Cameron Highlands

[Knht]

Is Equatorial a good hotel? whats there to do at Cameron Highlands?

 

Thanks.

 

if if you can get the room at Smokehouse lodge, try it. A bit pricey and alway fully booked, but the english cottage's layout and ambience make your stay there very enjoyable. They also served excellent english food. The chief chef has been there since the british colonial days. If you are going during Nov/Dec, I think it's rather hard to get the room at Smokehouse.

 

There are also plenty of decent standard Service Apartments available at Tanah Rata at reasonable price. If going with family, I would recommend those 2 or 3 bedroom apt suite with living room and kitchen. There was one CNY our family brought the supply of meat and seafood from KL and bought tonnes of vege in cameron market for a sumptous feat of CNy Reunion steamboat buffet in the apt.

[Siewss]

Is Equatorial a good hotel? whats there to do at Cameron Highlands?

 

Thanks.

 

I stayed there before, not bad lah. typical 3*+ hotel. Don't expect things like good homely ambience.

 

got plenty of things to do

- hiking

- visit tea plantation. acres and acres of tea plantation and fresh air

- take pictures.

- visit vegi plantation, strawberry farm.. there novelties are probably are the fact tht u can pluck strawberry at a price. don't expect the standard that u can find at supermarkets back home. also there are many many things that are made of strawberrries.

- at the hotel, they also organise day trips to near by towns. if u are lazy to drive, u can follow the tour. price wise, i don't find it attractive.

 

Yeah, Equatorial isn't too bad, if you don't set your expectation too high. It ranks high against other hotels in Cameron.

 

I alway feel much more can be done in the area of upkeeping though.

[Siewss]

Siewss,

 

Planning any northern run this coming Nov/Dec period?

 

My favorite visit-mountain-visit-beach holiday routine has been dashed to the ground by my wife who insisted on visiting Japan, just when our dollar is taking a pounding from the Yen. So off the Tokyo and Osaka this December.

 

I probably will resume my routine during Chinese New Year. Have you discovered any new and interesting destination?

[Siewss]

The old Smokehouse looks very charming, very homely and very British. Supposedly very inviting, but the interior and service level leaves much to be desired. For reasons only patrons can explain, the feedback logged into tripadvisor was less than flattering.

[Voodooman]

Yen is strong, Australia would be a better place to spend our dollar. Next year would be a better year to fly, assuming most of us still have our jobs , with airlines dropping off from the skies like never seen before and depressed air-ticket pricing with the forecast overcapacity and more down to earth oil prices. Too gloomy, I hope I am wrong. I am planning for a visit to down under early next year.

 

Nope, no new place, have been reading some blogs on drive holiday to southern Thailand (written by Malaysians) but wifey shot down the idea before I could even start selling it. Likely to visit Cameron in Dec.

[Siewss]

On hindsight, yes, but who would have anticipated such a drop 2 months back. Anyway, the airticket & hotel's been booked, and the itinerary all lined out. No way will my wife want to turn back.

 

But truth be told, with nary a tint of sour grapes, Japan beats Australia as a holiday destination.

 

Did you try booking Cluny Lodge this round? Even if you can't get a room for the whole stretch, I think there are those odd vacancies here and there, so try out 1 night (full board, that's my advice) and stay the rest of your time elsewhere.

[Voodooman]

Japan is however not a family destination, Australia offers better overall experience for family with small children, imo. I was in Vietnam 3-4 months ago, it was a good trip but also not for family with young kids. I don't have a lot of choice actually.

 

I might try out Cluny as you have suggested, there is still 1 night available during my planned vacation period but it is quite a hassle to change accommodation. Btw, you were saying room 1-4 are preferred, right?

[Hermit]

Is Equatorial a good hotel? whats there to do at Cameron Highlands?

 

Thanks.

 

I stayed there before, not bad lah. typical 3*+ hotel. Don't expect things like good homely ambience.

 

got plenty of things to do

- hiking

.....

 

*** Not for the Just-eaten ***

Yes, hiking..

I dedicated my pair of NIKE (shoes and socks) during my 'pilgrimage' to Gunung Brinchang

 

Edited November 2, 2008 by Hermit

[Siewss]

Friends who have been to Australia, USA and Japan all vouch for the latter two as more interesting family holiday destination. At the very least, Japan has Disneyland/sea, Universal Studio, Skiing Resorts, Natural hotsprings, Kaiyen Aquarium, Sumurai Museum and so on. It's perfectly fine if your family prefers Australia.

 

Cluny - Rooms 1-4 are above ground, so they are bright and breezy. Room 5-8 are at the basement, so a bit cold and clammy. Remember - the home cook meals are super!

[Dwoon]

Avoid the 1 bedroom chalets. Perhaps the 2 bedroom or the hotel is better.

 

But when I was there in May this year, the 1 bedrom was small, spartan and smelled. The floor is tiled and was sticky to the feel. booked for 4 nights but left after 3..... too bored and the accomodation didn't make us want to stay any longer.

 

Is Equatorial a good hotel? whats there to do at Cameron Highlands?

 

Thanks.

[Orablue]

which day is the strawberry picking day?

weekdays or weekend(fri/sat/sun)?

thanks!

[Lao_uncle]

Any day, they open everyday of the year. Maybe closed during CNY?

[Hiphiphoray]

Is Equatorial a good hotel? whats there to do at Cameron Highlands?

 

Thanks.

 

Hrrrrr.....eat-bonk-sleep eat-bonk-sleep ?

[Bigray]

my kind advice when you go Boh tea plantation PLS WEAR SHOES don't wear slippy,, cause i fall down when walking down the stepssss everyone was like lauging away my butt full of muld got to rush to toilet to wear away....but the air was super fresh up

[Voodooman]

Thanks for the confirmation on Cluny.

 

I see your reasoning, I was thinking more of the travelling/transport arrangement under a free and easy package, taking trains and subways with 2 young kids in super crowded and congested Tokyo is not my cup of tea. A guided tour? you got to pay me to get me onboard. Enjoy your trip.

Edited November 6, 2008 by Voodooman

[Siewss]

I'm on free and easy - took 2 months of on/off web-searching and planning to develop the itinerary. End of the day, we were pretty pleased with what came up, and affirmed it through reviews written by other like-minded family vacationers.

 

Thinking of swinging by Old Wong for that heavenly Chicken Tauge?

[Acerchan2002]

Just came back from cameron highland last night,went on 13th morning by e new road>simpang pulai..road was pretty moist tat day,when reached e mid mountain,i saw a singapore jaguar x-type>SCRX18Y drop in to e longkang..the car was quite damaged,side door,panel,headlight all gone.I'v visited e bee farm,tasted e strawberry milkshake,pick 1kg of strawberrys from e strawberry farm,visited to e catus farm and e best of all is e night food market at brinchang.

 

Equtorial hotel was not bad,but u can't really have any supper at night.There's no cheap cafe at e lobby.In e end i haf to call e room service food delivery.1 plate of mee goreng cost mi 25rm,damn exp.Overall e trip was quite fun,road condition was much more better den i expected.

[Paithorn]

Wow, thanks for sharing. But in your opinion, how many nites would suffice? 2?