Malaysia Advice

[OnMyWay]

51 minutes ago, Sailor Jerry said:

Been flying Air Asia quite a lot of late, I think they are good, unlike Cebu Pacific. I'm a big fella but aisle seat fine. Enjoy your trip!

Good to know!  Last time I was much wider than now, so I think I will be comfortable in the exit row.  I think it was 450 pesos or so, and the regular seats are 250, I think.  Only issue is that I have to sit a few rows away from my family.

[Lee]

We stayed at the Royal Bintang Hotel in KL. About two blocks away was a street that was blocked off to traffic at night and had food vendors from one end to the other. ( This info could be a bit dated so please check)

Getting tickets for the observation level of the Petronas Towers proved to be a scam run by the cabbies parked at street level. We walked away. The bottom floors of the towers is one of the most expensive malls that I have ever walked through.

Batu Cave is always high on people lists of things to see---its often part of a tour where you will be driven around to various shops hopeful that you will buy something (pewter, Batik, etc). If you decide to climb the 200 odd steps up to the top of the cave beware of the monkeys. They steal purses ,glasses, hats ,etc quicker than you can react to them.

[OnMyWay]

2 hours ago, Lee said:

We stayed at the Royal Bintang Hotel in KL. About two blocks away was a street that was blocked off to traffic at night and had food vendors from one end to the other. ( This info could be a bit dated so please check)

We are going to try to stay in an AirBnb close to that eating street, called Jalan Alor.  I would be nice not to worry about finding a place to eat near our place, when needed.  Looks like they have tons of choices!

2 hours ago, Lee said:

Getting tickets for the observation level of the Petronas Towers proved to be a scam run by the cabbies parked at street level. We walked away. The bottom floors of the towers is one of the most expensive malls that I have ever walked through.

Funny you mentioned that as we were just watching to you vloggers walk a long way to get to Petronas, and they were sold out for the day!  You can reserve online.  We plan to use Klook, which also gets a small discount.

2 hours ago, Lee said:

Batu Cave is always high on people lists of things to see---its often part of a tour where you will be driven around to various shops hopeful that you will buy something (pewter, Batik, etc). If you decide to climb the 200 odd steps up to the top of the cave beware of the monkeys. They steal purses ,glasses, hats ,etc quicker than you can react to them.

Yes, my wife really wants to do it.  That will be a real test of my bad hip!  We live with monkeys now and yes, those tourist monkeys are the worst.  I will being a stun gun. 

[hk blues]

On 6/11/2023 at 11:19 AM, OnMyWay said:

 Only issue is that I have to sit a few rows away from my family.

You say that like it's a bad thing! 

[OnMyWay]

On 6/10/2023 at 11:59 AM, OnMyWay said:

Johor Bahru

We scratched Johor Bahru / Legoland.  I think our kids are too old.  Now looking at a couple of days in Ipoh.  Ben der?

After watching some videos, we are excited about Genting Highlands.  I went there in the 90s for a gambling and booze run.  Got off the bus after dark, walked in the smoky casino, won a few bucks, then back to KL at midnight.  Now, it appears that it is quite an impressive place.

Here is a computer to tell you about it.

https://youtu.be/nOMmbuZVwZE

 

[Lee]

Here are a few more ideas. Never been to Ipoh.

Is Kuala Lumpur your next dreamy getaway? Check these spots out (msn.com)

When we did this this trip years ago, we started off in Singapore. Quite a bit to do and see there. We then took a 5 hour train ride north to KL. Nothing much to see along the tracks but miles of palm oil trees but the trip was quite relaxing. Trains were at least to Amtrak standards in the US so not bad.

 

[OnMyWay]

I finally finalized our schedule for Malaysia.  We are excited and hope we can stay healthy this trip.  Appreciate all the advice given here, and we also have been doing deeper research.  Still not done and we leave on the 26th.  Only thing left to do is book AirBnbs in KL and Penang.

On arrival, Express Train to KL Sentral then monorail or LRT to KLCC.  Hoping to stay close to a monorail station or LRT station.

4 nights at AirBnb in KL.  The only holdup with booking AirBnb is choosing the location.  Hard to do with the AirBnB map, as it is approximate.  Have to read all the descriptions and reviews.  I'm not worried because there are literally 1000+ 2 br 2 ba available for less than 3k pesos a night.

Decided on just a day trip to Genting Highlands

1 night at a hotel near KL Sentral where we will begin and end our trip to GH.

Next day, train from KL Sentral to Butterworth, the Penang stop.  Short ferry ride to Georgetown.

5 nights Penang AirBnb.  Still have to choose one for same reasons stated for KL.

From Penang, Air Asia to KUL, arriving 2pm, then our Air Asia flight to Manila is 6 pm.

Any and all ideas are welcome!

[Lee]

You might like this video-----an all day walk in KL.

 

[Freebie]

48 minutes ago, OnMyWay said:

1 night at a hotel near KL Sentral where we will begin and end our trip to GH.

Make sure to walk around Brickfields which is the Indian area nearby KL Sentral.. very interesting area with a lot of history.. some very good Indian food if you look where all the locals are eating...

[Jollygoodfellow]

1 hour ago, OnMyWay said:

4 nights at AirBnb in KL.  The only holdup with booking AirBnb is choosing the location.  Hard to do with the AirBnB map, as it is approximate.  Have to read all the descriptions and reviews.  I'm not worried because there are literally 1000+ 2 br 2 ba available for less than 3k pesos a night.

A couple of years ago for my visa run, I stayed in the Swiss Garden Residences. A few minutes walk to Petaling Street which is where the road is partly closed at night and lots of food. Ate there every night. From there also walked to the Chinatown markets. Also easy walk into the city. The balcony had good views and the fireworks felt like you were in a war zone but great views.

If you drink beer or any alcohol it's expensive and can be found in convenience stores. 

Oh and plenty of choices for transport from the airport, we just went to a booth and they give you a set rate to where you're going. We arrived late at night so the ride was easy but going back the traffic was slow.

Plenty of places to get a Sim card in the airport.

As for Kula Lumpa, clean, nice, modern, and Western style, loved it.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/33737596?source_impression_id=p3_1689412434_MtpfatC6KVbPuL5w