We flew with Air Asia X and got what was supposed to be a promotional special for their new direct flight from Melbourne to KL in their XL seats. XL is now called Premium Economy. We paid for food and 25kg luggage.

I was very disappointed with AAX as they changed two flights without notifying us. One flight was a hour later and it didn't really matter but the flight from KL to Penang did matter and we would have missed it had my husband not spotted the flight number change. I rang AAX and they placed us on the next flight but this meant we had a massive 6 1/2 wait at LCCT. We had planned to go into the Plaza Premier lounge at a cost of 128 ringgits pp but we was denied access because we were not waiting for an International flight. I might add the lounge was empty.

Not happy with my chosen 1st row seats as they were bulkhead seats and we were unable to stretch our legs for the 8 hour and 15 min flight. I did manage to change the seats online and get a different row for the return journey and it was much better.

Air Asia X seats don't recline. However, you can move the base of the seat forward but this impedes on your leg and knee room. I found the seating uncomfortable. There was only one food service during this flight and this included a small dinner in a tiny tin-foil tray and a small bottle of water and nothing else. I don't mind airline food but this was inedible. Coming home was the same ropey chicken dinner which I swapped for a sandwich. If you wanted any more food you had to buy it. With the benefit of hindsight the flight cost much the same as Thai or Malaysia airline economy for the same distance, both these airlines have a decent 34" seat pitch and are comfortable with a full service. Lesson learnt.

Sitting on our flight from KL-PEN we were shocked that a couple got off the aircraft... they were on the WRONG plane. How can that happen!! Well it happened because it had two flights listed for one gate with 2 aircraft on the tarmac side by side... the announcing was unclear and no one to guide the passengers. We had priority boarding and first out of the waiting area and we had NO idea which aircraft to board. There are no aerobridges at LCCT so you walk out on to the tarmac and up the steps. I had to ask another passenger which plane it was. The other couple chose the wrong one but they should have been prevented from boarding from the crew who greet you aboard..

It's been 10 years since we were last in Penang and things change in that time. A lot of the restaurants on the strip in Batu Ferringhi are no longer there. A restaurant that was still there had been ravaged by time but the same owners were still as lovely as ever. We stayed at the Parkroyal which is a very lovely hotel and the staff there were fabulous and not one sour face amongst them. I had requested a low room on account I don't like heights but they placed us on the 6th floor. We had booked a Grand deluxe sea view room but we were placed in a corner and the view on the left hand side was a pinkish blank wall from (the staggered rooms on the wing rooms) You only had a sea view from one angle. Next day I asked for a lower room in a more central position and we were to move rooms in 4 days when one became available. The next day reception contacted us and changed us to a Premier room on the 2nd floor at no extra cost. The room had a small sitting area that included a 2 seater sofa and chair and another flat screen tv. Outside was a table and chairs and sun beds in a garden area. The room was still higher than the palm trees but the garden gave me the illusion that I was lower than I was and we happily excepted the upgrade.

Many of the restaurants are Indian restaurants which was great for my husband as he loves Indian tucker... me! well I struggle but I can generally find something on the menu I like. Lets just say I ate a lot of Roti and Dhal darl. There was a lovely place called 'The Net' Roti and Dhal curry was 2 ringgits and was very very nice. Banana Roti was 3 ringgits more.

The area on the beach outside the Parkroyal can be quite noisy with the watersports and activities (much too old for all of that now) But I did enjoy lots of foot reflex massages from the lovely Lilly on the beach. We hired a car one day and had a good look round and went over the bridge to Butterworth where we got lost. We did a bit of shopping in Georgetown and generally had a grand day out.

Next stop was KL for 2 nights with the intention of shopping for our 3 grandchildren. We stayed at the Royale Bintang. I was a tad worried about this place as I read some very ordinary reviews about it and especially coming from the 5* Parkroyal. However, it was absolutely fine in fact the bathroom was nicer than the Parkroyal and had a proper walk in shower with a glass door and not one over the bath with a curtain. We managed to get a reasonably low floor which was a relief. Breakfast was not 5* but by this time I was over the big lavish breaky and was adequate.

KL is hot, steamy, sticky and loud, although I live in a city of 4 million people I'm not used to all that traffic and rumble and noise. I live in the quiet burbs of South East Melbourne where the city meets the bush so 2 nights in a high rise building was more than enough for me. I did force myself to shop for the kids though. First night we fell into a drinking hole and later a fish spa. I even managed to get my husband to join me but after 4 pints of Carlsberg he's up for most things. He doesn't normally drinks pints (more your Aussie stubbies) but pints were more economical he said !! The next night we did the hawker food street and it was great fun choosing which stall to eat at. They were all similar but I'll never know why we chose one over the other. We walked 3/4 down the street and one stall holder said "chicken and fish" and we said ok and that was it.

So home again in our own bed and on the ground. We crawled into bed about 03:00 and my husband said "can you hear that" it was dead silent Ah!!! Bliss.

Cheers Geri