POST ABOUT TIPS FOR YOUR MALAYSIA TOUR
Plan a trip to Malaysia with our best tips
When we decided to plan a trip to Malaysia, we started to imagine how it was going to be. Mostly because, although Malaysia is known for its beautiful beaches, mountains, tropical jungles, and cultural monuments, we weren’t very knowledgeable about this country.
After almost two months in this beautiful country, we can only confirm that reality surpassed our imagination, since traveling in Malaysia and getting to know the local people and their culture was really outstanding.
Malaysia is a country located in Southeast Asia, consisting of two separate regions: the Malaya Peninsula and another part on the island of Borneo.
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Malaysia is a beautiful country with friendly and fantastic people and for us, it is definitely worth visiting. If you dig deeper, this amazing place has a lot to offer, and it will always give you a reason to extend your stay or come back here a few more times.
Because traveling to Malaysia means not only visiting and learning about the Malay culture but also other cultures, such as Chinese and Indian culture, which settled in this land many years ago and they continue to live peacefully with their own rules and traditions.
As already mentioned, we knew very little about Malaysia and this trip was a real revelation, which we are still enjoying as we write this post to share a little bit about our Malay experience.
This post and all advice are exclusively for the Malaysian peninsula. We will have a separate post about the Malaysian part in Borneo.
1. Security – plan a trip to Malaysia
Is it safe to travel to Malaysia in 2023?
In general, Malaysia is a safe country to visit and live in. Personally, we did not have issues at any time during our stay.
According to us, Malaysia is a safe country, however, like anywhere in the world, it is important to take basic safety precautions to avoid problems.
Using common sense and a few precautions will help you avoid trouble. Especially in a vibrant and chaotic metropolis like Kuala Lumpur, which like any big city in the world, has cases of theft and micro-crime.
In general, and always keeping in mind that you are traveling and therefore out of your comfort zone, your trip to Malaysia should be a safe and smooth journey.
Even so, it is essential to be informed about the local situation and take appropriate measures to protect yourself in case of emergencies.
If you are interested in the topic of “travel security”, here we provide you with an article with our steps and rules that have helped us to minimize problems and unpleasant surprises so far. We hope that you can find them useful.
Grab our Travel Checklist and Let the adventure begin!
2. Visa – plan a trip to Malaysia
Do I need a visa to go to Malaysia?
Don’t worry, just be prepared for these types of questions from customs officials. Just consider that the influx of foreigners who want to enter and be in the country illegally is increasing and that’s why they sometimes ask you strange questions.
3. Vaccines – plan a trip to Malaysia
In general and until the date of publication of this post, no vaccinations are required to enter or travel to Malaysia. Even so, the health authorities advise various vaccinations depending on the areas of the country you want to visit.
Recommended vaccinations: typhus, rabies, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever, and Japanese encephalitis.
The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory only for people who live in or have been in a high-risk country in the previous 12 months.
We recommend you take malaria pills on your trip to Malaysia, especially if you plan to visit national parks or the jungle in Borneo.
It is no longer necessary to be vaccinated against COVID and no need to take a test to enter the country. The use of the mask is still recommended (but not mandatory) in public transport in most cities.
Despite this, and given that things change and can change very quickly, we advise you to be up-to-date with possible changes through the Malaysian government website.
4. Coins and Exchange – plan a trip to Malaysia
The official currency of Malaysia is the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) and its symbol is RM.
It is always advisable to have some cash with you in case you go to the local market or you need to pay for a bus ticket.
If you want to travel to Malaysia, you may need to exchange your currency for the local currency, the Malaysian Ringgit. It is important to research the updated exchange rates before and during your trip to Malaysia to know their real value, which is why we advise you to use this Xe.com platform.
Here are several options about how to change your money:
Change cash from your currency to Ringgit:
Throughout Malaysian territory you will find places (banks, exchange houses, etc.) that will exchange your money, in exchange for a commission.
Here we leave you a couple of tips if you decide to exchange money:
- Do not change all your money in the exchange houses at the airport, simply because the commissions are usually much higher.
- If you need money to be able to move from the airport to the city center, change only a small amount at the airport, the rest is better to change somewhere in the city where you find favorable commissions.
- It is not advisable to change money in your country of origin, the commissions could be very high and, above all, it is not necessary before you come to Malaysia.
- If you plan to be in Malaysia for a long time, probably the idea of taking all the cash with you is not the best option, nor is it the safest.
Withdraw money from an ATM:
This is probably the most comfortable and efficient way to get cash in Malaysia for several reasons.
- First, it is easy to find ATMs anywhere in the country.
- The second reason is that many banks in Malaysia (domestic and international) do not charge commissions when withdrawing money (happy face as we write this >/) ).
These are some banks that we have tested and they don’t charge commissions: May Bank, Cimb Bank, BSN (Bank Simpanan Nasional ), HSBC, and RHB Bank.
(We don’t yet know if all banks don’t charge commissions when withdrawing money, however, these banks above we can recommend).
Some recommendations before withdrawing money in Malaysia:
- Before using your card in Malaysia, remember to notify your bank that you will be abroad. This way you will prevent your card from being blocked for security reasons and running out of money.
- Although we have said that banks do not charge fees for withdrawing money, read carefully the information that is written on the ATM screen. If they charge a commission they will tell you to confirm before giving you any money.
- You should keep in mind that although Malaysian banks do not charge you commissions, your bank definitely could so just check with your bank before you go on a trip to Malaysia.
- It is also possible that your bank charges you extra commissions to withdraw money during the weekends (like our cards) so it is better to check it and avoid withdrawing money during the weekend.
- We always recommend withdrawing money directly from ATMs present in banks when they are open, so in case of any problem, you can solve it directly on the spot.
To minimize bank commissions on your trips, we advise you to get virtual banking cards.
On our trips, we use Wise online banking and we are very happy with this company. It turns out to be virtual banking with an incredibly good exchange rate and low fees, perfect for all the countries we’ve had the pleasure of visiting so far, including Malaysia.
Pay directly with credit / debit card:
Many places in Malaysia (transport, hotels, restaurants) accept card payments. For example, we have paid by card several times in supermarkets without any extra commission.
If you want to pay by card, we advise you to ask directly at the time of payment if you have commissions. Even so, we recommend always carrying a little cash to avoid any problems in case the card is not accepted.
Our Tip: Wise is a great card when you are travelling to a country with a different currency than yours. We use this online bank during our trips and we never had problems, even in remote places around the world.
5. Internet and Sim Card – plan a trip to Malaysia
Does Malaysia have good internet?
This is a question that everyone asks themselves before travelling, especially in countries like this, but here we have the answer you are looking for.
Malaysia itself is a fairly developed and modern country, so you won’t have any problems with the internet connection and its coverage. Even in the rural areas, jungles, and forests in Malaysia, we didn’t have any connection problems during our stay.
It also depends on which phone company you decide to use on your trip to Malaysia, as there are many companies that offer more or less the same, but many of them don’t have adequate coverage.
We chose the Hotlink company, and we absolutely recommend it. We never had problems with the connection and we could easily do online meetings and watch movies. This company has many advantages such as incredible coverage, a super simple app to use, good offers and affordable prices.
The SIM card costs 20 RM ( just over $4 or EUR) with 5 “fast” GB per month with unlimited calls. We have purchased a rate of 20 GB a month for 20 RM. Remember that to be able to buy a sim card in Malaysia you need to show ID or passport, the copy of the documents was enough.
Tip:
If you constantly need the internet and want to connect it to your PC with a hotspot, remember to check if the phone company allows this type of option, because all companies have this option available (as we realized with many countries in Southeast Asia).
Our Hotlink card was good for hotspots, so it was the perfect sim card for digital nomads.
If you don’t want to buy a sim card for your trip to Malaysia, there is always the option of Wi-Fi in most restaurants, accommodations, and other public places.
However, it can happen that you will be left with no connection if you only rely on Wi-Fi.
During our trip to Southeast Asia, we discovered that there are e-sims that can be used as normal sim cards. Practically with the use of an app you can get a number, data, and calls without having a physical card in your phone.
At the moment they are only compatible with some latest generation smartphones (iPhone, Samsung, and some more). In this list of smartphones, our expensive Chinese mobiles do not enter (and expensive only because we love them), and for now, they are not compatible, although we hope only for now 😉 .
That is why we have not had the opportunity to test this card in person, despite this, this e-SIM seems to us to be a great invention and it will be a total revolution when it comes to moving from one country to another.
6. Transportation – plan a trip to Malaysia
Malaysia is surely the country with the most comfortable, modern, organized and punctual means of transport in all of Southeast Asia. In addition to that, there is another very important factor, the prices for transport are very cheap.
If you are one of those travelers who want to organize and plan a trip to Malaysia in advance, you can opt-in for applications that will make your trip easier, such as Easybook.com, or Busonlinetickets.com.
How do you get around in Malaysia?
Here is the list of the most common means of transportation:
TRAIN
Trains in Malaysia are super comfortable, modern, and punctual. Besides that, they are quite cheap. For these reasons, we recommend organizing your train trip in Malaysia in advance.
There is the official train website or a simple App that allows you to buy online tickets directly with your phone. The train connects very well almost the entire Malay peninsula and its cities (with the exception of Melaka).
TAXI
Taxis in Malaysia are very comfortable and quite affordable. There is a normal taxi service where we recommend checking the price before you jump on, but there is a much better option in Malaysia, using apps like Grab. If you want to avoid haggling over the price, possible scams, we definitely recommend this application.
BUS
A bus is a great option when you travel to Malaysia. It is comfortable, cheap, more or less punctual, and it goes everywhere. In the case of Malaysia, we do not know which companies to recommend, since there are so many and they are all more or less the same. However, our tip is to buy tickets in advance using App to avoid any issues. The App is called EasyBook and it’s super convenient when it comes to checking what time the buses run or buying tickets. Online.
PS: Remember that in many bus stations you will have to print the tickets at the terminal, because the online ticket is not valid (for example in Ipoh, KL, Melaka). Normally, the cost of printing the ticket is very cheap, something like 1 or 2 RM. It is also a good option to arrive a little earlier at the bus station because sometimes there can be queues to print the tickets.
PLANE
Most cities have an airport and in some cities like KL, Penang or Melaka, there also have international flights. Since Malaysia is divided into two areas by the Chinese sea, it is more common to fly to get from one side to the other. Also, due to its position, many companies work in Malaysian territory. If you are looking for cheap flights check Skyscanner or Google flight to get the best deals.
As long as you don’t enter the country by land, your flight and your first contact with Malaysia will be the capital, Kuala Lumpur. Here I leave you an article with the 5 things do in Kuala Lumpur, enjoy reading.
FERRY– plan a trip to Malaysia
Due to the many fantastic islands that can be found around the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo, the boat is widely used for transport. We took the boat to get to and from the island of Langkawi and the truth is that it is quite comfortable with a good price. We have also taken advantage of a mini ferry to leave Penang. You can also try using Easybook.com to book the boat tickets.
MOTORCYCLE (scooter):
The cost of renting a motorcycle in Malaysia starts from 20/25 RM per day in most places (not including Cameron Highlands, where prices double due to being a popular tourist destination).
We recommend getting an international driving license before your trip to avoid fines and problems. We always recommend wearing a helmet, which, although it may seem uncomfortable, can save your life.
In general, whoever rents you the motorcycle is not responsible for checking if you have a driver’s license, normally they will only ask you for an ID card or passport as a guarantee.
Remember that the car driving license (B) is not valid in Malaysia to drive motorcycles. The only valid license to drive motorcycles is type A. In Malaysia, the rules are different. If you do not respect them, you should not drive because it would be at your own risk, and if anything happens, no insurance company would cover the damage.
7. Accommodation – plan a trip to Malaysia
One thing that, according to us, should improve a lot in this country is the quality of the accommodation. The quality didn’t match the prices, and in some places, prices got completely out of hand.
In general, they tend to be expensive compared to what they offer (cleanliness, comfort, private bathroom). We are not saying that you can’t find a nice place, but the prices are usually much higher compared to other Southeast Asian countries.
We have noticed these two common things in Malaysia:
- There are only a few affordable accommodations (less than $20 per night) with a private bathroom.
- From January 1, 2023, accommodations are required to charge a tourist tax of RM 10 / night per room. This whole situation with tourist tax is a bit confusing because some accommodations already add it to the total price and others charge it when you arrive.
- Keep in mind that in the state of Pahang (Cameron Highlands, Taman Nagara, etc.) there is a further rate (for sustainability fee) 3 RM per night per room.
On average, a double room with air conditioning costs between 17 and 30 EUR/$, and a bed in a dormitory between 3-15 EUR/$.
It’s very easy to book your accommodation with several online companies like Booking.com, Agoda, Airbnb and Hostel World.
8. Food – plan a trip to Malaysia</span
Before visit and plan a trip to Malaysia, we knew little or nothing about the local cuisine.
Malaysia turned out to be a true paradise for foodies like us, offering a unique and diverse dining experience. The mix of different cultures, including Chinese, Indian, Indonesian and Portuguese, had created a fascinating and surprising food scene.
What is the most popular food in Malaysia?
In Malaysia, you can find a wide range of culinary options, from traditional dishes such as roti canai or nasi lemak, to fusion dishes which are worth trying. This country has something for every palate, whether you prefer to eat in a fine-dining restaurant or simply explore the street markets and their endless options.
Food in Malaysia is cheap, which means travelers on a budget can enjoy almost any culinary experience without having to borrow money to eat. If you are traveling on a tight budget, the roti canai with teh tarik will be your best allies. With so many options available, foodies can enjoy a true Malaysian food adventure without spending a fortune.
During our stay in Penang, we had the chance to eat in a Michelin-star restaurant for an affordable price, more or less the same price we would spend for lunch in any Spanish restaurant.
Traveling to Malaysia is trying several Gastronomies at the same time!
During our trip to Malaysia, we didn’t have any stomach problems and we can say that we have eaten everything (like always) but mainly street food. Just use common sense when deciding where and what to eat, especially on the street.
We recommend trying Malaysian gastronomy if you feel like it, just follow your instinct. Also, you can see if the place is clean and suitable enough for you to eat there.
If you don’t want to eat local food in Malaysia, you can find the classic international fast food chains (which we don’t recommend), or a huge range of international restaurants, especially in the big cities.
Remember that restaurants usually add a 10% service charge and a 6% government tax to the final bill. This surcharge does not apply to street food places or local restaurants.
9. Insurance – plan a trip to Malaysia</span
In our opinion, the only useful mandatory thing you should have while traveling is travel insurance.
Now that many countries no longer require it as a mandatory requirement, many people decide not to invest in it and make a serious mistake.
We do not travel anywhere without travel insurance, it is a basic and essential thing that you cannot not do or ignore. We assure you that in case of health problems (and not) during your trips it will get you out of trouble and save you a lot of money.
Our insurance is Truetraveller,. We definitely recommend it, because it is a very serious company, super organized and with good conditions. We think that it is one of the few insurances that you can take out while traveling, so it is perfect for travelers and digital nomads like us.
10. Cultures and Habits – Plan a trip to Malaysia
The culture in Malaysia reflects the mix of different ethnic groups and religions present in the country. The majority of the population consists of Malays, Chinese, and Indians, but there are also indigenous communities and many Western expats.
Religion is very important in Malay culture, with Islam being the majority religion, followed by Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity. As a result, many aspects of Malaysian culture are influenced by religion, such as the way of dressing, and of course the customs.
The Malays are very hospitable, in fact, they are some of the friendliest people we have come across in all of Southeast Asia. The mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures in this country has created a truly diverse and fascinating society. Every ethnic group has contributed something to Malaysian culture, and the results can be seen throughout the country, from the food to the architecture.
The incredible mix of cultures…
Until now, we have never seen such a society in which three such diverse cultures coexist peacefully. In fact, it has been a pleasure to discover the Malay culture and we are very grateful for this.
As for habits, Malaysians surely value hospitality, and so does the community, on the other hand, tourists are expected to respect their customs and traditions.
Over time, the three cultures have maintained much of their unique traditions, although they have also adopted and blended aspects of other cultures, creating a truly unique mix throughout the world. Imagine that it is not strange to see a Malay or an Indian person celebrating the Chinese New Year with the Chinese community in Malaysia.
11. Other tips and curiosities – Cambodia itinerary
- The climate in Malaysia is hot and humid throughout the year.
- Although the climate is divided into two dry and humid seasons, we always recommend checking the weather in advance.
- In Malaysia you drive on the left, just keep it in mind, especially if you are used to driving on the right.
- The price of gasoline is super cheap, less than 0.5 per lt. This is the reason of too many cars in Malaysia and also not many pedestrian paths available (mainly in the big cities)
- Similar to other Southeast Asian countries, bargaining over a price is something normal in Malaysia. Remember that you should not discuss the price of food in restaurants and street food stalls.
- Check the main holidays in Malaysia before organizing your trip, simply because some services might be interrupted on these dates (e.g. Chinese New Year or Ramadan).
- Remember that the locals are expected to receive the same treatment that they offer you, always respect their traditions and cultures.
Our tip: When we travel we always make sure to have travel insurance. Our personal recommendation is Truetraveller as they have great support and health coverage around the world. And don’t worry if you forget about it, you can purchase the insurance during your trip!
11. General prices– plan a trip to Malaysia
The prices are based on our travel experience in Malaysia. When we made this list, the exchange was: 1$=4.40 RM or 1€=4.71. Due to various factors, prices could change (up or down) so please take these prices as informative only since they are based on an approximate average.
Street food: 1.5 – 15 RM or 0.30 – 3.50$/€
Local Restaurant: 10 – 30 RM or 2 – 6.5$/€
Roti Canai: 1.5 RM or $0.30/€
International restaurants (pizza, ramen, etc.): < 40RM or <$8/€
Water 0.5 lt: +- 1 RM or 0.20 $/€
Water 1.5 lt: +- 2.5 RM or +- 0.5$/€
Espresso coffee: 8 RM or $1.7/€
Local coffee (kopi o): 2 RM or $/€0.4
Teh tarik: 2 RM or $/€0.4
Fruit smoothie: 8 RM or 1.8$/€
Fresh coconut: = 2 – 4 RM or 0.4 -1 $/€
Local beer (shop): 9 RM or 2 $/€
Intercity buses (120 km): 10 RM or 2$/€
Train (200 km eg Ipoh – KL): RM 30 or $/€6.5
Scooter (motorbike) 125cc: 20/25 RM or 4-5$/€ per day
Scooter (motorbike) 125cc in Cameron Highlands: 40 RM or 9$/€ day
Gasoline x lt: 2 RM or 0.45$/€ per lt
Accommodation 2 pax/day with a/c and private bathroom: 80 – 140 RM or 17-30$/€.
Bunk bed in a shared room: 14 – 70 RM or 3-15 $/€
SIM card: 20 RM or 4$/€ card + 5 GB x one month
Laundry (automatic washing): 10 – 12 RM or 2.5$/€ x kg
Conclusion – plan a trip to Malaysia
Traveling to Malaysia has been a beautiful experience and we are very happy that we could explore this amazing country. Malaysians are friendly people and we are sure that they will make you feel at home.
Malaysia made us discover and appreciate not just one, but three different cultures, and after this experience we can’t wait to visit India and China in the future.
We don’t know if it was fate or because we decided to stay for over a month in the vibrant Kuala Lumpur, but Malaysia, its people and their love made us feel at home, and maybe one day we will seriously consider this country to settle down.
Our travel tips and recommendations end here, we hope you can use some or all of them on your next trip to Malaysia. Remember that this entire post is based on our personal experience and travel style. If you want to add any information or advice, do not hesitate to write them in the comments below, and we will answer you as soon as possible.
Thank you for having come this far, we hope to see you soon on this blog and on our social networks, a hug to you, friends, travelers, and foodies of Fun Food Travelling.
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Thanks for reaching the end of this article, if you are interested in more travel and food tips around the world, every month (more or less) we come out with a new post in Spanish and one in English.
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