Beyond Kuala Lumpur

[Wis]

Hi I’m keen for ideas/advice for a trip in Feb next year. We’re flying to KUL for 1 week using Avios on BA’s re-started flights. Trying to decide between the following options. For context, we’re looking for a relaxing week, 5* hotel, somewhere with good local restaurants (not just hotel bound), some light sightseeing/walks/cycling etc. Just two of us – no kids.

Options I thought of so far:
1. Pick up a car and drive north to Ipoh (Banjaran resort?), Penang or Langkawi – been to PEN 20 yrs ago and LGK 10 years ago so it’s been a while. Quite enjoy driving and avoids hassle of more flying/making connections with the BA flights. Maybe a night in KL on the way back

2. Head to east Malaysia – possibly driving. Never been to the east of the country and no idea where to go

3. Fly from KL to Thailand or Vietnam. Never been to Vietnam but clueless on what the best options are!

We ruled out Bali due to the time of year and we have flights sorted next June

[Richie]

Opt. 1 sounds good.

[TicknBash]

There’s plenty of information re Malaysia on this master thread.

https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/kuala-lumpur-malaysia/page/5/

[Wis]

TicknBash wrote:

There’s plenty of information re Malaysia on this master thread.

https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/kuala-lumpur-malaysia/page/5/

Thanks – I looked around and couldn’t find a thread. This is great.

[Jon]

The above-mentioned thread should give you plenty to get started with, but one thing I’d add re options 1 & 2 – not sure I’d recommend driving into/through KL right after the long flight – you’ll need your wits about you 😉

I’d probably get either the KLIAEkspress train into Sentral for the first night (Hilton KL is right above the station) and pick up a car there the next morning (assuming there are rental places nearby there – not sure), or get a Grab taxi (download the app before you go) into the Golden Triangle area and stay somewhere there, eg the Shangri-La perhaps.

From what I can tell from Google maps, most of the car rental places are around there, but I’d recommend doing some research to check which ones are decent etc. There used to be a Hertz on Jalan Raja Chulan just round the corner from Shangri-la, although it looks like it has moved to Jalan Perak (also round the corner) since I used it about 8 years ago for a drive up to Cameron Highlands and back via Ipoh. Was very happy with it.

[Wis]

Jon wrote:

The above-mentioned thread should give you plenty to get started with, but one thing I’d add re options 1 & 2 – not sure I’d recommend driving into/through KL right after the long flight – you’ll need your wits about you 😉

I’d probably get either the KLIAEkspress train into Sentral for the first night (Hilton KL is right above the station) and pick up a car there the next morning (assuming there are rental places nearby there – not sure), or get a Grab taxi (download the app before you go) into the Golden Triangle area and stay somewhere there, eg the Shangri-La perhaps.

From what I can tell from Google maps, most of the car rental places are around there, but I’d recommend doing some research to check which ones are decent etc. There used to be a Hertz on Jalan Raja Chulan just round the corner from Shangri-la, although it looks like it has moved to Jalan Perak (also round the corner) since I used it about 8 years ago for a drive up to Cameron Highlands and back via Ipoh. Was very happy with it.

Thanks for the tip @Jon, much better to pick up a car from city and enjoy some rest and a night in KL instead of airport hotel. Having read through the Malaysia master thread, I am also going to compare an onward connection to Vietnam as an alternative as we have never been. I need to look into the options from KUL.

[BP]

If you fancy something slightly different, how about Langkawi then onwards to Ko Lipe? Arriving off the boat, jumping into the water and clearing customs on the beach was an experience! It’s somewhere I’d love to return to.