Singapore or Kuala Lumpur?

Doshwaster

I really enjoyed Gerorgetown but I was underwhelmed by Batu Ferringi. It's basically a long strip of hotels with a mediocre beach. If you really want nice unspoilt sands then pop over to Langkawi

FabFifty

We enjoyed Kuala Lumpur last autumn. Visit the bit of rainforest & canopy walk within the city, the botanical gardens, the night food market near the centre. If you are tempted by the Batu caves save time to visit the dark cave (to the LHS, up the stairs) instead of the main (temples) cave - far more interesting. Free buses run around the city centre and the metro is very easy and cheap to use.

iltisman

Voyager2002 wrote: »

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?

I did it but I used a giant metal bird about £50 when I did it and hotel/flight deals were cheap from Singapore TAs

slinga

Voyager2002 wrote: »

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.

Interested to know where that is as we'll probably pop up to Penang before Christmas and would like to visit there.

Voyager2002

slinga wrote: »

Interested to know where that is as we'll probably pop up to Penang before Christmas and would like to visit there.

I think I meant the Teman Negara National Park. There are various places to stay and eat near its entrance, as well as an average-to-good beach and a cat rescue centre, but the fantastic beaches are inside the park (no swimming allowed although I did not notice the signs until after I had swum).

slinga

Ah. Taman Negara is a bit out of the way for us now.

But having worked in Bintulu, that one w hore house town, 40 years ago and been sent up river to work on the design and construction of a loading jetty for a timber concession I've done a bit of walking through Primary Jungle, not easy.

Also worked on a massive resort development in Desaru, about as far south east in peninsula Malaysia as you can get. That was only secondary jungle but used to enjoy the walks checking out the layout of the six signature golf courses which were part of things.
Then things went sour when the Japanese contractor got greedy and things ended up in the courts of one the Caribbean Islands

The jungle around Desaru although secondary jungle had many elephants around as instanced by their droppings and also many wild tigers which we didn't know about or we wouldn't have been so free and easy enjoying the Jungle walking.:rotfl:

SofiaDaly

I will choose SG, if I given the chance to travel there. It's just a small country but you could do alot of stuff there according to what I watch from a documentary. Anyway, if you want a more safer place then Singapore is your choice.

michele-p

Doshwaster wrote: »

I really enjoyed Gerorgetown but I was underwhelmed by Batu Ferringi. It's basically a long strip of hotels with a mediocre beach. If you really want nice unspoilt sands then pop over to Langkawi

I'm jumping in on this thread, hope that's OK!
I'm researching the area too, and looks like we can fly in/out of KL too. One option is to fly onto Siem Rep and then a beach area in Cambodia. But as we'll be in Kuala Lumpa thought I'd look at Malaysia too.

I like the idea of unspoiled sands, so like the sound of Langkawi, but as you've been, is there anything to do/see/visit OTHER than the beach. I want the tropical beautiful looks, but don't want to just sit on a beach all the time.

Voyager2002

michele-p wrote: »

I'm jumping in on this thread, hope that's OK!
I'm researching the area too, and looks like we can fly in/out of KL too. One option is to fly onto Siem Rep and then a beach area in Cambodia. But as we'll be in Kuala Lumpa thought I'd look at Malaysia too.

I like the idea of unspoiled sands, so like the sound of Langkawi, but as you've been, is there anything to do/see/visit OTHER than the beach. I want the tropical beautiful looks, but don't want to just sit on a beach all the time.

You might also consider Tioman (another Malaysian island, but close to Singapore). Various activities are possible, although getting around is rather expensive (on Langkawi you need to use taxis for anything that is too far to cycle or walk; on Tioman there are various places without even walkable paths linking them so you need to use water taxis).

Possibly after an exciting time exploring Angkor Wat and other parts of Cambodia you might feel ready for somewhere boring with a beautiful beach.

Be aware that alcohol is far cheaper in Cambodia than in Malaysia, even in duty-free zones such as Tioman and Langkawi. The three-dollar cocktails of Siem Reap are one of many reasons I long to return there.

slinga

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting was held in KL in 1989 and the 'retreat' was in Langkawi.
Not long after we were in the Pelangi Beach where all the PMs were put up and there was a plaque on the rooms we stayed saying Margaret Thatcher stayed there. Not many people know that.
There are some very nice hotels on Langkawi some out in the back of beyond but not much else there.
Although it's a larger island that Penang there really isn't much to do there.