Hotels In Malaysia|Travel In Malaysia

Kota Kinabalu Hotel Deals in Malaysia Personal Review

2008-11-02T19:28:00.000-08:00

Kota Kinabalu is the capital city of Sabah, an east Malaysia state apart from Sarawak Bumi Kenyalang. Kota Kinabalu has a lot of federal preserved forests and jungles and therefore you can certainly and easily imagine it as a beatiful and peaceful place to visit especially those who love natural environment. Clear crystal sea waters, green forests, these are the criterias that make Kota Kinabalu a sure attraction to visitors from all around the globe especially Americans. If you can find a good hotel deal here in Kota Kinabalu, then you may consider your vacation in Kota Kinabalu a great and wonderful one and eventually you will fall in love with beautiful sceneries and friendly locals around here in Kota Kinabalu.

Kota Kinabalu is mostly populated with Sabah's native people such as Murut, Kadazan and Bajau. Some Americans found these local girls especially Kadazan to have sweet and beautiful looks. Perhaps that is another reason why foreigners love to visit the country. It's hard to find a Malay in the city as most Malays reside in west Malaysia. For your information, Sabah or Kota Kinabalu is situated in Borneo island, where its neighbour is Brunei Darussalam. There are a lot of nice and good deals around Kota Kinabalu and their hotels are excellent in terms of services and hygiene. I don't find it a waste of money if you choose to stay at five star hotels as Kota Kinabalu is definitely going to serve your purpose of travelling in Asia; escape from hassles and city hectics. Even the deals are quite reasonable.

As the second largest state in Malaysia, Sabah or Kota Kinabalu offers you splendid journey either you are travelling alone or with your family. Even a simple business trip may also turns into a great vacation if you know where to go and how to choose the right hotel deal at Kota Kinabalu. For shoppers, you should not miss to grab the opportunity to visit Filipino Market. In the market, you can shop for locals hand made items that are unique. You can also find creatively created stuff made from sea-items. There are also chances to find locals selling corals and reefs at the market. The market's name is actually due to a lot of Philippines hawkers who have obtained permanent resident in Kota Kinabalu. The market also a place for you to buy traditional ethnic cultural souvenirs as well foodstuff.

It is quite easy to reach this market in Kota Kinabalu from anywhere either by cab or local bus. Therefore it is not a big deal if you plan to stay somewhere further in the middle of the city as you can always stroll on the streets of Kota Kinabalu town to enjoy its exotic scenery. Perhaps you might stumble into one or two local hawkers that offer you cheap or undercut price for items that you have been wanting to buy here! By the way if you want to know about the market, you can always visit this site that has tremendous information about the market or now called Kota Kinabalu Handicraft Market. You may find a hotel situated at Sutera Harbor Resort to be one of the finest hotel deal in Kota Kinabalu.

The beaches here in Kota Kinabalu are not to be missed and you can find a lot of local seafood restaurants around here. Compared to restaurants and hotels around Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, the prices here are a lot cheaper up to the point you can eat all while you can. Shangri La Hotel for example in Tanjung Aru will be a great deal as the hotel's rooms overlook the Kinabalu sea. When I was there in Kota Kinabalu some time last year, I chose to stay at budget hotel only as my intention is only to enjoy their seafood there in Kota Kinabalu. Honestly, you can spend only a few dollars to enjoy great meal if you take a considerate amount of time to walk along the beach and compare the prices. Don't simply walk and then choose the last restaurant you check simply because you are too tired to walk back lol. It's always worthy to compare thought the prices might be similar to each other but there's always a chance to get the lowest one. Some people even choose to first enjoy their dinner and then only check-in late at nearest hotel. In other words, the deal is up to you depending on what is your priority. Of course, if you come with your family, it's best to first check in at your preferred hotel.

If you happen to visit Kota Kinabalu, don't forget to visit our National Park. Named after our first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, the park consists of 5 small islands namely Gaya Island, Manukan island, Mamutik island, Sapi island and Suluk island. Offshore of Manukan may be the right place for snorkeling and diving activities since it has unbelievably beautiful corals and reefs. Try to look for best hotel or chalet deals here at Manukan Kota Kinabalu as the island is the most developed amongst the other four. I don't think anyone could actually resist from visiting the national park as there's slight chance to hear engine sounds apart from ferries and boats, hence make it a suitable place to integrate yourself with mother nature. Even Malaysians prefer to spend their vacation at Kota Kinabalu. The island also has clubhose and some other recreational facilities which makes it a user-friendly place for either day-stay or night-stay. Be careful though if you walk around the Sapi island as the island is inhabited by the macaques. If you prefer camping though, you can always get permission from the park warden and you can enjoy having campfire and all there in the kota kinabalu national park.

For bird-lovers, The Kota Kinabalu City Birds Sanctuary may be your first destination once you step your foot here in Kota Kinabalu. Located at Likas Bay, the sanctuary or recently called Kota Kinabalu Wetland Center is a feeding ground for a wide range of resident birds as well as a breeding ground for marine life. It's a place for bird-watching and therefore it offers tranquility and fresh air journey. You might spend a few hours there in the sanctuary and if you happen to end up walking out from it at dusk, don't worry so much as there are few motels as well as hotels nearby each one offering great deal and packages.

Kota Kinabalu is the city, and "Kinabalu" is actually named after the prominent mountain which is located about two hours journey by car from the city. As the fourth tallest mountain in South East Asia, Mount Kinabalu is a must-go destination for rock climbing activities. Nice deal for accomodation or hotel can be found either inside or outside of the Kinabalu park headquarters. Make sure you listen to old folks stories about how the mountain gets its name. There are few variations though and no matter which one you believe in, don't miss the chance to visit this mountain and enjoy its fresh air. Another thing that you should remember is don't ever try to go alone as you must always go with guides.

Personally, I don't think you should find any trouble finding the so-called good hotel deals in Kota Kinabalu even if you are a first time traveller here. I myself is a Malaysian but I didn't have much experience when I first go to Kota Kinabalu. Arriving at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport which is only 8 kilometres from the city center made me feel comfortable enough just by looking at the airport. You know that you won't face any trouble when you see a well-developed airport. If you do not want to take the trouble finding your own hotel, you can always go to hotel booths located just before the exit gates. If you want only a little bit of adventure, get a cab and ask the driver to tour around the city first. Don't tell him it's your first time, just keep yourself silent and maintain your eyes on the buildings around the city. Look for places near the ports if you want to enjoy seafood or look for somewhere right in the middle of the city to experience the nightlife in Kota Kinabalu.

Talking about port, Sandakan is Sabah's second most important port after Kota Kinabalu. Fondly said as Sabah's best ecotourism tourists spot, there are a lot of interesting places to visit here including the Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary. The sanctuary is located 25 kilometres west of Sandakan and it is actually for rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned baby of orang utans (apes) from illegal huntings and also logging activities. It is located within reserved forest of Kabili-Sepilok. You may find the view here as amusing as Kota Kinabalu National Park and you will learn here how they train the orang utans' orphaned babies to survive in the jungel and eventually release them into the jungle. Take at least three or four hours there taking pictures and videos as they are humble and low profile primates. Compared to Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan also offers great range of hotel deals but I recommend you to stay in the middle of the city since Sandakan is not as developed as Kota Kinabalu.

Another wonderful and perhaps the best attraction of Sandakan is its Turtle Islands National Park. The Park is famous for its green turtles and hawksbill turtles which lay their eggs on the beaches of the islands. The Park covers an area of 17.4 km². The name Turtle Islands, however, refers to 10 islands, 3 of which are part of Turtle Islands National Park of Malaysia, and 7 which belongs to the Municipality of Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. There are three islands in the park - Selingaan island, Bakkungaan Kecil island and Gulisaan island. There is a resort called Octopus, a nice and good hotel where maybe you will enjoy the package offered. Get a good deal and you should have a memorable moments there watching wildlife at the turtle park.

By now you may have become familiar with prefix "Kina" and there is a river in Sandakan which is called "Kina-batangan". Along the river, there are myriads of wildlife for your viewing pleasure as well as limestone caves, specifically at Gomantong Hill. There are also salty mangrove swamp near the river's coast. You can search for best hotel deals in Sukau Kota Kinabalu since they have a lot of lodges there maintained by major tour operators. Don't miss the chance to visit the Gomantong Hill as the hill is the largest limestone outcrop in the Lower Kinabatangan area, Sandakan division, in the Malaysian state of Sabah. The caves have been renowned for their valuable edible swiftlet nests, which are harvested for bird's nest soup. The most valuable of the nests, the white ones, can sell for very high prices. The birds' nest collection is an ancient tradition, and the trading of these nests has been done since at least 500 AD. Twice a year, from February to April and July to September, locals with licenses climb to the roof of the caves, using only rattan ladders, ropes, and bamboo poles, and collect the nests. The first collection takes place early in the breeding season before the swiftlets lay their eggs. The birds then make another nest in which they finally lay their eggs. After the young have fledged, the second collection is made. Care must be taken to assure that the nests are collected only after the young swiftlets have abandoned these nests. These individuals are very much in demand by the people and communities that hold the Government's harvesting licenses. Edible birds' nests are protected under the Birds' Nest Ordinance and the Forest Enactment of 1968. Heavy fines and penalties are imposed on unlicensed collectors, so take extra careful on this as make sure you buy them from licensed hawkers and sellers to avoid misunderstanding that you illegally took them. You can always the people at the hotel or near the lodge about this to get more accurate information and advice.

There are also other sights that are worth visiting such as the Sabah State Museum and also Tun Fuad Stephens Park. You can also capture the chance to personally view the annual harvest festival called Kaamatan. The Kaamatan Festival is an annual event in the cultural life of the Kadazandusuns of Sabah since time immemorial. In its deepest sense, Kaamatan festival is a manifestation of Creator and Creation relationship, as well as Inter-Creations relationship. It embodies the principal acts of invocation of divinities, appeasing, purification and restoration, re-union of benevolent spirits, and thanksgiving to the Source of All. It is part of a complex wholesome Momolian religious system centered on the paddy rites of passage and the life cycle of Bambarayon - the in-dwelling spirit of paddy. If you are into this, perhaps it's best to look for finest hotel deals at Kota Kinabalu outskirts area especially those near the paddy fields.

You may find Kota Kinabalu as another great destination apart from Kuala Lumpur. However, you may find the vacation here to be a far better option if you are looking for peace and tranquil one. Travelling is also easy as it is not that difficult to get cabs or buses around here in Kota Kinabalu. Even strolling would be a good idea as you will not miss any great view of Kota Kinabalu; the buildings, the people, and also the fresh air. Get yourself out from your comfortable hotel room and mix yourself among the locals to learn more about their culture and customs. You may get a fine hotel deals in Kota Kinabalu, but it is much more a better deal if you can take some time to communicate with both the locals and the nature.

Cheers!

Find Hotel Deals In Malaysia at the Right Spot Unbiased Review

2008-10-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

There are myriad reasons why people especially those from the United States and the Great Britain find it essential to properly choose the right and the best hotel deals in Kuala Lumpur when they plan to have a nice vacation here in Malaysia. Travelling is not just about the fun of it but also about having the best experience to be enjoyed by the whole group particularly when they bring their family members along. Therefore having the right deal will ensure smooth and remarkable vacation and perhaps contributes to the urge to visit Malaysia again in the future. Here I have listed few options on how to choose the best one depending on your needs and which places you have included to visit in our country.

Finding Hotel Deals at Langkawi in Malaysia

Perhaps the most famous beach in Malaysia is the one in Langkawi Island. This archipelago of 99 islands is located about 30km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. A tax-free island it is, and therefore the island is not just a haven for snorkelers and divers but also one for shoppers. The Malaysian's government has fully developed Langkawi and thus it is safe to choose to stay at local chalets provided by the locals there. However there is risk to get overpriced, so it is best to check the deals at five star hotels there first. Say the rate at 5-star hotel is RM300 per night, then chalets and village-style offered by locals should only charge you around RM70 to RM150 per night. You don't have to worry so much about breakfast and dinner as there are a lot of local restaurants (most of them are seafood restaurants) scattered around the island.

The island is well-known for its clear crystal seawater and its rich and beautiful coral and reefs. So you should not miss this wonderful chance to see it for yourself, and by all means try to stay somewhere near the docks where they usually have snorkels and diving equipments rental shops. You shouldn't face any problems to get a nice hotel or chalet deals near the dock as there are many of them near the docks. You might end up with a good bargain and also get yourself enroll in a short-crach-course for diving. The fees are cheap and those are such deals you just can't resist.

Finding Hotel Deals at Tioman Island in Malaysia

Another island that is also in the not-to-be-missed list is Tioman Island. Tioman has many wonderful and beautiful beaches such as Juara beach and Genting beach. If you wish to visit Tioman, you should find the Berjaya Hotel as the only 5-star hotel available there. Locals have taken good advantage of the island's popularity by setting up their own chalets and houses for rental. Though the price are cheap, the service is still great and a reasonable and affordable deal. You may not hear about the island the first time you arrive in Kuala Lumpur but trust me someone will surely recommend you to visit Tioman eventually as the deal is truly good.

Tioman is full of iguanas which is one good reason why you should not let your kids playing around on his or her own. They are wild animals and can easily be found everywhere in Tioman. Though they are not that harmful, please keep your kids away from them as they are quite sensitive and may attack if they feel threatened. Another one that you should be aware of is pig-tailed macaque; a close relative to apes and monkeys. This primate is widely spread across the island and they are actually thieves. Funny, but yes, it's true. So be careful when you stumbled into one of them and do not attempt to feed it as then they may come in group. Most hotels in Tioman Kuala Lumpur had taken care of this problem but not those located somewhere near the brisk jungle.

Finding Hotel Deals at Penang in Malaysia

Penang or Pulau Pinang is an island itself but also one of the states in Malaysia. It is located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia and it is a very, very developed island. A metropolis as some people refer to, Penang has a lot of interesting places to visit and you should consider to take at least a week here in Penang to completely tour it. If you previously visited Langkawi, you can take high speed ferries from there to reach Penang. Penang is also famous for its Penang Bridge; a 13.5 kilometres bridge that connected Penang to the mainland. The bridge is one of the longest bridges in Asia which was completed in 1985. Hotel deals here are quite expensive as Penang has turned into one of the main attractions of Malaysia. There are many 5-star hotels in Penang especially near the Batu Feringghi Beach. It is a sleepless city just like Kuala Lumpur and you may find the nightlife here to be happening and extremely fun.

One of the great attractions here in Penang is Bukit Bendera or the "Flag Hill". Bukit Bendera has a cable car service that brings you to the top of the hill. The valley has been developed to a park full with colorful flowers. There are also a lot of macaques here and just like in Tioman, they are quite dangerous when you have kids nearby. Get yourself a nice hotel deals in the middle of the capital city which is Georgetown and you can easily go to Bukit Bendera either by cab or bus.

Travelling is a good outdoor activity but it costs a lot of money and time. Therefore it is crucial to carefully choose the right hotel deals at the right spot that you want to visit to save more time and money. If you find Malaysia as the best place to visit, plan ahead your hotel or place to stay to avoid unnecessary trouble and at the same time you can organize a wonderful and great journey. Think and plan wisely so you won't miss any great destinations here in Malaysia as Malaysia a country with thousands of wonders to offer for your eyes and pleasure.

Hotel Deals In Kuala Lumpur Personal Review

2008-10-20T09:25:00.000-07:00

If you are now planning to travel to Malaysia, you may find it quite hard to choose the right hotel deals in Malaysia especially in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. There are various of reasons that you must take into consideration when you want to look and compare which is the best place to stay in order to ensure the best experience and to make sure you will later leave Malaysia with a lot of wonderful memories. The most important thing that must take place into your consideration is how close the hotel is to the places of interests in Malaysia and how convenient it is to travel from places to places.

Kuala Lumpur is a metropolis that offers you a great experience that you will never find elsewhere in the world. Contrary to popular belief that Malaysia is still poor in economy, you may find that so called suggestion as completely false as Malaysia is a very developed country though not up to the standard of First World countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. We have streets that are busy with myriad of vehicles and you might be surprised to find that there are a lot of national cars that are very modern in looks and specifications. There are also numerous choices of public transportation including city cabs, city buses, trains and light rail transit (LRT). There are a lot of advantages if you managed to find the best hotel deals in Kuala Lumpur (KL) that offers you all these convenience for the comfort of your travel needs.

One of the best place you shouldn't miss to visit is Malaysia's very own arts and culture market which we are famous of, The Central Market (CM). The Central Market is located at Hang Kasturi Street or Rodger Street right in the middle of the town at the riverside of the Klang River. Here is the place where you can find abundant supply of information on any culture and heritage that exist in Malaysia. Mind you that Malaysia a multiracial country where the most dominant races are Malay, Chinese, and Indian. There are others like Kadazan, Bajau, and others. In other words, Malaysia has a lot of cultures and since we have been together for a long time, we share a lot of things that sometimes it is hard to know which custom belongs to which race. The Central Market is also a place where you can find all kinds of traditional and modern Malaysian handicrafts such as "batik" which is handicrafted clothing with swirls and flourish designs. If you don't want to miss the chance to view all these, you should find Ancasa Hotel as having a good deal since it is located about 10 minutes walking distance only from Central Market. It is a three star hotel and the most important part is the hotel is situated near two light rail transit stations, which is so convenient for you. The packages offered are reasonable and from what I heard the standard package is only around $50 to $60 dollars per person per night.

The best hotel deals in Kuala Lumpur would be Mandarin Oriental Hotel and that is the case if you plan to visit one of the world's tallest skyscrapers, the Petronas Twin Tower or fondly called Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC). Just for your information, the Petronas Twin Tower (KLCC) is considered as the world's tallest building ever built before it was surpassed by a 101-floor skyscraper in Xinyi district, Taipei, Taiwan. Still, it is the world's tallest twin buildings and office building. Despite the ongoing debate on which is the tallest in terms of spires, antennas, and all, the building itself remains as unique as it is as it is built on the world's deepest foundations which is 120-meter due to the depth of the bedrock. Enough said about the architectural side of this Malaysia's place of interest. Now KLCC houses one of the best luxury and fashionable shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur which is called Suria KLCC. "Suria" is a native Malay word for sunshine and you may find the place a haven for shoppers.

The twin towers also houses a concert hall dedicated for Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. If you do not want to miss this opportunity as well as visiting the PetroScience Discovery Center, you may find Concorde Hotel to be the best hotel deals in Kuala Lumpur since it is located within walking distance to the towers. They have 130 premiere rooms and the rooms are just really nice to meet your needs. Their standards room up to their superior executive rooms would be your choice if you favor the fantastic view of the famous twin towers which was featured long ago in the Entrapment film (Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones).

The most splendid and best hotel deals in Kuala Lumpur should be awarded to the Shangri-La Hotel which is situated in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. The hotel is a popular choices for honeymoons and also popular amongst those who love a luxurious and memorable holiday in Malaysia. You can choose to stay in the Malaysian suite that is furnished with unique brown timber architraves and assorted hand-made artifacts. That will actually help to remind you that you are still in Malaysia, one of the most developed Asean countries that retains its cultural diversity and exclusive handicrafts.

Kuala Lumpur is a sleepless city and you should be amused with what it can offer you. Many Americans I met here in KL find the city to be as great as some cities in the United States; though not as bright as Las Vegas LOL. You should not miss the chance to taste the local food here, for example the 'teh tarik' and 'roti canai'. Both of them are most seek and most wanted meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and supper among Malaysians and they are available at various indian-muslim restaurants in Kuala Lumpur. I will take some time to write about them in my future post. For now, do not forget to include local food as one of your basic criterias in finding the best hotel deals in Kuala Lumpur.