Malaysia trip with smarTours

I took an 18-day tour with smarTours (501 Fifth Ave., Ste. 1402, New York, NY 10017; 800/337-7773 or visit www.smartours.net), May 14-30, ’05, in which we spent 10 days in Malaysian Borneo, two days in Kuala Lumpur and three days on the island of Penang. The other days were spent flying. Our group consisted of 28 people, ranging in age from 22 to 86, with the average being the late 50s.

All of our flights were on Malaysia Airlines, which did an excellent job in cabin service and food. Our hotels ranged from good to outstanding and, with two exceptions, were well located. One hotel could be reached only by boat; the other was an hour’s drive from the airport.

Our excellent trip director was with us for 12 days, supplemented by local guides as we went along. Jeremy, our guide in Penang, went above and beyond expectations in the service he gave us.

As this tour concentrated on Malaysian Borneo, we visited a tribal longhouse; an orangutan sanctuary; national parks filled with fauna and flora; Indian and Chinese temples, and the cities of Kuching in Sarawak and Kota Kinabalu in the state of Sabah. A highlight in Kuala Lumpur was the walkway between the two Petronas Towers (the second-highest buildings in the world). We visited night markets nearby in Kuala Lumpur as well as in Penang.

As this part of the world is close to the equator, you can expect a lot of heat and humidity except during the winter months.

The cost of our trip was $1,699 per person, double occupancy, from Los Angeles. We paid an additional $299 for the three days in Penang plus $180 for taxes and fees. We felt that this tour was an excellent value for the money and would book another trip with smarTours.

— ROBERT PELLETIER, Hollywood, FL