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Guide to Kuantan, Malaysia
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Kuantan
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KuantanKuantan
Upon Malaysia's western peninsula, the central coastal (on the peninsula's eastern front) city of Kuantan takes the role of a breezy, un-pompous capital for the state of Pahang. Being home to a high percentage of forestry, Pahang is naturally one of the most sought after preserves in the South Asian region among hikers and rafters. Though few consider Kuantan anything more than a halfway house or base for excursions into the wilds, we'd like to alter the consensus a bit. Sure, Kuantan has been swept up into the glitzy stratosphere where nothing less than immense shopping malls, restaurants with menus of international standards, and a plentiful supply of evening entertainment is acceptable, but Kuantan has a few things up its sleeves that leave even Kuala Lumpur and some Thai behemoths with traces of envy. Kuantan's coast is devoted almost entirely to visitor satisfaction. Whether it is a view, an entre, a hand-knit garment, or even the safe haven of a quickly prepared hamburger, the venues and vantage points of the city's waterline (touching the South China Sea) are meant to grab one's attention and hold it; they seem to do the job quite well. Unless you blatantly showcase yourself as a tourist with an ample supply of spending money, the vendors of Kuantan will more or less leave you without fussing you out of your currency with awkward persistence. Keep to yourself (unless you intended to befriend a local during your stay) and commiserate only when you feel it is necessary to keep the heckling at a minimum. In all, Kuantan is a splendid diversion for those yearning for a special selection of comfortable treats (and we don't mean edible ones, though such items are amply present here); it's not too far from your typical urban development complex, and you'll be apportioned a good amount of breathing room, often severely lacking inside the region's busiest metropolises.
When to go:
Climate changes are natural everywhere around the world, but it's often stipulated that temperate success comes to some more so than others. Malaysia is such an exception. If you're absolutely smitten with blue skies, warmth earth, and almost perfectly conditioned breezes, a visit to this South Asian nation (though divided by miles of sea) is much needed. Sitting on the Malaysian coastline, Kuantan is more prone to feeling the effects of tropical storms, but unless trouble appears to be on its way, your flight plans needn't be altered in any way.
Getting there and around:
Kuantan's importance is often overshadowed by the nation's capital in the air travel industry, but a smaller venue and fewer daily connections put Kuantan Airport in a favorable light among a niche community of people not attuned to bustling terminals. It may be necessary to fly indirectly to the city to avoid a long wait before a nonstop scheduling is made, in effect making a stopover at KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) more a guarantee than a possibility. Taxis and buses are the most prevalent transit vehicles on Kuantan's roadways. Tight-budgeted travelers will find public transportation capable of everything but frequent suburban pick-ups and drop-offs. If you go by way of the taxi, you'll be lucky discover a meter; negotiation of the fare is a must if you don't wish to be, well, "taken for a ride."
Attractions:
The State Mosque, the central character in Kuantan life, is the most notable of the city's creations. The full ensemble of minarets, dome, and stained glass is present, as is a naturally illuminated interior boasting some very intricate work.
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