We're leaving for Malaysia and Singapore June 1st and have several days free. I'm having a hard time deciding among these three resorts: Tanjong Jara, Pangkor Laut, and the Datai. I'm looking for lovely accomodations that are truly special, a gorgeous swimming beach and clear blue waters, and a place that has attention to detail more than over the top luxury. Which one would you suggest? They all sound great and look beautiful on the website, and are all very costly. I just want to make sure I'm getting what I pay for. Thanks for helping me decide!

(And if there are better choices please let me know!)

Teresa

Choose Pangkor Laut.

PL is nearer to KLIA, 2-3 hrs ride to jetty in Lumut. For Tanjung Jara, you'll either have to spend more for connecting flight to the east coast Kuala Terengganu or endure a 6-7 hrs back-breaking taxi ride. Datai isn't particularly outstanding considering there are many resorts in Malaysia that are set up like Datai. Further more, my humble opinion, Datai's supplementary services, taxis and tours are overpriced. Two hrs guided nature walk cost RM120 per pax and that's done in the backyard of Datai! Else where in Msia, a good informative nature tour guided by English speaking naturalist cost only RM280 per pax for 8 hrs, one meal inclusive.

Enjoy yourself.

IMO you won’t find a gorgeous swimming beach or clear blue water at the Datai. The island is a former tin mining island. It just doesn’t have the white sand and blue water you want. There are many mangrove swamps as well, beautiful if their own way, but perhaps not what you expected. The Pankor Lau may be a bit better, in early June however you may have more rain than you bargained for on that side of Malaysia, take a look at weatherbase.com. From KL, that resort may be a bit easier to get to.

In June, the west coast of Malaysia has generally superb dry weather and is the right time for the nesting of giant leatherback turtles (I understand it is very very rare to see them nowadays but perhaps you would be very lucky). The beaches are very beautiful and you can take boat trips out to little deserted islands for snorkeling and diving, or drive along the coast and just pick a beach or visit a fishing village. I do think that the beach at Tanjong Jara is perhaps not as beautiful as on some of the desert islands out in the sea nearby, but it is still a very pretty wide sandy beach, and the hotel is so lovely as well and has several good pools. The drive from Kuala Terranganu is quite quick. I don’t know how to answer the “attention to detail” part of your question vis a vis any of the hotels, the Datai probably would rank first actually, but last in terms of a good beach, so what can you do. You could also consider Koh Samui in Thailand, this may be harder to get to from KL. (If you want a gorgeous beach but no luxury, go to Rawa Island, see rawafr.com. You have to want much more basic accommodation, however. Lots of people don’t.)

From either KL or Singapore you can fly very easily to the Maldives, it’s only about 4 hours. However, it is the rainy season there now, so bear that in mind, but prices will be lower which is one good thing. It’s still stunningly gorgeous even in the rain I have to say (I was just there for work about 2 weeks ago and it was still beautiful in the afternoon thunderstorms). If you aren’t into serious diving or snorkeling the rain may not seriously bother you. It has all that you are looking for.

I have stayed at teh Datai a couple of times and it is outstanding. I was suprised by TravelTwiddles comment about it being the same as many other hotels - IMO it isn't and is frequently rated as a top 3 hotel by Conde Naste, however the comment re costs is spot on. I am not sure what theweather is doing right now but June is usually Monsoon season on the weat coast so Tanjong Jara may be better weather wise

If you're keen on east coast peninsular Malaysia, try www.japamalaresorts.com. Boutique resort in Tioman island. Posh.