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Our Top Trips in 2016 - Karen in Malaysia & Bali, September

We're having a look back on some of our favourite trips from 2016 - it's been a busy year at Escape Worldwide and the team have been criss-crossing the globe from Sydney to Havana, Tokyo to Nairobi. Karen visited Malaysia and Bali in September, taking in vibrant Kuala Lumpur, Bali's various beach resorts including Nusa Dua, Seminyak, Legian and Sanur, and the relaxed mountain hideaway of Ubud. Here's a quick look at her highlights . . .

Kuala Lumpur is one of my favourite Far East cities - it has such a buzz, there's loads to see and do, great quality hotels and some of the best food in Asia! I stayed at the Hotel Istana which is in a perfect location closed to the lively Bukit Bintang area of the city (think Oxford Street), and with one of my favourite streets a close walk away - Jalan Alor, which is packed with dozens of stalls each selling a local delicacy - delicious!



I spent a day exploring the city using the local hop-on hop-off bus, which is a great way to get around, especially to areas slightly further out. I found the National Mosque to be totally fascinating, and spent quite a lot of time around the colonial districts of the city, taking in the architecture of the Old Railway Station and the Central Market. Afternoon tea at the Majestic Hotel fitted in perfectly!

On my last night in KL I did some shopping in the renowned Petaling Street market (the best quality knock-offs anywhere!) followed by an amazing Chinese meal nearby, and finished off with drinks in one of the bars in Bukit Bintang before flying to Bali next day!


One of the best things to my mind about Bali is how all of the beach resort areas are so different, in such a small area - there are places such as Kuta that are perfect for a lively party stay, or quieter areas such as Jimbaran if you want to chill out. I started in Nusa Dua, which has a great range of quality hotels, a few local restaurants and shops, and some great beaches - if you want upmarket and peaceful but not dead then it's ideal. I stayed at the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel, which I couldn't fault - great rooms, full of character, and the food was superb!

From here I headed to the other coast at Seminyak, which has a stylish, trendy feel, super-cool beach clubs and funky bars, and a good selection of hotels. Most hotels are a little further from the beach than in other resort areas, but there's such a great range of places to eat and drink outside of the hotels, I found myself spending less time in the hotel and more time out & about. My particular favourite here was the Anantara Seminyak, an uber-stylish hotel right on the beach, with beanbags on the sand for sunset cocktails!



Last stop for me was Sanur, which balances local restaurants, bars and shops with a relaxed feel - it's not party-central, but you're not stuck to your hotel either, which I really like. I stayed at the Puri Santrian, which I just adored - beachfront, full of Balinese character, and handy for local facilities.



If you head away from the beaches then Bali becomes a completely different destination, with beautiful scenery, incredible temples and a rich, intricate culture - even if you just base yourself on the beach I'd really recommend a day trip inland to Ubud and some of the other villages, but if you have time then spend a few nights up here. 



It's around an hour from most of the beach areas so it's easy to include, but you'll see a very different side of the island - I explored the famous Monkey Forest, went to various temples and saw traditional dance in the village. My home here was the gorgeous Alila Ubud, located in a valley just outside Ubud itself, with the most incredible swimming pool hanging out over the valley - a real 'takes your breath away'!


I'm a huge fan of the Far East and have been lucky enough to visit both Malaysia and Bali before, but this trip took me to some new places, some fabulous hotels and a whole load of new experiences - which is why it was my Top Trip of 2016!








Escape Worldwide - Home of Long Haul Holidays 
http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk

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