Where in Malaysia? I have hopes to someday make it to Georgetown. Folks here on fodors who have been to KL have some rather mixed reviews.

You're missing my favorite city... Bangkok! I'll be there (and on a beach for a few days) for 3 weeks over the holidays.

DH and I have been through Taipei airport and have both said we would like to return and spend time, but that has not happened yet!!

Singapore is lovely!! I stayed at the Intercontinental, but I doubt you are wanting something that expensive. SIN is great for walking around. I also enjoyed the hop on hop off bus!

in KL Most of the budget style accommodation we found was around Little India and Chinatown. www.hostelworld.com is a good place to source budget accommodation and covers small hotels and B&Bs as well as hostels. The reviews are a lot more accurate and genuine than TA. LI and Chinatown are the best places to sample the hugely varied region cuisines and street food.

KL is a great city to spend Xmas as there is usually a lot going on see http://www.frommers.com/destinations/kualalumpur/ for some ideas. There is a huge amount to see and do, you just have to work a little harder than in some capital cities. Given that it wil be Xmas, you may want to consider splashing out on a gala buffet at one of the top hotels. The mandarin oriental and the Shangri la are good places to push the boat out. A side trip to Melaka is worth considering, or maybe even Penang which has some great colonial architected true and surely the best street food in Asia.

I confess that Singapore is not one of my favourite cities so can't really help there except to say that the botanical gardens are worth a look.

Thank you so much simpsonc510 and crellston
Because of the mixed reviews I’ve been reading I appreciate first hand responses based on your experiences while considering our style of travel. crellston I think your suggestion for Christmas dinner is an excellent one! I’ll have to through something dressy into the backpack.
We are on a short winter holiday so Bangkok did not make it into this itinerary but I have it at the very top of my list. Glad to know Singapore is a good walking city and I think the hop on and off bus will be great fun.
I did a little search on hostels.com but will visit hostelworld as well to expand our options. The suggested side trips sound great and I hope Singapore surprises me because it’s not high on my want to see list. It just happens to be part of this flight itinerary we were offered.
Thanks again for your help and if something else comes to mind, please leave it here for us.
Chapincita

You can go around Singapore for at least 2 days, 3 days maximum. You can visit Universal Studios Singapore, Sentosa, Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, National Museum of Singapore, Marina Bay Sands, Jurong Bird Park, Esplanade Theatre, Marina Bay, Merlion Park, and the Singapore Flyer.

Wow Christian,
This is quite a list to ponder! I am getting more excited about Singapore the more I hear from you guys. Thank you so much!

Warm greetings Chapincita and congrats in advance for spending part of your holiday in our fine home of Singapore; special place.

Much to convey to you regarding SIN, but a bit rushed on this early Hong Kong morning. So, in the interim, one area I'll guide you to is : www.yoursingapore.com/ With judicious research and planning, a Singapore holiday does not have to break your cheque book. (However, should you fall into a timely lottery winning or inheritance, will give highest promotion to the Four Seasons hotel. Before procuring a property in Singapore, the FS was my primary SIN business travel hotel; wonderful staff and friends.)

Sounds as though your flights are sorted; if not, pleased to offer counsel concerning that wondrous Singapore Airlines. (And business class on SilkAir; great flights, Singapore - Phuket, return, not too many weekends back.) Concerning air travel, do allow time for one of my regular Singapore locales, Changi; my current favourite airport for work and the occasional, brief holiday.

Singapore over the New Year holiday is great fun. With proper positioning, spectacular fireworks displays. We're looking forward to the forthcoming edition.

Savour your planning and have fun in SIN. I look forward to eventually returning home to Singapore in ~ 10 days time. Warm morning wishes to you and all,

macintosh (robert)


... Singapore Airlines, You're a Great Way to Fly ...

No biggie, Chapincita. If you have more questions about Singapore, let us know. Enjoy your trip!

I feel quite ready to visit Singapore now that I've had such wonderful help from all of you. Honestly all I had ever heard about Singapore is how much of a shoppers paradise it is. Well, not being much of a shopper and one trying to master the minimalist art of living, I was not very keen on SIN. Thanks for the change of attitude you've given me. macintosh (robert), your warmth and love of country are inspiring. Thanks for taking the time to write while on travel and I hope to hear more from you once you return home. I will occupy my time reading up on the resources you provided.

If you haven't sorted your hotel in Singapore yet, I recommend Peranakan Inn in east Singapore (Katong/Joo Chiat). It's closer to the airport than Orchard Road and has a lot more character.

The area is home to the Peranakan culture, with many old shophouses still intact. It is possibly the one of last places in Singapore where the old shophouses are refurbished instead of being torn down to make place for mega malls. But there are still lovely trinkets to be found and purchased in this area, so if you're looking to shop, there's nothing to worry about.

I recommend taking a train from Malaysia to Singapore, even though it is a much longer journey than a coach. The route is scenic, and the contrast between hilly, forested Malaysia and urban jungle Singapore is quite stark.

preetkaur, Thanks for your suggestions. We'll check out the hotel and I thin the train from Malaysia to Singapore sounds like a lovely idea.
Thanks!