Going with Family Overland REP - SIN..By Air SIN - SYD...

by **robboat** » Sun May 20, 2012 4:24 pm

Planning a trip to Australia for August/September this year with my wife and children.
2 adults and 2 teenagers.
Want for them to experience going overland to Singapore (maybe even Bali) and then fly to Sydney.
It will be their first big overseas trip and I want it to be memorable.

Looking for suggestions about interesting stopovers and other travel ideas for the family when they are going through Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
Trying to avoid 12hr bus trips, continuous traveling and night trains so they get to see some of the country.
Time is reasonably flexible and the budget.....is budget class....

Some people may know of family friendly locations and hotels that they could recommend, especially in Southern Thailand and Malaysia.

Thanks in advance for your help..... :smile:

by **SunSan** » Sun May 20, 2012 6:01 pm

No idea about the Thai part. But once you get to the south, Hadyai, you take a coach (not minivan, the drivers are overworked and use drugs to stay awake!) to Butterworth and spend a night or two in Georgetown. Then you take a coach to Cameron Highlands, hills, tea plantations, cool weather and real, evergreen tropical rainforest. After that KL, with the best shopping and food in SEA followed by Melacca with its Portuguese and Dutch past. Then it's straight to Singapore. Try to get seats on a super VIP, 21- seater coach for that last leg, you'll be surprised, and not only by the price.

by **Lucky Seven** » Sun May 20, 2012 6:11 pm

East coast of Malaysia , the Perhentian Islands !!!

Just read your post Sunsan . I would go to Sungei Kolok from Had Yai then on to the east coast to visit the Perhentian Islands and Cherating before heading across to the places you have mentioned.

by **Phuket2006** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:01 pm

tons to see in Thailand.
fly to Phuket, ( flights in low season are not that much more than the bus) spend a few days, ( hotels $15-30/night as its low season) hop on a bus to Penang,or fly... one or 2 nights is enough ,( Georgetown has some great shopping and Indian food and inexpensive hotels) head to kl by train and up to Genting highlands, back on the train
I bicycled the east coast back in '83 and not that much, West coast is nicer.

Singapore is worth more than a few days/nights ( its not cheap)
the day and night zoo, Sentosa, Resorts international free light show at night and great restaurants in Little India, Orchard road.

Hop a flight to Bali. From the airport head straight up to Ubid by taxi and rent a car and drive around, cars and gas are cheap as our hotels. ( 3-4 star hotels in low season for under $30)
the north coast is beautiful black sand ( lovina beach), the temples, volcano, Kuta for ur last night before u fly out and if u have kids the water park downtown is great place to spend the day

Bali is one of the most enjoyable countries to visit in Asia. :thumbsup:

by **SunSan** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:36 pm

Agree. Much more interesting on the west coast. The east coast is one beach after another, with some islands offshore, the only bigger place is Kuantan.

OP did mention he wants to go overland though.

Since he lives in REP, he'll probably cross at Poipet, then maybe Khao Yai? Ayuthaya? Bangkok, Hua Hin, Surat Thani, Hadyai?

by **Phuket2006** » Mon May 21, 2012 1:06 pm

Bangkok is great for a few days of course but Hua Hin, Surat Thani, Had Yai? Not really worth the stop
Only thing i enjoy about Hua Hin is the seafood restaurants over the water

Plenty of options if u want stay on the ground ( could take the train to Hua Hin-Surat an bus over to Phuket) but to me nothing between Bangkok and Phuket that is worth going out of ur way for and like i said flying is cheap now
save ur overland /time for Malaysia and Bali

by **robboat** » Mon May 21, 2012 3:40 pm

Thanks for the replies....

Flying is definitely cheaper.....Kayak had a deal Jetstar REP - SIN $95 with 20kg luggage and Malaysia Airlines SIN - SYD for $442 with 20kg luggage.
4 adults (kids are over 11yrs old) cost $2150 REP - SYD....

But I am looking to make it a memorable trip rather than a long commute in a cigar tube with jet engines.....

Taxi SR to BKK ($19), overnight in Bangkok then the bus (or train?) to HadYai (1200b?), sightseeing/rest day then on to Penang (NOT by minivan -Thanks, SS), sightseeing/rest day at Penang, then KL for sightsee/rest, then Singapore for a rest day.....
How can we get across to the east coast of Malaysia from Ipoh? - I rode that way on my bike and the mountains were pretty scenic......
Is there a direct bus from Phuket into Malaysia?

Thanks for your input guys.... :thumbsup:

by **Phuket2006** » Mon May 21, 2012 4:22 pm

You can really get a private taxi from sr to Bangkok for $19!!! sounds really cheap,

why get off the train in Hat Yai? nothing there for u to see or do, IF ur going to take the train go all the way to Georgetown in Penang,
Plenty of mini buses do the Phuket-Penang route with daily departures its only 8 hours and there has never been an accident. Many local companies do this for visa run people. You could do large air con bus from Phuket-krabi-trang-hat yai-border-Penang.

If ur going to break it up
mini bus to Hat Yai from Phuket, stay the night ( Diamond Plaza hotel is a great deal about 800-1,000 baht) an than take the train. much nicer than bus

If i were u i would spend at least 2 days/nights in Bangkok, do the river trip by local boat form the Oriental pier, walk around, shopping, Wat Po

Just my $05 worth

by **flipflop** » Fri May 25, 2012 9:18 am

If you don't want to do an overnight train to the south of Thailand, then a stopover in hua hin it's got a beach that goes on for miles and good food at the night Market

Sorry but where is REP?