Which itinerary would you choose?

[december2020]

We are planning a trip to SE Asia and I'm a little unsure on which itinerary to go for. I am leaning towards Option 1, but then hesitate with Option 2.

The price of tickets are exactly the same, the flight times are pretty much the same and you'd get the same amount of time at each destination, so these aren't deciding factors at the moment.

Option 1:
5-6 Full Days in Singapore
5-6 Full Days in Malaysia
Home

This option would have a 6.5 layover at Changi around 5-11pm but would have less airport runs and packing. It also lets you have a long stint in each place.

Option 2:
3 Full Days in Singapore
5-6 Full Days in Malaysia
2-3 Full Days in Singapore
Home

This option has no layovers and we'd likely stay at 2 different hotels in Singapore. It would break up the travel home but would break Singapore into 2 shorter stints instead of one long one.

Which one would you go for?

ooh, only do 2 or 3 in singapore, get to KL in Malaysia and then get to the coast. Langkawi is beautiful this time of year

We had a stopover in Singapore after our tour of Vietnam & Cambodia.
It's an interesting place, but there's not enough there for us for 5-6 days.
It's also very expensive , e.g. £11 for a small glass of bog-standard Merlot.

I voted for option 1, I don't see the benefit in splitting your time in Singapore, but agree with the above posters if there was a 3rd option with less time in Singapore I would chose that.

A couple of nights in Singapore is ok. 5 is too many on both itineraries. What is the plan in Malaysia?

Neither. I'd do 3 full days in Singapore and the rest of the time in Malaysia. Would only return to Singapore for a final night if necessary to fly home.

Thank you everyone so far!

I know Singapore isn't typically seen as a holiday destination, however, I was planning on staying there a bit longer for sentimental reasons. I have lived there for almost a decade and have so many places close to my heart there that I'd like to revisit.

For Malaysia, the plan was something like Penang, Langkawi etc.

You really only need a short time in singapore. No more than 2 days

As you are spending money on the flights it seems a bit short sighted to revisit what you already know. I would explore somewhere new for at least 10 days.

I haven't been back for a long time and I am revisiting Singapore for sentimental reasons, so I am very sure in my decision to spend 5-6 days there.

However, I do understand why a lot of people would prefer 2-3 days there maximum.

This! Singapore is lovely for a few days but not much more.

Apologies I missed your update about why you want to spend a bit longer in Singapore. In that case I'd go with option 1

Option 1

I lived in Singapore (and Malaysia) and went back to Singapore a few months ago and was shocked at the changes, we could not change our number of days in Singapore, but wish it had been shorter and gone to Malaysia for the rest of the time.

But can understand you want to visit places you remember.

I’d go with a couple of less days in Singapore although I understand your reasons for wanting longer but if you haven’t been to Malaysia I’d spend more time there. We did a 10 day trip to KL (3 days there) and a week in Penang and we loved it, KL not as much as Penang, I’d go back to Malaysia in a heartbeat but I’d visit Langkawi instead of KL and I’d go back to Penang as well.

I disagree with everyone who says you only need 2-3 days in Singapore! Yes, it’s much more expensive…but if I thought about all the meals I’d eat while there, 2 days isn’t enough!

Have done both itineraries many times as we have family in both and go every couple of years – last time we spent about a week in Singapore in total, which I would’ve thought too long in the past but we filled it easily and weren’t bored or restless.

I would personally do the version with Malaysia in the middle – as you say, avoids any layover and any potential for a missed connection. Also, it’s nice to break up the Singapore days so it doesn’t feel too much – 3 days; then another 3 days, sounds perfect.