HI

Getting from KL to Penang is easy. The quickest and best option (in our opinion) is to fly. Both Malaysian and Air Asia do the flights - cost £30-40 or less from KLIA/LCCT [about 40-60mins from KL city] and Fire Flyz fly from Subang [which is closer to KL city then KLIA and was the old international airport]. You can also get a coach, but for us it takes longer but is much cheaper, a taxi or train is also an option.

Penang to Langkawi or Langakwi to Penang will be either by ferry [langkawi ferries], fly [fire flyz] or coach/bus/train from Penang to Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis then ferry to Lanagakwi. We tend to catch the ferry costs less than £10.

The quickest and best option (in our opinion) is to fly from Langakwi to KL. Both Malaysian and Air Asia do the flights - cost £30-40 or less. Again you can ferry to Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis and then coach or train to KL.

If you do get a Air Asia flight they fly out LCCT [the low cost terminal at KLIA - about 20mins drive from KLIA terminal]

Langakwi is about relaxing and whislt there things to do, like boats trips, cable car, visiting Kuah, the easiest thing to do is relax by the pool or on the beach. Pentai Cenang area is popular with many as it has a few bars and restaurants. Pentai Kok area is less so, whilst the hotels in the north of the island are remote and expensive - nice but not much to do without gettng a taxi. You will get some great photo opportunities here.

Penang and KL have much more to keep folk busy.

Penang is our favorite, plus has some of the best food ever - forget the plush restaurants head for the street food!! If you go into both the KL and Penang forums and click on 'things to do' in the left hand margins there will be a great list to check out. The beaches in Penang are not that great - due to the tidal current / shipping lane / muddy sea bed / soem pollution [select one!] but the hotels make up for it with their grounds and pools. The Batu Ferringhi area has the most hotels the 2 Shangri-la are nice as is the Park Royal. The capital Georgetown has some nice hotels, the E&O is lovely (except the pool always feels cool), there is also a Traders. Georgetown is lovely, very historical, plus the island has some great temples and food courts.

KL is a vibrant city. The favorite tourist hotels are in the Bukit Bintang area [Ritz Carlton, Westin, JW Marriott, Milleniumn, Royal Bintang] or KLCC/Petronas Towers area [Mandarin Oriental, Traders].

Happy planning, and enjoy.

To TravellingMitch

What a star you are, so much helpful info, thanks. Hunkered down over the old computer now sorting it out, putting it together is so much part of the trip!

Hi

have to agree with that, I love the planning. If you want anymore help just ask, loads of people to help here.

Have a good time planning

Hi again

are we better booking everything before we go or ok to leave it till we get there? Or nearer the time. (oct)

Obviously its down to us and our interests but how much time do you suggest for KL and Penang, we need some down time but can only laze about for 2/3 days before we get itchy feet, so is there enough to do on Langkawi? Nothing too fast and furious, it is a holiday after all and we hate to "do" a country., in 14days.

Husband can cope with shopping as long as it involves "gadgets and gizmos" at some point! But any must sees/do in KL and Penang? Are we better cutting down our time in Langkawi? currently thinking 3 nights KL, 4 nights Penang rest in Langkawi

As an indication our idea of hell would be 2 weeks in Benidorm in a huge A.I. hotel (sorry Benidorm and anyone who loves it)

Thanks

Langkawi is really for beach, relaxing & some duty-free shopping, so unless u really truly madly love the beach, I'd suggest u spread your time out and visit other places.

Malacca is a must-visit, it's recently been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it's just abt 2 hrs fr KL by bus (no flights necessary). They have wonderful heritage buildings and tons of historical sites, so u will get some nice photos there, esp at Jonker Street. The food is lovely too -must try: Chicken Rice Ball, cendol, satay celup. Lots of antique shops too.

For KL, Penang and Malacca, 3 nights at each place is sufficient (u can probably cover Malacca in 3 days, 2 nights actually). You will find tons of info on places to visit on the net, as these 3 are the main tourist stops in Malaysia.

For something a little off the usual tourist path, check out www.serendah.com It's a cluster of gorgeous chalets in the middle of a jungle, not that far fr KL. THe place was set up by a couple of architects/landscape artists, so it's really beautiful. You can do a 2D/1N trip there, just to chill, maybe do a barbie at night, or swim in the nearby river.

Here's my suggested route for u: KL - Malacca - Penang - Langkawi - KL. That way, u start off with the city, then do the culture/history bit, then to Penang for food (plus heritage + culture, this is another new Malaysian UNESCO site), then pure relaxation in Langkawi, and finally back to the mad buzz of KL before flying home.

By the way, there are tons of lovely hotels and beach front resorts in Langkawi, but if u'd like a bit of culture thrown in, check out the Bon Ton Resort. All the chalets were originally actual, traditional Malay homes from all over Malaysia. Bon TOn actually started out as a restaurant in KL, so they do great food too. And they have an animal sanctuary at the resort.

Hi

We tend to book when we get there. Most hotels will find a tour operator for you to arrange, or to be honest hire a taxi for the day is a great way to check things out.

I love KL and Penang. I could send a week or more in KL, whilst others only want to stop for a couple of days. For your first visit 3 full days will be good. If you get itchy feet lazing about after 2/3 days then 7 days in Langakwi might be too much as there is a beautiful place but the sightseeing is limited compared to KL and Penang, so why not spend 5 days in Langakwi and 6 in Penang.

Penang has a real rich tapestry of history and sights. There a several places we feel are must sees are Georgetown, a whole day to check out the heritages buildings, clan houses, old fashioned shop houses, Fort Cornwallis, E&O hotel, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, Praglin Mall, Komtar, the reclining Buddha at Wat Chayamankalaram, Gurney Plaza, the Gurney Drive Hawkers Centre. Penang has some great temples, Kek Lok Si is a total must do, as is Penang Hill – if the funicular railway is not working then they do excellent 4x4 trips up the hill, which gives some lovely views over the island. Batu Ferringhi has a night market every night and some of the best food. Beach is not that great. But there is a trip to the National Park, Butterfly Farm, fruit farms etc. We will often split our time between hotels in Georgetown and Batu Ferringhi.

As for KL, there is just so much to see and do. The Petronas Towers/Suria KLCC Mall/Park, KL Menara Tower, Chinatown/Petaling Street, Bukit Bintang, Jalan Alor, the heritage around Merdeka Square area/Central Market/Old Railway Station. I love the Orchid Gardens, the KL bird park (its ok but not as good as Singapore) are all easy to get to and easy to do during your 3 days. Shopping is mainly around Bukit Bintang, which 10 or so malls of all shapes and sizes of purses. The food court at the Pavillion Mall is really very good.

If you fancy doing a bit of snorkelling then a day trip to Payar Palau from either Penang or Langakwi is a nice day out – if a little crowded at times on the pontoon.

Got to agree about 2 weeks in Benidorm!

Happy planning.

Hello again,

many thanks for info, how about we just sit back and let you sort this all out for us!! You obviously know what you are talking about, perhaps you should set yourselves up creating holidays for people? Only joking will enjoy arranging it all.

Seems like we can have a really good trip without a tour rep in sight or keep fit by the pool!

Will get back to you if hit any problems. Shame we only have 2 weeks though, so will plan to re-visit, last thought any tips on best airline, currently have KLM with 2 hr stop at Skipool for 505 pounds.

HI

Excellent bargains those KLM flights, saw them, and thought, MMMmmm, can we fit in a quick week in KL!!

I could talk about Malaysia for hours, and often do, I love the vibrant KL and the diverse Penang.

I know that some don't rate it much, but the Casa del Mar in Langawki is a little gem. Ok it is in Spanish style, but the level of service is fabulous and you will get to know the staff well. Ok it is a boutique hotel, but its got real personality. There are some great boat trips, check out Blue Water Sailing in Langakwi for a lovely trip.

I trained as a travel agent XXX years ago, but life lead me up a different path, as it has a habit of doing. Always happy to help and advise.

Hi again

Well the flights are booked with KLM,now flying out on 26th Sep, returning on 10th Oct. so hope weather not too wet.

Husband has been reading your posts and we are

now having debates about length of time in KL, Penang and Langkawi, KL and Penang now appearing more appealing to him! He is trying to get it down to 3/4 nights on Langkawi.

I cant decide wether to go to Langkawi from KL, then onto Penang, with lastday/night back at KL. Or KL-Penang-Langkawi-KL. Also wether to split time between two hotels/area in Penang. Your ideas re hotels have matched our tastes so far.

Can you confirm if easy to book travel/hotels when we get there? Would book first few nights in KL before we travel, or best to get it sorted beforehand?

Sorry if repeating some questions but have only planned and arranged trips by ourselves in Europe, have always used travel agent for long haul before, and just gave them planned itinery

to sort out! Fed up paying over the odds now.

Thanks

HI

We have booked our flights / internal travel+flights / hotels ourselves for years. But will admit the first time it was scary – but now we hate buying from a travel agent as they never give us quite what WE want and seem to charge so much!

Whilst you can book hotels when you get there, we always book before we go. No hassle when we arrive, just rock up the hotel and straight to the room! Check out prices directly with the hotels – usually offer good bargains. Or we use Holiday-city.com or Passionasia.com with no problems.

KL – Penang – Langakwi – KL mix works well.

KL is busy, Penang is not as much so, and Langkawi is laid back. No real preference for which order, but we tend to start busy and then wind down during the holiday. Georgetown in Penang is more about sightseeing and Batu Ferringhi is very quiet during the day – folk are either off sightseeing or reading a book by the pool. E&O is a great hotel to base yourself in – and to be honest getting a cab to Gurney Plaza or Batu Ferringhi for the night market and street hawkers food is easy and will cost a few ringitt. Stayed in E&O several times and loved it, also Rasa Sayang in Batu Ferringhi.

We had 3 nights at the Casa del Mar at Pentai Cenang in Langakwi last year, and wish we had had more. But have stayed 4 nights in the Tanjung Rhu on the north east coast and although it was beautiful it was too remote for us so 4 days where too much.

It will take half day to travel from KL to Penang if your fly (travel to airport, check in, wait, fly, arrive, travel to hotel). Some getting to Langkawi. Could be more if you drive or train. Ferry between Penang and Langakwi takes 2-3 hours, easy to book a couple of days before you want to go. Ferries leave Penang at 0815 and 0830, and leave Langakwi at 1430 and 1730. The 0815 and 1430 go via Palau Payar to pick up the day trippers. Flights between Penang and Langakwi take 30 mins [Fire Flyz]

Happy to help