Snowbeing

HI

We are planning a trip to Asia early in February. Our planned itinerary is as follows:

- Land in KL on 29 February - stay for 3 nights.
- Depart to Hong Kong on 2 Feb (CNY NYs Eve - get there at approx 11am), and stay for 3 nights.
- Depart to Bangkok on 5 Feb (arrive at approx 11 pm). Spend 2 nights in Bangkok.
- Depart to Langkawi on 7 Feb. Spend 3 nights.
- Depart to KL for 1 night. Return flight at 1am the next morning. (12 Feb)

Are we allowing ourselves enough time in each place to see everything? Will the 3 nights in Hong Kong enable to us to sightsee or will everything be closed over the entire period for CNY?

Comments / suggestions please !!!

Thanks.

Cicerone

Personally, I would take a night out of KL and add it to Bangkok. KL is just marginal in terms of things to do, although they have lovely people and good food. 2 nights is more than enough, IMO. But Bangkok really offers a lot more to see and do, so if you can, I would spend more time there.

You say you arrive on Feb 2 into Hong Kong, and have 3 nights there, departing Feb 5. That looks like 4 nights to me.

Assuming you are flying to Hong Kong on Feb 2, you are travelling on the absolutely busiest travel day in Asia (Feb 2). Think the Wednesday before Thanksgiving times a billion (but literally). You should be OK because you seem to have an early flight and you are trying to enter Hong Kong rather than leave it, but bear this in mind and be prepared for delays.

You will <u>not</u> find many things closed in Hong Kong over Lunar New Year. The public holidays are Feb 3, 4, 5 which means schools, banks and most offices are closed. This does not affect most tourist sites, as the Peak Tram runs and many if not most museums are open. Hong Kong is not like China where everything shuts down for a week or more.

On the day your arrive, most offices and some shops or restaurants (a very few) will be closing around 3 pm or so, but this should not be a problem for you. One the first day (February 3) most shops and restaurants will be closed. You may find shops in larger malls to be open on the first day (a scandalous situation as far as I am concerned, but this has been happening over the last 2 years, it’s like making Christians work on Christmas). Restaurants in hotels will be open, and some restaurants in the more ex-pat areas like Lan Kwai Fong will be open, so IMO you won’t have any trouble finding good meals. The large flower market in Victoria Park stays open until lie 2 am, and can be interesting to see the last minute bargains going on, but it can also be very crowded, so bear that in mind.

On the second and third days, Feb 4 and 5 shops in malls and most restaurants will be open. Small shops like hairdressers, manicurist, etc will be closed and may be closed on the next day, but that won’t affect you as a tourist (spas in hotels are open). Smaller family restaurants may also stay closed, but you won’t have any trouble finding good restaurants open.

Feb 3 would be an excellent day go to the Peak, as it will be quite empty, as most people will be at home with family. It is also a good day to go to Lantau to see the big Buddha, not sure if that is on your list (with 3.5 days you would have time to include this).

On the second day Feb 4, there will be fireworks in the harbour. Should be a 9 pm but check with your hotel. They last about 20 minutes. Absolutely worth seeing. There is a parade on the Kowloon side as well during the day, not sure that is worth seeing, but up to you. After that, you may encounter lion dances in front of shops and in malls, these are to bring good luck. Feb 4 and 5 are going to be more crowded at the Peak and the Big Buddha, as people have met their family ob ligations and can go out; and also lots of families like to go out together.

On all three days, Public transport is running on a holiday schedule, which is most cases means <i>more</i> frequently than usual, especially for buses in the New Territories. So you should not have any trouble getting around.

The weather in Hong Kong in Feb is kind of a crapshoot. It can be cool to cold (mid 50s F or so) and a little foggy, or pleasant and sunny with temps in the 70s F. It will just depend on luck at the time of your visit. It is not every hot, so I would bring layers so you are prepared for all contingencies. The other places on your itin will be hot and humid, KL may have a bit of rain.

Cicerone

Sorry, the flower market in Victoria Park is open on Feb 2 and closes in the wee hours of Feb 3 (the first day of the new year). The day to go would be late in the evening of Feb 2.

rhkkmk

i would skip K/L all together except perhaps for a layover if it is necessary.... imo, the only real thing to see there is the petronas towers from inside...

add time to both HK and bkk...

no, these times will only scratch the surface of things you will want to see...

Kathie

You have very little time in any of these places - except for KL where you have too much time and Langkawi which is an international beach resort, so there isn't really anything to "see" (you go there to relax and enjoy the beach). I'd cut the KL time to a minimum and add the days to Bangkok. Two nights in Bangkok is just one full day - not even enough time to unpack! The interesting places you are visiting are Hong Kong and Bangkok. Spend as much time as possible in those two places.

BillT

And remember in Hong Kong if you go see the Big Budda - from what I have seen on the travel shows - you have a LOT of steps to climb to get to the top. I did not see an elevator option so if you are in shape and its not hot and humid you should be ok.

Gpanda

You must be going in 2012, the next Feb 29, so there's lots of time and you haven't bought your tickets yet. This suggests that you can skip KL all together and spend more in either HK or BKK. This is a much better use of your Asia time. Both are wonderful. If you must go through KL, use it only for transit and move quickly to HK.

Snowbeing

Thanks all. That was very helpful.

Most friends who have visited Asia have indicated that the shopping in KL is pretty good, and suggested that we make sure we have enough time - but I think I will add some time to Bangkok - and perhaps cut down on the time in Langkawi as well. We typically get bored with too much beach time

I am especially excited about Hong Kong, and the CNY !

Thanks again !

P.S. I meant departing on 29 January .. but it feels so far off it may as well be in 2012 !!

rhkkmk

the shopping in K/L is largely huge mall shopping....there is some local shopping but not much.....i think that almost anything you would want to buy in K/L is available for about the same price or cheaper in bangkok, with the possible exception of authentic batik...

i would not go there for the shopping at all.. two days would be plenty in k/l...

2 days is not nearly enough for bkk however, with a combo of shopping and sightseeing 5 is preferable..

Kathie

Bangkok has some of the best shopping in the world. KL doesn't hold a candle to it. You can find lots of local goods in Bangkok as well as western goods. In KL you'll find mostly western goods, and the crafts items you do find and not up to the standards of Thai crafts.

If you get bored with beach time, why not eliminate Langkawi and go to Penang (Georgetown) instead. It would be a delightful addition to your itinerary, and something very different than your other stops. If you budget will allow, stay at the famous E&O Hotel. Wander the streets of the historic area, eat incredible food at the hawker stalls. If that interests you at all, click on my name and see a list of my trip reports to find my report on Penang. Don't bother with beaches in Penang. They are dirty and unattractive.

kokiwebs2

Hi there!

I agree with what fellow travelers are suggestiong: make your KL stay shorter and enjoy Bangok and KH more.
KL does have a few things to see, and watching the sky get dark at the Petronas Towers is fantastic. If you have a stopover with a night don't miss it.
HK has enough things to see and do to keep you busy for a week. Visit the giant buddha as well, and don't worry about the steps because there's not that many. And about the shopping, you'll get MUCH better deals in Bangkok than in KL.

If you really want to chill out at a beach check for cheap flights with Air Asia to/from KL or Bangkok to Phuket and relax at nearby Kata beach. There's all sorts of accommodation with walking distance and the beach is nice and friendly- you might even get a chance to surf!

I traveled for 10 months across East Asia last year and kept a blog with a lot of info about the places I visited; you might want to check the sections on KL and HK (the post on Bangkok is not ver complete, but does give a tip you shouldn't miss):

Hong Kong: http://www.maitravelsite.com/east-an...sia/hong-kong/

KL: http://www.maitravelsite.com/east-an.../kuala-lumpur/

Bangkok: http://www.maitravelsite.com/east-an...ck-in-bangkok/

I hope this helps! Feel free to ask me any more questions, preferably via email or the contact form- I check it every day and you'll get faster replies

Federico

Kathie

Federico, OP just said they get bored with too much beach time so you are recommending they go to Phuket?

Snowbeing

So many places.. so little time !!
Perhaps we need to consider the benefit of Langkawi/beach at all - and spend more time in HK and BK.
Will keep you all posted.
Thanks again !!

kokiwebs2

Kathie

In her initial itinerary she does consider Langkawi as a beach destination for a few days. With air prices to Phuket being much cheaper and many more activities to participate in (non beach related) than Langkawi it is a good alternative to consider.

Joliefish

For Bangkok you should visit the world largest weekend market chatuchak. and the food heaven in Chinatown..lols..you can visits temples too if you want..

KL, sunway is my favorite place, it has all the stuffs i need, i dont really like to shop on others malls in KL. but if you looking on cheap stuff then you have to go to berjaya times square or bukitbintang area...

i can recommend you places to stay..
if you looking for budget hotel, Citin would be great... its has lots of hotels in Malaysia and thailand..maybe u can check it out on the rates and rooms.. the places you going all have Citin i guess..lols..CIO