janeyb61

Hi
I am flying to Singapore to see my parents who work over there, in June. I want to see them for a few days, and then find a lovely secluded beach somewhere close by to properly chill out. ( with Husband and NO parents!) Dont mind flying, bussing, or boating,and it would be for around a week. I have read a bit about Tioman Island which sounds lovely, but I cant get a lot of info on it.
If anyone could give me any info, that would be great!!
Jane

LeighTravelClub

Take a look at Bintan. VERY nice. I have loads of first hand info, if it appeals to you.

Kathie

Leigh, you're the only person I've heard say that Bintan was amazing. Mostly I hear that the accommodations are nice and the beach is mediocre.

If it were me (and obviously, it isn't) I'd opt for Bali if I want beach and culture or I'd opt for somewhere along the east coast of Malaysia if I just wanted beach. For instance, there are non-stop flights from Singapore to Kuantan. And of course, there are non-stop flights from SIngapore to Bali.

Lindsey

Langkawi is an easy one hour flight from Singapore and has some lovely beaches and a wide range of accommodation. None of the cultural stuff you find in Bali, but much closer to Singapore.

If you are looking for a really upmarket beach resort, Tioman is not the best choice....it's all about the diving and the hotels are 3 star at best.

clonard

I wqould recommend Bali the Conrad Bali Hotel Nusa Dua as good a chill out that you can get

JamesA

The options you have for a 'secluded' beach place could be some of the quieter places on Langkawi but June is not the best month, but as Lindsey says if you don't need culture but just quiet and relaxing it's a big possible, though check on the weather, normaly some areas around krabi would be an idea but again, June is not a great time weatherwise. So you can get some idea of travel time this gives you a rough idea of flights times:

Langkawi : 1 hr 10
Krabi : 1 hr 30-40
Bali: 2 hr 30
Koh Samui: 1 hr 40-50
( Koh Samui weatherwise would be ok and although busy you can find some quiet places, the big downside though is that the fares are expensive.
If you go to Yahoo Malayisa and search for Tioman on Malaysia to do your search you will find plenty of Malayisan websites that don't get in to the normal .com results
http://malaysia.yahoo.com/
There are others along the East Coast of Malaysia.

If it realy is just to chill out on a beach without nightlife/shopping etc then Langkawi is quiet ( but great place to get a rental and drive around, so easy ), if you want more culture and sights then perhaps Bali.

You have not mentioned budget as that could play a big part in choosing where to go, if you were on a budget then perhaps those places served by the budget airlines out of Singapore may increase in attraction due to the cheapness of the flights.

janeyb61

Hi JamesA
You said that June is not a great time to go. We could go any time between May & September, would any of those months be better perhaps?
You gave me some good info last year on Krabi and ended up having a fab honeymoon!
I have just lookes up Batan in Indonesia which looks quite good, but maybe a bit on the commercial side. Do you have any thoughts?
Thanks again

LeighTravelClub

Kathie, janey asked for a lovley secluded beach,to chill out,and close to Singapore. Bintan fits the bill....I know...I've been there!
I didn't say it was amazing(only Phi Phi gets that rating,as you know),but for a chillout location, convenient to Singapore, then Bintan is a very nice option. VERY nice accommodations and above average beaches.
Tioman Island is another new temptation for me after this post. Don't know anything about it, but just a few minutes research has got me very interested.
If you do go there janey, please post a report.

bobbomper

Hi,

Try this link to the Perhentian Islands of the east coast of Malaysia...pretty special place

http://www.travellingbazaar.com/perhentian%201.html

Bob

janeyb61

Leigh, could you recommend anywhere to stay on Bintan? I would love somehere that is mid range and not too back packy!
Bob, Tuna Bay looks ace! I am going to investigate further. Could you tell me if there is any good accommodation on this island.
I love the way that both of these islands seem to be off the tourist radar ****
thanks!!

JamesA

Janey, as you know Krabi and enjoyed that helps. Lankawi is way well quieter and although a very relaxing island is 'just that', I can't say september would be any better than June, and around that area July / August high chance of rain, if it was earlier May then just as good/better than another time, how 'laid back/cill out' do you want? Is quiet beach place with some seafood over a fire near the beach and some cold beers enough (?) are are you looking for luxy again like Nakamanda ?
Krabi is one of those places you can get a cheap budget flights from Singapore, you could then for a change head down from there and take a boat across to Koh Lipe, or if you want perhaps better accommodation Koh Ngai, these are real 'laid back' places but if you really mean the chill-out factor then could be nice, the Sivalai on Koh Mook is luxury, top level beachfront bungalow at Charlie's about USD 58 a night, simple a/c accommodation, you can do some diving but evenings are food and then beers around the bar, that's it.
You have to time travel as last boats leave about mid-day. This is only just north from langkawi so in fact you can get there via Langkawi too but you have to get the first boat from Langkawi ( you save 1 hour on time change ) or even overnight near the pier, another option could be if you wanted to go to langkawi and then take the boat ( 1.5 hrs ) to Saturn and road to the Amari Trang beach Resort, lovely coastline, mainland and not island, now that is an expensive resort but it could give you the chance to see Langkawi plus Trang area of Thailand, or, fly up to Krabi and then road down to Trang.
Weatherwise 'if' yopu could handle the Singapore-Koh Samui flight you can find a quiet area of Samui and the weather should be ok.
I don't know the Eastern side malaysia peninsular so I will let someone else come in there.
Then of course you have Bali, and that you could split between beach and a few days in Ubud.

JamesA

janey, I have topped a few messages, you will notice them easily, already answers many points and I think you will find them interesting.

janeyb61

thanks JamesA. I will go and investigate all........

JamesA

Lindsey can probably add some ideas for you.

LeighTravelClub

janey,we stayed at Banyan Tree. No complaints but maybe a bit pricey.
Club Med Ria Bintan is highly regarded by many.

bobbomper

hi Janeyb,

Tuna Bay is a good resort. 5 nights in an AC hut, all meals (goood meals!), drinks snorkel trip...and, and and, for about 150€ per person.

Bob

janeyb61

ok, after a week of scouring the net and travelling in my mind to Bali and Koh Mook, I have eventually decided on The Perhentian Islands, and Tuna Bay. Looks beautiful, its cheap and seems very very chilled out.
Thanks again to everyone who gave me great advise
jane

bobbomper

Have fun!

Bob