Beach Holiday (Singapore/Malaysia)

[abbby]

Can anyone recommend a nice getaway beach resort/hotel ? Any nice places in Sg or Malaysia will do.

[Lancer4332]

I've been to Nongsa Point Marina Resort recently. It's a cosy place with nice beach and jetty. It is in Indonesia, Batam, but only about 45 mins ferry ride away. There's another resort beside it called Turi Beach resort. If I'm not wrong, they are under the same group. I like that place, suitable for relax.

[JR8]

I'm a big fan of Tioman, Malaysia.

Accommodation ranges from backpacker to $boutique. Since the island is not that easy to reach, it's close to SG but still relatively very unspoilt.

Note: You need to make sure you visit other than in monsoon season, otherwise many places will be shut. Even the huge Berjaya Hotel shuts for a couple of months. Also, there used to be direct flights (Berjaya Air) from Seletar/SG which made it easy. Latterly the point of departure was changed to the Changi budget terminal. These now seem to have been suspended, and the only way is flying SIN > KUL (change *airport* there IIRC!) > TOD. Not a fun journey!

People commonly also go by road to Mersing, then take the ferry over. Since the ferries leave early this often requires an overnight stop in Mersing which is a pretty dismal place. If the monsoon is active, ferries get cancelled maybe with just a couple of hours notice.

Curiously last time I checked, Tioman 'airport' (a strip of tarmac and a big hut) still showed Berjaya arrivals ex SIN, despite the route being axed. I need to check this again, as if the direct flight restarts again I'll be off there in a second!

[the lynx]

I'm a big fan of Tioman, Malaysia.

Accommodation ranges from backpacker to $boutique. Since the island is not that easy to reach, it's close to SG but still relatively very unspoilt.

Note: You need to make sure you visit other than in monsoon season, otherwise many places will be shut. Even the huge Berjaya Hotel shuts for a couple of months. Also, there used to be direct flights (Berjaya Air) from Seletar/SG which made it easy. Latterly the point of departure was changed to the Changi budget terminal. These now seem to have been suspended, and the only way is flying SIN > KUL (change *airport* there IIRC!) > TOD. Not a fun journey!

People commonly also go by road to Mersing, then take the ferry over. Since the ferries leave early this often requires an overnight stop in Mersing which is a pretty dismal place. If the monsoon is active, ferries get cancelled maybe with just a couple of hours notice.

Curiously last time I checked, Tioman 'airport' (a strip of tarmac and a big hut) still showed Berjaya arrivals ex SIN, despite the route being axed. I need to check this again, as if the direct flight restarts again I'll be off there in a second!

It is really axed. Now only KL-Tioman flights using Berjaya or Samadhi. That's the only thing hindering me from visiting Tioman - insane travelling time required.

[the lynx]

To answer OP, good beach destinations within MY/SG are:

1. Redang island, MY
2. Pangkor island, MY
3. Perhentian island, MY
4. Langkawi island, MY
5. Tioman island, MY
6. Sipadan island, MY
7. Changi Beach Resort near Pasir Ris (surprisingly a good friend told me it was worth the stay in the villas there
8. Mataking island, MY
9. Island cluster off Kota Kinabalu, MY (called Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park)
10. Ubin island, SG
11. Sentosa island, SG (if you have the money and you want the bling away from the city buzz)
12. Port Dickson, MY (used to be good but I don't know how it has been these days)
13. Koh Lipe, TH (only accessible from Langkawi island)
14. Penang island, MY (only on Batu Ferringhi/Telok Bahang side)

[JR8]

It is really axed. Now only KL-Tioman flights using Berjaya or Samadhi. That's the only thing hindering me from visiting Tioman - insane travelling time required.

Thanks for that

I did a bit of digging.

- The Berjaya Air site shows no flights to Tioman at all, not even for peak season this year.
- The Berjaya Hotel Tioman website lists *no* flights at all. Well perhaps they are so loath to mention a rival airline, they overlook Samadhi Air completely! http://www.berjayahotel.com/tioman/en/how_to_get_there" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- On the basis that people $'d-up enough to be staying at the Japamala would be wanting some 0%-bull travel advice, and no not a 18-24+ hr overland journey, I checked there. And there is the info on Samadhi Air (who I'd never heard of) http://www.japamalaresorts.com/travel-t ... light.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . They seem to have no entry on Wikipedia, and the sparsest of corporate sites.... curious.
- ... and then slowly the dots joined. Samadhi Air is owned by the same parent company as Japamala Resort, ie Samadhi Retreats.

So, in conclusion, if you want to fly to Tioman, the only way for the foreseeable is via the Japamala Hotel's own flights. And they are circa S$500 r/t ex: KL-Subang. http://www.japamalaresorts.com/travel-t ... light.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; [I have flown London-NYC r/t for less than that!!]

I wonder what that has done to occupancy rates at the Tioman Berjaya? Backpackers and overlanders are not their target market. I suspect people paying S$500 for the flight alone might not be either. Hmmm.

Anyway, thanks for that info Lynx, I think it's finally allowed me to piece the situation together. If I want to go then I have to fly SIN > KL-Subang > Tioman, and it's not going to be cheap! I still might look into it though, Tioman really is that deeply burned into my diver's soul...

[JR8]

6. Sipadan island, MY

A very useful list there.

Can I just add re: the above.
Sipadan is a marine park, and you can't stay there (the daily visitor ballot/quotas, registration with passport at the jetty each day, resident military outpost, and gunboat patrolling offshore ensure that!). People who wish to visit Sipadan and experience the Top-10 dive destination that it is often stay on nearby Mabul or Kapalai islands. Highly exotic in themselves! From those, or indeed the very idiosyncratic Seaventures dive-rig, moored 200-300m off Mabul, it's c30 minutes speedboat ride to Sipadan.

I stayed on the rig when I went, and talk about different from the usual kind of accommodation! Not a place for non-diving spouses and children, but awesome in it's own unique way!

[Lancer4332]

If you are looking for something different, maybe you can try staying on board a kelong. It is a Malay traditional wooden house built on top of the sea.

[Barnsley]

7. Changi Beach Resort near Pasir Ris (surprisingly a good friend told me it was worth the stay in the villas there

Next time you are on holiday there , let me know and I will come and visit

[ssylow]

PORT DICKSON . DESURA. KUKUP

[JR8]

7. Changi Beach Resort near Pasir Ris (surprisingly a good friend told me it was worth the stay in the villas there

Next time you are on holiday there , let me know and I will come and visit

Hey.... Lynx hosts the next Eagles: Beach-party woo-ho maaaaaaan!

[the lynx]

7. Changi Beach Resort near Pasir Ris (surprisingly a good friend told me it was worth the stay in the villas there

Next time you are on holiday there , let me know and I will come and visit

Hey.... Lynx hosts the next Eagles: Beach-party woo-ho maaaaaaan!

Eh eh eh I thought you nominated squirrel!

[menudown]

there's this new resort at Port Dickson..looks interesting







http://www.lexis.my/Hotel-Resorts/Lexis ... rt-Dickson

[Lancer4332]

I just went to that Hibiscus Resort at Port Dickson. It is not completed yet. Basically there isn't any facilities there except for some restaurants. There are also nothing nearby. If you are just there to relax in the chalet, it is an excellent place as the chalets are spacious and comfortable. Otherwise you will be disappointed. And by the way, the sea water there is dirty.

[menudown]

I just went to that Hibiscus Resort at Port Dickson. It is not completed yet. Basically there isn't any facilities there except for some restaurants. There are also nothing nearby. If you are just there to relax in the chalet, it is an excellent place as the chalets are spacious and comfortable. Otherwise you will be disappointed. And by the way, the sea water there is dirty.

thanks for the info Lancer4332, initially I was planning to visit Hibiscus too but read some reviews and feedbacks from other forum post, just like what u mentioned..so holding back till its 100% complete and further updates