Category: Travel

If you are headed to the wild city of Kuala Lumpur on business, you should become acquainted with a few of the best hotels in the region to make your stay comfortable, convenient, and memorable. The hotels included in this list all have the busy businessman in mind. All of these hotels offer the best in terms of their location to transportation, amenities offered, and overall quality of service.

1. Sunway Putra Hotel is the ultimate businessman’s hotel. Not only does this hotel overlook the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), it is the most convenient hotel for all your transportation needs. This hotel is within walking distance to the central business district. You can also hop on the Light Rail Transit station, the Monorail, and the long distance KTM Train very easily from this hotel. To take a look at this exceptional hotel, take a look at their website here: http://putra.sunwayhotels.com/

2. Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur is another amazingly convenient five-star hotel. This hotel is literally right next to the major transportation hub: KL Sentral. You will have access to a fitness studio, the largest free-form pool in all of KL, and a spa. This hotel is known for two highly reviewed restaurants: Prime and Favola. Currently this hotel is highly reviewed on Hotels.com and TripAdvisor. If you are looking for convenience and style, look no further than Le Meridien: http://www.lemeridienkualalumpur.com/

3. Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel tops the Hotels.com list of best business hotels in Kuala Lumpur, and it is currently #33 on TripAdvisor. This is a Marriott Luxury and Lifestyle Collection hotel. At this hotel you have it all: an Olympic sized pool, a spa, seven restaurants, a gorgeous view of the city, and a location that is within walking distance to the Monorail Bukit Nanas. Currently there are promotions on this hotel that includes 30% off of a three-night stay. To check out these deals, and to find more info on this hotel, check out this link: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-deals/kulrn?scid=45ee6522-cd87-434a-82b1-74e797fdc6e4&pid=corptbta

4. The Seri Pacific Hotel is another wonderful five-star hotel near PWTC. In this hotel you will find a workout centre, a swimming pool, massage services, and a steam room. If you are in need of a business space, this hotel boasts a ballroom that caters 500 people. You will find a good array of restaurants to choose from here as well, including the award winning Kofuku Japanese Cuisine. For more information on this hotel, take a look at their website through this link: https://www.seripacifichotel.com/

There are many other hotels in KL, but any one of these hotels should suit all the needs of a modern businessman or businesswoman. Through researching the hotels on this list, you are sure to find a KL hotel promotion and a KL hotel location that suits your line of work perfectly. Just take some time to investigate which hotel works for you, and be sure to have a great stay in Kuala Lumpur.

The modern, multicultural city of Kota Kinabalu, skyscrapers vie with the jagged silhouette of Mt Kinabalu. KK, as the city is affectionately known to its locals, is the perfect base camp from which to explore Borneo’s natural wonders. You’ll be able to find a budget hotel in Kota Kinabalu easily, and there are also plenty of things to see and do in the city itself. Here are five “must-do” KK activities:

1. Watch the Sunset at Tanjung Aru Beach 

When the sun sets into the blue waters of the South China Sea off Tanjung Aru Beach, the sky stays crimson for hours as the light slowly fades. It’s one of the most beautiful sunsets you’ll ever see anywhere. Tanjung Aru Beach is a great place to catch dinner, too, because the boulevard along the beach is packed with food stalls serving local favorites like coconut milk, sugar cane juice, chicken satay and boiled peanuts. If you come during the afternoon, you’ll have time for water skiing, parasailing, and other water sports.

2. Snorkel in Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park 

Three miles off the Kota Kinabalu shoreline sit Gaya, Manukan, Mamutik, Sapi and Sulug Islands, which together comprise Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. The snorkeling here is world-class. You’ll see clown fish, swordfish, parrotfish and a host of other colorful deep-sea dwellers.

3. Enjoy a Seafood Feast 

Kota Kinabalu is a coastal city, so seafood is plentiful, varied and fresh. There are numerous fish restaurants in KK that range from ultra-expensive to budget-friendly. Enjoy the local version of Tom Yum, which is a hearty sweet and salty broth loaded with shrimp. Try other regional delicacies, too, like butter prawns, deep-fried fish slices, soft-shell crabs and fried oysters with eggs. Don’t forget to save room for a coconut pudding dessert.

4. Visit the Pygmy Elephants at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park 

Lok Kawi Wildlife Park is a combination zoo and botanical gardens that’s located just 12 miles outside KK. It opened in 2007 to give residents and tourists alike the opportunity to see animals up close whose natural habitat the city once was. You’ll find tigers, sun bears, orangutans, proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants and hornbill rhinoceroses here.

5. Take a Cruise on the Klias River 

The Klias River runs through the Klias Wetland Mangrove Forest Reserve, which is about a two-hour drive from Kota Kinabalu in the Kuala Penyu district. Several companies run open boat cruises along the Klias. It’s easy to catch glimpses of Borneo’s indigenous proboscis monkeys and long-tailed macaques on the river shores; it’s harder spot the sliver languor monkeys, but they’re there if you look closely. The cruises last several hours, and many of them serve a sumptuous lunch or dinner.

With its picturesque markets and its sophisticated malls, Kota Kinabalu represents a unique fusion of history and modernity, and East and West. You’ll never have any trouble finding a budget hotel in Kota Kinabalu either, so make sure to add this city to your Malaysian itinerary.

 

Malaysia is both a tropical paradise and a developed country. It’s also a rich mix of cultures: Malay, Chinese, and Western. As such, it’s a good place to visit when it comes to a couples getaway, or for singles and whole families. There’s something for everyone. Here, we list the 5 top hot spots to visit while there. 

1. Langkawi Islands

This archipelago is located about 30 km (18 miles) off the mainland coast. This island is easily accessible from Kuala Lumpur by air. There are ferries going as well. It has many tourist attractions with well-developed infrastructure. Many visitors like to take Langkawi Cable Car for astounding panoramic views. The beachgoers and those who like to party will not be disappointed there.

2. Tioman Island

This island is actually located close to Singapore. This makes it an attractive location for those visitors who don’t have enough time to venture too far into Malaysia. This is a place of natural beauty, while being not that developed. It’s a good place to find a romantic hotel. Activities such as snorkelling, boat rides, and jungle hikes are accessible from there.

3.Cameron Highlands

The beaches in Malaysia are fantastic, but there are many other natural wonders to be seen while there. Cameron Highlands are located about 200 km (120 miles) north of Kuala Lumpur. This is a great place for trekking amidst tea plantations, while enjoying cooler temperatures in these highlands.

4. Malaysian Borneo

Malaysia is actually separated by the sea into eastern and western parts. To the east, there’s Borneo Island, which is actually split among Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. This is the place where tropical rain forests and high mountains are found. Parts of Malaysian Borneo are so serene that you’ll feel being far away from civilization.

5. Malacca

Malacca is a historic city located about 150 km (90 miles) south of Kuala Lumpur. It is actually possible to take a day trip there, but if you have spare time, it’s worth staying there a bit longer. Malacca is a city with rich history since its control switched among the European powers back in the colonial era. Once you go there, you’ll get to see some beautiful European architecture.

Malaysia is an amazing country to visit as it offers lots of variety. If you’re budget conscious, no problem, as there are many low priced hotels. For those visitors looking for more luxury, finding a reasonably priced 5 star hotel in Malaysia will not be a problem, too.

 

The kind of food you eat as a Muslim is important to you. Given our ability to choose, a Muslim will want to make sure what they purchase and eat is halal. And when we travel, we want to know if the food is halal. But how do you know if you are eating truly halal food, no matter where you travel to? Here are 4 ways to check.

 

Some foods are inherently halal

Fruits, nuts, vegetables, fish, and locusts are all halal, and can be freely eaten. It is meat, dairy, drinks and chemical products that Muslims really need to be concerned with, particularly those which fit either of the following descriptions:

•  pork or pork by products
• animals that were dead prior to slaughtering
• animals not slaughtered properly or not slaughtered in the name of Allah
• blood and blood by products
• alcohol
• carnivorous animals
• birds of prey
• land animals without external ears
• shellfish and other non-fish sea creatures such as cephalopods (squid, octopus, cuttlefish, etc.) and bivalves (oysters, mussels, clams, etc.)

 

Ask if the food is halal

If you are eating food at a restaurant or diner, feel free to ask whether or not the food is halal. You can ensure the food is halal by looking online at halal dining guides, which feature both restaurants and markets all over the world. Food such as halal gyros are popular among Muslims and non-Muslims alike at major travel destinations (New York, for example), so rest assured you will find a variety of choices.

A halal restaurant in Japan

Barring that, the next best thing is to look for vegan or vegetarian options – they too are halal.

 

Check the label

Look at the label of the foods you purchase from the grocery store. Those which are certified halal will have a label from a halal certification authority.

Although Muslims can eat some kosher foods, keep in mind that not all are halal – check the ingredients list for any alcohol. Also, within kosher guidelines there are provisions for “transformation” (istikhala) – for example, pork bone which is processed into gelatin. Another difference is that the Shochet (Jewish butcher) does not and is not required to invoke God’s name for each animal before each slaughter – something to keep in mind for those who want to be extra careful.

look at the halal label

Get halal Muslim tour packages for your travel needs

There are halal Muslim tour packages that ensure that you always get quality halal food that meets certification criteria. With any package, your religious preferences are catered to. You get not only halal food but prayer accomodations as well.

And there you have it. Religion is important to many Muslims wherever they go – that’s why making sure your food is halal when you travel is so worthwhile. Use this guide anytime you need a refresher. Enjoy your trips!