Kuala Lumpur 6 day.
Oct 27, 2023, 6:08 pm
#1
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Kuala Lumpur 6 day.
Hi team
It's me and my two young teens heading on a wee tiki tour. We have 6 nights between flights in and out of KL before heading to Philippines.
The kids like beaches.. nice sandy beaches. Is there any options within a 2hr drive radius of KL (happy to drive myself in Asia). Do I book cheap flights to Langkawi Krabi or Phuket (don't really like Phuket but good for kids I suppose) or head to Koh Lanta??? I'm not interested in Koh Samui (spent lots of time there and in Koh Phangan as a backpacker in the early 2000s, my head still hurts from the buckets at the full moon parties)
Happy to receive and advice...
It's me and my two young teens heading on a wee tiki tour. We have 6 nights between flights in and out of KL before heading to Philippines.
The kids like beaches.. nice sandy beaches. Is there any options within a 2hr drive radius of KL (happy to drive myself in Asia). Do I book cheap flights to Langkawi Krabi or Phuket (don't really like Phuket but good for kids I suppose) or head to Koh Lanta??? I'm not interested in Koh Samui (spent lots of time there and in Koh Phangan as a backpacker in the early 2000s, my head still hurts from the buckets at the full moon parties)
Happy to receive and advice...
Oct 28, 2023, 8:49 am
#2
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Where you go depends on monsoon season. Malaysia is not know for nice sandy beaches, with probable exception of Perhentian and Redang, but getting there is pain, especially with your 2h requirement.
Your best bet is either Langkawi (easy, 1h flight) or Thailand - fly to Phuket and then drive to Khao Lak and stay there. Again, it means you are losing 1 day in each direction on logistics.
Your best bet is either Langkawi (easy, 1h flight) or Thailand - fly to Phuket and then drive to Khao Lak and stay there. Again, it means you are losing 1 day in each direction on logistics.
Oct 28, 2023, 10:22 am
#3
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There might be something around Port Dickson (annoyingly under the KUL flight path) but it seems to be muddy mangroves on the west coast of the peninsula otherwise (unless you head to Penang or Langkawi which are quite far away). East coast beaches are quite exposed to swells, and water can be murky where river estuaries. A nice sheltered bay is Cherating/Cerating north of Kuantan (probably the nicest we encountered) and I'd put that as your best bet. Forget Johore as there's too much oil from shipping. Can tell you this having driven the length from Kota Bahru down to Johor Bahru.
Oct 31, 2023, 1:48 pm
#5
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On a side note. Has anyone got a recommendation for a layover hotel in KUL?
There seems to be a number of Tune hotels close by and other airport sites seem to have conflicting reports.. One that seems ok is a Holiday Inn Sepang. Maybe new, it's only for 12 hr over night so is it worth the time in the shuttle to and from or just stay at a Tune?? Thanks
Oct 31, 2023, 2:23 pm
#6
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Transit hotel depends on which terminals you're arriving and departing from. Tuneis handy for KLIA2, Sama Sama for KLIA1. Could try Putra Jaya or even KL for nicer hotels.
With late morning departures from KLIA2, I've stayed beyond Sepang at the d'Sora which has access to a country club (nice rec facilities) but that's only handy if you drive otherwise you're in the middle of nowhere relatively speaking. Not much better where the HI is, or in Putra Jaya really (though at least J might be prettier to look at).
With late morning departures from KLIA2, I've stayed beyond Sepang at the d'Sora which has access to a country club (nice rec facilities) but that's only handy if you drive otherwise you're in the middle of nowhere relatively speaking. Not much better where the HI is, or in Putra Jaya really (though at least J might be prettier to look at).
Oct 31, 2023, 10:24 pm
#7
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Alternatively, you can also fly to Kota Kinabalu (BKI) and then take a 20 minute boat transfer to Pulau Gaya or if you are more adventurous, drive to Kota Belud and then boat transfer to Mantanani Islands. I'd highly recommend Tip of Borneo (Simpang Mengayau) near the town of Kudat (about 2.5-3H drive from Kota Kinabalu) if you don't want a boat transfer. Or if you want to do river safari in Sandakan, you can also just hop off to Lankayan (this island's resort can be cost prohibitive to some).
On the peninsula's east coast, you have Perhentians, Tenggol, Kapas, and Redang in Terengganu (quick 50 minute air hop to Kota Bahru / Kuala Terengganu depending on the island) and then transfer to island. You also have Tioman island although that's a bit more developed with a short runway with flight (relatively expensive) from Subang (SZB) airport. And also Batu-Batu and Rawa island off the coast of Desaru In Johor (Desaru is a pain to get to from KL tho). You can't visit those islands between end October to early March tho as they are closed for the monsoon season.
On the peninsula's west coast, you have Langkawi plus a 1.5 hour boat ride to Koh Lipe if you want better quality water, Pangkor / Pangkor Laut (about 3 hour drive from KL) and Penang (whether it's swimmable depends if you are a local or a tourist
). Locals don't usually swim in Penang but I've seen foreign tourists swim there (the northwestern part where the National Park is has the cleanest beach of all).
Last edited by nov11; Oct 31, 2023 at 10:33 pm
Nov 2, 2023, 2:17 am
#8
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What are you talking about? Malaysia has plenty of fine white sand beaches. The 2H drive requirement might be tough to fulfill that requirement but Malaysia as whole has plenty of nice sandy beaches.
If you have time, try going to Sabah / Semporna Islands (Pom-Pom, Mataking, Pandanan and if you are a diver, Sipadan is top notch). A flight from KUL to Tawau (TWU) and then maybe 1 hour transfer to Semporna jetty (that town is a s*hole but you aren't staying there) and then off to the islands.
Alternatively, you can also fly to Kota Kinabalu (BKI) and then take a 20 minute boat transfer to Pulau Gaya or if you are more adventurous, drive to Kota Belud and then boat transfer to Mantanani Islands. I'd highly recommend Tip of Borneo (Simpang Mengayau) near the town of Kudat (about 2.5-3H drive from Kota Kinabalu) if you don't want a boat transfer. Or if you want to do river safari in Sandakan, you can also just hop off to Lankayan (this island's resort can be cost prohibitive to some).
On the peninsula's east coast, you have Perhentians, Tenggol, Kapas, and Redang in Terengganu (quick 50 minute air hop to Kota Bahru / Kuala Terengganu depending on the island) and then transfer to island. You also have Tioman island although that's a bit more developed with a short runway with flight (relatively expensive) from Subang (SZB) airport. And also Batu-Batu and Rawa island off the coast of Desaru In Johor (Desaru is a pain to get to from KL tho). You can't visit those islands between end October to early March tho as they are closed for the monsoon season.
On the peninsula's west coast, you have Langkawi plus a 1.5 hour boat ride to Koh Lipe if you want better quality water, Pangkor / Pangkor Laut (about 3 hour drive from KL) and Penang (whether it's swimmable depends if you are a local or a tourist). Locals don't usually swim in Penang but I've seen foreign tourists swim there (the northwestern part where the National Park is has the cleanest beach of all).
If you have time, try going to Sabah / Semporna Islands (Pom-Pom, Mataking, Pandanan and if you are a diver, Sipadan is top notch). A flight from KUL to Tawau (TWU) and then maybe 1 hour transfer to Semporna jetty (that town is a s*hole but you aren't staying there) and then off to the islands.
Alternatively, you can also fly to Kota Kinabalu (BKI) and then take a 20 minute boat transfer to Pulau Gaya or if you are more adventurous, drive to Kota Belud and then boat transfer to Mantanani Islands. I'd highly recommend Tip of Borneo (Simpang Mengayau) near the town of Kudat (about 2.5-3H drive from Kota Kinabalu) if you don't want a boat transfer. Or if you want to do river safari in Sandakan, you can also just hop off to Lankayan (this island's resort can be cost prohibitive to some).
On the peninsula's east coast, you have Perhentians, Tenggol, Kapas, and Redang in Terengganu (quick 50 minute air hop to Kota Bahru / Kuala Terengganu depending on the island) and then transfer to island. You also have Tioman island although that's a bit more developed with a short runway with flight (relatively expensive) from Subang (SZB) airport. And also Batu-Batu and Rawa island off the coast of Desaru In Johor (Desaru is a pain to get to from KL tho). You can't visit those islands between end October to early March tho as they are closed for the monsoon season.
On the peninsula's west coast, you have Langkawi plus a 1.5 hour boat ride to Koh Lipe if you want better quality water, Pangkor / Pangkor Laut (about 3 hour drive from KL) and Penang (whether it's swimmable depends if you are a local or a tourist
). Locals don't usually swim in Penang but I've seen foreign tourists swim there (the northwestern part where the National Park is has the cleanest beach of all).