Half term break from Singapore, inspiration please!

[butterfliesinmytummy]

Looking for 4-5 days at the end of October, somewhere for the beach loving kids (4 and 7), grandparents (air con required) and us....

Done a lot of Thailand so not there, langkawi been suggested (dh and I scuba) but feeling a bit meh about it and October is monsoon season, Nikoi fully booked, like the sound of hoi an but left it too late for a cheap flight, ditto Myanmar, grandparents had a disappointing time in Bali and refuse to go back, raja ampat and boracay too far for a quick trip ....

Needs to be not too far, direct flight, decent hotel / villa .... any thoughts?

Penang is interesting and good beaches at Batu Ferringhi (ocean beaches, though), and short cab ride in to Georgetown and around the island.

Borneo? Good diving from Kota Kinabalu and the orang-utan sanctuary next to the Shangri-la.

Thanks expat wife. Done shangrila at kk 3 times and it's amazing, I always recommend it but would prefer something else this time (been in Singapore nearly 5 years). Had thought of Penang, didnt consider the beaches, will take a look, thanks!

Not sure where GP are coming from (UK, I assume?) so what about far north Queensland or Western Australia (Broome?) Maybe too far for you for 4-5 days, but great beaches and no time difference between WA and Singapore.

Taking notes and standing by - have been browsing the same thing today.

We went to Penang at Christmas (didn't know we'd be coming to SE Asia to live, was visiting DH relatives in Ipoh, Malaysia) - we adored it, went with my sis and Dad. Beaches not so great IMO but they exist nonetheless. Loved Georgetown, OK for 7-y-o but perhaps not for age 4.

Pangkor is lovely, off the coast near Ipoh, Malaysia, but also with Penang and Langkawi it could be monsoon season.

Macau is supposed to be fab, and Maldives too. Suppose you have done Bintang a lot?

Philippines?

Anyway, standing by for some good tips.

How about Tioman, Redang or Batu Batu in Malaysia?

What about Palawan in the Philippines?

Lombok and gili islands for diving?

That's reassuring. We're doing our first trip in October half-term. To Kota Kinabalu Shangri-La :-)

Thanks all, seems its going to be difficult to avoid the monsoon ... Currently still looking at langkawi, tioman and pangkor, making notes to take umbrellas.... Would love to do the gili islands and lombok but grandparents did them on their last trip out east!

Sorry to hijack, Butterflies, but could you let me know which of the KK Shangri-la hotels you recommend? We're looking to go there. Their website has two in KK, both with goodlooking kids' facilities and orangutans! Thanks so much.

We have been to the shangrila rasa ria, didn't know the other one has orang utans...

Thank you! No sanctuary - I think that's the difference.

If you do Pangkor, go here. It was known as the 'Golden Sands' back in the day when DH's parents used to go there in the 70s for a treat. Bits of it are still slightly 70s but for Pangkor this place is well kept, does a nice line in massages and buffet dinners (if that's your cup of tea) and has its own beach.

Pangkor town is very local and we stayed at a different place this Christmas, but would always now go back to the PIBR. You can escape the compound by booking a cab into town or round the island - all the taxis are pink trucks. Fab. There are temples and fish markets and little rocky inlets to explore. We love it. Swallows and Amazons under blue skies... Looking into flights from Spore for half term ourselves, but we think we might need to go via KL. Not sure.

Anyway, that's my Pangkor roundup, a place I love. Enjoy the browsing, hope you find somewhere soon.