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South East Asia Three Week Trip plus Honeymoon

South East Asia Three Week Trip plus Honeymoon

Old Jul 4th, 2010, 10:59 AM
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South East Asia Three Week Trip plus Honeymoon

Hello!

My soon to be wife and I are planning on visiting South East Asia (namely Malaysia, Singapore and Bali) for a much needed vacation and honeymoon.
We have traveled together to many parts of the world but have yet to explore this region.

Our tentative travel dates are July 20 to August 11, 2010.

At this point of our planning we are looking for suggestions as to the order of the itinerary, places to stay, sites not to be missed, etc.

From research so far, we plan on flying LAX to SIN, and exploring Singapore for a few days (it will be our roundtrip hub).
From here we are open to and seeking itinerary ideas.

We are both avid travelers and love to explore new regions/cultures/foods, but would also like to take time out to celebrate our Honeymoon by relaxing, etc (e.g. probably in Bali overwater bungalow).
Our budget is roughly $5000-7000 for land only (basically in addition to plans on spending $3K for airfare). We would love to see and experience as much as we can without feeling rushed.

Lookg fwd to advice. Thank you all in advance for your help and time!

P.S. We have previously spent a week in overwater bungalows in Le Meridien Bora Bora and found that to be our "practice" honeymoon. In attempt to not go to same place twice (just yet) we selected South East Asia as during our travel times mid July to mid August the weather seems to be favorable. (I have also looked into side tripping to Maldives but it seems it is monsoon season during our travel dates)

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Old Jul 4th, 2010, 01:07 PM
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bali is in high season when you want to go... that is good because of the weather, but nont good because many of the prime hotel situations are long ago spoken for....

i am not aware of any stilt housing in bali....

some of the bigger hotels might be the best place to look at this late date: conrad.... pan pacific (i just stayed there and loved it)--le meridien until april 2010.... four seasons... legian.... sayan (sp)--next door to legian... oberoi...

bali discovery tours might be able to help you with villas...

a terrific guide in bali is putu: www.MyBaliFriend.com



datai on langkawi in malaysia is a super location also....
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Old Jul 4th, 2010, 01:09 PM
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there is a town north of maleka on malaysia's west coast that is famous for stilt housing.... i forget the name but others will chime in with it...
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Old Jul 4th, 2010, 01:23 PM
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Wait - did I read your dates right? you are leaving in two weeks?

I don't believe there are any over-water bungalows in Bali. Bali has ok beaches, but one doesn't go to Bali for the beaches but for the cultural experience. You'll want to spend part of your time at a beach location, and part of your time inland near Ubud. But, as Bob said, many/most of the nicest places were long ago spoken for.

You mentioned the Maldives, and if what you want is the perfect beach, this is a better location for you, though there is no cultural experience to be had there.

You've started your research quite late, but take a look at some other options. If you have airfare in and out of SIngapore, consider Malaysian Borneo. There are some nice beaches, but there are opportunities for wildlife viewing (including orangutans) that are unique. One could easily spend three weeks in Sabah and Sarawak.

For peninsular Malaysia, consider the Georgetown area of Penang for a maybe five days, then Langkawi for beach would be a nice combination.

Or perhaps you'd like to go farther afield. What about Sri Lanka? (easy air connection through Singapore) Incredible beaches, amazing cultural experiences, and wonderful pampering at tea estates.

If Sri Lanka, Borneo or Penang sound interesting, click on my name and look at my trip reports. Photos are at www.marlandc.com
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Old Jul 4th, 2010, 02:11 PM
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Thanks for the advice so far.

I know its very "last minute" but we could not have booked previously due to our wedding planning etc.

I dont mind fact that Bali does not have overwater bungalows -- was mentioning that to see if you guys recommend any other locations in region have that type of thing (as you have mentioned).

We would love to experience the culture in Bali so Ubud the best location for that? Which parts of Bali are best for the Balinese beach experience?

I have researched Borneo before too and that does seem like the place we will have to make part of our itinerary.

Whats the best/most realistic timeline for our trip? (i.e. arrive to SIN, spend three days here, then fly to Kuala Lumpur, # of days, then Penang? ... etc. etc.

Again, thanks to all the responses.

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Old Jul 4th, 2010, 02:28 PM
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In Bali, you'll likely want part of your time at a beach town (not a sterile tourist enclave like Nusa Dua) and part of your time near Ubud. For a beach town, I like Sanur. I'd allocate at week for Bali, but you could certainly add a day or two.

As far as elsewhere in the region, if you want to include Borneo, you'll want a minimum of a week if you just want to visit Sabah. I highly recommend the Borneo Rainforest Lodge - staying in the primary rainforest is an incredible experience. You'll want three or four nights there, and you have to spend a night in Kota Kinabalu on your way in and out. You could spend all the rest of your time in Sabah and Sarawak, then fly back to Singapore for your flight home.

You could spend just a week in Sabah and add one more destination. If you opt for this, I'd suggest the Georgetown area of Penang. I wouldn't include KL - it doesn't have nearly as much to offer as Singapore.

So your itinerary might look something like this:
3 days in Singapore
7 days in Bali, divided between beach and inland (fly to SIN then on to KK)
7 days Sabah - overnight in Kota Kinabalu, then fly to Lahad Datu for the Borneo Rainforest Lodge, 4 nights there, then 2 nights in Kota Kinabalu
Fly through Singapore to Penang or through KL to Penang (which ever connection time is better) and spend 4 nights there.
Fly back to Singapore and spend a night there before your flight back to LAX.
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Old Jul 4th, 2010, 05:46 PM
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For Bali, I'd suggest you just start sending out emails to see what's available. As others have pointed out, this month and next are going to be very busy in Bali.

Some places I'd suggest would be
Beach: The Legian (in Seminyak), Amankila (eastcoast), Four Seasons (Jimbaran)
Ubud: Como Shambhala, Kayu Manis

I like Seminyak beach because it's lively and is accessible to good restaurants and shops. The Legian is my favorite resort and I also like the Samaya.

There are lots of villas in the area (not on the beach but within walking distance) which would be fun for a honeymoon. This website will give you an idea:
http://www.allseminyakvillas.com/

You might also want to consider a stop in Central Java -- Borobudur and Yogyakarta. If you do this go at the early part of your trip before the start of Ramadhan. The Aman resorts offer a combination of the Amanjiwo at Borobudur and Amankila in East Bali. There are also Amans in Ubud and Nusa Dua, but I think there are better choices in Ubud and at the beach.

Lastly, you might consider Lombok for the beach portion of your travels. I haven't been to the Qunci but it's generally well liked. The Oberoi is very nice.
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Old Jul 4th, 2010, 08:58 PM
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Bali's attractions are not necessarily the beaches but the Balinese Hindu culture, and Ubud is really the best place to experience it. There are nightly dance and gamelan performances in small open-air venues, many temples and beautiful scenery, and Ubud life is much more the traditional culture that people here live every day. As Ubud hotels do book up quickly, (they are all boutique hotels, there are no "hallway" hotels with a hundred rooms here) you should make your reservations right away. Do try sites like Bali Discovery or email hotels you like to see if they have any openings. There are a lot of hotels that are wonderful but lesser known. You don't need to book any drivers in advance, there are many many good drivers in Bali and can be hired after meeting in person. I have met a lot of people who say they travel quite a bit in South East Asia but when they get to Ubud they really have found what they were looking for. For beaches, you might try the Oberoi or Legion area, or even Sanur. Definitely avoid Kuta.
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 12:18 PM
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Thanks again for all the info!

I see that our "honeymoon" portion of trip will have to not be in Bali as I first anticipated since you guys mentioned that beaches of Malaysia are better. Any suggestions on beach places in Malaysia for us?

Also, as first time travelers to this region do you recommend we try to book a tour company for some of our travels or can we just book everything ourselves and get around easily.

Thanks!
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 12:46 PM
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bruin---honeymoon planning is part of the wedding planninf, no??
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 12:56 PM
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No need for a tour company. Once you know where you want to go, booking hotels and transport is easy. The major pitfall in planning is trying to squeeze too much into your trip.
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 05:39 PM
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bruin, I wouldn't eliminate Bali so fast, especially with Malaysia as the alternative. Bali has many fabulous, honeymoon appropriate resorts -- both on the beach and inland in the Ubud area. The beaches are not pristine (powdery white sand and clear turquoise waters they are not)but they are long, sandy, lively with great waves and great sunsets.

To me the appeal of Bali is twofold: 1. the sophistication of the beach areas -- resorts, shopping, restaurants and 2. the accessibility of the profound natural beauty and fascinating culture of inland areas. It's really a multifaceted holiday in a small geographic area. I don't know of any other place where you can enjoy so much diversity of experience without flying from place to place.

It may be that August just isn't the right time for Bali planning, but if I were you I'd look at some combination of Singapore/Java/Bali/Lombok and relax and enjoy your honeymoon.

You won't need a tour Southeast Asia, though a day or two spent with a guide in Bali or Java is a positive. You seem to have a lot going on in your life right now and don't need to overcomplicate your travel plans. The resorts themselves can do a lot to help facilitate your itinerary, but the key is to settle in on a resort and have a reservation in hand. From there you can expand.

rhk, is the resort on the Westcoast of Malaysia that you were trying to remember Pangkor Laut? I haven't been there but it's always looked appealing.

http://www.pangkorlautresort.com/
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 07:08 PM
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that is indeed the place... thanks
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Old Jul 5th, 2010, 07:48 PM
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I would start with seeing what's available in Bali and then plan the rest of the places around it. Over a decade ago, I did Bali in December, the rainy season, and had my reservations done more than 6 months in advance. My best friend used to go there often and also reserved months in advance and she only travels during the low season, as she detests crowds.

BUT, there's still hope. I think you should call Escapes Unlimited at (714)771-3154 or (800) 243-7227. They're down in Orange County, but my best friend, who lives in The Valley, used them for years as her primary agency for Bali. They are the nation's leading authority on Bali. Ask for Roe and see if she's still there. I've heard that she's great. My best friend used her for years and might still be using the agency. I hope they haven't folded in this awful recession.

As for Singapore and Malaysia, three days will be great in Singapore and to fly from Singapore to Kuala Lumper takes only 45 minutes. I don't know how long it takes to get to Penang though. I spent around 2 nights and 3 days in Kuala Lumpur I think it was. I flew up from Singapore to do some shopping and then flew back to Singapore and home to L.A. on that trip. I was gone for a week total. But, I've been in Singapore a lot over the last 12 years.

Have a great trip and honeymoon, from one Bruin alumni to another! Happy Travels!
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Old Jul 6th, 2010, 07:44 AM
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Having been to the Maldives twice and 3 different resorts I can see why no one is really supporting that destination. I would not think it best either. It can be super expensive and is a Zero for culture, a 9-10 for relaxation at most resorts, a 5-8 at many for snorkeling and diving and and 8-10 for beaches.
Katie's itinerary is a good one but having been to Singapore 6-8 times over the years for business and just 3 months ago for pleasure I think 2 full days might be sufficient. After visiting Little India, possibly the zoo and/or the beautiful botanical gardens,maybe the new 2 casinos(just for their phenominal design artistry) and staying at Raffles and eating at there fabulous chinese restaurant I think you will have had a fair representation of Singapore.
To add another bit of diversity and to take the wisdom of marmot's knowledge and my 3 visits to Bali I personally think 4 full days in Bali is sufficient in order to get 3 days in Central Java. If you want exploring more than relaxing then I would stay in Bali 4 days. I am NOT a fan of the Aman resorts as some on this Forum are aware. My reasons are I find them too sterile and almost like a monestery in their silence near $1000/day with service/tax. I still love the Four Seasons-Sayan in a Deluxe Room ar 2/3rds the price and find the breakfasts and lunches thre consistently better. Also considering you will be out of your room 8+ hours a day exploring and sleeping 8-9 hours a day you have little time to use the facilities but having the babbling river behing your room at the FS-Sayan we think is heaven. Our resident expert marmot's suggestion of using those 3 days to visit Central Java is a great idea.Katie might even support it considering it is only a i hour flight from Bali. It is in many respects different than Bali. They both helped me on our recent 4.5 day stay based in Jogjakarta. Because we were out exploring 9-10 hours a day we also took a pass on the Aman there and stayed on the Club Floor of the Grand Hyatt for $>$300/night in a loveely comfortable room. You could spend 1 day visiting the two main temples including Bobodurur and the local villages around Bobodurur, just facinatinf, one day going out to Dieng Plateau-simply breathtaking scenery for the last portion ofthe trip out there and come back a different route and the third day visit a true batik making and leather making village as well as the Sultan's Palace, especially if you are there on a Sat. or Sunday for the 11 AM special performances.. If either one of you wear eyeglasses in the main shopping center in Jogja on the main floor there are 4 optical shops with very high end genuine eyeglass frames at 1.3 US prices. I putchaes a pair of S.Dupont (a top French designer) frames for$320 that cost $1250 in the US. Tiffany frames had the same price differential. Just a thought but I took them home to have the lenses made in the US. We used a terrific guide, Rachmad, in Jogja and though he was $25/day more than most of the other guides he made our trip. He can be contacted through a firm [email protected] You can use my name, He actually can get you a lower rate at the Hyatt and coordinates with a firm i Bali for first rate guides there. We have sent 2 couples through him and they both found Rachmad as the best guide they ever had.
Lastly on a $5-7,000 budget the Aman resorts are nor really in the cards. Even Raffles, that I suggested, may not be but for 2 nights on a pre-pay rate it might work.
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Old Jul 6th, 2010, 07:46 AM
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The email is [email protected]
Sorry.
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Old Jul 6th, 2010, 11:25 AM
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Did you notice Cicerone's reply on this thread? Look especially at her #6, as it gives some good ideas for a beach trip from Singapore.
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...e-380732-2.cfm
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Old Jul 6th, 2010, 01:37 PM
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Wow .. thank you all again for the overwhelming response to the thread.

I think I have enough info on Bali and Singapore -- Have started the booking process to get these locations settled since our trip cannot be more last minute.

Any specific recommendations for Malaysia? I see that we do not need to spend more than a few days in KL. I really do think Penang area is not to miss so we gotta work that into the itinerary. This itinerary from Kathie seems great too ...
"7 days Sabah - overnight in Kota Kinabalu, then fly to Lahad Datu for the Borneo Rainforest Lodge, 4 nights there, then 2 nights in Kota Kinabalu". Should I just use this as my blueprint for Malaysia?

Thanks again.
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Old Jul 6th, 2010, 02:03 PM
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Happy Travels!
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Old Jul 7th, 2010, 03:20 AM
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Personally,I think Katie's Sabah itineray has you spending too much time traveling and not enough time enjoying if you want to go to penang. Penang is more commercialized but with 4 days in the Rainforest lodge that may not be so bad. It is a shame you will miss the people of Central Java but you can put that destination on your list for your next trip to combine with the Redang islands that are a snorkeler's and divers paradise.Though you do not know me 2 full days/3nights in Singapore is enough and add the extra time to any of the other stops except Borneo because 4 days there is appropriate. ENJOY and much success in your married life together.
Enjoy.
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