Malaysia | Linda Goes East

Destination: Malaysia

MALAYSIA TRAVEL GUIDE

Malaysia is located partly on a peninsula of the Asian mainland and partly on the northern third of the island of Borneo. The Western part of Malaysia shares a border with Thailand, is connected to Singapore and has coastlines on the South China Sea and the Straits of Malacca. East Malaysia, also referred to as Borneo, has borders with Brunei and Indonesia. There are plenty of UNESCO World Heritage Sites that are sure to tickle your fancy: Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley, Kinabalu Park and Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca.

The official language of Malaysia is Malay, officially known as Bahasa Malaysia, and is very similar to the Indonesian language making them mutually intelligible. However, English is widely spoken across Malaysia, especially in large cities and touristy areas.

Things to See and Do in Malaysia

Head up the Petronas Twin Towers
Hike up the Batu Caves
isit Green Tea Fields in Cameron Highlands

Sunbathe on Langkawi
Try the local dish Nasi Kandar
Enjoy the culture in Malacca

See wild Orangutans in Borneo
Meander around Penang

Typical Costs When Traveling

Accommodation – Budget hotels and youth hostels are available in most cities and around most tourist destinations and cost around $15 per night. A standard room in a 3-star hotel costs around $25-30 USD and more depending on the location.

Food – The best and cheapest places to eat are hawker stalls and coffeeshops, known as kedai kopi in Malay. Here, you’ll spend around $1.20 USD.

Transportation – The cheapest way to travel in Malaysia is by bus. For long-distance travel, it’s best to book a seat on a 24-seater luxury bus.

Suggested daily budget

22-27 EUR / $25-30 USD

(Note: This is a suggested budget assuming you’re staying in a hostel, eating out a little, cooking most of your meals, and using local transportation.

Using the budget tips below, you can always lower this number. However, if you stay in fancier accommodation or eat out more often, expect this to be higher!)

Money Saving Tips

Use Local Transport. Buses, the subway and long-distance trains are the cheapest ways to travel around Malaysia. If you do want to take a taxi, I recommend you use the app Grab instead – it’s cheaper and more reliable.
Eat like the locals. Street cuisine in Malaysia is an extraordinary culinary blend; and also pretty cheap!

Don't drink alcohol. Prices for alcoholic beverages in Malaysia are pretty similar to those in Europe or North America due to local taxes. If you want to save some money, stay dry.
Visit the numerous temples for free. Hindu temples, Buddhist temples and mosques - they're all free to enter!

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM MALAYSIA?

Malaysia is a multi-confessional country whose most professed religion is Islam. The population in Malaysia is extremely multicultural with people of local Malay, Chinese, indigenous Malay and Indian decent. This mix of cultures makes it the perfect starting point for your trip around Asia. You have the chance to sample a variety of different flavors from all parts of Asia and visit houses of worship of Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism all in one place! On top of that, you will find some of the nicest beaches in Asia right here, including Kota Kinabalu, Langkawi or Redang Island.

The best time to visit Malaysia is between December and February for the islands on the west side of Malaysia (Penang and Langkawi), and June through August for Perhentians and Tioman Island on the country’s Eastern coast.