Airline and Route: Malaysia Airlines London - Kuala Lumpur - Phuket - Kuala Lumpur - London

Flight Experience: I have always been fond of Malaysia Airlines, having taken me on my first long haul flight four years ago. I recalled their proud Malaysian hospitality, which really lived up to my expectations this time around.

Airport Experience: We sailed through Heathrow Airport on one of the quietest days I have ever seen it. On board, the Malaysia Airlines staff were extremely efficient and always friendly and helpful. Professionally dressed, they ensured we were never short of food or drink, even on the short flights between Kuala Lumpur and Phuket. All flights were comfortable enough for a decent sleep, on schedule, and featured sophisticated onboard entertainment.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport is very well organised especially considering its size, our luggage even beat us to the belt after a quick train shuttle to the central terminal. There are loads of food, drink and shopping options surrounding airport terminal’s central small jungle escape including a waterfall, making it a welcome bubble of tranquillity and nature in the modern airport.

Our representatives were ready and waiting for us when we arrived. They sorted everything for us and shared plenty of local knowledge and recommendations. The cars all had more than enough space for us and our luggage and were wonderfully air conditioned with plenty of bottled water.

We started our trip by heading over to the striking Batu Caves, before meeting the other groups of the academy on the skybridge of the iconic Petronas Towers. We then headed to the exclusive Petroleum Club for a welcome dinner, with a spectacular backdrop of thunder and lighting.

Highlight: I think we all agreed the Vespa Tour exceeded our expectations, it's a great way to get around the city. Within just a couple of hours we not only saw all the key sites but had a few experiences along the way including trying traditional dress and food.

Interesting Fact: Last time I visited the Petronas Towers, I remember seeing my hero Valentino Rossi's bike on display in the lobby, this time they had one of Lewis Hamilton's Petronas sponsored Mercedes F1 cars. Motor sports displays are not a regular feature, usually only happening for special exhibitions, major race promotions or seasonal launches.

Top Tip: I recommend booking onto Trailfinders' Private Introduction to Kuala Lumpur city tour. There is much more to Kuala Lumpur than just the Twin Towers, and it is a great way to help yourself get your bearings.

Where We Stayed: 5★ The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur

Hotel Top Tip: A beautiful hotel in a great location. It boasts excellent facilities for a city centre hotel with two big swimming pools, a well-equipped gym and a variety of dining options, both in and around the hotel if you want to mix things up a bit.

After a short hop to Phuket and an even shorter transfer, we arrived at the amazing 5★ Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas. We were greeted with the freshest fruit and juices, freezing towels and beautifully perfumed flower garlands, before being shuttled over to our outrageous Pool Villas. They were exquisite with huge pools big enough for a few strokes. The attention to detail was phenomenal, down to the different scents dispersed around the resort.

Highlight: I'm not usually a breakfast person, but the smoked duck dish at the breakfast buffet!

Interesting Fact: The spa at the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas was famously featured in the ‘White Lotus’ TV series (the series used another property in Koh Samui as the main filming location).

Top Tip: You can’t go wrong with any of the rooms at the Anantara, but the pool villas are enormous and beautifully appointed - I would say it's well worth the upgrade for an extra special stay.

Where We Stayed: 5★ Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas

After a couple of hours in the very comfortable minibus, we jumped in a long-tail boat for a spectacular journey through the limestone karts and topaz waters of Cheow Larn Lake to reach our secluded 3+★ 360 Issara Floating Resort. Tucked away in an isolated corner of the lake, the setting was a dramatic contrast to the hustle and bustle of mainland Phuket. Each of the 20 villas has their own kayak, which we made great use of. We saw seven elephants and copious monkeys on our evening boat safari, followed by an idyllic and peaceful morning safari. Our enthusiastic guide, Uwa, made sure we didn't miss any wildlife and thoroughly entertained us all on our rainforest trek and bamboo raft journey to the sparkling Pakarang Caves.

Highlight: The resort really promotes the idea of being connected with nature, removed from the mainland. A unique experience which we all enjoyed immensely.

Interesting Fact: The Pakarang Caves are over 250 million years old and only discovered in 2008.

Top Tip: We recommend that you travel with just a small bag to the resort due to limited space in the rooms. The transfer office on the pier at 360 Issara has secure luggage storage, if you want to leave your larger luggage behind during your stay.

Where We Stayed: 3+★ 360 Issara Floating Resort

Hotel Top Tip: The private kayaks are a huge novelty. You can surprise yourself by how quickly time passes when you go out for a paddle, the scenery never gets boring and it's always exciting when an animal makes a friendly appearance on the shore.

How lucky we were to stay in 5★ The Sarojin. There are not enough superlatives to explain how outstanding the service was here! The hotel itself is so peaceful, but there is still so much to do with all the complimentary activities.

Our next morning, we were taken to a market to experience some local culture, before heading over to a very unassuming yet charming Michelin recognised restaurant for our cooking class. Our guide talked us through the regional produce and the local food culture before we started cooking. Thanks to the expertise of our guide, we were all delighted with our creations.

Highlight: A candlelit dinner on the beach at our hotel was stunning, both due to the setting and the quality of the food. Anyone celebrating a special occasion must book it! We were served the biggest lobsters I have ever seen, freshly caught and barbecued, beautiful steaks and a buffet of delicious curries and salads.

Interesting Fact: 10 days before it was due to open, our hotel was hit by the 2004 boxing day tsunami. All rooms are named after members of staff who helped to rebuild the hotel.

Where We Stayed: 5★ The Sarojin

Hotel Top Tip: The Sarojin is a secluded and tranquil resort but if you do want to get out and about, there are also load of excursions on offer.

1. Kuala Lumpur is a vibrant and exciting city with fascinating history and unique culture - well worth a stopover and a city tour for discovering all the hidden gems.

2. The service of Trailfinders representatives in Malaysia and Thailand is exceptional. They really do go above and beyond for you.

3. Along with our more famous lodge, Elephant Hills Tented Camp, be sure to check out our alternative floating properties in Khao Sok, 500 Rai and 360 Isaara.

There are so many ways to experience Thailand, which is one of the reasons it’s the most visited destination in South East Asia. Despite this popularity, none of the resorts we visited felt overcrowded as there are so many wonderful options available to visitors.

You won't find such a high standard of service or accommodation for the same value as Thailand anywhere else in the world. The food, spectacular scenery, people and activities available, really offer something for everyone in this fantastic, dynamic country. I will continue to sell Thailand with confidence and can’t wait to return.