Malaysia forum

Thanks for the advice. We were thinking along the lines as follows:

Arrive KL and spend 2 nights
?fly to Langkawi 4 nights
Langkawi to Penang 4 nights
Penang to Highlands 2 nights
Highlands to KL and then on to Melaka 4 or 5 nights.
Finish with 2 or 3 nights in KL

By the sound of it, may scratch Langkawi with option of heading too Perhentian but don't want to be doing a lot of back tracking if possible. We are more beach/coast people.

Is this doable?

I have taken 3 trips to Malaysia in August/September and the weather is fine, if it does rain its usually overnight or only for a couple of hours and shouldn't stop you doing what you want. May I ask why you are doing KL at the start and end of your trip? I would do it at the end, the airport is 75kms from the city and if you have no firm reason to go at the start it seems like a waste to travel in and back twice. You can take the fast train from the international terminal (28mins I think about $15 I haven't taken it for a while), taxi (pricey) or airport bus from low cost carrier terminal or international to KL sentral (train station / mono rail)for about $3, private transfers are expensive and unnecessary.
I would arrive and if possible fly straight to Langkawi or Penang (air asia have about 12 flights a day from the LCC ) . Langkawi has a better beach scene, you will want to stay around Pantai Cenang, which has a great beach and all the choice of accommodation, the other beaches are brilliant but are taken up with pricey 5 star resorts. Hiring a car is cheap and its very laid back and easy to get around. Penang has beaches but they are not as good, however if you stay around Batu Ferrangi you do get the best beach and if you like food I think Penang has the best food in Malaysia. If you have a badly timed flight into KL the best cheapest option to stay around the airport is the Tune Hotel at the LCC around $40 room, its new, clean, small rooms but good for a quick stopover while waiting for a flight.
I haven't been to Frasers or Cameron highlands but have been to Genting, its cheesy, fun for a day if you have nothing else to do but wouldn't stay here.
I hear the Perhentians are nice (haven't been) I have been told Tioman is stunning (and tax free like Langkawi) but I can recommend Redang the snorkling in the marine park was brilliant and its not over developed (yet).
Air Asia is brilliant, cheap and reliable and I couldn't think of a better way to travel between destinations, I must have taken in excess of 20 flights with them and never once have they let me down, but do take heed of the the baggage allowances and pay extra when you book if you have to or they will sting you for excess baggage and don't be late for your flight, they are ultra strict on the check in closing times. Travel safe