A little further along the coast towards Georgetown, Batu Ferringhi (Foreigner's Rock) is a resort strip lined with big hotels, tourist shops, restaurants and car and motorcycle rental offices. They are also plenty of moneychangers to welcome you.

The beach itself is quite good, thought not up there with Malaysia's best and the water is not of the tropically clear variety you might expect. The beach is kept clean, even on weekends when hordes of day-trippers visit.

Batu Ferringhi has the drawbacks of a large resort, it can be crowded and much of the greenery has been replaced by concrete, but also the advantages (plenty of restaurants, watering holes and recreation facilities). It has quite a lively resort feel, and there is a good night markets on the main road selling trinkets. The big hotels offer good deals at times and cheaper accommodation is available if you want a few days by the beach.