I am planning a one-week vacation to Malaysia for late September. Outside of KL, I would like to visit either Penang or Langkawi. Could anyone with first hand experience of BOTH places (otherwise how could you really know) state a prefernce and why?
Of course I’ve read the guide books. They generally say Langkawi has better beaches but Penang has Georgtown which is more interesting, apparently.
Your thoughts?
I’ve not seen much of Langkawi - I was booked on a flight to KL but got off at the Langkawi stopover since it was closer to where I wanted to be. The parts of the island I saw looked good for DF shopping.
Penang - plenty to do - not sure about beaches, since I never got there.
There’s a hotel ten minutes’ walk from the main drag in Georgetown. It looks like it was built in the 1920s, and has a sweeping gravel driveway, high ceilings with fans and no need for air-con - great place to spend five days half-delirious with a fever.
I can recommend Ipoh as a good place to hang out and watch people. Go to the second-floor bar/restaurant across the cricket green from the pavilion at dusk. It’s got interesting WWII era memorabilia and photos.
[quote=“DSN”]I am planning a one-week vacation to Malaysia for late September. Outside of KL, I would like to visit either Penang or Langkawi. Could anyone with first hand experience of BOTH places (otherwise how could you really know) state a prefernce and why?
Of course I’ve read the guide books. They generally say Langkawi has better beaches but Penang has Georgtown which is more interesting, apparently.
Your thoughts?[/quote]
I have been to both islands a few times and basically agree with what you said: Langkawi has better beaches, the nicest one belongs to an expensive hotel called Teluk Datai (though it’s possible to get access to the beach even you don’t stay there). It’s generally a nice place for a short holiday.
Penang is ok, the beaches aren’t really that great, more ok and rather small, and most people prefer to swim in the pool than the ocean. Batu Ferringhi is probably the best place to stay on Penang island, hotels are reasonable and decent/good and the beach is just in front of the door.
Georgetown itself isn’t that interesting IMHO, it’s just a small city though the night market is worth a visit (must try: Penang Char Kueh Teow).
Penang used to be more convenient for me since I could just drive to there while going to Langkawi requires you to take a plane if you come from further away (else it’s car/bus + ferry).
Not sure if you are interested but if you just want to relax on a nice beach with picture-blue water and don’t mind a short flight I would suggest the East coast, e.g. Tioman or Redang islands (good scuba diving there!). Much nicer but also more “boring” since there isn’t much to do in the evenings; if you want to go out and party Penang or Langkawi are probably better suited for that.
I’d recommend Langkawi over Penang as I prefer beaches and that sort of thing.
For a more be close to the local type of experience, go with Penang. 7 days, you can see quite a bit. If you need a local travel agent there who would be more than happy to arrange an itinerary for you, contact Ipoh Golden Dragon Tours. He’s a family friend, we use him when we go back. PM me if you need any more help with a trip to Malaysia.
Thanks for the input, folks. Much appreciated.
Ahhhh… Penang Char Kuey Teow. 
For that alone, I would strongly recommend Penang over Langkawi ANYTIME. And while you’re there, don’t forget the Penang Laksa, Nasi Kandar, Sup Kambing… Yum yum yum[/list][/list]
Well, my gf chose Langkawi over Penang (even SHE wanted to see fewer Chinese people), and here is the report back.
Frankly, it’s way overrated.
Prices were ridiculously expensive. NBNBNB: Duty Free does not equal CHEAP. In fact, we found most “luxury” items such as cosmetics (the gf, not me 
) and electronics to be at least 20% more than in Taiwan (which has a GDP per capita 3 times Malaysia’s). And that was on such items as could be found; selections were just horrid.
More touristy stuff like silk and batik, woodcarft etc, were also about double the prices in Thailand, and was mostly imported from there or Indonesia anyway. It certainly was “Malaysia, Truly ASIA”. Every country’s products except Malaysia’s.
The main “shopping mall” in Kuah town on the island’s south-east coast had about 50 shops with prices for the uninformed or overpaid. The best part was the 3rd-world practice of charging you to use the toilets in the shopping mall, even though you’re there spending money at their theft-like prices (hey, you’ve got to eat, right?) Unfortunately this practice seems common throughout Malaysia.
The beaches were also nothing special. We were on the main tourist beach, Pantai Cenang, but also visited Pantai OK, which was a bit better. Again, Thiailand, South Africa, New Zealand beat them hands down for cleanliness of water and beach.
The only plus to the whole 4 days we spent in Langkawi (followed by a much more enjoyable and cheaper stay in KL) was our hotel. The Beach Garden Resort, run by a German guy, was right on the beach (such that it was). Reasonably priced with excellent service and a homely feel - there are only 12 roms in the place. The breakfast is to die for.
If you’re looking to spend a few days doing as little as possible, just lying in and walking on the beach, Langkawi is fine. If you want any good shopping in terms of prices and variety, good food or interesting sightseeing, this is not the place. Heck, KL was better in all 3 respects.
Now THAT’s a place worth experiencing. But that’s a whole other thread.
I just came back from both places, and I thought that Langkawi was actually really cheap. Yes, some goods that are “duty free” like cigs, clothing, chocolate, etc. are around the same price as they are in Taiwan, and the shopping center in Kuah was disappointing…but food, drinks, and hotels are dirt cheap (I was there in low season, which makes a difference on hotel prices).
I spent a day in Georgetown and wasn’t impressed. The architecture was interesting, but I thought it was run down and saw all I wanted to see there in a day. I never made it to the beaches there, as the locals and a few travellers we met said that they were quite polluted and not worth going to, and that Langkawi was far better.
I loved Langkawi…stunning place. Did an “air trekking” trip through the rainforest canopy which was one of a kind, run by a German guy in Langkawi (web site: www.emmes.net/langkawi-natur). Rented a car for about NT450 per day and drove around to see the sites. Gorgeous and laid back place.
You can get the ferry to Georgetown, spend the night, then move on to Langkawi the next day. That’s what we did.
If you like to eat nice food, have some drinks, and stay in a nice hotel on a stunning beach for a reasonable price, I think that Langkawi is the way to go.