Hi guys,
I have been planning for quite some time now to share my thoroughly enjoyable trip to Malaysia (KL, Langkawi and Genting) and Singapore. I searched through trip-advisor and other resources before finalizing the hotels and the places to visit.
I hope the time I invested in planning this trip and my research will help other people who want to visit these two wonderful countries.
Just the gist for the target-conscious:
- Kuala Lumpur is a good place but for not more than 2 days.
- Genting is worth a trip. Not so much for the rides but for the way it has been made. A maze of outdoor park, indoor shows, hotels, shops, casinos, pretty as a picture and a fun-packed wonderland.
- Langkawi is heavenly, beautiful – ideal for honeymoon and relaxing.
- On the other hand, Singapore despite its many malls has created fabulous tourist attractions on a tiny island, like Sentosa, Night Safari etc.
- Total cost of trip for two (excluding shopping): INR 100,000 approx ($2,200)
- Hotel price depends on the time of booking (advance) and the time of the year.
THINGS TO DO IN ADVANCE:
1. BOOK TICKETS:
Flight Tickets: (from India)
Option 1: Book round trip from Airasia:
Hyd/Delhi/Bangalore/Chennai/Mumbai/Kolkata ) to KaulaLumpur - Approx cost (round trip): Rs 5,200/person (if booked 3-4 months in advance)
Option2: Book one way from Airasia and can return back from Singapore through Tiger Airways
The return ticket from Singapore is a bit expensive but you can save a lot specially if you want to buy electronic items from Singapore
My flight bookings:
- Airasia return ticket – Hyderabad to Kuala Lumpur
- Airasia – One way flight ticket from Langkawi to Singapore
Train Ticket:
Train: Langkawi Express (From Kuala-lumpur to Alor Setar) - From Alor Setar you need to take a ferry to reach Langkawi
Website for booking: http://www.ktmb.com.my/
You can also book tickets after reaching Kuala Lumpur (from KL Central Ticket Counter)
Bus ticket:
Singapore to Kuala-lumpur – Better to book it from Singapore (The online price is more than what you get in person and there are a number of buses which run between SGN and KL everyday)
2. VISA
I took the help of a travel agency and it cost me INR1,500 each (per person/country) for Singapore and Malaysia Visa (Total cost INR6,000 for two members)
Malaysia (Multiple entries) and Singapore (Single entry)
Agency details: Oasis Tours & Travels: Chennai
Once you send the following docs, you are likely to get your VISA in two weeks:
- Demand draft
- 4 photographs each
- Ticket (2 copies)
- Passports
3. BOOK HOTELS
I did a lot of research and finally booked the below hotels
KUALA LUMPUR
Hotel : Prescott Inn, Kuala Lumpur (INR 1,800 - 2,000/day)
Address: 23 Lorong Medan Tuanku Satu, Off Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Golden triangle area)
My Review:
The hotel is a good value for money; rooms are reasonably big and clean, with a fridge, TV (with limited channels), a table, chairs and free wifi. The hotel also offers a free luggage storage facility. The staff members are very helpful. Ask for rooms with a view of the Twin tower or Menara. The complimentary buffet-style breakfast is a good add-on considering the price you pay for the room. Taxi to Sentral will cost you around RM13 day time and RM15-20 during the night. Taxi to the Twin tower will cost you RM10, bird park another RM15. Please note that taxi to airport during the day will cost you RM80-90 and from 12am-6am the cost will shoot to RM120-130.
Location: The location is good, and the best part is that it is really close to the Medan Tuanku monorail station, offering you the convenience of travel anywhere in KL. There is also a reasonably good restaurant ‘Lotus’ near the hotel. Other than food, you can also try their fried Maggi and 3 layer Ice tea. The location also offers a good shopping area - Bukit Bingtang (5 min from monorail). I would definitely recommend Prescott to budget travelers.
LANGKAWI
Hotel 1: Berjaya Langkawi Resort (INR 7,000/day)
Karong Berkunci 200, Burau Bay, Langkawi 07000, Malaysia
My Review:
A very romantic and exotic place to stay, it is a perfect place to stay if you are on your honeymoon or a relaxing holiday, not for budget travelers.
Hotel 2: Azio Hotel Langkawi (INR 2,000- 3,000/day)
Address: 1-19, Jalan Pandak Mayah 7 City / Country: Langkawi / Malaysia
My Review:
The hotel is really a good value for money $60 (INR3,000 approx)/night. It is much better than it appears in the photographs available on its website. The staff is quite helpful and the hotel is just a 5 min drive to ferry-point. The surrounding area has lots of good restaurants/food joints and duty-free shops. The hotel also provides free wireless Internet access in their lobby area.
SINGAPORE
Hotel name: Hotel 81 Dickson (INR 3,500/day)
Address: 3, Dickson Road, Singapore.
My Review:
This is again a budget hotel and if you are not fussy, you get what you pay for. The surrounding area (Little India) is good; you will feel like all of India (esp. North and South) has relocated and come to Singapore. The size of the room was small but it was clean, which was a predominant factor for us; in room internet is also available (cable) for a price. Good choice for budget option if you are spending most of the time out of your room. The location offered great access to veggie Indian food which was surely a priority for us considering that my wife is a Vegan.
4. FOREIGN CURRENCY
You can purchase it from any of the foreign currency exchange. Save more by getting it from a local exchange.
MY ITINERARY
Hyderabad -- Kuala Lumpur – Langkawi – Singapore – Kuala Lumpur
DAY 1: HYDERABAD TO KUALA LUMPUR
Departure: 8:30 am (Hyderabad) Arrival: 15:30 pm (Kuala-Lumpur) – 4 hours journey
Reaching the Hotel (Options): Hotel: Prescott Inn, Kuala Lumpur
- Take Taxi to the Hotel (RM80-90)
- Take KLIA Ekspress from Airport to KL Central (RM8 per person) and then take taxi (RM15) from KL Sentral to Hotel – BEST OPTION
- Take KLIA Ekspress from Airport to KL Central (RM8 per person) and then take monorail from KL Sentral to Medan Tuanku station (close to the hotel) (RM2.10 person) – (If you can carry the luggage!)
Places to Visit (My Pick – Day 1 and 3)
- KLCC (Ticket RM38 per person) /Petronas Twin Tower (15-20 minutes’ walk from the Hotel, else take Taxi – RM12)
- KL Birdpark (RM 40 per person) + KL Butterfly Park (Can be covered in one go)
- National Museum
- Menara KL Tower
- Kampung Kuantan Fireflies Tour (we could not visit)
- KL Aquaria (RM38 per person) (Can be covered in Langkawi)
Shopping (For Day 1 and 3):
- Bukit Bintang: Take monorail from Medan Tuanku to Bukit Bintang (RM 1.6 per person)
- Many of the city's major retail malls are located in this area, including Berjaya Times Square, Bukit Bintang Plaza, Imbi Plaza, Fahrenheit 88, Pavilion KL, etc.
- Best Street Food Market in Kuala Lumpur (must try)
- Petaling Street : Good food, lots of bargaining and best time at night
- Pavilion Mall
- Central market
- Suria KLCC Mall: High end mall
DAY 2: KUALA LUMPUR – BATU CAVES AND GENTING
Batu Caves: From your hotel you can reach Batu Caves easily by taxi (RM 30) or public bus (RM 3 per person) (11 and 11d) .Visit the Batu Caves dedicated to Lord Murugan, a revered Hindu deity. Climb 272 steps to reach the top and enjoy the strikingly beautiful view.
Genting Theme Park : From Batu Caves or KL Sentral you can take a taxi (RM 80-100) or take the bus - GENTING EXPRESS BUS SERVICE from Genting counter at Level 2, KL Sentral Station
Entry Ticket: Unlimited Ride pass will cost RM 60 approx per person
After visiting Batu caves, you can go on a full day sightseeing tour to Genting Highlands. Experience the adrenaline rush at Genting while enjoying an array of exiting roller-coasters and boat rides amidst ingenious landscaping. With unlimited rides and games like Space Shot, Space Mountain, Flume Ride and Flying Dragon (my fav.), Super Toboggan, this theme park can prove to be an incredible treat for the kids. Thereafter, try your luck at South-East Asia's biggest casino. Enjoy dinner at a local Indian restaurant and drive back to Kuala Lumpur.
DAY 3: KUALA LUMPUR
- After breakfast, you can go to KL Birdpark (RM 40 per person) + KL Butterfly Park (best time to visit is early morning)
- National Museum and other places can also be visited on this day
Advice:
- Stay away from taxis and buses during early morning rush hours from 7.30-9am and late evening crawl which starts from as early as 5.00pm till as late as 7.30pm
- Take care of your wallet while traveling in monorail, especially during rush hours, I lost my wallet and had to face a lot of inconvenience.
- Keep multiple photocopies of all your credit cards, license and important documents.
- If you are a vegetarian, carry some packets of ready meals/noodles with you.
- There is a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus which stops at 22 KL stops – I felt it is time consuming so did not go for it (RM38 per person).
Night (DAY 3) – Take your train to Langkawi : Langkawi Express (From Kuala-lumpur to Alor Setar)
The train starts at 9:00 pm and drops you at Alor Setar at 7:00 am
DAY 4 and 5: LANGKAWI
How to reach the hotel: Hotel name: Azio Hotel Langkawi
- Train drops you at Alor Setar, from there you need to reach the ferry point (TAXI RM20) - Take a ferry to Langkawi (RM40 per person)
- Berjaya Langkawi is 30-min drive from ferry point and Azio is a 10 min walk or 5 min drive by taxi or your rented car.
Places to Visit (My favorite – there are many more..)
- Seven Wells Waterfall - The waterfall is so named because its cascading water is broken by a series of seven natural pools. The lush green forest that surrounds the waterfall adds a mystical touch to the natural splendor. Legend has it that fairies used to come down to the waterfall to bathe and frolic (lol).
- Beaches - Pantai Kok, Pantai Cenang, Pantai Tengah, Datai and Burau Bay - Idyllic beaches such as Pantai Kok, Pantai Cenang, Pantai Tengah, Datai and Burau Bay offer carefree sun-filled days and quiet evening strolls. A wide range of exciting water-sports provides fun and thrills for the energetic. Restaurant outlets in the hotels and outdoors serve a variety of appetizing cuisine.
- Underwater World Langkawi
- Crocodile Farm: Taman Buaya Langkawi (Langkawi Crocodile Farm) located at Kubang Kdak, some 32 km from Kuah, has more than 1,000 different crocodile species. Here, you can see and photograph crocodiles and alligators playing and feeding in a controlled environment that closely resemble their natural habitat.
- The Eagle Square - Dataran Lang (Eagle Square) is Langkawi's most prominent landmark for visitors arriving by sea.
Shopping:
- Near the beaches
- Near Hotel Azio there is a big market and a lot of duty-free shops from where you can buy loads of stuff.
Advice:
- Take a car on rent from Ferry point/Airport (available for RM60-250) because Langkawi has no public transport so taking a taxi will be a very expensive deal. Driving in Langkawi is safe & FUN, all you need is a license (India-issued will do) and a road map (you will get one from the car dealer) – Don’t forget to bargain the rent for your choice car.
- If you are a vegetarian, carry some packets of ready meals/noodles.
- I will advise you to buy your chocolate bags and other stuff from here – lowest prices on alcohol and chocolates
- If you are going to Singapore – you can give underwater world a miss.
DAY 6: SINGAPORE
Take a flight from Langkawi to Singapore – I had a morning flight so I reached Singapore at 10:30 am
How to reach Hotel: Hotel 81 Dickson
- If you have heavy luggage, take a taxi (about $25)
- You can also take airport shuttle ($9 per person) from the airport and get dropped off at a 5-min walking point from your hotel.
- Take the local metro MRT from the international airport (very close) - Bugis MRT Station is on the same line and no train changes are needed - not very feasible if you are carrying heavy luggage.
About hotel and nearby places
- Address: 3, Dickson Road, Singapore.
- On a side street in Little India, Singapore.
- 5-10 minutes walk to 2 MRT Stations: Bugis and Little India MRT Stations with interesting shopping and sights along the way
DAY 6: PLACES TO VISIT
- SINGAPORE ZOO & NIGHT SAFARI : After checking into your hotel, freshen up and take a taxi to the Singapore Zoo, where you can spend the better part of the afternoon. About 6pm, hop over to the Night Safari. Dinner could be at Bongo Burgers, Ulu Ulu Restaurant, or self-packed if you plan on saving some money. There's a good Bornean Tribal Show (fire-eating!) at 7pm, before the Night Safari opens. There are 1,200 animals of over 100 exotic species to watch out for. Strike out on your own along the walking trail or relax in a tram ride - whichever you choose, the Night Safari is a wild adventure not to be missed.
DAY 7: PLACES TO VISIT
- UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE & SENTOSA ISLAND: Spend the first part of day 2 at Universal Studios Singapore. In the late afternoon, you could check out the other fun spots on Sentosa Island: Some links for your reference:
- If you're going to spend the entire day at Universal Studios Singapore - and its surrounding shops/restaurants/night spots) - you could set aside one more day for the other sights on Sentosa Island.
- Must see at Sentosa: Underwater World, The Merlion, Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom Museum, Songs of the Sea (Highly recommended) and relax at the beach
- Singapore Flyer: Nothing fantastic about this 30 min ride. The view may be magnificent but it's rather expensive. It works out to about SGD1 per minute per person.
DAY 8:PLACES TO VISIT
- Singapore Botanic Gardens
- National Museum of Singapore
- Lots of shopping and sight-seeing options in the Marina Bay / city centre area.
- Hotel is walking distance to these shopping areas:
- 2 minutes to Sungei Road Flea Market
- 3 minutes to Sim Lim Square (electronics mega-mall)
- 5 minutes to OG Albert Complex (department store)
- 10 minutes to Bugis Junction & Bugis Village (street bazaar)
- 10 minutes walk to 24-hour Mustafa Centre (for last-minute shopping!)
Advice:
- Stay away from taxis and buses during the early morning rush hours and late evening crawl (5-7.30pm)
- Don’t forget to carry your swimming costume when you visit Sentosa – lovely place to relax
- Singapore is well connected with a very good metro service MRT, so make the best use of it.
DAY 9: MALAYSIA
Take bus from Singapore to Malaysia (SGD 30-40 approx), the bus terminal is just 5 minute walk from the hotel – Afternoon reach Malaysia – You can take the same hotel and shop complete day
DAY 10: KAULA LUMPUR TO HYDERABAD Early morning – take your flight back to Hyderabad.
