#82

Yeah, the parks are quite out there.

We did White Sands (soooo good but mental) and Big Bend (amazing day of rafting on the Rio Grande)

Eek. You can’t be trusted with cars.

#83

Sri Lanka was by far the best place I’ve been.

@cheeseandbaconturnov let me know nearer the time when you’re going and i’ll help you sort a wicked trip. We travelled around for just under 3 weeks and I’ve got some v good recommendations if you want more off the beaten path places to stay after the crick.

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#84

Yeah I think we’ll only do a few days in KL to settle into the time but want to do a bit of traveling around to some Islands. Our last few trips have been crazy busy so wanna take it a bit easier this time.

#85

There’s an ongoing debate between me and my passenger who claimed I had, and I quote, “loads of room”. It’s best if we don’t get into it.

#86

Good stuff. Cheers @meowington.

#87

3 weeks in Malaysia was the best holiday I’ve ever been on.

We did KL (food markets are pretty good and I did enjoy the Batu Caves and the rainforest park thing) > across to Borneo where we stayed in Sandakan for a bit (orangutan and proboscis monkey sanctuaries and a very moving war memorial park, we also did a wildlife camp thing which was fun but a bit remote), the went to Kota Kinabalu where we did mountain biking and island hopping – the snorkelling there is ridiculous. Back on mainland Malaysia we went to Penang (best food is here) where we ate a lot and saw a lot of temples. Then the Cameroon Highlands where you can get some respite from the heat as it’s quite rainy, you can see the tea plantations here. Next was the Perhentians which are a couple of beautiful islands on the north-east border near Thailand. Very quiet, amazing snorkelling and diving. Very very bumpy boat ride but worth it. Then we went back down to Taman Negara (wouldn’t bother with this, it’s a shit excuse for a rainforest even if it is meant to be the oldest one in the world).

The best bits were the snorkelling off Kota Kinabalu, the mountain biking we did there and the Perhentians. Oh and the food in Penang.

#88

Sounds great. I’m gonna have to hit you up for more tips when we book the flights and start planning. We’re aiming to go in March/April.

How did you get over to Borneo? I’d defo wanna get over there but can’t work out how. Little plane?

#89

Yeah, we just flew. Internal flights are very cheap. We even did an internal Borneo flight! The plane was just like one you’d get to go to Europe from London. So it was fiiiine.

Argh just thinking about the snorkelling there makes me want to go back so bad!

#90

Oh ace. I can see this now turning into a mega trip THANKS NIKI. Bf loves snorkelling so thats pretty high up on the to do list. With expedia, we can get direct flights with BA and a hotel for 2 nights in KL for like £650 which ain’t all that bad.

All I want from a holiday is good food really.

#91

!! that’s an amazing price

yeah the food in Malaysia is just amazing because it’s a mixture of all the cuisines in the surrounding countries and then it has its own stuff too. roti canai for breakfast with some pulled tea = :100:

Penang is very famous for its food: Penang cuisine - Wikipedia

We spend an evening going round the places they mention here: 10 of the best cheap eats in Penang | Malaysia holidays | The Guardian (it’s probably well out of date now but you get the gist)

#92

OH PLS I love the look of the food there.

Okay I’m properly in. The boyfriend is fully on board. May even be able to twist his arm to book it today. EEP.

#93

If more convincing is needed, i’ll just send this.

#94

Inspired by this thread I’ve decided to go to New York. February should be relatively affordable if a little chilly, but where to stay?

#95

:laughing:

#96

Ooh I’m going at the beginning of Feb so would be interested in some recommendations if you’d be so kind. Currently have 5 days/nights to play with where we’ve not booked anything

#97

Ooh yes of course! Where are you heading? Do you have a rough route planned?

We stayed mainly south but did a big loop around so went via quite a few places. I defo have some recommendations of places to stay, eat, drink, shit to do if the places you’re heading cross over with where we went!

#98

We’re heading down south near Weligama for a soul and surf thingy for a week, but before that we have 5 days to explore. We were thinking of heading straight to Kandy and working our way down, and visiting a plantation and some wildlife orientated things…

#99

Going to portugal in April. Gonna take in Porto, Lisbon, Sintra and maybe hop the border to Badajoz

#100

Not booked yet but I’m really hoping to go to Berlin, ideally by the end of March. Been meaning to for years. Considering buying tickets for me and my partner as a Christmas present for her. She wants to go to Berlin too, I’m not forcing it!

#101

Excellent, I know where you’re going!

You might want to do more non-beachy stuff then if you’re doing that for a week? Avoid Unawatuna, it’s a crap beach and naff.

We did Ella, Kandy and Nuwara Eilya. I loved Ella the most as it’s just spectacular. You can do a hike to Mini Adam’s peak https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g616035-d2478367-Reviews-Little_Adam_s_Peak-Ella_Uva_Province.html
Any of the guest houses are fine but basic. They have such good views though and not far from the town. If you’re in the town, get an iced tea from Cafe Chill. I had 3 in one visit as they’re like ice tea slushie.

We got the train a lot and although they’re quite slow, the views are just amazing and the journey goes so quickly so i’d recommend it. You could probably do Kandy for a few days (we stayed here http://www.thilankahotel.com/, would defo recommend!) then train to Ella and then get yourself a private driver to take you down to Weligama. It’ll be no more than £100. Ella to Weligama is about 5 hours but you can stop off at Udawalawe national park to do a safari and your driver will wait (we did this, it was good, shit loads of elephants).

We also did Adam’s Peak if you fancy it. I fucking hated it and actually cried a lot on the way up and was insanely disappointed when I got to the top but other people have said how amazing it was so each to their own. I much preferred mini adam’s peak in Ella. The views are better, you don’t have to get up at 2am, you don’t have to walk up 5,500 steep stairs.

Are you stopping in Colombo? if so, defo get yourself a reservation at the Ministry of Crab. It’s incredible.

If you want anything more, let me know. This was our route in order:

Colombo > Unawatuna > Talpe > Hiriketiya Bay > Ella > Nuwara Eilya > Adam’s Peak & White Water Rafting > Kandy > Negombo.

My faves were Talpe (if you can pop there, this place http://www.talpebeach.com/ is v good for food and drinks or day time chilling, beautiful beaches with hardly anyone on them a little further up the road), and Ella and Kandy.

Also make sure you eat all the egg hoppers you can and loads of pol sambol. It’s INCREDIBLE. Oh i want a hopper so badly right now.