Malaysia begining of October

Hi,

I need some itinerary advise, I will be arriving in to Singapore 28th of September and after 3 nights am moving on to Malaysia. I am looking for advise as to where to go.

The 1st option I am thinking of is 3 nights KL, 2 nights Malacca and back to Singapore to chill out on a beach for 2 nights.

The 2nd option is to travel to Tioman and have 6 nights there. But I have heard various reports about sandflies and jellyfish so didnt know how good an option this is? Is 6 nights too long?

I know these are both very different options but I dont want to travel too far as I am only in Malaysia for 6 nights and I didnt know about the weather in either of them? If you have anyother suggestions I%26#39;d love to hear them. I%26#39;ve read LP and I still cant make a decision!

I am travelling on a budget and staying in hostels. Any hostel suggestions for Tioman and Melaka? I know that the beaches in Singapore aren%26#39;t fantastic and thats fine. This maybe a daft question but will the weather be good enough to sunbathe in Tioman and Singapore? Any other advise is greatly recieved!

Thanks

Malaysia begining of October

Hi Julie,

If you have not been to Malaysia before, KL and Melaka are closest attractions to Singapore. KL has some contrasts (not as clean and totally unorganised) and similarities (colonial buildings and multiracial society) with Singapore which is worth a visit and there may be some cheap shopping too.

Melaka is historic and birth place of Malaysia and has close root with Singapore. Many people who are less into museums and old buildings (some dilapidated) will not stay longer than 1 night in Melaka. However, if you can stay during weekend, between Friday to Sunday, the night bazaar has great ambiance.

Tioman used to be an excellent island but over development in Berjaya Resort area and porr maintenance makes 6 nights too long to stay.

Use hostelworld.com to check and view reviews.

Malaysia begining of October

Thanks Alex,

Would you suggest that if i decide to do a bit of beach that I go further up to Cherating? Hostelworld unfortunately doesnt really have much on Melaka and Tioman - guess I%26#39;ll just wing it when I%26#39;m there!

Julia,

Since you鈥檙e looking for hostel type accommodation, maybe you could consider the Perhentians Islands for your beach break. Much nicer beaches and ocean than Tioman, a more chilled out - less developed feeling and all the accommodations on the two islands are, well not hostel, but budget type accommodations, cheap 鈥榥鈥?cheerful.

Getting to the islands are quite easy too with a coach from KL. I can鈥檛 remember the exact time it takes and costs, but roughly about RM30 and takes around 8 hours or so. Or you can (I think) also take a bus from Kota Baru (that鈥檚 the closest city to the Perhentian islands) to Johor Baru which is just over the causeway from Singapore. At a guess I think this would be about a 10-12hr journey and cost around RM50. Maybe you can even take the bus from direct from Malacca to Kota Baru? Not sure about that one, maybe Alex could tell you that. But if you could do Malacca to Kota Baru and then Kota Baru back to KL it would save you going both journeys via KL and crossing your own tracks.

Some of the busses start and end in Kota Baru, and others at Kuala Besut which is the jumping off point for the Perhentians. Either bus really is fine, just one is slightly closer to the ferry. Kota Baru is okay for one night, though wouldn鈥檛 recommend you stay too long there. It鈥檚 the heart of the conservative Muslim part of Malaysia, and as such, not very cosmopolitan.

The east coast of peninsular Malaysia gets a proper monsoon season, but unless you鈥檙e very unlucky I think the end of September should be a good time to go. Although it鈥檚 not written in stone, the monsoon usually doesn鈥檛 kick in until late October or early November.

Thanks but as I%26#39;m only in Malaysia for 6 nights and 10/11 hours on a bus each way is too much. Any other suggestions are welcome! I%26#39;m not looking for perfect beaches just somewhere to chill out for a few days.

Hi Julia,

I suggest you can do KL, Melaka or Tioman, dropping one of them to avoid moving between hostels or do them all. Melaka can be done with just one night or Tioman could be done with two nights. Otherwise, skip KL and do Melaka and Tioman.

You can go from Singapore to Melaka first (west coast town 2.5 hours south of KL) or Mersing (east coast town to Tioman) or even straight to KL (5.5 hours) first before travelling southbound back to Singapore.

Buses between Mersing and Melaka and Singapore run for about 3 hours.

www.journeymalaysia.com/ptasingmersing.htm

http://www.journeymalaysia.com/ptamersing.htm

The following site has more hostels in Melaka:

www.hostelz.com/hostels/Malaysia/Melaka.

Kancil House looks quite good in the inside with chill out garden and the location is not bad.

Sama Sama is most central in china town. However, it looks quirky from outside as I always only pass by. It is however a good place to chill with other travellers.

I hesitate to recommend Eastern Heritage as some have claimed it is not too clean. Otherwise, it has unique exterior and interior with friendly staff which people have told me.

Fenix Inn is very clean albeit a small budget hotel close to historic sites.

Twenty is the new guesthouse in China town, nice and clean although not that cheap as I have just visited it which belongs to a friend.

Try to stay in Melaka between Friday to Sunday as the night bazaar has great ambiance. Quite a few pubs have bands in China Town during the night bazaar which is my favorite in Malaysia.

There is hardly any hostels in Tioman. As suggested Perhentian or Cherating are probably the better options for budget stay. You can take a night bus between Singapore or Melaka to Kota Bahru or Kuantan.

http://www.journeymalaysia.com/ptamelaka.htm

pinganchorage.com.my/鈥ioman_island

Please do not hesitate to ask more questions.

pimple treatment