Older Aussies Singapore to Bangkok by train

[masaloi]

Hi we are older fit Aussies, no medication wanting to plan a train trip from Singapore to Bangkok with stopovers at Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
We travel light and cheap..but clean and comfortable seeing most time in our hotel we have our eyes shut.
At this stage are looking at a 14 day visit.
Clean budget accom. near wholesome activity appreciated in each area.
Any need to book or suitable accom pretty well always available?
What about ticketing for train. Have been advised to purchase only the first leg from Singapore then remainder from Kuala Lumpur.
Not looking to party or booze....shopping and sight seeing is our thing.
Im a fit 74 and my wife is a fit 67 probably in better nick than a lot of youngies...even if we might "puff" sometimes.
All concise or broad overviews appreciated.

Thanks a million
masaloi

[albaker]

Check out the website , the man in seat sixty-one for train timetables and prices , not a wind up , its now 2nd April .
Stopover in Penang can be a bit of a problem as the station , Butterworth , is on the mainland not on the tourist island of Penang . You would need to look at accomodation on the Island as sight seeing and shopping is non existant in Butterworth , which is a major manufacturing base for a lot of international companies just a large industrial town .
If it were me I would look at hotels in the tourist strip of Batu Ferringhi , there is not much budget accom here but if travelling in the next 2-4 months it is off season and good deals can be had , also the night market here is briiliant with plenty of choice for " grub "
Alis guest house on beach is clean and cheap or look at Bayview Beach Hotel .
KL poses no problem as there are some good hotels , I would call them mid range , near the tourist and shopping area , also close to China Town , Petaling Street . Quality Inn , Swiss Inn , make sure if you book this that you have a room with window , some dont . Quite a few more hotels in this area .
Word of warning look out for the rip off taxi drivers , the majority WILL NOT use the meters and can be bl**dy rude .

[masaloi]

Thanks for that info and especially about the taxi drivers..have encountered similiar experiences in Indonesia where they are more likely to pull a knife on you if you engage in any difference with them.

Seems KL and Penang don't suffer too much from dramatic weather changes I was thinking about November but am fully flexible so which months weatherwise and budget wise would you suggest.
And would your "best" weather advice include Bangkok as well?

[albaker]

No problem with weather in any of these places in November , but be advised the low season finishes in October , so prices , hotels , will be a little higher than now . The exception is Bangkok where prices seem to be constant all year round and funnily enough weekend rates can be slightly cheaper than midweek business men rates , company paying I expect , not so for beach resorts , the opposite .

[ll_angel86]

It would be cheaper to buy the train tickets from Malaysia because you pay in Ringgit. If in Singapore, you will pay in SGD. Hence it's like more than twice the amount.