Perhentian Islands, Malaysia and Borneo

Of the twin Perhentian islands of Besar (‘Big’) and Kecil (‘Small’), the latter is marginally less developed, appealing in the main to independent-minded travellers looking for a beach that’s lively in the evenings, but not a rolling party zone. Bubu, on Long Beach, is its best hotel – a well run, mid-scale place offering great value accommodation. Providing a comfortable base in which to recover from a day’s swimming and snorkelling in the crystalline waters of the bay, the rooms are bright and cool and all have their own private veranda or balcony. There’s a choice of dive shops on the doorstep, and a string of excellent budget restaurants only a stroll away.