First visit to' the East 'suggestions please

Always had a desire to go from Scotland to %26#39;somewhere in the East%26#39; and have never been beyond Cyprus in that direction.

First two weeks in April, we would like a mix of sightseeing and relaxation while just enjoying the experience of a new country.

It probably won%26#39;t be an adventurous, off-the- beaten track holiday and we don%26#39;t want too many safety or health issues for a first time.

Singapore and/or Malaysia has always appealed but we don%26#39;t want lots of rain, and one tripadvisor member reported days of rain this year at the beginning of April [mind you, we were freezing in Washington DC at that time while Scotland was bathed in warm sun]

Hong Kong is another consideration, as is multi-destination travel.

Shanhai, Beijing?

Couple in 50s, looking for sights, ambience, not cold or rain and preferably some sun! A tall order?

We are open to any ideas you can give.

Thanks

First visit to' the East 'suggestions please

Hi

Rain at Singapore/Malaysia are intermitent and the rain here are WARM,most european really enjoy the WARM rain at Singapore/Malaysia unlike your cold and chilly rain over there

First visit to' the East 'suggestions please

A Dundonian! I spent 6 years there and know how gloomy and wet it can be! For sight and ambience, pick a week in Thailand and a week in Malaysia. Singapore and HK can be expensive. China is just full of people! You will get some rain in April in M%26#39;sia but it is not like wet, wet, wet all the time.

Hi RFB

I am not sure which area the aforementioned TA member had reported days of rain but March and April is not generally a rainny season in East and West Malaysia.

However, with reports of changing climate around the world, there is no more obvious seasonal change. The east coast of peninsula Malaysia may have tail-end Monsoon rain but west coast of Malaysia (except Langkawi in Sept - October) has no obvious rainny season.

KL may have continous rainny days but often characterised by warm day (3pm onsward) and afternoon thundred storm (due to rain forest condensation). Rain usually comes fast and thick and within an hour or so, the rain stops and the rest of the day heat and humidity comes back.

I am not sure of Singapore%26#39;s climate trend as I just move here for a month but in a way, it does rain every day, sometimes morning and afternoon. My visiting friend has found the rain inconvenient for touring the city in a short stay. However, just use an umberalla and there are many place with sufficient roof cover.

The rain in tropical countries like Singapore and Malaysia is not the same as UK where I lived for several years. It is often welcoming as it cools thing off a bit. However, during the day the temperature during rain or after rarely dip below 28 degree.

Singapore / Malaysia or Thailand is a popular multi stop route. Hong Kong is good to combine with China destinations. Or even as a final stop from Singapore/ Malaysia as there are budget airlines serving the route at low prices such as Tiger Airways or Air Asia (Macau).

While not a Dundonian we have lived here 17 years and it%26#39;s really a goodplace to live-if only the sea was warm enough for swimming!

Thank you for your frank answer and for taking the time to reply.

When you become familiar with one area, you tend to go back. We have just taken our 27 and 19 yr olds to the USA as we are familiar wih East and west Coasts.

It will be fine when we%26#39;ve made the choice and booked up, early, as we alwas do, now for next April. Having been so so cold this in DC this year, we did not really get time to relax as we walked and walked between visiting museums. We could probably do with hotels with pools [ inside or both] in case of inclement weather.

We will look carefully at your comments and then it%26#39;s searching the best flight and hotel options-we might get back to you for that if you don%26#39;t mind.

Hello up north to Dundee

Singapore and Malaysia for two weeks is very do-able and perhaps a great way to start is to visit their tourism sites :

www.visitsingapore.com

http://malaysia.travel/consumer/

Singapore is Asian-lite (and this is coming from a born and bred Singaporean). You can experience the gamut of Malay, Chinese and Tamil cultures in a handy little package. Transport system, health, safety and cleanliness is top notch and everything is in English.

Because of that, I would recommend starting off with Singapore (just to get use to the climes, heat, food, get over jet lag) before embarking for a full adventure in Malaysia. Perhaps a luxury Orient Express from Singapore ? Would also recommend a beach holiday in a Langkawi resort (the beaches in Singapore are man-made and not as good).

Malaysia will definitely be cheaper than Singapore but then coming from Dundee, the exchange rate is in your favour and you will still get a bargain.

Weather-wise, the rain here is unlike the ones we get in UK. Sure there are downpours but they tend to be of short duration (unlike the cold, all-day affairs we have here). Usually the rains come after a hot, humid spell so when it does rain, it will be a relief from the heat!

Plenty of sun for sunbathing, worry not.

RFB212

It is so hot and humid in April that you willbe praying for rain!

We visited Thailand in April a few years ago and it was unbearably hot (I think it is the hottest time of year). We visited Malaysia this April and it was again very hot and humid (upper 30s C) but the short spells of rain really cooled things down. The rain only came in short bursts and not every day. So it was very welcome.

For a first time to SE Asia I would recommend Thailand because the temples and palaces in Bangkok are spectacular.

Having said that we had a near-perfect holiday in Malaysia. The beaches in Langkawi are as good as any in Thailand. Penang offered an interesting change of scenery with a colonial and Chinese accent. KL was enjoyable in its own way, although best described as oil money poured into shopping malls.

Unless you particularly like airports and flying, I would suggest you stick to one country - Thailand or Malaysia. If you try to cover HK or China as well you will be forever catching flight connections.

Thank you very much for your comments. They have all been very helpful in our planning.

Both Thailand and Malaysia are fantastic great beaches and good sight seeing.

We went to Thailand a few years ago in April never had a drop of rain and it never dropped below 36C very humid.

Bangkok is well worth a visit with plenty to see I would definitely book a day trip to the floating markets, also if you book a hotel in Bangkok try and get a room with a view over the Chao Phraya River you will not be disappointed with all the action that goes on up and down the river. Phuket is also fantastic the beaches fab and all accomodation well in front of anything you get in Europe.

Elephant ride and monkey school also a must do.

We also went to Penang in April a couple of years ago again very warm but most afternoons did get a heavy rain shower for about an hour, and often got rain at night. This did not spoil our holiday in any way.

Thai and Malaysian people are extremely friendly people and go out of their way to help the first time we went our two girls were only 7%26amp;10 years old and we got looked after like royalty.

Would also book with someone like Kuoni or Tradewinds who use Thai International and Mayasian Airlines B747 too far to go and a lot longer flight if you go with someone like Thomson.

Go East and you will never want to go to Europe again.

Never had any worries over health and safety not one of us have even had the runs.

fish