KUALA LUMPUR, 23 October 2014 – Gili Trawangan offers the best value for Malaysian travellers this year when it comes to an island getaway, according to a cost comparison report released today by TripAdvisor™, the world’s largest travel site*.
The results are taken from the second annual TripIndex Island Sun report, which compares the cost of a day out and an overnight stay for two in sixteen popular island destinations across Southeast Asia. The study takes into account the combined costs for two people to enjoy a one night stay in a four-star hotel, a two-course meal, drinks, a massage as well as rental of bicycles and kayaks.
The most affordable island for a day out and an overnight stay for Malaysian travellers is Gili Trawangan in Indonesia, with a total TripIndex cost of RM726.37. At the other end of the spectrum, a trip to Sentosa will cost three times more at RM2,577.28.
“TripIndex Island Sun gives Malaysian travellers an overview of where their money will stretch the furthest as they plan their upcoming end-of-year holiday getaway. This year’s results show that despite their popularity, Indonesia and Thailand are still home to some of the most affordable island getaways in Southeast Asia with Gili Trawangan, Bali and Koh Samui topping the list,” commented Jean Ow-Yeong, TripAdvisor spokesperson.
“Travellers who still want to visit the more expensive islands can still find ways to reduce the cost of the trip by visiting TripAdvisor destination pages where they can search for hotels and restaurants more in-line with their budget,” she continued.
Indonesia Dominates with Most Affordable Islands
This year’s results show that travellers heading to islands in Indonesia can expect to save the most, with Gili Trawangan (#1), Bali (#2) and Lombok (#4) ranking amongst the top five most affordable islands at combined TripIndex costs of RM726.37, RM837.40 and RM898.98 respectively.
Gili Trawangan and Bali were also recognised amongst the top ten islands in Asia, ranking fifth and second in the 2014 Travellers’ Choice Islands Awards respectively.
Penang the Most Affordable Malaysian Island
Penang island, with a TripIndex cost of RM1,183.96, is the most affordable Malaysian Island at ninth place. Pulau Redang (#11), Pulau Tioman (#12) and Langkawi (#13) were the other Malaysian islands included in this study, with total costs of RM1,425.00, RM1,504.56 and RM1,587.72 respectively.
Penang is also home to the most affordable stay in a 4-star hotel room, costing travellers RM395.98, while for the same in Palawan, it is more than three times the price at RM1,368.58. However, Palawan is also home to the most affordable meals, drinks and massage for two, with a meal for two costing RM60.34, drinks for two RM7.30 and massage for two at a spa in a four-star hotel RM121.69.
Other Islands More Affordable but Sentosa Home to World-Class Attractions
With the highest total TripIndex cost, Sentosa also recorded the biggest costs for meals, drinks, bicycle rental and massage for two. However, the island is home to wide selection of themed attractions suitable for the whole family, including Singapore’s first integrated resort, Resorts World Sentosa, which operates South East Asia’s first Universal Studios theme park, S.E.A. Aquarium, Maritime Experiential Museum and the Adventure Cove Waterpark.
Universal Studios Singapore and S.E.A. Aquarium were also awarded the 2014 Travellers’ Choice Attractions Awards, placing first and seventh in Asia in the Amusement Parks and Aquariums categories respectively. Sentosa also provides free transportation within the island with the Sentosa Bus, Sentosa Express, and Beach Trams.
TripIndex Island Sun (prices in MYR):
From most to least affordable
Island | Hotel for two | Meal for two (with coconuts) | Drinks for two | Bicycle rental for two | Massage for two | Kayak rental for two | TOTAL |
Gili Trawangan(Indonesia) | RM414.16 | RM88.36 | RM19.90 | RM31.65 | RM142.45 | RM29.85 | RM726.37 |
Bali(Indonesia) | RM540.03 | RM82.48 | RM19.17 | RM13.57 | RM152.30 | RM29.85 | RM837.40 |
Koh Samui(Thailand) | RM504.34 | RM77.94 | RM18.14 | RM30.23 | RM201.56 | RM60.47 | RM892.68 |
Lombok(Indonesia) | RM492.36 | RM90.44 | RM18.63 | RM28.04 | RM242.38 | RM27.13 | RM898.98 |
Cebu(Philippines) | RM457.22 | RM64.72 | RM9.20 | RM109.57 | RM311.61 | RM60.92 | RM1,013.25 |
Phuket(Thailand) | RM583.61 | RM73.23 | RM12.77 | RM30.23 | RM302.34 | RM40.31 | RM1,042.50 |
Phu Quoc Island(Vietnam) | RM785.43 | RM87.51 | RM11.23 | RM15.32 | RM129.89 | RM64.90 | RM1,094.27 |
Boracay(Philippines) | RM560.36 | RM107.82 | RM11.40 | RM124.18 | RM238.57 | RM53.62 | RM1,095.93 |
Penang Island(Malaysia) | RM395.98 | RM174.00 | RM35.66 | RM111.00 | RM413.66 | RM53.66 | RM1,183.96 |
Koh Phi Phi Don(Thailand) | RM909.99 | RM63.02 | RM16.02 | RM24.19 | RM243.55 | RM50.39 | RM1,307.17 |
Pulau Redang(Malaysia) | RM498.66 | RM162.34 | RM45.66 | RM100.00 | RM508.34 | RM110.00 | RM1,425.00 |
Pulau Tioman(Malaysia) | RM678.56 | RM144.00 | RM28.00 | RM140.00 | RM416.00 | RM98.00 | RM1,504.56 |
Langkawi(Malaysia) | RM707.88 | RM182.84 | RM30.34 | RM140.00 | RM456.66 | RM70.00 | RM1,587.72 |
Palawan(Philippines) | RM1,368.58 | RM60.34 | RM7.30 | RM68.23 | RM121.69 | RM43.83 | RM1,669.97 |
Bintan(Indonesia) | RM784.26 | RM238.12 | RM67.11 | RM203.49 | RM386.37 | RM100.93 | RM1,780.28 |
Sentosa(Singapore) | RM1,107.01 | RM258.00 | RM68.34 | RM230.66 | RM808.18 | RM105.08 | RM2,577.28 |
Filed in: tripadvisor