It’s a wrap
Some reflected thoughts / helpful hints on our travels in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand
Planning/booking
No problems here. Hotels generally booked through Booking.com on cancellable rates. Airport pick-ups/drop-offs and transfers paid in advance but cancellable up until a few days beforehand. River Kwai had to be booked and paid for in advance. Other tours via Get your Guide or Viator reserved in advance (except for one in KL which we did on short notice) but payment is generally only taken a few days before the trip, so can always be cancelled if plans change.
Flights
Business class with Swiss Air via Zurich was the same price as flying direct premium economy with Singapore Airlines or British Airways, so that’s what we did. Internal flights were with Air Asia, Nok Air and Bangkok Airways. All fine - Bangkok Airways even gives you a meal and drinks! Everything on time once again, and no luggage lost!
Hotels
Malacca - the Majestic is a nice hotel but about 20-30 mins to centre, which we did there and back regularly. In retrospect, may have been better to opt for the Casa del Rio, which didn’t look as nice and has less character but is closer to the action. Or you could potentially spend longer in KL and do Malacca as a day trip.
KL - disappointed with the Majestic. Room nice, but food poor and the older part of the hotel is looking quite tired. Located close to KL Sentral station but the wrong side of the dual carriageway. If visiting again, would probably opt for one of the hotels on top of KL Sentral or something cin the centre near to the Petronas Towers.
Penang - loved the E&O. Stay in the Heritage Wing. This includes exclusive use of a nicer pool, separate restaurant for breakfast and a number of ‘freebies’ including cocktails and canapés for an hour each evening.
Bangkok - we had a great room in the Shangri La, river view is worth paying for. Wouldn’t bother with Horizon Club rooms. There was a big conference there when we visited, with 600/800 rooms booked out to delegates. Not sure how that affected things versus a different mix of guests, but for most of the day the hotel felt pretty empty and there were loads of free sun loungers round the pool etc. It’s a big, anonymous corporate but in our view, having been past many of the other options, it has one of the best and largest riverside sites and you definitely want to be on the river!
River Kwai - would recommend The Float House. Nice relaxed vibe and a good way of seeing the key sites in this area.
Chiang Mai - the Inside House is a super hotel. Lovely staff, great breakfast and a good location within the old town and in walking distance of everywhere. We didn’t bother with a private pool - the hotel pool is more than adequate and deserted. And there’s a great little wine bar, Cru, just up the street.
Ko Samui - we really enjoyed our stay at Garrya Tsongai Bay. Lovely room (again no private pool, but a big room with bedroom and sitting room and a large deck with table, bath and sun loungers looking out over the sea. Good food.
Other points
No real issues. We had one taxi that didn’t turn up, otherwise everything went like clockwork.
No concerns over safety/security. Nothing lost or stolen, nobody bothered us.
Timing/weather - we had some rain in Singapore and Malaysia, but none in Thailand. Best option is an umbrella rather than coats. Crop-burning in western and northern Thailand (plus in Myanmar) means there is some smoke pollution in the River Kwai/Chiang Mai areas in Feb/Mar/Apr. It was noticeable, in terms of a more or less permanent haze and not great visibility for photos etc but it didn’t affect our breathing at all. Temperatures generally around 35C and humid, though less humidity in Chiang Mai and on Ko Samui.
Food hygiene appears to be pretty good - at least where we went! We had no stomach issues, despite drinking their filtered water all the time and not forgoing ice, salad etc.