As one of the most famous countries in Asia, Malaysia has become a top destination for tourists from all over the world. There is certainly a good reason for this as the country has much to offer in terms of nature, city breaks, and everything in between. If you’re planning your first trip to the country, you need to have some vital information at your fingertips.
1. Choose Your Season
Just like any other country you might visit, Malaysia has a mix of seasons, and you specifically want to travel at a time that will avoid the monsoon season. This season strikes the West and east coast of the country at different points and brings heavy rain with it. For example, November to March is the monsoon season in the northeast, while May to September is the monsoon season in the southwest. Depending on which part of the country you want to visit, you want to travel outside of these Seasons so that you don’t spend your entire trip caught in the rain and trying to avoid its adverse effects. Travelling outside of monsoon season also means that you will enjoy sunshine and can take advantage of the gorgeous beaches that Malaysia has to offer.
2. Balance the City With the Outdoors
If you’re looking to visit Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is probably one of the first places on your list. This is for a good reason as the city boasts of an incredible Skyline, shopping centers, night life, cultural centers, and so on. But while a city break is definitely in order, you should not neglect all the other things that Malaysia has to offer. Penang, for example, is another high-profile place you can visit within Malaysia and boasts Georgetown, a UNESCO World Heritage site. On top of this, Penang has a vibrant street food scene as well as a ton of activities that appeal to people of all ages. For a more nature-centric experience, you might want to take a trip to Langkawi, which boasts incredible beaches like Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah. You could also take a day out to visit the I Langkawi Sky Bridge, which has incredible views for miles and is one of the top-rated tourist destinations. If you can, consider a multi-city trip that will take you through both the modern metropolitan locations as well as the natural beauty of the country.
3. Try Some Indoor Activities
As much as Malaysia has a lot to offer in terms of the great outdoors, you should also make sure that you spend some time indoors enjoying a range of activities. If you’re someone who enjoys playing casino games, you’re in luck, as there are online casinos where you can play whatever games you like, including slots, poker, blackjack, and so on, from the comfort of your mobile phone or computer. As Michael Graw writes, as long as you play at trusted Malaysian casinos, you will likely have a great experience.
Another option for indoor fun is Superpark Malaysia, which is located in Kuala Lumpur. This indoor fun centre has over 25 activities that appeal to all ages and includes things like inflatable castles, indoor climbing, and so on. If you want a change of pace or even happen to be in Malaysia during some of the colder weather, consider some of these options.
4. Know Your Apps
When you’re visiting Malaysia, you want to enjoy the same services and benefits that the locals do, and this will mean getting familiar with the popular apps in the country. For example, Grab is an app that allows you to book taxis, motorbikes, buses, and so on. As you navigate within and around cities, you want to have easy access to transportation, and this app will allow you to book, track, and pay for this transportation with ease. Another popular app is Klook, which is used to book attractions and other such activities. Given that you want to explore the country and its various attractions and activities, you’ll need to have this sort of app at your fingertips. Whether you are looking to pay for things, navigate your immediate environment, and so on, there’s a myriad of apps you should look into to make your stay easier.
5. Keep Your Mind on the Money
When visiting Malaysia, you have to keep in mind the ease of payment for both goods and services. Within the city, ATMs are quite common, and some of the popular digital wallet options in the country are GrabPay, Boost, Touch ‘n Go, ShopeePay, and so on. It is also advised that you keep some cash on hand, especially if you’ll be going outside of the cities as ATMs will be more scarce. To make things easier for yourself, pre-book and pay for many of your activities, accommodations, transport, and so on. Outside of this, use as many apps as possible to make payments easier, but still hold on to some physical cash if you can.
6. Save Your Pennies
If you’re traveling on a budget, you might want to look at a few ways to save money within Malaysia. The country is famous for set lunch menus in its restaurants, compared to dinner, and so you might want to take advantage of these to save money. You can also visit mamak stalls in the evenings to buy low cost meals. Another option would be using the public transport system as opposed to paying for ride shares every time you need to head out. Speaking of sharing, you can easily cut your accommodation bill in half or even less by splitting rooms with friends or renting a room in someone’s home using a myriad of platforms available. Outside of saving, there is an increased level of safety should you travel to Malaysia in a group, so consider doing this.
7. Stay Safe
While Malaysia is generally considered a safe country, you should still take precautions to make sure you and your travel companions have the best experience possible. Be aware that there are special police who are hired to help tourists, and they can be identified by the ‘I’ symbol on their uniforms in public places. Also, look out for pickpockets and scams that might be present in high-population areas. Outside of this, take your typical travel precautions, such as letting your loved ones know about your location at every given point and memorizing the address and phone number of your country’s embassy within Malaysia.
