Borneo...or Thailand?

[OllyBJolly]

The travel agent has offered us alternatives to Sri Lanka for a holiday in August. We don't take many overseas holidays; this is to be a special once in a life time type holiday for DH's 50th.

TA has come back with an itinerary for Borneo. Start with three days in Kuala Lumpur and three nights in Koto Kinabalu and four nights in Gaya Island.

Any thoughts? Doesn't excite me as much as Sri Lanka did. And we can wait to see of travel restrictions are limited.

Ooo, that sounds nice.

We also booked Sri Lanka. We booked it in November last year and this is our second attempt at going.

Out of interest what sort of itinerary do they have for things to do?

Where in Thailand are you looking at going? I've spent time in both KL and KK, though not been to Gaya. I suppose it's what you're looking for in a holiday... KK has nice beaches and Mt Kinabalu (which is beautiful and good for a hike), but otherwise a bit slow. I actually quite like KL as a city. There is a lot to see and do and it's a bit more authentic than, say, Singapore. You can visit temples and also take in the symphony. Lovely gardens in the centre. Not a beaches place though. If you're hoping for spectacular beaches and turquoise water, Thailand is probably better. Another quite charming p,ace to visit in Malaysia is the Cameron Highlands with the tea plantations, or to KL is Frasier's Hill (also plantations and lots of bird watching).

Have you considered Myanmar? The valley of temples in Bagan is meant to be spectacular, and there are some nice beach resorts on the coast I think. Might be worth considering?

We went to Borneo last summer (and are booked for Sri Lanka this year but need to change).
While we enjoyed kk you'd be really missing out if you didnt go to Sandakan and visit Sepilok orangutan sanctuary and kinanbatangan river to hopefully see them in the wild.
We didn't stay on Gaya island.
We flew straight on to kk from kl.
Then to sepilok, sandakan, river, kk, mantanani island (Gaya much more luxurious), then kk for 3 days with side trips to islands and for white water rafting.

I'm looking at Thailand as a Sri Lanka alternative. I think snorkelling and beaches would be nicer there than Borneo but I haven't been before.

Borneo was an absolute hit with my lot.

P.s. I'm struggling to get excited about alternatives to Sri Lanka too. Giving myself another 10 days before making serious decisions - flights end of July - fingers crossed fco changes it's mind - I'm not really holding out much hope though.

Thanks so much for your responses.Borneo is a bit more appealing now. My concerns are that the Sri Lanka itinerary is just fabulous - couldn't craft a better holiday. But - if we hold on, good holidays might be less accessible. Our itineraries:

Sri Lanka was:
1 night Mount Lavinia Hotel Standard Room Half board
3 nights Jetwing Vil Uyana Paddy Dwelling Plunge Pool Half Board
Own Car and Driver for 8 Days
2 nights Cinnamon Citadel Kandy Half Board Superior room 2 nights Heritance Tea factory Executive Floor Deluxe room Half Board
4 nights Fortress Resort and Spa Half Board
17 Aug 2019 Private Transfer from Fortress to Airport

Borneo proposal is:

3 nights Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur Deluxe Room
4 nights at Shangri La Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa Kinabalu
Sepilok Orangutans Day Trip
Private Transfer and Scheduled boat to Gaya Island Resort
4 nights Gaya island Resort Baya Villa Bed and Breakfast

Thailand was talked about but not pursued. Might be worth looking at. DCs have been -but as backpackers - and say it's not for us.

We were very much at the backpackers end of the scale in Borneo!
A day trip to sepilok from kk seems quite rushed - I'm not sure what others thing - its a flight each way.
Your Sri Lanka trip is definitly more high end than ours too so may be sticking to peninsula Malaysia is better. I'm not sure of weather but kl, penang, langkawi, an island resort.
I've only seen a little of Thailand but think it offers lots more than the backpackers/full moon scene!

I think weather-wise, Borneo is a safer option than Thailand. I don't think KK is particularly attractive - although national park is good. I prefer Kuching - great for long houses, kayaking and seeing orangutans.

We stayed at bunga raya on Gaya island, having done vil uyana the year before. Both really good.

We did 5 nights Shangri la rasa ria (definitely DO NOT do that one. Total let down), 2 nights at sukau rainforest lodge including sepilok, then 3 nights Gaya island.

Honestly, Borneo wins hands down over Sri Lanka for me, but I planned both of them properly. Not because I couldn’t do one of them any more. I understand why it’s be feeling less exciting - because it’s not as planned.

I love KL as a city, but I’d go more towards an extra night in Borneo.

@mardatsnails my only worry for @ollybjolly is that they had clearly booked some fabulous high end hotels. Do you think Borneo could match that? I have no knowledge of that end 🤣.
We loved Borneo but on a backpacking level accommodation is pretty similar in all of those countries.

Kuching/Sarawak looks fab too.

Apparently China has downgraded its travel advisory today (from Facebook post so don't quote me on that).

Happy any of the three of Gaya island are as good as those in Sri Lanka. We did that trip as our swankiest holiday ever (finished it with a suite at raffles Singapore, for example!) and definitely up there with the Sri Lanka trip. OP clearly has good taste in holidays 😜

I’ll be honest - after my shangri la rasa ria, I’ll never book another shangri la again (was my 3rd in the chain worldwide, always a let down).

OP, in my opinion there isn’t much reason to do 3 nights in KK and 4 on Gaya, the hotels offer free boats to the mainland so anything in KK can be done from Gaya. Use that to go somewhere else on the island. Check sukau, or Borneo rainforest lodge (we wanted that one, didn’t have the dates we needed). Or if KK is a must, have a look at sutera/ Magellan.

The other one mentioned as possible was Thailand. Have a look at this possible trip:
3 night Bangkok (I’m not a fan of the city particularly, but it’s defjnitely an experience and close to some interesting places for day trips)
2-3 nights chiang Mai or golden triangle (check anantara golden triangle)
2 night package at Elephant Hills
3-4 nights beach break, naka island resort Phuket. Similar to Gaya or vil uyana, vastly superior to those two though, pool villas with in room saunas.

Did that one the following year from the Borneo trip.

MardAsSnails Thailand itinerary is fabulous. That's the one I'd go for. Backpacking in Thailand is a totally different experience to going on a luxury holiday, you can't really compare.

We stayed at bunga raya

That was the resort we set our hearts on but I was a bit unsure of the villas not having proper windows, just shutters. The thought of possibly waking up with a big beastie on the bed freaked me out! It looks fantastic though. We've had to push our holiday back to January and changed our destination to Cambodia and Vietnam.

Yes MardAsSnails that is one fantastic itinerary. Just been googling your recommended hotels - fabulous! Thank you so much for taking the time to do that.

Sri Lanka came about because different friends had been and raved about it - each describing it as the best holiday ever. That meant I knew a bit about what to look for. I'm in the dark re Borneo. Getting a list of hotels and transfers doesn't really give me any insight into whether it would work.

Very tempted by Thailand now. The question is whether the TA can deliver Mard's itinerary within the budget

@OllyBJolly, do you have to stay with the travel agent you booked through for Sri Lanka? I'm not sure what the process is for the situation you're in with your Sri Lanka holiday eg could you get a refund and then quotes from other agents. It's such a shame what happened there as it's a wonderful destination. Not helpful, sorry.

Borneo is amazing.
Definitely climb Kinabalu there’s a lovely base camp, you get up and climb the top section before sunrise and stars are unbelieveable! Full Milky Way.
The pinnacles are also a stunning climb, but harder going. The base camp is lovely with a river to swim in.
I caught the tiny 6 seater plane from KK, it flies over the canopy of the jungle. I’d have less time in KK and more time travelling myself.
The orangutans are amazing.
We got to some lovely islands.

Thanks, Fraxion

I think I'm stuck with current agent. My understanding is that they don't have to offer refunds or alternatives as the holiday isn't until August so might still be possible. I think it also has to be a Kuoni holiday. And sadly, looks like Mard's hotel recommendations aren't offered by Kuoni.

This is only the second time I've used an agent - always DIY but then never do anything as exciting as this!

I'm speaking to the TA this afternoon. I spent way more than I had planned to in adding excursions and upgraded rooms etc - and I know I'm very lucky to be in a position to do that. However, I feel there is no incentive now for the agent to match that as an experience. They have my money - in full - and just have to find a holiday.

I loved Borneo but I think that itinerary looks a bit dull. Borneo is all about the nature and there isn't much to KK. Our itinerary was:
A few nights on an island where the turtles hatch up near the Philippines sea border
A river safari staying at a lodge
A couple of nights at a lodge at Sepilok
A few days in luxury at the Shanghai La

We wanted to do Mt Kinabalu but it would have been too much in the time we had.

If it needs to be a Kuoni holiday, what about re-thinking the region? French Polynesia? Safari? India/Nepal? South America?

OllyBJolly the other alternative is to investigate if you can claim your travel insurance for the money you would lose to Kuoni by cancelling the holiday. We travel a lot and have always found Kuoni quite highly priced compared to other agents. It's really unfair if they keep you hanging on until the last minute before deciding it's safe to travel.

Re Thailand, it appears Kuoni do Elephant Hills in Thailand. There are other nice hotels in Phuket eg The Shore, Kata Rocks, Banyan Tree. So Mard's trip could work with a bit of hotel tweaking.

I’ve got almost the suggested itinerary booked for a Thailand trip in July. It was created by trailfinders.

There are so many hotels in both Bangkok and Chiangmai that I’m sure kuoni can offer you something fabulous. Kuoni do also sell elephant hills trips. The main difference is we are going to Koh Samui not Phuket for our beach nights as should have better summer weather. We are staying at an anantara in koh samui but again there are a lot of choices.

Mysteryfairy made a good point. I forget you are travelling in August so Koh Samui is a better choice weather wise than Phuket as it's rainy season in that part of Thailand.

I'm really grateful to you guys for your input - honestly. Feeling quite emotional that you're being so kind to you all!

I don't think Elephant Hills is possible - the website says you should be a good swimmer and DH can't swim!

I'm going to ask her to quote for a Thailand trip based on Mard's itinerary above, with Koh Samui rather than Phuket

and a more interesting Borneo trip.

Fraxion I don't think I can blame Kuoni for this - it's the FCO restrictions (which may well be lifted by August so insurance won't pay out as the holiday is still available). I just feel that they have sold me a fabulous holiday which I can't take, and there's no incentive to put a lot of thought into a replacement.

I also feel quite hindered that I don't know many people that do these kinds of holidays which is why I so very much appreciate your advice. So when I spoke to her about Sri Lanka I had a rough idea. I know nothing about Thailand or Borneo.

Once Kuoni come up with itineraries, trip advisor the hell out of the hotels, in particular guest photo's. We've avoided some disasters that way. Also look at vids on YouTube of the hotels. It would be great if the FCO lifted restrictions but I don't imagine it will be anytime soon.

In sorting out our Thailand trip I spoke to a couple of reps at trailfinders who had been to Elephant Hills and both spoke about it as memory of a lifetime terroritory. I can swim but won’t be doing so voluntarily as have been told there are huge fish in the lake. Watch the elephant hills marketing videos on you tube to decide as they honestly do not look swimming focussed.