Amazulu

Anyone been there? We are thinking of going to Tioman during the school holidays. It looks nice on the internet and is only a 40min flight from Singapore. It seems fairly cheap too but you never know until you visit.

I_Will_Freckle

I've been there... about 18 years ago and it was lovely then.

Spoke to a Malaysian chap recently who said that it's very different now and is just a big resort. I still think that it would be nice.

emmakc1977

We went about four years ago and it was amazing. There were loads of monitor lizards (think that's what they are called) running about. I'd definately recommend it - total relaxation!

Kooky.

I haven't been 'cos I'm not a diver and that's the only reason my friends go to Tioman.

Are you thinking of going as a side trip from Singapore? You could also go to Bintan, Indonesia - it's about 45 minutes on the ferry.

EDIT: I somehow lost this sentence - this is from my old forum, might be useful:


Tioman Island
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Canuck - 23-3-2007 at 12:15
Yay or Nay?

Anyone been? thinking of taking MIL and SIL for a couple days next month. Anyone been or heard anything?
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hmmmmmm___ - 23-3-2007 at 13:10
I would also like to know

Which one's better - tioman or langkawi
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Lichtgestalt - 23-3-2007 at 13:19
Tioman is good if you dive, other than that Langkawi
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Snaffled - 23-3-2007 at 14:47
Much greater range of things to do (and tax free alcohol) in Langkawi, but Tioman is nice for a long weekend, diving, snorkelling & getting away from things.
If luxury is what you are after, it's limited on Tioman & there are more options on Langkawi.
As Licht says, if not diving and with the people you are bringing, probably Langkawi better.
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Lichtgestalt - 23-3-2007 at 15:25
Been to Langkawi once and suggest you either bring a good book or a girlfriend (boyfriend in your case)... Tioman is probably the same although I never set foot on it. Diving is great around Tioman though, lots of reefs and great wrecks (on and off the beach)
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Tassie - 23-3-2007 at 15:52
yay to Tioman, not been Langkawi.

Tioman - nice to for a simple chill out. Nice little hut places with only moderate quality rooms, but you do feel like you're at the beach. Can catch the little bum boats to other beaches for variety. Fee said the trip to waterfall at one end of the island was worth the effort. And thoroughly enjoyed the skorkelly trip. Eat plenty of those deep fried plantains, and yummy fat noodle dishes, or fried eggy rice. Licht is quite right though, pile up on your guilty pleasure books and mags because it's not exactly an adventure weekend. Oh, and avoid the resort, do the smaller places.

Personally I would like to go back for a chilled weekend.
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hmmmmmm___ - 23-3-2007 at 16:40
i'm skewed towards langkawi at the moment. thanks
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azzam - 23-3-2007 at 17:03
It's been a long time since I was on Tioman, but I remember being disappointed with the state of the beaches etc. It was my first "resort" trip in Asia and didn't live up to expectations.
Malaysia is not exactly conservation minded, so if your relatives are expecting to see something that looks like a tropical paradise they may be disappointed. If they can take it as it is, then the sort of weekend Tas describes is great. That's more or less what we did.
Haven't been to Langkawi so can't comment.
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Aliya - 23-3-2007 at 17:10
Toiman for back to basics and Langkawi for a treat.

Mersing (on the way) has fab roti prata BTW
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Lichtgestalt - 23-3-2007 at 17:20
There is a flight from SIN to Tioman with a great approach at Tioman
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Canuck - 24-3-2007 at 11:13
thanks for the info guys, i think we may try it, it's not their first resort vacation so I think they could take it for a couple days
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Canuck - 7-4-2007 at 11:59
A quick review.

We went to Tioman Island and stayed at Paya Beach Resort, we upgraded to superior rooms (not) because the only standard rooms left were right by the bar area, and there were threats of karokee nights The rooms were fine but a bit manky (not a big deal as it is somewhere to sleep only). The food was okay, but then again quite cheap. We had black pepper crab and I proceeded to feed my clothing more than myself, very spicy quite nice.

Snorkelling was fantastic (37R, we had our own snorkels) (we took a boat out to an island and to the marine park), but I found all the dead coral depressing in the water just off the beach, the beach is nice, but the swimming off the resort is all dead coral, so bring swim shoes. When the tide is out, it's knee deep for about 600yards, but then apparently there is live coral (could this be because everyone is walking on it?)

Sunsets were fantastic, and you can get duty free alcohol, just can't bring it back to singapore unless you pay duty on it? (why?)

As you said good place to chill, but avoid easter weekend, when we left, there were HORDES of people disembarking.

And the bus journey is tres long, and you stop at the manky highway rest stop (30 Sen to pee, bring tissue or buy it for 30 Sen). Although everyone was ascared of the food I had the noodles and they were really tasty, and no I didn't get sick (4R)
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honeybee

Have lived in Malaysia for over 12 years and have visited Tioman a few times. It has changed alot from when I first visited and is not as unspoilt as before. If you really want a beautiful island off the East coast of Malaysia I would recommend Redang island or even Perhentian island (latter good for diving). These islands are further up the east coast and are both beautiful.
On the west coast you have Pangkor island, Penang island and Langkawi, all not bad but more commercialised. One thing to be careful with east coast islands is the monsoon season from Oct-Jan usually.
Happy holidays!