Singapore Expats

I will be visitng Singapore at year-end and would like to getaway with hubby. I would love to visit either batam island, redang beach or stay in a kelong. However, year end is monsoon season, will the weather and waters be too rough?

Or please suggest other interesting places.

I am not the outdoorsy type and may not be able to endure the harsh elements. I will greatly appreciate any advice since I really look forward to coming home to visit with hubby and we both need to get away, without the kids, which is long overdue.

Redang would most likely simply not possible to get to, due to the monsoon and thus services not operating.

Bintan might be an alternative, although end of november is tricky with the rain.

West coast peninsular Malaysia might be an idea, it is dry season in november over there: Langkawi, Penang or even better Pulau Pangkor ( http://www.pangkorlautresort.com/ ).

Otherwise try Sabah, both west coast there (islands off coast Kota Kinabalu, named Tunku Abdul Rahman park, are quite nice). At KK are some great resorts:

Nexus, about 25 km away from KK with a beautiful private beach and a great resort for spa and golf. http://www.nexusresort.com/

Shangri La Tanjong Aru, family resort just outside KK at the beach, good quality for its price: http://www.shangri-la.com/kotakinabalu/ ... index.aspx

Shangri La Rasa Ria is another one, close to Nexus. More secluded than Tanjong Aru, but personally I would prefer the nexus fi staying around there: http://www.shangri-la.com/kotakinabalu/ ... index.aspx

You could also chose to go east coast Sabah, towards Mabul island, a fabulous destination for world class diving or snorkelling stay on mabul and dive at Sipadan). Look at the website of Borneo divers, the best operator with a beautiful resort on Mabul: http://www.borneodivers.info/

If you are interested in either one of those, have a peek at this website of a friend of mine, he is a Dutch tourguide, living and working in Kota Kinabalu, his name is Olaf and he has incredible good rates for all these resorts: http://www.sabah-borneo.nl/

A bit further out, but if you go to the west coast of Thailand, you also have dry season, the monsoon there ends in mid-october. So Phuket, Krabi would be good destinations.
Have a look at http://www.sawadee.com/

For getting there, we now have a range of choice from low cost budget airlines:

www.airasia.com
www.tigerairways.com
www.valueair.com.sg
www.jetstarasia.com

Enjoy the holidays!

Eric

Not getting much response here but Eric, thanks for your input.

with the recent bombings in Bali, good time to visit there. Its a great place and not far away from Singapore.

Hey hey,

Think rendang and tioman is not suitable..monsoon season..singapore not much of fun when it comes to beaches and sea activities.

What i would suggest would be Phuket. Cause it will be just nice to go in NOV. Their monsoon season is going to end very soon. you can go for sea activities as well as shopping. 2 in 1. A very good deal.

http://www.phuket.net/things-to-do/shop ... stores.htm

A good website for Phuket.

I spend about 230 just on hotel and air fare. Including service charge and hotel fees and airport fees

I think Krabi / Phuket is a best ideal to get away from the city. Air ticket is reasonable (cheap) about $400 for 2 persons (2 ways). About the accommodation, Try this website:

www.r24.org/travelfish.org/krabi/hotels/

You can find more information about Krabi. Very exclusive and quiet island (if compare with Phuket)

Make your way to Thailand if you want nice beaches and great weather. Nov-Jan the weather is awesome in Thailand. My favourite place in the Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort. Awesome hotel and a huge private beach. Lots to do on the property but away from town.