STAFF REPORT: Penang and Langkawi, Malaysia

Our key accounts manager, Daniel, recently got back from a one week trip to Malaysia. Here s his thoughts on what Penang (Georgetown) and the island of Langkawi have to offer!

Who do you think the two areas suit?  Whilst both destinations will suit almost everyone, I think Georgetown is an ideal destination for couples with its history, junk shops and interesting architecture. Langkawi is a brilliant family destination gorgeous beaches and very family friendly.

What were your stand out experiences? In Penang, we spend hours trawling the Lorong Kulit Flea Market where we were the only tourists, really. My wife and I have a passion for antiques and curiosities so it was a brilliant place to satisfy our hobby. In Langkawi, we went on a kayak tour through the northern mangroves which was a fantastic glimpse into the islands natural beauty.

Would you go again? Absolutely my wife and I are already planning a return to Penang in October! We re visiting friends in Singapore so will head over to Penang for a few days after that. We both agreed that Malaysia is our new favourite destination in SE Asia.

What did you eat?  So much street food! Satay, char kway teow (fried noodles), laksa (soup) as well as numerous lovely curries. Malaysia has an incredibly rich tapestry of different migrant communities (British, Indian and Chinese especially) so eating in the country really has a fantastic blend of flavours and concepts.

How was it, budget-wise?  Very cheap, relative to the UAE. Our lunches typically cost about 10dhs each, beverage prices were low as were accommodation costs. Our gorgeous rice paddy villa in Langkawi cost around AED400 per night including breakfast and that was on the higher end of hotel prices there.

Daniel flew Qatar Airways/Malaysian Airlines Dubai Doha Kuala Lumpur Penang and then flew Firefly between Penang and Langkawi.

Return flights from Dubai to Kuala Lumpur start from around AED1,800.

Hotels: Chulia Mansion in Georgetown, The Gemalai Village in Langkawi.