Penang <-> Langkawi
 

I've read about a fast boat between Penang and Langkawi. Two boats going to Langkawi in the morning around 8AM and two boats returning around 2-3PM.

Also saw mention on this forum of Firefly airlines (fares of 10 SGD!).

Are there other options for going between the islands (other than a flight connection at KUL)?

I guess you could drive or take a bus or even the train. As you know Penang is connected by a bridge to to the mainland while Langkawi is not. Buses are relatively cheap in Malaysia. You are correct in that you can fly with Firefly or take a ferry from Penang.
The following site lists both of these:
http://www.malaysiasite.nl/tolangkawi.htm

Malaysia Airlines ( if they still do it - their website is just so slow ), Firefly is the budget airline, note when you see these $10 flights they do not include taxes etc, so although cheap do check what the fare will be.

I would not bother going to mainland and up the coast and then ferry again.

I would take a cheap flight or take the ferry.
http://www.fireflyz.com.my/

http://www.langkawi-ferry.com/schedule.html#penang


Which airline are you using to fly into Penang ? If you are flying with Malaysia Airlines you 'may' find adding Langkawi might not work out too much extra, at least worth checking.

You 'could' go via mainland and even take a train ( KTMB ) from Butterworth and then bus and ferry from further north but that is going to be a real long journey. Also you would have to tie-in train with transport to pier plus ferry times.

My tip would simply book Firefly and then relax.

Did this trip on a fast boat in the reverse direction a couple of weeks ago -. Cost 56 ringits - time - about4 hours (I think Penang to Langkawi is cheaper) . IMO Not a bad way to do the journey, although the buses are cheaper and are pretty comfortable with coputer games and movies etc.

I notice the website supplied by christo says there is a ferry from Georgetown. (I remember seeing signs for it...) This would give you an opportunity to stay at the E&amp;O and eat wonderful hawker food for a couple of days before taking the ferry to Langkawi.

Thanks for all the replies.

Ok, then just a morning ferry to Langkawi and afternoon ferry from Langkawi. Would prefer it the other way around!

Going by road is an option I had not considered. I see now that it is about 90 miles from Gtown to Kuala Perlis, so I'd figure it to be a 3-hour trip. Since there is no schedule at the ferry website I would assume that the KP to Langkawi ferry was frequent from 7AM-7PM. So maybe 6 to 8 hours door to door?

My basic itin is:

Sat - arrive Singapore at 11:35PM, night at Le Meridien
Sun - Fly Singapore Air or Malaysia Air to Penang, and stay 2 nights at, yes Kathy!, the E&amp;O
Mon - eat hawker food and do stuff in Penang
Tue - ferry to Langkawi, three nights at Sheraton
Wed - Langkawi
Thu - Langkawi, would like to find a Putu to hire for a day
Fri - Langkawi to Singapore on Silk Air or Malaysia Air (their one non-stop is later than I want)

Probably would fly Singapore Air to Penang because the Malaysia flight is too early 10AM-ish. I am considering getting an FF award ticket for SIN-PEN roundtrip. Then use ferry and/or Firefly to get to Langkawi and back.

Sounds good, MrW.

sounds like a good plan. 10am-ish too early?? didn't know you were a late night person. lol.
don't forget to try the penang laksa.

seems like a short trip, going anywhere else?

United Airlines' schedule is forcing me to be a late night person the first night. After Langkawi I'll be in Singapore for three nights, Friday to Monday. Going to see a horse race on the Sunday before I return to LAX.

Mmmm, laksa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Penang_laksa.jpg

i second the mmmmmm. looks good.

jackie said to also try the lobak.

If you want specific recommendations for particular hawker stalls, I can take a look at our travel journals and the books we picked up. We had a number of favorites, one place just a short walk from the E&amp;O.

Cheryl loved the ochien - a sort of oyster omelet. It puts Hangtown fry to shame. We had to go way out of our way to find the right vendor, but it was excellent!

Kuranosuke recommended an Indian place to us - a real hole in the wall that was excellent - called Hammedia. Just don't try to order beer.

wun...we stayed at the sheraton out past the airport....it was huge and spread out, but decent....there is one in town as well...

could you comment after the trip on the meridien in singapore.....both gpanda and us will be staying there in june...

when do you leave??

bob

btw---great cash and points deal there in sing. if you did not know

Sheraton resort ( other is Sheraton in Kuah Town Langkawi ) is north of the airport, Langkawi Airport is very close to the sea and you just turn out the small airport and not long to Sheraton.
If you take the ferry that goes to/from Kuah town, easy enough to get a taxi from there and although the journey isn't much it's that little etxra.
There are not a large number of restaurants on Langkawi, if you like Thai food the Thai restaurant at Pelangi beach is excellent.

Langkawi is very easy to drive around, maps are plentiful and very easy to drive yourself on the island. From the airport it's out, turn right, then along coast to Sheraton ( if you are at the 'resort' ).
Silk Air is good.

I reserved the Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort, a seafront room. I believe that is the place near the airport. Looks like it is about 20 miles from the port.

Also reserved the Westin Langkawi Beach Resort and Spa, which I haven't located, but must be the place JamesA mentioned in Kuah.

I leave on May 9.

A friend in Singapore recommended against Le Meridien (and recommended Orchard Parade Hotel). But I booked it in January when it was a category 2. I have Thu at 4000, Fri at 3000, and Sat,Sun at 1600 + $30 each. The place is now cat 3, 7000 or 2800 + $45. Seems too good to be true so I am also sitting on res at Sheraton Towers.

What are the chances of getting a rental car on Langkawi with an automatic transmission?

Used to be the Sheraton Perdana near Kuah town, guess must have changed.

I would certainly say the Sheraton Resort far better of the 2, I think Bob stayed at the Perdana many many years back, unless my memory fails I think that is where I 'met' Bob on this forum discussing the merits of the 2 about 5/6 years agao !!

Getting a rental with automatic should be no problem at all. In Malaysia I normaly go for a Proton Wira, reasonable size 4 door sedan fine, not too small but not large either. I think on Langkawi it was Mayflower I rented from, but you should find the others too.

http://www.mayflowercarrental.com.my/cr_wira15.asp

Kasina also, at Langkawi Airport and also Sheraton, so that probably the one to go for
http://www.kasina.com.my/langkawi-fleet.html

At the Sheraton
http://www.kasina.com.my/location.html

MrW thanks to this post i have found out about the ferry to Langkawi, which may be a really good option for me if we go to Malaysia instead of Laos/Vietnam (BF hates flying)
Crellston, did you buy your ticket in advance? or wait til you got there. I get really bad sea sickness , so can you tell me anything about the crossing please.

Smeagol,
We bought our ticket on the day from one of the counters at the ferry port. I doubt you will have any problems booking the seats on the day. As far as seasicknessis concerned, the boat is a large catamaran and we had a VERY smooth trip (as an avid diver, I have been on a lot of boats, big, small, good and bad! This was fine. Having said that, the weather was good and we really enjoyed the trip passing by some very pretty islands and stopping at one to unload some passengers.

The boat itself had two decks inside and it was possible to go onto the open air deck on top.

Having travel recently by boat and bus (VIP and local) I would say teh bus is more comfortable but the boat was more enjoyable.

crell, how long does the bus take?

Hope you are having a fab time
Smeagol

That is good news about the rental cars, thanks.

Looks like of the two boats going each way that one makes a stop (at Pulau Payar) and the other doesn't. That is what the schedule implies.

The Westin actually looks like a better choice for me. Only 3 minutes from the ferry port, near Kuah town. Lots of photos on their website - looks nice.

we booked a car for one day....booked through the hotel as i remember...was standard and a real clunker....you can see the whole island in one day easily....there is a circular road along the coast...


is it possible that the english are the most frail of the species???

That is Kuah Town area and although some beach is 'very' different from the Sheraston resort.

I think you should just have a look at the Penangi Resort ( now the Meritus Pelangi Resort )as when I could afford it that was my personal favorite for good without being 'too' expensive.
The beach area is one of the best, good restaurant, nice tropical style,
http://www.pelangibeachresort.com/me...to_gallery.asp

That just a short ride south from the airport


Bob - was I right you stayed at the Perdana ?

I had a meal there and thought the Sheraton 'resort' was far better, I think we 'discussed' our preferences. Kuah Town area is not that interesting, Pelangi / Sheraton Resort area and that side is nice.

Smeagol, not sure how long the bus takes, but would guess at 3/4 hours (these drivers do NOT hang about!). Thanks we are having a great time We are currently in Tokyo and about to update the blog.
Enjoy Malaysia, the food is even better than Thailand!

james...it was the resort we stayed at not the in town place....huge layout....some needed golf carts to get to their rooms...

That's the one I know.

I wonder if you want to mention more on that Bob if you can recall as I think the Sheraton Resort is far better than the one that was near Kuah Town ( now the Westin apparently ), I went to the one in Kuah Town for a meal and did not like the location at all, had to get a cab up to it and it did not seem anything as good as the 'resort', trying 'gently' to steer mrwunrfl away from the one in Kuah Town to the Sheraton Resort

Road map:

http://www.malaysiasite.nl/roadmap.htm

mrwunrfl - You can see Kuah Town bottom right area, most beach resorts on west, about half way up you see the airport though it's closer to the coast than appears.
I would be wrong but I don't think it's more than 30 mins across from town to west coast area and road is good. You can find places to eat around the west coast beach areas. Kuah Town is not that interesting and in the evenings as I remember was 'asleep' (!)

we quite liked the resort....good placement...great pool, small beach area near pool but bigger beach in other parts...tons of monkeys everywhere.....good restaurants....lovely rooms, well spaced....

make sure you try the bon ton restaurant while on langkawi and look at the datai hotel

Anyone looked at the Tanjung Rhu resort? We had lunch there and thought it was soooo beautiful. Look at their site. It is secluded

Thanks for the map. I found the places on Google Earth and see that it is about 20 miles from Kuah to the Sheraton. Am leaning back towards the Sheraton now, the room sounds nice: sea front, full ocean view, balcony, jacuzzi. Or another room for points or points+

I will look at the Datai.

So, it would be the morning boat on Tuesday, arriving in Kuah about 11AM, so checkin around noon. Two nights, so would have that day and all next day, Wednesday. Then on Thursday fly back to Penang on the 4PM firefly flight arriving 4:35PM. Then catch an SQ flight at 5:30 from PEN to SIN.

Hotel check in you are right is something to think about. So arriving 11 am is perfect. Take the journey over to the Sheraton by taxi and that gives you a chance to see the road and then you can decide on rental ( though if you like the idea I would book ahead ), it is 'very' easy to drive on Langkawi. Unless anything has changed you can turn out from the car park near the pier ( where I guess a rental agent would meet you ) onto the main road, goes direct west and then you take the main inland road to west coast, turn right towards airport passing Pelangi, around the coast to Sheraton, very easy.

Hate to be a downer, I would watch with great care / re considor that arr 4.35 dep 5.30 as you have to go through immigration and re-check bags at Penang !!

That would be under the official connecting time !

If there is a direct Silk Air Langkawi to Singapore I would really try and go for that flight !
www.silkair.com

But Langkawi to Penang is a domestic flight, isn't it? The Firefly plane is a small one so I suppose I might have to check my bag. Do you get off the plane and collect your bag right there or do you have to wait inside to get it off the belt?

Actually, I can just pack light enough so that it is a carryon small enough to go under a seat. It is only 4 days of light clothing, the rest can stay in Singapore.

There is a later flight that evening, as a backup, another SQ 772 at 9:15PM. SIN-PEN-SIN is on a United FF award ticket and because I have 1K status with United I can cancel it or change it before departure without penalty. Much better than buying a non-refundable ticket at this point.

Langkawi-Penang is domestic, so you would get your bags off the belt and then have to go to check-in for the SQ flights, then through immigration ( i.e leaving Malaysia ). SQ use 777's between Penang and Singapore.
Firelfy is a 50 seater F-27 so they would deliver bags to the belt in domestic arrivals.

I changed the PEN-SIN flight to be the 9:15PM. An award at 20,000 miles economy or 30,000 biz class for SIN-PEN-SIN (plus $18 for LGK-PEN) seems like a better option than the $381 SQ wants for SIN-PEN,LGK-SIN. Could get $316 on Malaysia Air but not on the days I want.

So, maybe they will let me on the earlier flight, if I make it. Otherwise I have to spend about four and a half hours at PEN. This is suboptimal but should be pretty easy to take. Maybe go into Gtown for dinner.

Which room type at E&amp;O? I'd go for the premier room if it has a king bed. Otherwise it is deluxe-seaview 58sqm or Gtown suite city/courtyard view 79 sqm at the same price.

Definitely will go with the Sheraton and not the Westin (Perdana).

As I remember we had a Premier suite. It has a small balcony facing the water. It had a king bed.

Good news, thanks Kathy!

I stayed at Le Meridien last night and got a good night's sleep.

The room is fairly basic but comfortable. Looked like mildew on the tub but it is actually chips in the ceramic. The back of the bathroom door has a couple of chips to it. The bathroom is not very large. One sink, toilet, shower/tub. Six pillows on the bed but not the heavenly bed mattress top. But a firm bed and I slept well. Air conditioning worked well. In-room safe, hotpot, desk, 2 chairs. Nothing fancy but fine. Carpet is ok but could be cleaned (not filthy like some Japanese tourist hotels).

Compared to the Holiday Inn Silom (it was much nicer at about $115) I would not be happy paying the $195 rate I would have had for the room. But at the points+cash deal I am very happy. I cancelled the Sheraton res that I had as a backup and will just stay at LM when I come back to SIN.

The Marriott looked like it might be nice. It is in a very good location with an MRT station in front of the hotel. It is one of the hotels you might get via priceline.

Kathie, the E&amp;O was wonderful, thank you for recommending it to me (last year when I my original plan was to go in December). It was all that I expected. Just loved the balcony view of the Strait of Malacca.

I share Bob's apparent lack of enthusiasm for the Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort. A bit too spread out, I think. Had a very nice seafront room with a porch. There were an estimated trillion billion cricket-like invisible insects in the trees that made an incessant racket during the day. Every couple of minutes one of them would take of, 10 time louder than the others and vibrating faster and at a higher pitch than the rest. Almost an electronic sounding squeal. Then it would falter and stutter and die out.

Bali was a much more interesting place than Langkawi and Penang.

The food at the hawker stalls in Penang was not at all appetizing to me. I ate well at the E&amp;O though.

Last night returned to Le Meridien. The front desk guy apologized that they were unable to upgrade me (SPG Gold) but explained that they had a king room on the preferred floor (8th). It is a corner room, as described, but that just means there is a bit more of an entrance and the window is only about two-thirds (or less) the width of the room. Otherwise this is the same room as before. No chips on the tub and the mat in the tub doesn't look like it was chewed on like in the last room. The carpet is clean (maybe the other one just looked a little dark on the edges, where people don't walk). Anyway, at 10,200 starpoints plus $60 for four nights, I am very happy.

The hawker stalls (if that is what you call them, given that some are partly made of brick) in Singapore are much more to my liking. Enjoyed laksa tonight, thanks for the recco, Ken. Couldn't finish the soup tho cause it was too peppery hot (next time, will ask for half the normal scoop of the red stuff the lady put on).

I'm looking forward to the race on Sunday. Learned that Sir Slick from New Zealand will be in the big race. He made a bunch of NZD for me on Boxing Day when my brother and I went to Ellerslie R.C. in Auckland.

&quot;Every couple of minutes one of them would take off ...&quot;

Just occurred to me that it might have been two of them.

I'm so glad you enjoyed the E&amp;O!