more than that: I spent a fair amount of time there for work, and was never bored. Having said that, any spare time would be better spent in Melaka, Georgetown or the rest of Penang.

Your description of Penang sounds like the city of Georgetown: a great destination, but there is more than that to the island of Penang: the Botanical Gardens are exquisite and I could gladly have spent a complete day exploring them; I did spend a full day walking in the mountainous jungle just uphill from them and would gladly spend more time like that; and then the beaches and national park that are less than an hour's drive from Georgetown are also outstanding...

slinga

Voyager2002 wrote: »

KL offers a good deal more than that: I spent a fair amount of time there for work, and was never bored. Having said that, any spare time would be better spent in Melaka, Georgetown or the rest of Penang.

Your description of Penang sounds like the city of Georgetown: a great destination, but there is more than that to the island of Penang: the Botanical Gardens are exquisite and I could gladly have spent a complete day exploring them; I did spend a full day walking in the mountainous jungle just uphill from them and would gladly spend more time like that; and then the beaches and national park that are less than an hour's drive from Georgetown are also outstanding...

Not a fan of the beaches or the Batu Ferringi area for the hotels but horses for courses. The small coves just down from the windy road to Batu Ferringi do look enticing though.
A trip up Penang Hill on the funicular is worth it and the Kek Lok Si temple is adjacent if you want to look.


Balik Pulau along route 6 and off to the small towns is a great drive. Hire a car for the day or speak to the hotel and they will suggest a taxi driver or similar to drive you.
The sunset from the Hai Boey Seafood restaurant on the very south of the island is as good as you'll see anywhere. Food's not bad there either.


The Eastern and Oriental Hotel, similar to Raffles Hotel in Singapore is great value at £100 ish per room per night. Although it's next to the sea, no beach, great pool on the front of the Heritage wing and infinity pool on the 8th floor?? in the new wing, and is also a few minutes walk from Penang Rd and the cheap eateries and you should visit the Cheong Fatt Tze Blue Mansion which is also close by.
The wall art in Penang is as good as I've seen anywhere and worth picking up a brochure to show all the places it has been done.
This is art not graffiti.


Just remembering on the food front right outside the E & O is a open air Dim Sum restaurant which is relaxed (aren't they all ) and has very good choices.

martindow

In Malaysia I would also recommend the Cameron Highlands which are a lovely escape from the heat and humidity.

Voyager2002

slinga wrote: »

Not a fan of the beaches or the Batu Ferringi area for the hotels but horses for courses. The small coves just down from the windy road to Batu Ferringi do look enticing though.
A trip up Penang Hill on the funicular is worth it and the Kek Lok Si temple is adjacent if you want to look.

I did not get to Batu Ferringi, having read many bad things about the beaches and atmosphere there. The area I enjoyed is about twice as far as that from Georgetown, but well worth the journey.

Agree with all your other points: again I would emphasise that the hill that is served by the funicular is rather large and offers worthwhile walking and sightseeing opportunities for at least a day: not just a quick ride up and down (although that in itself would also be enjoyable).