Top 5 Road Trip Itineraries Within Malaysia

Looking for a short weekend getaway to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city? Here is Skyscanner's list of suggestions for a relaxing self-drive holiday around Malaysia.

1. Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara National Park

Start your engines at Kuala Lumpur and set course for Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia’s largest national park and one of its oldest. About 3.5 hours from KL, the route is close to 250 kilometres and includes some of Malaysia’s top tourist attractions along the way. Once you are at the outskirts of KL, take a slight detour to see the famous Batu Caves – a series of labyrinthine caves within a limestone hill. Thought to be millions of years old, the Caves is also home to a Hindu temple that's of great religious significance to Malaysian Hindus.

Next, drop by the Elephant Sanctuary Kuala Gandah, a rehabilitation centre for Malaysian elephants. With more than 300 wild elephants within their grounds, there’s no place better to interact with the gentle giants and learn more about their conservation efforts in Malaysia. Finally, point your bumper at the highway and drive straight towards Taman Negara. Spend the rest of your weekend observing the abundance of flora and fauna within the park, or activities such as fishing, bird watching, jungle trekking and much more.

2. Kuala Lumpur to Belum Forest Reserve

If you travel about 5 hours northwards from KL on the North-South Expressway, you’d find another natural paradise – the Belum Forest Reserve, one of Malaysia’s unspoilt virgin jungles. A hotbed of wildlife and plants, it houses many of the world’s most endangered species, including the Sumatran Rhinoceros, Malaysian Tiger, Asiatic Elephant and the White-handed Gibbon, amongst others.

On the long drive northwards, take a breather and detour at Cameron Highlands for some cool highland air to break up the lengthy ride. An extremely popular tourist destination, Cameron Highlands also boasts plenty of idyllic tea plantations, butterfly and bee farms, strawberry plantations and rolling green hills, which are guaranteed to soothe your soul.

3. Cameron Highlands to Penang

Alternately, you could make a pit stop at the blissful Cameron Highlands, stay the night and continue the next leg of your trip northwards to Penang instead. On the way to the gastronomic paradise, stop by Ipoh for some of the city’s famous rice noodles, and take a look at its mysterious Kellie’s Castle, an unfinished mansion haunted by tales of ghosts as well as secret rooms and tunnels. Built by an Englishman in the 20th century, the Castle was left unfinished due to his untimely death and since then has been used as a set piece in movies such as Anna and the King.

When you’ve had your fill of Ipoh Hor Fun, continue on up to Penang, one of Malaysia’s most famous cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On top of being renowned for its amazing architecture, Penang is also known for its one-of-a-kind local foods that are intensely flavoured and highly memorable.

4. Johor Bahru to Malacca

For those starting at the southern end of the Malaysian Peninsula, how about a drive up to Malacca instead? Not only will you get a chance to visit the Historic State – a culturally rich city classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences – you’d also pass by the Tropical Village Mini-World Theme Park along the way. Situated just outside Johor, this excellent Theme Park contains miniature versions of famous landmarks around the world, such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Great Wall of China and the Sphinx, for a unique global experience like no other.

5. Johor Bahru to Desaru

But if sun, sand and sea are what you're after, then drive eastwards for a relaxing beach vacation on Malaysia's East Coast. Desaru, a coastal resort area, boasts some of the country's best beaches and is only about 1.5 hours by car from Johor Bahru – the drive was made easier with the opening of the Senai-Desaur Highway in 2011.

Bask in the sun along the 20km of sandy coast and swim in the clear blue waters, but keep your car close by so you can make quick jaunts to nearby Kota Tinggi for some waterfalls, clear rock pools and fireflies. Also readily accessible from Desaru is the Ostrich Wonderland – an ostrich farm that houses more than 100 ostriches – and the Desaru Fruit Farm, a popular choice for those with young children.

http://www.skyscanner.com.my/news/top-5-road-trip-itineraries-within-malaysia?associateid=DIS_TRA_00136_00005&utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=my-travel-pp&utm_content=native-top-5-road-trip-itineraries-within-malaysia&utm_term=cnbc

Smartphones Can Now Help You Navigate Airports

The new United Airlines app works like a compass. Once your boarding pass has been scanned, it starts off by indicating a direct route to your gate. Whether departing or arriving, the app also catalogues all points of interest near you. Travellers can thus have directions to the nearest coffee shop, bookstore or fast food outpost. Most importantly, the app lets you know the estimated time it will take you to get where you're going.

Various interactive maps have been integrated into the app for travellers within the US: the new update includes airports in Chicago, Denver, Houston, LA, Newark, San Francisco and Washington DC. The airline has said that many other airports are soon to be included in the app.

Interactivity the key to UA's app

Use of the app could become easier thanks to Bluetooth stations. The airline is currently testing technology at Newark Airport that immediately recognises individual passengers' whereabouts without their having to update their smartphone with their location to reap the benefits of the app's services.

In an entirely different genre, United Airlines has also decided to simplify things for travellers with a cancelled flight, a delay or a missed correspondence. With a simple click they can now immediately see all the available options at their disposal to reach their destinations. Conversely, travellers who find themselves at the airport with time to spare can search to find a seat on an earlier flight.

The United Airlines app was launched in November 2013. It allows travellers to scan their passports for check-in, thereby bypassing the traditional counters. The app has already been downloaded by more than 20 million people.

To download the United Airlines app for yourself, go to www.united.com.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/travel/article/smartphones-can-now-help-you-navigate-airports