Malaysia: From Hotel‑Plane to Music Festivals and Island Adventures

Unusual Hotel‑Plane in Johor Bahru

In the Kempas area, just outside Johor Bahru, 1975 Avenue & Hotel opened its doors – the only hotel in the world where guests can spend the night inside real Boeing 747s. The complex houses two wide‑body jets, each with its own backstory.

• The first aircraft is one of the early 747‑100s built in the 1970s. Ordered by Pan American World Airways, it flew under the names Clipper Derby and Clipper Black Sea. After Pan Am went bankrupt in 1991, the plane changed hands several times – Tower Air, Logistic Air among them – and by 2010 it was stored at Senai Airport, Malaysia.
• The second is a 747SR, a version reinforced for Japan’s short domestic routes. From 1980 to 1998 it served Japan Airlines, moving more than 500 passengers per flight. It later wore a few different registrations (N553SW, PK‑IAU, 5U‑ACG) and also ended up in Senai by 2009.

Both jets were cut into large sections, shipped to a new site and re‑assembled because their dimensions (over 70 m long, wingspan close to 60 m, height with landing gear about 19 m) make ordinary road transport impossible. Inside each fuselage 18 comfortable rooms have been created, and the whole property is styled so visitors feel an aviation‑retro vibe while still enjoying modern service standards.

Music Events as a Reason to Travel

The 2026 calendar promises something special for live‑music fans: Kuala Lumpur will host a series of concerts by international stars. The lineup includes:

Artist	Date	Venue	Approx. ticket price (RUB)
The Weeknd	4‑5 Nov	TM Stadium Nasional	from 63 500
Evanescence	28 Nov	National Hockey Stadium	from 31 000
Limp Bizkit	9 Dec	National Hockey Stadium	from 46 000
Khalid	9 Dec	It’s Always Summer Somewhere tour	from 35 000
BTS	12‑13 Dec	TM Stadium Nasional	from 74 000

Tour operator PAX bundles accommodation with breakfast, group transfers from the airport to the hotel and to the stadium, plus a city sightseeing tour with a Russian‑speaking guide. Such packages let you squeeze a short musical "pause" into a longer Malaysian stay.

Combined Itineraries: From City to Islands and Jungle

Russian tourists are increasingly opting for programs that stitch several regions together into one holiday. The most popular schemes look like this:

1. Kuala Lumpur + Langkawi – a flight from the capital to the archipelago takes about an hour and ten minutes. In Langkawi many travelers choose premium hotels such as Four Seasons or The Datai, where beach relaxation and spa treatments are on the menu.
2. Kuala Lumpur + Borneo (Sabah, Sarawak) – after the city leg the journey continues by domestic flight or ferry to the island of Borneo, opening up tropical rainforests, national parks and chances to spot orangutans.
3. Kuala Lumpur + Penang – the capital day includes a tour of colonial architecture, then a trip to Penang, where food tours and historic quarters go hand in hand.

Within these programs tourists often pick hotels a notch above the usual "budget" offering, reflecting a growing demand for comfort even in remote spots.

Practical Tips for Russian Travelers

• Visa regime: most Russians obtain a tourist visa online; it usually allows a stay of up to 30 days.
• Flights: there are no direct services from Russia yet, but convenient connections are offered by Qatar Airways, Emirates and other major carriers. PAX holds block bookings on Qatar flights, which simplifies reservation.
• Transfers: group transfers from the airport to the hotel and back, as well as to concert venues, are normally included in the package. That spares you the hassle of hunting down taxis in an unfamiliar city.
• Russian‑speaking guides: the majority of tours provide Russian‑language support, a real plus when you visit big attractions like the Petronas Twin Towers or Penang’s historic centre.
• Meals and insurance: most hotels include breakfast; other meals can be planned independently. Medical insurance is mandatory, given the long flights and active jungle outings.

By mixing the one‑of‑a‑kind hotel‑plane, world‑class concerts and a variety of natural landscapes, Malaysia becomes a place where a single vacation can satisfy several cravings at once – from luxury and nostalgia to adrenaline and cultural enrichment.

Based on materials from: frequentflyers.ru, atorus.ru.