First Time in Malaysia: Real HA Journeys

Planning holidays for our clients is always special, but at the end of last year, our Malaysia expert Ian (there he is on the left!) was able to plan a very exciting trip for his parents. Sue and Terry were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary; it was a celebration-worthy milestone, deserving of a serious hurrah.In stepped Ian! Having watched his adventures over the years (and hearing countless stories!), Sue and Terry decided to try something different and head to Malaysia to explore a part of the world they'd never been to before. For Terry, this wasn't just his first time in Malaysia, but his very first trip to Asia! We caught up with them after they returned to find out about their adventures.

"After following Ian's many travels around Malaysia, it has always been on our list to visit, and we thought our anniversary was the perfect time to go.Ian’s always telling us how much he thought we would love the country and culture, so we let him plan the whole thing (with our input of course). We were excited to go on a nice, warm holiday in November/December and the weather was perfect, over 30 degrees every day.

After an in-depth discussion with Ian about different locations in Malaysia and what they had to offer us, we settled on Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Langkawi. We love aimlessly walking around cities (as does Ian), as well as sightseeing, food and relaxing by the beach. He assured us these three spots would be the perfect fit.

Kuala Lumpur was fantastic, a really interesting first-stop in Malaysia. It took at bit of time to get to our hotel as the city traffic can be quite busy, but once we arrived at the Hotel Ruma, we felt so relaxed and ready to see what KL had to offer. On arrival to the hotel, the staff opened our doors for us, took our bags to our room and we were offered a welcome drink whist we were checking in, it felt so special. We then found a little bar where everyone was so warm and welcoming for our first taste of Malaysian beer!The city itself is really something to see, impressive buildings, lovely food and amazing public transport. We loved riding the monorail and it was so easy to use and get around, plus it is so clean! We went on a food tour as recommend by Ian, and this was a highlight.Being able to see the city with a guide whilst also trying some local delicacies was the perfect way to explore; even more amazing that the guide we had, had also been Ian’s guide on his trip in 2023, a real full-circle moment! Pauline was amazing, so knowledgeable and really made us feel comfortable as we were a little hesitant about some of the food we were trying but it was delicious. We’ve never done a private guided tour before on a holiday and we can really see how it can elevate your experience! We spent four days in KL, which was perfect for us and a great introduction to Malaysia.

We then drove up to Penang, with a stop at Batu Caves which were fascinating! A lot of steps to climb but it was worth it to see inside the caves. It’s also a lovely way to split up the journey.In Penang, we stayed in the gorgeous Eastern & Oriental, what a hotel. From the moment you arrive, it is just brilliant, the staff are amazing. We stayed in a Deluxe Suite which meant we were able to access the happy hour drinks and canapes (all included in the room cost!)We loved Georgetown, the little shops, walking along the jetty, and again, the food and drinks! We did a day trip out to Penang Hill, going up the funicular and see some amazing views across Penang. We had some spare time, so our driver also took us to see some temples which was a great surprise, there’s just so much to see! We also had another guided tour of Georgetown to try some dim sum and see some street art; a great pairing for a tour in our opinion. The art in Georgetown is so interesting and a really highlight of our visit; it’s also nice to explore all the little boutique shops as well.After over a week of exploring and walking thousands of steps a day, we were excited for our relaxing few days in Langkawi. After the shortest of flights we’ve ever been on, we landed in Langkawi and were taken to the Casa Del Mar, our final hotel for the trip. On arrival, we were kindly upgraded to a Junior Suite (as an anniversary present courtesty of our wonderful children), and it was just amazing. The feel of this hotel was very European, which was different to both the E&O and Ruma, and the sea view we had was incredible! We loved looking out over clear blue skies.Langkawi was the perfect place for us to relax. From the hotel, we were able to walk along the beach, explore the shops and just reflect on what an amazing trip it had been. The reception staff also assisted with a private day out for us to explore the island, so we visited the famous Langkawi Eagle and also some waterfalls which was lovely. Finishing the trip with amazing food, drinks and just relaxing was the perfect way to bring the trip to an end, we really didn’t want to come home!

After over a week of exploring and walking thousands of steps a day, we were excited for our relaxing few days in Langkawi. After the shortest of flights we’ve ever been on, we landed in Langkawi and were taken to the Casa Del Mar, our final hotel for the trip. On arrival, we were kindly upgraded to a Junior Suite (as an anniversary present courtesty of our wonderful children), and it was just amazing. The feel of this hotel was very European, which was different to both the E&O and Ruma, and the sea view we had was incredible! We loved looking out over clear blue skies.Langkawi was the perfect place for us to relax. From the hotel, we were able to walk along the beach, explore the shops and just reflect on what an amazing trip it had been. The reception staff also assisted with a private day out for us to explore the island, so we visited the famous Langkawi Eagle and also some waterfalls which was lovely. Finishing the trip with amazing food, drinks and just relaxing was the perfect way to bring the trip to an end, we really didn’t want to come home!

Absolutely, we’ve already been looking at your lovely, brand-new website. We’re thinking ahead for 2027 or 2028 and Singapore is definitely on the cards (again, inspired by Ian’s recent trip!).

It’s difficult to put into words but it really was a holiday of a lifetime and the perfect way to celebrate our 40th anniversary. It was utterly fantastic, every single day.