Talk to me about Malaysia/ KL/ Borneo
Discussion
Ok.. so have decided to go to Malaysia next month for 10 days.
Have decided to stay in KL for the first 5 days.
Which hotel should I stay at? Cuurent options I am looking at are Shangri La, Mandarin Oriental, Ritz Carlton. Any reccomendations?
Am going with my wife so what are the must do activities? Restaurants? Shopping?
After the first 5 days we are a little unsure of where to go as we want something beachy. Lots of people have said dont go to Langkawi as its too touristy. I want to go somwehere with all the mod cons as well as an amazing beach. Any reccomendations?
Any good links to get me from KL to Borneo?
Have decided to stay in KL for the first 5 days.
Which hotel should I stay at? Cuurent options I am looking at are Shangri La, Mandarin Oriental, Ritz Carlton. Any reccomendations?
Am going with my wife so what are the must do activities? Restaurants? Shopping?
After the first 5 days we are a little unsure of where to go as we want something beachy. Lots of people have said dont go to Langkawi as its too touristy. I want to go somwehere with all the mod cons as well as an amazing beach. Any reccomendations?
Any good links to get me from KL to Borneo?
I love KL been a few times now but never longer than 3 days at a time.
The last time we went we stayed in penang for 10 nights and KL for 2 nights. We got a really cheap internal flight and the train as KL international is a fair distance outside the city (about 20 mins on the express service which is fast, very modern and not busy at all.
We stayed at the mandarin oriental, which was just out of this world by far the most luxurious hotel I have ever stayed in( I have stayed in some nice one's claridges, raffles(singapore), Ritz(paris)etc) the MO blows all these out of the water.(Please bear in mind it was 4 years ago)
It may have had something to do with the fact they upgraded us from a standard club room to a £3000 a night suite with our own 20 seater dining room kitchen, butler, chef etc. But in all honesty I think the staff made the difference they just cannot do enough to help you.
I would definitely book a club room as you get access to the club lounge on the 24 floor, where all the drink(wine beer spirits), food which includes breakfast, dinner and light evening meal is all free and you can have as much as you like as it's help yourself. Also the views of the petronas towers are amazing.
As for things to do, the towers, the KL menara(CN type tower), lots of shopping, top end fashion and very cheap electrical goods.
Visit china town, bird park and the caves outside the city.
Oh and the MO has the most amazing outdoor infinity pool on the 4th or 5th floor which over looks KL park.
hope this helps.
kev
The last time we went we stayed in penang for 10 nights and KL for 2 nights. We got a really cheap internal flight and the train as KL international is a fair distance outside the city (about 20 mins on the express service which is fast, very modern and not busy at all.
We stayed at the mandarin oriental, which was just out of this world by far the most luxurious hotel I have ever stayed in( I have stayed in some nice one's claridges, raffles(singapore), Ritz(paris)etc) the MO blows all these out of the water.(Please bear in mind it was 4 years ago)
It may have had something to do with the fact they upgraded us from a standard club room to a £3000 a night suite with our own 20 seater dining room kitchen, butler, chef etc. But in all honesty I think the staff made the difference they just cannot do enough to help you.
I would definitely book a club room as you get access to the club lounge on the 24 floor, where all the drink(wine beer spirits), food which includes breakfast, dinner and light evening meal is all free and you can have as much as you like as it's help yourself. Also the views of the petronas towers are amazing.
As for things to do, the towers, the KL menara(CN type tower), lots of shopping, top end fashion and very cheap electrical goods.
Visit china town, bird park and the caves outside the city.
Oh and the MO has the most amazing outdoor infinity pool on the 4th or 5th floor which over looks KL park.
hope this helps.
kev
tuskkev said:
I love KL been a few times now but never longer than 3 days at a time.
The last time we went we stayed in penang for 10 nights and KL for 2 nights. We got a really cheap internal flight and the train as KL international is a fair distance outside the city (about 20 mins on the express service which is fast, very modern and not busy at all.
We stayed at the mandarin oriental, which was just out of this world by far the most luxurious hotel I have ever stayed in( I have stayed in some nice one's claridges, raffles(singapore), Ritz(paris)etc) the MO blows all these out of the water.(Please bear in mind it was 4 years ago)
It may have had something to do with the fact they upgraded us from a standard club room to a £3000 a night suite with our own 20 seater dining room kitchen, butler, chef etc. But in all honesty I think the staff made the difference they just cannot do enough to help you.
I would definitely book a club room as you get access to the club lounge on the 24 floor, where all the drink(wine beer spirits), food which includes breakfast, dinner and light evening meal is all free and you can have as much as you like as it's help yourself. Also the views of the petronas towers are amazing.
As for things to do, the towers, the KL menara(CN type tower), lots of shopping, top end fashion and very cheap electrical goods.
Visit china town, bird park and the caves outside the city.
Oh and the MO has the most amazing outdoor infinity pool on the 4th or 5th floor which over looks KL park.
hope this helps.
kev
How did you manage to get such a good upgrade?The last time we went we stayed in penang for 10 nights and KL for 2 nights. We got a really cheap internal flight and the train as KL international is a fair distance outside the city (about 20 mins on the express service which is fast, very modern and not busy at all.
We stayed at the mandarin oriental, which was just out of this world by far the most luxurious hotel I have ever stayed in( I have stayed in some nice one's claridges, raffles(singapore), Ritz(paris)etc) the MO blows all these out of the water.(Please bear in mind it was 4 years ago)
It may have had something to do with the fact they upgraded us from a standard club room to a £3000 a night suite with our own 20 seater dining room kitchen, butler, chef etc. But in all honesty I think the staff made the difference they just cannot do enough to help you.
I would definitely book a club room as you get access to the club lounge on the 24 floor, where all the drink(wine beer spirits), food which includes breakfast, dinner and light evening meal is all free and you can have as much as you like as it's help yourself. Also the views of the petronas towers are amazing.
As for things to do, the towers, the KL menara(CN type tower), lots of shopping, top end fashion and very cheap electrical goods.
Visit china town, bird park and the caves outside the city.
Oh and the MO has the most amazing outdoor infinity pool on the 4th or 5th floor which over looks KL park.
hope this helps.
kev
Langkawi is OK, I spent a couple of days there this winter, the island itself is nice but the way it populated is quite bland. If you are after luxury then you will find it here.
Also 5 days in KL seems like a lot, the city is good but there is not that much there to do, don't bother with the Petronas Towers, do the communications tower instead. If you fancy seeing the worlds oldest rain forest then book a trip to Teman Negara which is about 4 hours bus and 2 hours boat ride away - by far and away the best place I went to in Malaysia, if jungle is not your cup of tea then the Cameron Highlands are also an option. From KL you could also do a run out to Melaka. Shopping in KL you should check out Time Square, China Town and the plaza underneath the Petronas Towers, I think there are other places also.
Hope this helps.
Also 5 days in KL seems like a lot, the city is good but there is not that much there to do, don't bother with the Petronas Towers, do the communications tower instead. If you fancy seeing the worlds oldest rain forest then book a trip to Teman Negara which is about 4 hours bus and 2 hours boat ride away - by far and away the best place I went to in Malaysia, if jungle is not your cup of tea then the Cameron Highlands are also an option. From KL you could also do a run out to Melaka. Shopping in KL you should check out Time Square, China Town and the plaza underneath the Petronas Towers, I think there are other places also.
Hope this helps.
I live In Kl, and I have a house on Borneo, what do you want to Know, All the hotels you list are good, and in the right part of town, but are expensive and top end. If you want a cheaper hotel then there are loads in Bukit Bingtang. e.g Crown Placa, Royal will be a little cheaper, but high end, i assume that with the wife you don't want to go low end. In Kl see China Town, Twin Towers, Telehone Tower, Batu Caves, all the places detaied on this forum at various times. Chine Town is one evening not whole day thing.
Borneo then Kota Kinabalu, climb the mounting see monkies, go to Ocean sea food.You can go up country for a few days.
Basically Malaysia is not set up for holidays, in the way Thailand is, there are limited excursion/activities in any one place, So my advice as detailed else where on this forum is stay in a place for a few days and move on. 5 days is to long in KL 2/3 is OK, Kl is great to live but its a working/retail city no history, remember it did not exist 150 years ago. you can do the bird farm, zoo etc but there are beter ones you will have been to, the Museum is to religous based for my liking, the Royal Palce is stand at the gate and gawp, you can't go in and driving down Jalan Istana (Palace Road)in a taxi does that no need to stop.
Having said this Malaysia is greaat, but move around, it is cheap and easy, if you do intend to stay in KL for 5 days, then don't pay upfront because you will want to move in three.
Borneo then Kota Kinabalu, climb the mounting see monkies, go to Ocean sea food.You can go up country for a few days.
Basically Malaysia is not set up for holidays, in the way Thailand is, there are limited excursion/activities in any one place, So my advice as detailed else where on this forum is stay in a place for a few days and move on. 5 days is to long in KL 2/3 is OK, Kl is great to live but its a working/retail city no history, remember it did not exist 150 years ago. you can do the bird farm, zoo etc but there are beter ones you will have been to, the Museum is to religous based for my liking, the Royal Palce is stand at the gate and gawp, you can't go in and driving down Jalan Istana (Palace Road)in a taxi does that no need to stop.
Having said this Malaysia is greaat, but move around, it is cheap and easy, if you do intend to stay in KL for 5 days, then don't pay upfront because you will want to move in three.
me and the wife spent six days in sabah in kota kinabalu,stayed at the shangri la
we both thought it was great, food was great and cheap.
loads to do, we went white.water rafting ,mountain hiking,skuba diving and watched the most amazing sunset. there are five islands to go island hopping with the most amazing beaches where we went snorkelling.
www.shangri-la.com/en/property/kotakinabalu/tanjun...
we booked from hong kong and including flights and accomadation plus all transfers including food for five nights.six.days it came to about 300quid each, bargain
we both thought it was great, food was great and cheap.
loads to do, we went white.water rafting ,mountain hiking,skuba diving and watched the most amazing sunset. there are five islands to go island hopping with the most amazing beaches where we went snorkelling.
www.shangri-la.com/en/property/kotakinabalu/tanjun...
we booked from hong kong and including flights and accomadation plus all transfers including food for five nights.six.days it came to about 300quid each, bargain
I stayed on Tioman for 10days right here - http://www.berjayahotel.com/tioman/index.asp
It was for work and we were based here while trolling about in their Navy Frigates. What a bummer!
It was for work and we were based here while trolling about in their Navy Frigates. What a bummer!
hamish88 said:
me and the wife spent six days in sabah in kota kinabalu,stayed at the shangri la
we both thought it was great, food was great and cheap.
loads to do, we went white.water rafting ,mountain hiking,skuba diving and watched the most amazing sunset. there are five islands to go island hopping with the most amazing beaches where we went snorkelling.
www.shangri-la.com/en/property/kotakinabalu/tanjun...
we booked from hong kong and including flights and accomadation plus all transfers including food for five nights.six.days it came to about 300quid each, bargain
We honeymooned at the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru (the Rasa Ria is many km out of town), and I agree with all of that, except for:-we both thought it was great, food was great and cheap.
loads to do, we went white.water rafting ,mountain hiking,skuba diving and watched the most amazing sunset. there are five islands to go island hopping with the most amazing beaches where we went snorkelling.
www.shangri-la.com/en/property/kotakinabalu/tanjun...
we booked from hong kong and including flights and accomadation plus all transfers including food for five nights.six.days it came to about 300quid each, bargain
- Beaches. One by the hotel is very small. Ones on the islands aren't bad, but don't expect Caribbean-quality
- Cost. Even in 2005 we didn't get it for anywhere NEAR that, flights and room-only.
Sunsets were awesome though...as was the Sepilok Orang-Utan sanctuary (suggestion: get accomodation over in Sepilok for the night - a few other things to do that side which you can't do in one day between the flights).
Final thought - north point of Sabah is supposed to be great for diving.
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