Penang & KL
Penang & KL
Hi Everyone,
Some friends and I are planning on a trip to Malaysia at the beginning of next year and I was hoping to find out some information from others who have travelled to the same places.
At this stage we're planning on staying 3 nights in Kuala Lumpur and then heading off to Penang for 7 nights staying at the Golden Sands Sangri La. At this stage we haven't planned any day trip or tours so any information about things to do would be great and any general opinions on the areas would be excellent!
Thanks
*MA*
Answers:
I'd take it down to two nights in KL unless you've been to Asian capital cities before and like them (I do): it's big, smelly and not massively interesting, with lots of traffic jams. There's enough for two nights but you might well get fed up with it after three.
The Golden Sands should be nice - Shangri La is always good. I stayed at the Rasa Sayang there a few years ago. It is, however, a big resort complex on a rather average beach so don't expect intimate. Batu Ferringhi, the beach area itself, is, imho, not the best beach in Asia by quite a long stretch. It's fine if you just want to flop on the sand but it's a big resorty area full of tourists. The water isn't clear, either - it's in the Straits of Malacca.
Spend at least a couple of days exploring Georgetown, which TBH I'd choose to stay in if I were going back to Penang. It's a Chinese/colonial city full of beautiful buildings and temples and antiques shops. It's the centre of Baba/Nonya culture (a mix of Malay and Chinese people) with great restaurants - a super town to poke around.
I expect there will be all sorts of excursions you can do but you might have more fun just hiring a car and driver and going off by yourselves. There's plenty of rainforest and it's a big island. It's a few years since I've been there so I'd have to check the guidebook but I know there are a few ghastly tourist attractions best avoided, including a butterfly farm and I think a snake temple or something. Personally I hate that kind of thing!
But it's an interesting island with lots of history - at one point Georgetown was the great white hope of imperial Europe as a trading post till it was eclipsed by Singapore.
Jan/Feb is a good time of year - the weather should be absolutely glorious.
Answers:
I'd take it down to two nights in KL unless you've been to Asian capital cities before and like them (I do): it's big, smelly and not massively interesting, with lots of traffic jams. There's enough for two nights but you might well get fed up with it after three.
In contrast I found KL one of the more cleaner and more manageable (i.e. easier to get around) cities and really loved it. It's very easy to get around and I think 3 days should be just right for you to get yor bearings, become a bit more adventurous and see some sights! Because it's so cheap and easy to get around I'd avoid tourist trips, buy a guidebook and DIY, which is what we did (and we're by no means adventurous back packers!!).
I do agree Batu Ferringhi is not the best beach in Asia but it's still pretty nice compared to what we have in this country ;) and if you're looking to simply chill out, get some sun, and go out at night it's your best bet. As blossie said - it's pretty easy to hire a car (either to drive yourself, or with a driver) from which you can travel around and see some sights.
Have fun!
Answers:
Aaah Malaysia - one of my fav. places! We did KL and Penang amongst other places for our honeymoon last year.
I ADORED KL, but unfortunately we arrived there rather jetlagged and frazzled from the wedding so we walked round it in a bit of a daze. I think there is lots to see, 2 - 3 nights should be perfect. I'd recommend the Shangri-la Hotel.
We stayed at the Lone Pine Hotel on Batu Ferringhi, and I have to say that I was glad we did, we were sandwiched in between the Golden Sands and another big hotel complex on the other side. The Lone Pine is a much smaller more personal hotel, which I thought was much nicer than the massive complexes with hoards of people.
I thought the beaches at Batu Ferringhi were fine, but then I'm not sure what you're comparing them to Blossie.
I would not recommend staying in Georgetown, we ventured in but were glad to get out again, it's quite a hectic part of Penang, but worth visiting for the colonial feel.
There are some amazing temples to visit on Penang one of them being the Kek Lok Si Temple - which is VAST. There are also some botanical gardens and various museums etc.
Arm yourself with a copy of the Lonely Planet for 'Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei', it became our bible whilst we were out there, we didn't book any accom (other than the first few nights in KL) and we picked all the suggestions out of the LP for eating and sleeping. But I'd advise you not to do that - we were out of season (sept) so places were empty.
Oooh I'm envious - I'd LOVE to go back, we have some amazing memories from our honeymoon!
Answers:
Oh, I'm thinking of lots of quiet Thai beaches with crystal-clear waters and no annoying hawkers and ones not fringed by big resort hotels ...
Hi Everyone,
Some friends and I are planning on a trip to Malaysia at the beginning of next year and I was hoping to find out some information from others who have travelled to the same places.
At this stage we're planning on staying 3 nights in Kuala Lumpur and then heading off to Penang for 7 nights staying at the Golden Sands Sangri La. At this stage we haven't planned any day trip or tours so any information about things to do would be great and any general opinions on the areas would be excellent!
Thanks
*MA*
Answers:
I'd take it down to two nights in KL unless you've been to Asian capital cities before and like them (I do): it's big, smelly and not massively interesting, with lots of traffic jams. There's enough for two nights but you might well get fed up with it after three.
The Golden Sands should be nice - Shangri La is always good. I stayed at the Rasa Sayang there a few years ago. It is, however, a big resort complex on a rather average beach so don't expect intimate. Batu Ferringhi, the beach area itself, is, imho, not the best beach in Asia by quite a long stretch. It's fine if you just want to flop on the sand but it's a big resorty area full of tourists. The water isn't clear, either - it's in the Straits of Malacca.
Spend at least a couple of days exploring Georgetown, which TBH I'd choose to stay in if I were going back to Penang. It's a Chinese/colonial city full of beautiful buildings and temples and antiques shops. It's the centre of Baba/Nonya culture (a mix of Malay and Chinese people) with great restaurants - a super town to poke around.
I expect there will be all sorts of excursions you can do but you might have more fun just hiring a car and driver and going off by yourselves. There's plenty of rainforest and it's a big island. It's a few years since I've been there so I'd have to check the guidebook but I know there are a few ghastly tourist attractions best avoided, including a butterfly farm and I think a snake temple or something. Personally I hate that kind of thing!
But it's an interesting island with lots of history - at one point Georgetown was the great white hope of imperial Europe as a trading post till it was eclipsed by Singapore.
Jan/Feb is a good time of year - the weather should be absolutely glorious.
Answers:
I'd take it down to two nights in KL unless you've been to Asian capital cities before and like them (I do): it's big, smelly and not massively interesting, with lots of traffic jams. There's enough for two nights but you might well get fed up with it after three.
In contrast I found KL one of the more cleaner and more manageable (i.e. easier to get around) cities and really loved it. It's very easy to get around and I think 3 days should be just right for you to get yor bearings, become a bit more adventurous and see some sights! Because it's so cheap and easy to get around I'd avoid tourist trips, buy a guidebook and DIY, which is what we did (and we're by no means adventurous back packers!!).
I do agree Batu Ferringhi is not the best beach in Asia but it's still pretty nice compared to what we have in this country ;) and if you're looking to simply chill out, get some sun, and go out at night it's your best bet. As blossie said - it's pretty easy to hire a car (either to drive yourself, or with a driver) from which you can travel around and see some sights.
Have fun!
Answers:
Aaah Malaysia - one of my fav. places! We did KL and Penang amongst other places for our honeymoon last year.
I ADORED KL, but unfortunately we arrived there rather jetlagged and frazzled from the wedding so we walked round it in a bit of a daze. I think there is lots to see, 2 - 3 nights should be perfect. I'd recommend the Shangri-la Hotel.
We stayed at the Lone Pine Hotel on Batu Ferringhi, and I have to say that I was glad we did, we were sandwiched in between the Golden Sands and another big hotel complex on the other side. The Lone Pine is a much smaller more personal hotel, which I thought was much nicer than the massive complexes with hoards of people.
I thought the beaches at Batu Ferringhi were fine, but then I'm not sure what you're comparing them to Blossie.
I would not recommend staying in Georgetown, we ventured in but were glad to get out again, it's quite a hectic part of Penang, but worth visiting for the colonial feel.
There are some amazing temples to visit on Penang one of them being the Kek Lok Si Temple - which is VAST. There are also some botanical gardens and various museums etc.
Arm yourself with a copy of the Lonely Planet for 'Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei', it became our bible whilst we were out there, we didn't book any accom (other than the first few nights in KL) and we picked all the suggestions out of the LP for eating and sleeping. But I'd advise you not to do that - we were out of season (sept) so places were empty.
Oooh I'm envious - I'd LOVE to go back, we have some amazing memories from our honeymoon!
Answers:
Oh, I'm thinking of lots of quiet Thai beaches with crystal-clear waters and no annoying hawkers and ones not fringed by big resort hotels ...