Originally Posted by
essexnyc
There is a direct flight from Tawau to Kuala Lumpur, but the hotel says we would need to take a taxi from Lahad Datu, so that route unfortunately doesn't make sense for us.
Flying is much easier. Sabah roads aren't exactly like those in the Peninsula (and even then, non-highway roads in Peninsula aren't the best either).
Originally Posted by
essexnyc
So after our first few stops (Kuala Lumpur, Brunei for the day, Kota Kinabalu, and Borneo Rainforest Lodge), for our last few days of trip, I think we are going to go to the Six Senses Yao Noi in Thailand. We can get to Phuket by 10AM the day after leaving Borneo Rainforest Lodge, and there are lots of direct flights from Phuket to Singapore, where we will be flying back home from.
That you all for your input - the St. Regis Langkawi just doesn't seem good for August, the Eastern side of the Malay peninsula would take longer to get to and from, there are not high-enough quality resorts around Borneo, and my Singapore friend did not recommend the Desaru area, so Yao Noi seems to be the best option!
If Langkawi isn't the the best weather for you, Phuket will roughly be the same as well. Both are on the west coast of Thailand/Malaysia, although Six Senses Yao Noi is in a bay and on the eastern side of the island. Maybe Samui might be a better bet weather wise if you want somewhere with direct flights to SIN.
It appears that Marriott Perhentian will open Q2 this year. Room rates however seems exorbitant for a Marriott (RM 2600 or $540 USD) per night. Makes me wonder why they didn't stick to the planned JW brand instead of the Marriott brand at that price range for Malaysia.