Five A TravelTravel Tours · Est. 1994

The Travel Journal

Destination notes, seasonal timing and honest, practical advice, written by RG Reddy, who has spent more than twenty-five years planning trips for Malaysian travellers.

Dispatch1 October 2026 · 6 min readThe Roar Returns to Sepang: F1, a KLIA Travel Note, and a Wish for a ComebackI didn't expect to write this one this year: Formula 1 is back at Sepang. Here's what it means for your travel if you're flying on 2–4 October, the serious story behind a 'Bahrain' race running in Selangor, and why I would dearly love to see F1 come home to Malaysia for good.Read article

When to Go1 October 2026 · 4 min readKashmir in Autumn: The Season I'd Quietly Keep for MyselfEveryone pictures Kashmir in spring tulips or winter snow. My own favourite is the one in between — October, when the chinar trees turn to fire, the saffron fields come purple, and the valley empties of crowds. Here's why autumn is Kashmir at its most beautiful, and how to plan it.Read article

Dispatch28 September 2026 · 5 min readFrom Dosa to Goan Seafood: Where a Pilgrimage Meets the BeachSome journeys don't make you choose between the sacred and the carefree. In a few unhurried days, this one carries you from Balaji darshan at Tirumala to the beaches — and floating casinos — of Goa, with the food turning from a crisp Chennai dosa to Goan seafood along the way.Read article

Travel Tips28 September 2026 · 5 min readWhen the Rain Comes: Thailand's Floods, the Monsoon, and Your TripThis week's floods put Bangkok under water and gave the city two days off. Here is what a downpour like this really means if you have a Thailand trip on the calendar — an honest word on the rainy season, and on what we do when the weather turns.Read article

Travel Tips26 September 2026 · 6 min readHow Much Does a Kashmir Holiday from Malaysia Really Cost?Kashmir is one of our most-requested trips from Malaysia — and it costs less than most people fear. We've run group departures all-in for as little as RM 3,899 per person — flights, hotels, meals and visa included. Here's an honest breakdown of what a Kashmir and Taj Mahal holiday really costs in 2026.Read article

Visa & Docs25 September 2026 · 6 min readDo Malaysians Need a Visa for Their Next Holiday?The Malaysian passport is one of the strongest in the world — but “visa-free” has limits, and the rules keep changing. Here's a plain, up-to-date guide to where Malaysians can go freely, where to plan ahead, and the three destinations that trip people up.Read article

Group Tour vs Private Tour: Which Is Better for Your Family?

Travel Tips24 September 2026 · 5 min readGroup Tour vs Private Tour: Which Is Better for Your Family?After “how much does it cost,” this is the question we're asked most. Here's the honest trade-off between joining a group departure and travelling privately — and how to choose the right one for a Malaysian family.Read article

First Time in India? A Malaysian Traveller's Guide

Travel Tips24 September 2026 · 6 min readFirst Time in India? A Malaysian Traveller's GuideIndia is where Five A began, and it's the country our travellers return to most — but a first trip can feel daunting. Here's what a Malaysian first-timer should actually know, from choosing where to go to eating well and getting around.Read article

Malaysia Visa-Free for Indian Travellers: What's Allowed, and What Isn't

Visa & Docs23 September 2026 · 5 min readMalaysia Visa-Free for Indian Travellers: What's Allowed, and What Isn'tIndian passport holders can visit Malaysia visa-free for up to 30 days until the end of 2026 — but only for tourism, not work. Here's what to carry, why the MDAC matters, and how to avoid the 'job offer' trap the authorities are warning about.Read article

Japan in Spring: Why You Should Go, and How We Make It Easy

Destination Guide21 September 2026 · 6 min readJapan in Spring: Why You Should Go, and How We Make It EasyLate spring is one of the loveliest windows to see Japan — mild days, green everywhere, and the country at its most photogenic. Here is why our seven-day group trip next May is the easy way to do it, and why the price is hard to argue with.Read article

Three Reasons I Still Tell You to Print Your Ticket

Travel Tips21 September 2026 · 5 min readThree Reasons I Still Tell You to Print Your TicketThe whole industry went paperless, and mostly that's a good thing. But after thirty years in this trade, I still print a copy of every journey, and I tell my travellers to do the same. Here is why a single sheet of paper still earns its place in your bag.Read article

Standing With Nepal After the Floods

Dispatch29 August 2026 · 5 min readStanding With Nepal After the FloodsNepal has given our travellers some of their most treasured journeys. This week it is grieving, and so are we. A few honest words, and how to help.Read article

Travel Scams to Watch For (and How to Avoid Them)

Travel Tips27 August 2026 · 7 min readTravel Scams to Watch For (and How to Avoid Them)In my twenty-six years I've heard about most of these first-hand, usually from a traveller who got caught. The good news is that scams are lazy. They reuse the same few tricks, and once you know them they stop working.Read article

Destination Notes: Vietnam, from Lantern Light to Limestone Bays

Destination Guide25 August 2026 · 7 min readDestination Notes: Vietnam, from Lantern Light to Limestone BaysHa Long's karst islands at dawn, Hoi An's lanterns on the water, a bowl of pho on a plastic stool. Vietnam moves fast and feeds you well. Here's a slower look at it.Read article

Destination Notes: Japan, a Country That Rewards Attention

Destination Guide9 August 2026 · 7 min readDestination Notes: Japan, a Country That Rewards AttentionCherry blossom over a Kyoto lane, a bullet train gliding past Fuji, a hot spring in the snow. Japan is a masterclass in doing small things beautifully.Read article

Destination Notes: Rajasthan, Where India Wears Its Crown

Destination Guide26 July 2026 · 7 min readDestination Notes: Rajasthan, Where India Wears Its CrownLake palaces that seem to float, a blue city, a golden desert fort, and colour everywhere. Rajasthan is India at its most cinematic. A slower look at the land of kings.Read article

Destination Notes: Sri Lanka, the Island That Slows You Down

Destination Guide12 July 2026 · 7 min readDestination Notes: Sri Lanka, the Island That Slows You DownBeyond the highlights reel: the blue train to Ella, tea country at dawn, Galle's ramparts at dusk, and why travellers come home from this island quietly changed.Read article

Why a Travel Agent's Reputation Matters More Than the Price

Travel Tips28 June 2026 · 6 min readWhy a Travel Agent's Reputation Matters More Than the PriceAnyone can build a booking website. Far fewer can be trusted with your money, your passport and your once-a-year trip. Here's how I'd tell a real agency from a risky one.Read article

The US Tourist Visa (B1/B2) for Malaysians: A Step-by-Step Guide

Visa & Docs14 June 2026 · 7 min readThe US Tourist Visa (B1/B2) for Malaysians: A Step-by-Step GuideMalaysia isn't on the US visa-waiver list, so a holiday to the States means a B1/B2 visa and an embassy interview. Here's exactly how it works, and how to pass it.Read article

Why You Still Need a Travel Agent in the Age of Online Booking

Travel Tips31 May 2026 · 6 min readWhy You Still Need a Travel Agent in the Age of Online BookingYou can book a flight in three taps, so why call an agent? Because the taps are the easy part. Here's what a good agent actually saves you.Read article

India Visa & OCI for Malaysians: e-Visa, Regular Visa, and Lifelong OCI

Visa & Docs17 May 2026 · 6 min readIndia Visa & OCI for Malaysians: e-Visa, Regular Visa, and Lifelong OCIFrom a quick tourist e-Visa to a lifelong OCI card for those of Indian origin, here's how Malaysians get into India, and which route is right for you.Read article

Why Human Judgment Still Matters When You Travel

Travel Tips3 May 2026 · 5 min readWhy Human Judgment Still Matters When You TravelApps can find you a flight and a hotel in seconds. But travel is full of moments no algorithm can read, and that's exactly when a human earns their place.Read article

Do Malaysians Need a Visa? A Quick Guide by Destination

Visa & Docs19 April 2026 · 6 min readDo Malaysians Need a Visa? A Quick Guide by DestinationThe Malaysian passport is one of the world's strongest, and many trips need no visa at all. Here's a plain-English rundown of where you can just go, and where you'll need paperwork.Read article

Kashmir Month by Month: A Practical Planner

When to Go4 April 2026 · 7 min readKashmir Month by Month: A Practical PlannerBeyond 'spring is best': a month-by-month look at what's blooming, what's open, what to pack, and when the crowds and prices peak in the valley.Read article

When to Visit Kashmir: A Season-by-Season Guide

When to Go21 March 2026 · 5 min readWhen to Visit Kashmir: A Season-by-Season GuideTulips in spring, meadows in summer, chinar gold in autumn, snow in winter. Kashmir is a different valley every season. Here's how to choose yours.Read article

Char Dham Yatra: What to Know Before You Go

Travel Tips7 March 2026 · 6 min readChar Dham Yatra: What to Know Before You GoThe four abodes (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath) are a journey of faith and altitude. A little preparation makes all the difference.Read article

Cherry Blossoms in Japan & Korea: Timing Your Spring Trip

When to Go21 February 2026 · 4 min readCherry Blossoms in Japan & Korea: Timing Your Spring TripSakura season is short, moves north over a few weeks, and shifts a little every year. Here's how to give yourself the best chance of catching full bloom.Read article

A First-Timer's Guide to India's Golden Triangle

Destination Guide7 February 2026 · 5 min readA First-Timer's Guide to India's Golden TriangleDelhi, Agra and Jaipur in one loop, the classic first taste of India. What to see, how long to take, and how to make it comfortable.Read article