3 TIPS ON PLANNING YOUR HOLIDAY

“Travelling allows you to become so many different versions of yourself” 

– Anonymous

Perhaps that’s the reason why we love to travel. Our wanderlust is hard to tamp down and having our freedom restricted is possibly one of the greatest challenges we have to endure during the prolonged MCO period.

Now that Federal Territory and Selangor have transitioned into National Recovery (NRP) Phase 4, most of us are grateful we can once again travel domestically without restraint while practising the new normal SOPs stipulated.

In this aspect, we Malaysians are truly fortunate as we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing the type of holidays we prefer. Whether we plan to head for the beach or up to the hills, opt for a city staycation or escape to the bucolic countryside, the length and breadth of Peninsular Malaysia alone offers limitless possibilities. We have not even touched on the myriad wonders that beckon from East Malaysia.

No savvy traveller these days can afford to leave home without doing some homework aka research. The secret to a great holiday is to plan ahead. Start with these 3 tips in mind:

·       Your Budget

While everyone would love to holiday in the lap of luxury, let’s get real. It’s best to be realistic and set a budget for your holiday. Take into account how much you plan to spend on accommodation, transportation (flights, car rental, train tickets, etc), food & drinks, sightseeing and recreational activities, and personal spending money (gifts and souvenirs). Remember to set aside a small emergency fund.

·       Your Needs

     The needs of a solo traveller differ great greatly from those of a couple, a group of singletons, and those of a family with small children. If you are the holiday planner, then a reliable online portal such as Hotel in Kuala Lumpur is a boon in determining your holiday needs i.e. What kind of accommodation do you need? Would child-friendly accommodation or hotels with a swimming pool be a priority? Traveloka has plenty of useful tips and resources to help make your holiday planning a breeze.

·       Your Itinerary

Plan ahead and determine the type of holiday you want. Would it be a laidback, laze by the pool kind of vacay or would it be an activity-filled one with lots of sightseeing and shopping thrown in?

A holiday is also a chance to pursue your leisure interests or do something different from your daily life. Is it time for you to unleash the spirit of discovery and learn more about mother nature through hiking and nature walks? Perhaps you yearn to fly high and conquer the sky through paragliding or swim with the fishes by learning to snorkel or scuba-dive?

It goes without saying planning for a solo traveller is easier than planning a holiday for a group of friends with different interests or a family with small children or teenagers. 

In such instances, you may want to rely on a fun getaway with a flexible itinerary at a family-friendly resort such as Grand Lexis Port Dickson where the young and old can enjoy the best of both worlds. The whole family can expect a splashing time in the private pool within the privacy of their own suite, or proceed to engage in the myriad outdoor activities offered by the resort.

More adventurous souls may prefer an adrenalin-fuelled itinerary with hiking, paragliding, kayaking, or river-rafting as the highlight. Bear in mind though some of your intended holiday activities may have a set limit on the number of participants and advance booking required so it pays to plan ahead.

Whatever type of you have in mind, just remember online resources abound at your fingertips. Traveloka has plenty to offer: useful tips on travel planning, price comparisons on accommodation, things to do, etc. After all, the journey of your holiday planning begins with a single step. Do it now!

HOMING IN ON STAYCATIONS IN SINGAPORE

Planning a staycation in Singapore? There's plenty to eat, see and do

With Chinese New Year less than a fortnight away, it seems unlikely my old friend AK will get the chance to welcome the Ox Year with her parents in Malaysia. Since the coronavirus doesn’t look like it’s disappearing anytime soon nor will the Malaysia-Singapore borders be opening in time for CNY, I told AK to forgo her trip home and use the festive break to rediscover Singapore instead. 

“AK, thousands of people fly from around the world to visit Singapore every year. Why don’t you take a step back, pretend you’re a visitor and see Singapore through that perspective? Sometimes we take our own backyard too much for granted-lah!” I rationalized with her.

Savvy travellers will find tons of info in Traveloka

When AK groused about not knowing where to start, I pointed her to Traveloka. The online portal is chockful of useful travel tips and information with links to hotel, restaurants, activities, packages, promotions and everything savvy travellers need to enhance their travel experience.

I believe AK will be able to enjoy her CNY break if she puts her mind to it and does her groundwork using Traveloka. Not only would it save her time and effort with the overall planning, she can’t make any lame excuses about not knowing what kind of staycation she wants. For instance, if she looks under Staycation Singapore in Traveloka, out pops a list of inspiring staycation ideas: from romantic rendezvous for couples to family-friendly escapades and gourmet getaways for friends.

Food paradise...from humble fare to refined restaurants, Singapore has it all

Depending on her budget, AK can take her pick from the mind-boggling range of hotels, be it budget-friendly or budget-busting … oooh, how I wish I’m going on staycation too!

As for the types of activities to fill her time, I daresay AK would be spoiled for choice. I must remind her to take advantage of the Singapore Rediscovers Vouchers in Traveloka. I bet many Singaporeans haven’t been on the interesting tours offered in the Singapore Rediscovers section! I find the activities are varied enough to please sporty go-getters and adventure-seekers, animal and nature lovers, history and modern entertainment buffs — there’s something to suit everyone.

Thinking how Chinese New Year is synonymous with our roots and heritage, AK may like booking a Kampong Buangkok tour. I’m sure the charming village will  stir up nostalgic feelings of her hometown back in Perak.

Few visitors can resist the captivating call of a day trip to Pulau Ubin
 

Hmm…she may want a full-blown tour to Singapore’s last surviving Kampung followed by visits to urban mushroom, wheatgrass and vegetable farms or an exciting day trip to Pulau Ubin. Ah, if it wasn’t for these pandemic times, I’d dearly love to join AK on these interesting excursions.

Of course, no staycation is complete without good food. Since it’s Chinese New Year, I wonder if AK would be game to embark on a Crazy Rich Asians Insta Tour with Cocktail Making Workshop…Hey, it’s not every day one gets a chance to ride in a Vespa sidecar touring some of Singapore’s ritzy locations and... YOLO, so why not?

The much-talked-about "Jewel" in Changi Airport's crown is a sight to behold

Again, I found Singapore Rediscovers Vouchers aplenty for guided walks, immersive tours, and hands-on cooking workshops — such a boon for those who are keen to learn and discover local culinary secrets and gems through experiential sessions.

Should AK prefer more sensible suggestions, then I’d propose she goes for the ‘Singapore: Melting Pot of Tea’ tour where she’ll have a chance to learn about more than 20 tea blends, sample delicious tea from traditional to modern, and even try making her own. Although I’m unsure about her interest in kitchen forays, perhaps a Hainanese or a Hokkien cooking class may strike a chord in view of the festive season or would that remind her too much of what she’s missing back home?

Even though she can’t return to Malaysia this Chinese New Year, I’m willing to bet AK will enjoy her staycation in Singapore thanks to all the tips I’ve shared with her from Traveloka. Now won’t that be an Ox-spicious way to welcome the Lunar New Year?

IMMERSIVE "ONE DAY IN TAIWAN" EXPERIENCE

A fun hands-on afternoon featuring DIY Xiao Long Bao (Taiwanese dumpling) making and oil-paper umbrella painting gave us media folks and some Malaysian artists, YouTubers, and travel trade attendees an immersive “One Day in Taiwan” experience.

Taiwan Visitors Association hosted the workshop together with Taiwan’s related tourism organisations, to promote the island’s diverse tourism attractions including Taiwanese cuisine, popular destinations and diverse culture activities.

Taiwan Visitors Association Kuala Lumpur Office Director, Abe Chou urged Malaysians to visit and discover Taiwan before those present dived into making chocolate-filled Xiao Long Bao.

 

 

 

A master of traditional oiled-paper umbrella painting then guided us on how to paint our own oiled-paper brolly – an interactive way to educate us on the Hakka craftsmanship from Meinong District in southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City.

A form of customary wedding gift, the Hakka words of “oiled paper” and “have son” are auspicious homonyms. Also, the Chinese character of “umbrella” also represents a blessing for newlyweds to have children and grandchildren.

 Refreshments include Taiwan’s famed Bubble Tea, baked mini pineapple cakes and taro pastries. Adding to the afternoon’s lively pace are informative and fast-paced online quiz and bingo games incorporating interesting facts and different attractions in Taiwan.

 

I nearly won one of the return KL-Taipei flight tickets but sadly, Lady Luck wasn’t on my side that day. A case of so near yet so far. Still, it was an afternoon well spent and credit must go to the organisers for upping the ante in making it such a memorable event.

 

Packed with a myriad of travel resources, Taiwan is listed eighth in 2019 Top 10 Travel Destinations by Globe Spots. Booking.com also ranked Taiwan as the world’s friendliest country in 2018 while Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) cited Taiwan as the 3^rd most attractive country for international Muslim travellers.

 

A SERENE STAYCATION AT E&O RESIDENCES

Far from the madding crowd. Tucked away behind the Weld on the site of the former St Mary’s school, the E&O Residences is a serene haven where 200 units of luxurious one and two-bedroom suites beckon for a nice staycation in the city.

Wake up to an unobstructed view of the KL Tower. Or revel in the overhead view of an outdoor swimming pool surrouded by verdant landscape and lush foliage. That’s the advantage of staying at the E&O Residences Kuala Lumpur, managed by Eastern & Oriental Berhad (E&O). Across the courtyard is the St Mary Residences.

After a warm welcome at the plush Reception, we explored every inch of our 1,442 ft² two-bedroom apartment. Tastefully furnished, the spacious living area consists of a well-equipped kitchen and a compact dining area. Our balcony looks out to the KL Tower and nearby skyscrapers.

It’s easy to feel at home here as both bedrooms are comfortably furnished with quality linen. Our master bedroom boasts built-in wardrobe with a safe box, an ensuite bathroom with a standalone bath tub, a vanity area, separate shower and toilet, and luxe amenities.

The second bedroom is similarly furnished except there’s no tub in the bathroom. At 1,131 ft², the one bedroom suite is just as nice and comfy. Catching forty winks during the two nights' escapade were a breeze as the cushy beds ensured we slept fitfully like babies.

 

 

Depending on your needs, both types of suites can be home away from home for corproate relocations, business and leisure travellers, long-stay medical tourists thanks to the secured privacy and comprehensive range of creature comforts provided. 

We managed to work productively in the dining area thanks to the broadband WiFi access while my girl completed her assignments in the study room furnished with an executive desk. Later, we kicked back, lounging around the sleek sectional sofa and channel-surfed, making full use of the home entertainment system. Music streaming is made possible with the iPod docking station provided.

 

Feeling a little peckish, we then rustled up some light refreshments in the kitchen which comes equipped with a microwave oven, a toaster, cutlery and crockery. Besides a kettle for making hot drinks, there’s a fridge as well. We were told rice cooker and blender are available upon request. Longer staying guests will find the washing machine and dryer a boon. An iron, ironing board, and hairdryer are also provided in each suite.

 

Peace of mind is ensured once we headed to the serene oasis where the outdoor infinity pool is located. Flanked on all sides by rows of ornamental palm trees and manicured hedges in a landscaped garden courtyard, the pool offers a beguiling view of imposing buildings too.

 

 

Steps away are several private gazebos where the jacuzzi pool is, with sauna and steam rooms nearby. Fitness buffs will find the fully furnished gym with aerobics and yoga room adequate for their needs. Families with children in tow can make a beeline for the kids’ playground and play room, to allow their young ones free reign to unleash pent-up energy.  

 

Checking in to the E&O Residences is a seamless affair based on our first-hand experience. There’s welcome drinks laid out and steps away is a business centre where guests can acess the internet or do some document printing should the need arises. In addition, a multi-purpose function room can be rented for small-scale, customised meetings and events.

 

Security is provided around the clock. Also entry and exits to the residential suites are strictly through access cards provided. Ditto for car-park access, ensuring a seamless stay experience throughout.

 

Within walking distance from the E&O Residences are convenient stores, shopping malls, commercial offices, banks, selected tourist attractions and the city’s integrated monorail and LRT lines.

 

Guests who have breakfast included in their stay package can make their way to  Delicious, an independent restaurant. Served at from 7 am to 10 am daily, the buffet spread is ample enough. From nasi lemak and fried noodles to eggs cooked on request and baked items, the selection should leave you spoiled for choice. (Full review on Delicious coming soon)

Other restaurants in the same block include Glass Tartines & Tipples, Black Market pub and Sushi Hinata. A spa and beauty salon upstairs provide essential services for those who desire some self-pampering. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information and reservations, call E&O Residences Kuala Lumpur, tel: 03 2023 2188. Address: No. 1 Jalan Tengah, off Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. Website: www.eoresidences.com