malaysia
Malaysia- WHAT TO EXPECT
Malaysia is a fascinatingly diverse country, with a unique blend of Malay, Chinese and Indian heritage. In Malaysia you can enjoy stunning scenery and nature, from highlands to tropical islands. The capital city of Kuala Lumpur is the perfect modern city to explore, boasting high-end fashion, various cuisines and fantastic architecture. History lovers, look no further! There is a wealth of colonial history in Malaysia too, I recommend exploring the historical city of Malacca to experience it for yourself.
AVERAGE COSTS IN THIS AREA
Transportation– Malaysia can be easy to get around, there are great public transport links between cities such as trains and buses. However, travelling to certain areas of the country isn’t always straightforward because of the transport timetables.
Internal flights are a cheap and an easy way to get from city to city, air fares can be as low as £20, depending on your destination.
Taxis within cities such as Kuala Lumpur and Malacca are relatively cheap and affordable, I recommend Grab Taxi for this. For example, in Kuala Lumpur we can get a 1.5 hour taxi for £10.
Ferries between the mainland and surrounding islands such as Langkawi are affordable too, a one way ticket cost £7 per person. However, the ferries are seasonal and the timetables are not always available online so you may have to contact the port or ferry companies to ask for information.
Buses are the cheapest transport option, however sometimes they can be delayed. But people in Malaysia are very friendly so it’s easy to ask for help if you need it!
Accommodation– Finding places to stay in Malaysia is easy thanks to websites like Airbnb and Booking.com. For short term stays I recommend using Booking.com to find the best deals. The more stays that you book through this website, the better deals you will receive!
Airbnb is my go-to when booking long-term stays as many properties offer discounts when you stay for 28 days or more. Be sure to check out the reviews for the places you want to stay in and use filters on these websites to find places suitable for you that are within your budget.
Accommodation costs can start from £10 per night for basic private rooms in a hotel. Depending on your budget you can spend a little more to stay in a nicer room or less to stay in a hostel. The prices of accommodation depend on the destination you’re going to within Malaysia.
On average my partner Brett and I spent £14 per night over 22 nights in 5 different hotels. For our long-term Airbnb stays in 3 different apartments in Kuala Lumpur the average cost per night was £17.50 for both of us.
Food– Malaysian cuisine is varied and delicious! Due to the cultural blend of Malay, Chinese and Indian heritage, there are many different food options to choose from and something that everyone will enjoy. Malaysian food can be spicy, so if you can’t handle the heat like me, ask for your dishes without spice.
I recommend trying traditional Malaysian dishes such as roti canai – a flatbread with curry gravy, nasi lemak – a rich rice dish that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and char kway teow – stir fried ricecake strips with prawns. Penang is one of the best places in Malaysia to try all of the different dishes on offer, so I highly recommend taking a trip there!
Street food is of course the cheapest option, you can buy a whole meal for as little as £1. But there are also cafes that serve western style food and drinks, as well as upmarket restaurants to choose from.
Suggested Daily Budget– Malaysia is a relatively cheap and affordable country to stay in. My suggested daily budget for travellers is £50, this would include budget accommodation, 3 meals, transport and activities. Of course, if you are on a tighter budget it is definitely possible to reduce this daily cost by staying in hostels, eating street food and by taking public transport.
tips for first visit
1. Find out what there is to see and do in the area where you are staying and plan what activities you would like to do ahead of time. This will ensure that you get to see everything that you want to during your trip.
2. Get city passes – if you are staying in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, be sure to purchase a ‘Rapid KL’ card. This allows you to pay for trains and buses by tapping this card. You can top up your card at station ticket counters.
3. Check where the locals eat – if a certain stall or restaurant looks busy with locals, there is a good chance that it serves good food! You can also check reviews on Google before you go out to eat to make sure you are eating somewhere that is within your budget.
do's and don'ts
Malaysian people are extremely friendly! I recommend learning some basic Malaysian words and phrases such as: ‘selemat pagi’ (good morning), ‘terima kasih’ (thank you), and ‘selemat tinggal’ (goodbye). This will show that you have made an effort to learn the basics of the language and local people really appreciate this!
When visiting mosques or places of worship, make sure that you are dressed modestly with your knees and shoulders covered. In some cases, mosques will provide cloaks or headscarves for you to wear during your visit.
Never leave the house without an umbrella! It can often rain without much warning and the rain storms can be torrential and last for a long time!
Never accept a ride in an un-metered taxi, this is a sure-fire way to get scammed!
Never enter a house with your shoes on.
