Posted by
Wheelymate
19 yrs ago
we were considering langkawi for a holiday next month but having done abit more research, KK seems pretty interesting and child-friendly too. so we might be keen on that too as we've already been to langkawi.
i recall previous threads when some have raved about KK. specifically, which hotel is better - rasa ria or tanjung aru, both by shangrila? and has anyone stayed in the suites at STAR? we have a very active toddler who has a big nap in the afternoon and a 7pm or so bedtime. we want to keep it that way so that hubby and i can have some alone time (after all, it's for our anniversary) so we are looking for accomodation that will provide a separate living space. we also wander if anyone has used the babysitting services from these hotels.
also, what is there to do in KK with toddlers? will you be confined to the hotel's facilities (saw big pools and the playgrounds) or are there suitable parts of KK to explore with toddlers? foodwise, is there a good variety of non-hotel eateries outside the hotels for us to try and are they restaurant styles or street hawkers - i am pregnant and my toddler is only 16 months so the last thing we want is food poisoning.
lastly, will 4 nights in KK be enough? thanks!!
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HI WM,
We went to KK when LO was 3 month old and loved it. We stayed at Tanjung Aru because it was closer to the islands so we could go off an explore other places - they have their own pier. It was also closer to town (v handy when we decided to stay an extra 2 days and had to go to Malaysian airlines in person), so we could visit markets etc. TBH it's a little run down but the kids pool is great, with shade and there's a playroom etc but you can only leave your kids at the kids club if theyre over 2 I think. I heard the suites have all been done up (Horizon floor I think it's called?) friends stayed there recently and rated it.
We visited friends at rasa Ria who were there with an 8 month old. The pool is better, and you can go on jungle walks and see orangutangs etc but it's v isolated and you're pretty much confined to the resort.
My LO is now also 16 months and given the choice I think I'd go back to the Tanjung Aru. You definitely have easier access to outside facilities, restaurants, day trips etc.
At either resort all rooms have balconies and hubby and I had some lovely room service meals out there while LO slept peacefully inside. We also hired babysitters at both resorts and went to restaurants within the resort.
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spicegal,
thanks! i am surprised you said STAR was rundown - was it before their major renovations? because from the website, it has undergone a recent major facelift.
yes, the horizon floor is the one with the suites i was referring to...and since i can't scale the mountain in my condition, a view of it will be nice!! the thing is i can't seem to access to its availability and rates via the website, might have to go via an agent. but at the very least, we will need a room with a decent balcony..our last so-called trip was in sentosa resort & spa...lovely hotel but no balcony, no place to step out and relax when our son was sleeping!!
when you say easier access to outside facilities/restaurants, are they within walking distance or will it require a cab ride? also, what sort of day trips did you take on the islands - did you use a babysitter or did you bring your little one along?
thanks and sorry for all the extra questions!!
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Maybe it was before the rennovations - but it wasn't totally shabby and the restaurants were nice. I think the Horizon floor was brand new when we were there. (so, 13 odd months ago) - I'm sure hubby would remember if bits of the hotel were being rennovated but I can't remember. We were in the wing with the horizon floor and looked toward the sunsets - they were stunning and room service and a sunset like that was not a hardship!!
Some things are within walking distance but most of the town is a cab ride away - not far though. We used a hotel babysitter one evening who was really good, but we stayed in the resort.
Cos our LO was only 3 months we tended to wait till after her lunchtime nap then take a boat to one of the islands - I guess now we'd go in the mornign and have her nap in the shade somewhere.
Also you can take a bus to the Rasa Ria for a day out and use their facilities and charge back to your STAR room bill if you want a change. It's about an hour trip there though as it's a long way out of town. Worth doing though for a change of scene, different restaurants etc.
HTH's!
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thanks so much, spicegal, great info.
can i ask if you were concerned about malaria during your trip to KK? just came across some forum debating if malaria pills are necessary for KK....i definitely can't take it!
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No probs!
For KK, no we didn't take malaria tablets - have done previously when venturing deeper into Sabah.
BTW there were a few threads under "travel" a while ago about KK - do a search and you might find some different opinions. I know someone posted asking about the sandflies at the Rasa Ria (which were bad when we were there).
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thanks spicegal. i did a a quick search and indeed there were quite a few threads on KK with toddlers!
the more i read, the more sold i am on the idea of KK next month. i'm not keen on phuket/samui/krabi (peak of european summer and the monsoon) and we've been to bali, tioman and langkawi already.
i think STAR seems like the best bet, i am so impressed by the kids club from its website although no clue if they take in kids below 2. but will definitely take advantage of the babysitting service!
discussed the malaria issue with hubby. i doubt we'll be very adventurous except to look at orangutans at rasa ria or maybe a day trip to a nicer beach. other than that, we'll be in the hotel so probably won't need it.
i have the perfect solution for sandflies! i went to sibu island once and they said repellents do NOTHING. what you need to do is layer baby oil over it, all over your body. i did that and it was fine!
now i see my doctor on monday for a check-up and as long as he thinks it's ok for me to travel (as i had a spotting incident earlier), we should be set to go!
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BTW don't think the kids club did take under 2's. And thanks for the sandfly tip!
Hope the checkup goes OK - and have a great holiday - Happy anniversary too!
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MayC
19 yrs ago
Hi Wheelymate. I've just worked out that KK = Kota Kinabalu!!! It seems like a great place to visit!! We'll probably consider it some time in future.
We're looking at Boracay in the Phillipines for our next destination - when we've saved up enough money for another trip!!! Some say that it's the best beach they've been to in Asia.
Anyway, have a nice trip, I'm sure your dr will tell you you're in tip top condition for a much deserved trip ;-)
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spicegal, thanks for all the great tip!!
mayc,
boracay....we have friends who got married there but unfortunately we couldn't attend due to work commitments. supposed to be gorgeous but not easy to get to!
KK appeals to me because we've never been and it's just a short flight away.
have asked the travel agent to start looking into it, will let you know when i finally make and back!!
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ptk
19 yrs ago
Will be going to KK the day after tomorrow, and staying at Rasa Ria for about a week. Will let you know when we come back. Honestly, I have no clue what to do there, but friends that visited that place before really recommended this hotel.
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excellent, will look forward to your post-trip report!
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Kmom
19 yrs ago
was in KK rasa ria over the may holidays. stayed for 7 days. it was a really relaxing holiday. my son who is turning 4 loved it there. orangutan sighting was his highlight. i loved just being able to stay in a place and not worry about a single thing. eat when hungry, sleep when tired ;-)
boracay is indeed of the best. but takes time to get there. too many connections. no direct flight which is a key advantage for KK
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ptk
19 yrs ago
The resort we stayed was nice (Rasa Ria). Very child friendly. Staff were excellent. The orang utan reserve is a must visit. The beach is huge and no sandflies when we were there. Buffet choices were great, especially the Tepi Laut restaurant. Kids club can be quite crowded especially when it rains. We visited Mount Kinabalu and the hot spring. The drive was long but scenery was beautiful. We tried some local food at the city, but very disappointed. So just stick to the hotel choices were best bet.
Lots of mosquitoes, so must bring insect repellent. We also visited Manukan island for snorkelling. Got stunk by something and need to be rushed to hospital as I was having allergic reaction by the bite (not sure what was that, but a lot of jelly bugs at the beach). My husband and kid loved the snorkeling there, water was very clear and plenty of fish to see just about 20 meters away from the shore.
Food in the hotel was very reasonable. Dinner buffet costs around 100 ringgit and kids eat free. If you've been to Cebu (Shangrila Mactan), the hotel is very much alike. Overall, I think it is a good family holiday.
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ptk,
thanks so much for the post-trip report, all sounds good!
however, we have decided on langkawi after all as my agent was unable to get the room i wanted at STAR (wanted to live it up a little more and get a suite as it's our anniversary). but i will definitely want to try KK out, maybe next year after no. 2 and is a little older and will remember your travel tips!
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