Langkawi

[Route88]

Wahh...driving

Going there is ok,but going back to SG is

[Route88]

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Going Langkawi next month by car. any recommendation to which Hotel to stay? Preferably in Kuah area...thanks.

 

U staying at duty free area?

 

Bayview Hotel

[Multi]

Yes, considered Bayview or Eagle Bay...

[Multi]

I'll be going Ipoh first then to Langkawi then to Penang then to KL..

[Route88]

Most of asian like to go there,shopping

Seldom see mat salleh within these area,they to stay along beach resort.

[Route88]

Not sure can see show along beaches ,maybe can try Datai beach if happen stay there,cos last time i go there is close for outsiders,meant for hotel guest. Datai beach is rated as one of beautiful beach in the world.

[Siewss]

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Once we hit the NSH, shud we take the route all the way to KL or do we have to exit before KL to go up north ? Since it will take abt 8 hrs to Kuala Kedah, I was thinking mebe I shud stop overnite in Perak. Any town to recommend?

Does the ferry at Kuala Kedah operate 24 hrs.?

 

Better to skirt around KL, imo. Take the KLIA exit immediately after Nilai exit.

 

If you're a foodie, stop by Ipoh (6 hrs drive). There you get the best Beansprout Chicken Kway Teow you'll ever lay your hands on .

[Anjas]

Just an update. I decided to skip Langkawi after my friends advised not to drive there during the school holidays. They said parking at Kuala Kedah or further up at Kuala Perlis wud not be a problem. But you can expect long Q's at the ferry terminal because of the holidays. As our friend Dwoon suggested, flying wud be a better option. But, its already to late for us to get tickets.

So we finally drove up the NSH up to Bukit Merah Laketown in Perak. We started from Gelang Patah abt 12 noon and arrived there at 7 pm. We took the NSH up to Nilai and exit to KLIA, then - Rawang - Ipoh and finally - Laketown. The resort caters family-type of activities based on natural habitat. They have the Orang Utan Island, EcoPark, WaterPark,etc ,which should interest young kids.

I wanted to go to Penang later(abt 1/2 hr drive from Laketown), but my family wants to go KL (we've been to Penang 2 yrs ago)instead. On the way to KL we detoured to Gua Tempurung (Tempurung cave - near Ipoh) for a bit of physical activity.

I used a Garmin GPS during this trip, and I found it to be really reliable and accurate using MALsing maps.

We stayed a total of 2 nights in Laketown and 2 nights in KL (Bukit Bintang). On the return journey it took me 2 hrs 45 mins to drive non-stop from KL to Gelang Patah.

Edited December 13, 2008 by Anjas

[Multi]

Just came back from 6 days trip covering Ipoh, Langkawi, Penang and KL. Not true that there's long Q at the ferry terminal at Kedah Jetty during this time. I went there on 5th Dec, park my car at Kedah Jetty area at RM15 per day (covered car park). Buy ferry ticket on the spot, took 90 mins to reach Langkawi. Rent a car there at RM70 - Proton Wira(Auto).

Everything went smoothly without any Hiccup...you should give it a try.

[Dwoon]

Got back last Tuesday after a week there..... things are not really that cheap.... massages, etc like Sgp rates or even more ex.

 

There's a daily Pasar malam & it changes location every night.

 

The Mangrove tour was good. Managed to get a private boat at RM$220 for the trip.

 

Kuah town was really a let down. Pantang Cenang is more happening. Everywhere is duty free shops. But only bought chocs.... ciggies cannot bring back, and alcohol I've already plenty that is still undrunk.

 

Did all the touristy thing like cable car ride, underwater world, croc farm, hot spring (give this a miss as its nothing there but a pond of algae), waterfall. I would say 4 days are enough.... else you'll be bored wondering what to do next.

[Siewss]

I was there last December - The terminal was crowded no doubt, but we still managed to secure seats for the next ferry. The ferry was just as crowded, but guaranteed seats.

 

Flying's fine if you're just visiting Langkawi, but last year I had a drivathon - 5 destinations in 11 days, so driving became essential.

 

Looks like you had fun. I enjoyed my Gua Temburung visit as well, but didn't go all the way up. I've never been to Laketown - intended to the last time, but decided to head straight to Tasik Kenyir from Kuala Kedah Jetty instead. I was also spooked by my Thai friend who told me that the border skirmishes were worsening that time.

 

Yeah, I've heard many positive feedback from people using Garmin GPS. I'm still on paper map which worked just fine since I have an able navigator, my wife.