Hi Fodorites...

We have several days in late November to spend in either Jakarta or Kuala Lumpor.

Where should we spend our time...and what should we do?

We're in our late 60's....but have traveled extensively and are in excellent shape and are pretty much interested in everything...particularly food, culture and landscape.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Why do you ask particularly about those 2 cities? Are you just considering big cities?

Of the 2 KL is considered the nicer destination, by far.

But in the general vicinity there are nicer places. If it's a city you want Singapore is enjoyable for a few days, but expensive.

In Malaysia I'd suggest Penang, or Cameron Highlands and I especially like Kuching (Borneo).

In Indonesia, Bali of course, but on Java, Yogyakarta (w/Borobudur) is hard to beat.

I'm going to Yogyakarta in early October for a week, just for a break on a 4 week trip to Bali.

It looks good, do a bit of planning, and you'll be rewarded [I hope].

You can get very good flight/hotel packages within SE Asia with...

https://www.airasiago.com/en-gb/

Frankly, I wouldn't choose either of those two cities. Where are you coming from?

Singapore is a possibility, though as others noted, smaller places in the region might be of more interest to you. We loved Penang (just a short hop from KL) and spent almost two weeks in Java in Nov 2012.

Yogyakarta is a very pleasant, "down home" kind of place, not a sophisticated urban experience, which is in part why I loved it. Relaxed, with beautiful landscapes all around, including the volcano nearby. And Borobudur, impressive to say the least.

Penang is also one of my all-time favorites. A multicultural experience, urban (Georgetown) on a small scale. "Shophouse" architecture, an upscale colonial era hotel, http://www.eohotelpenang.com/
My favorite accommodation in the world, http://www.cheongfatttzemansion.com/
Very nice botanic garden, beaches outside the city.

We will be on our way from New Zealand to Bali to Heyderbad. We can fly into either KL or Jakarta on our way to Bali.

BTW...this is the 1st leg (43 days; NZ, Australia, Great Barrier Reef (scuba), Bali, India (Dehli, Agra, Taj Mahal, et al) of a 4 leg, 1 year around the world trip (bucket list, you know).

Since we have to fly into/out of either city we thought we'd spend some time in one or the other if there was a point in doing so.

What I've read so far about Jakarta would suggest that KL is the better choice.

MmePerdu. You're few words about Yogya have made me very happy!

If you don't want to travel away from either of the 2 cities and neither is on "the list" (don't know why they would be) then I'd just change planes and go on to Bali. I see no point in your circumstances to stop, so either would do.

I agree with MmePerdu, I wouldn't spend time in either city. Save the time for Bali. If you have the time while you are in Bali, do take a side trip to central Java. It is one of my favorite places. If you are interested, take a look at my trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...n-to-jogja.cfm

Or, even better, our photos: www.marlandc.com And see if a side trip to central Java is tempting.

KL is bareable for a day or 2 but its not that interesting. Rather bland business city.

I wouldnt stay there unless the flight connections are bad and you need to.

Jakarta doesn't have a lot of appeal for the tourist. Like KL, it's the capital and the business center. It's also a sprawling, disorganized Asian city -- teeming comes to mind -- with extreme wealth and poverty plus a lively middle class.

The good points are some wonderful and relatively inexpensive hotels, great shopping for Indonesian arts and crafts, some very good Asian inspired restaurants (also a good value) and some interesting, though poorly maintained, museums. The bad points are traffic and more traffic.

I'm in agreement with the others: use Jakarta as your arrival airport and connect on to Yogya or Bali.

KL has amazing museums, architecture, culture, food and local shopping. Don't listen to bitter (s)expats who advise to the contrary.

KL isn't bad as cities go. I know people who live there seem to love it. But I like places I can walk and I found KL difficult in that way, not planned for walking as, say, Singapore is. So if I had the choice of spending a few days in KL or Yogya, or a few more in Bali, I wouldn't choose KL. But it does seem to inspire loyalty in some, as filmwill has demonstrated.

CM is Number 6!
Take TA League Tables with the same pinch of salt as their Hotel Reviews.

Look at 3 surveys and average them. Its not the exact order but the general trend.

KL normally ranks low or not at all.

The TA lists are worse than useless IMO.

We spent a week in KL many years ago. Its rather bland compared to say Bangkok. Traffic not as bad as Jakarta Not much to see and do- I would give it few day at most. The one market we visited - Central Market- was disappointing as the vendors did not bargain. Visit to the Petronis Towers ok. Good food courts.