DESTINATIONS FAMILY HOLIDAYS | SOUTHEAST ASIA
THE EASTERN & ORIENTAL EXPRESS
Belmond – the luxury rail company known for operating the renowned Venice Simplon- Orient-Express between Paris and Venice – also operates in Asia, with the gorgeous Eastern & Oriental Express. It restarted in 2024, offering two seasonal journeys between Singapore and Malaysia.
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Batu Caves, all Malaysia; writer Phoebe Smith and family PREVIOUS PAGE: Gardens by the Bay, Singapore PICTURES: Shutterstock/Awan Media, RSchan, Peter G Unger; Four Seasons; Belmond/Ludovic Balay
across the continent, we would travel from Singapore to Bangkok by train, together. After a couple of days exploring Singapore’s myriad districts, hawker centres and elegant architecture – exemplified by the gold-topped Sultan Mosque and colonial-era Raffles hotel – we headed north to reach Johor Bahru in Malaysia, where we would board our first train. Dad couldn’t hide his nerves, particularly when we passed by street food stalls selling unfamiliar, stinky durian and bright green pandan-based snacks, but once we got on board our second-class, air-conditioned cabin, complete with Wi-Fi and reclining seats, he relaxed into it, remarking how it was “better than the trains at home”.
MALAYSIAN MEANDER Over the eight hours and two trains it took to reach Kuala Lumpur, we dozed, strolled up and down and sat in the dining car watching the verdant Malay jungle pass by. “Multigen travel has always been popular in Asia,” said Blaise Montandon, general manager of Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur, when we checked in that evening. “I think it has become more popular [with Europeans] because people were separated for huge lengths of time, and now they are realising that we have much to learn by spending time together. It keeps the
56 6 MARCH 2025 Multigen travel has become
more popular [since the pandemic] and people are realising that we have much to learn by spending time together
older guests young and teaches the kids good values.” We certainly did spend time together, visiting Batu Caves with its colourful Hindu temples, Kwai Chai Hong district with its huge murals depicting scenes of old Kuala Lumpur and had afternoon tea at the Banyan Tree, where we watched a thunderstorm roll in. Later, when Dad was tired and my son was in bed, I was free to have a drink and explore the city without the worry of organising a babysitter (a key perk of multigen holidays).
TROPICAL FUN However, multigen travel is not without compromise. While I wanted to explore the tea plantations and walking trails above Ipoh in the Cameron Highlands, I instead had to go to The Lost World (a water and theme park) to placate my son. Dad and I were reluctantly
On board, clients can expect old-world glamour, with teak-panelled interiors competing with countless views of banana plantations by the tracks. The dining car serves up scrumptious Malay cuisine cooked by Michelin-lauded chefs. Clients will also adore the train’s spa treatment room offering the first Dior Spa in southeast Asia.
Book it: Abercrombie & Kent offers a five-night trip from £6,995 per person, based on two sharing. Includes a two-night stay in Singapore, followed by a three-night Essence of Malaysia journey on the Eastern & Oriental Express. Includes breakfast, named excursions,
transfers and flights.
abercrombiekent.co.uk
²
travelweekly.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
