Malaysia Travel Guide
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When escaping to an international hotspot, most will describe the perfect getaway as someplace of clashing ideals; where old meets new, where natural beauty is balanced with opportunities for engaging nightlife and modern conveniences. There aren’t many other places on the planet that offer this highly sought after mix as well as Malaysia. Investments in technology and oil have made it one of the richest nations in Southeast Asia, yet it is surrounded by pristine islands and filled with stunning natural parks throughout the middle. The Malaysia that most discover is a happy combination of high tech, high convenience, high beauty, and – thankfully – reasonably low prices.
Due to its proximity to the equator, you only need two words to describe Malaysia’s climate: hot and humid. Even at night, the temperature rarely drops below 70°F, and is considerably warmer throughout the day. Rain is also a constant here, with the heaviest period from November-February, or as it’s more commonly known as—monsoon season. The eastern coastline bears the full brunt of these intense rains that often results in flooding. For this reason, it’s ideal to plan your trip around the rainy season on a whole, which runs from September to March. This might be the best time to secure discount airfare to Malaysia, but in many ways not worth the reduced availability of outdoor attractions or the possibility of potentially dangerous floods.
alaysia, budget accommodations are widely available in all towns, in the form of either hostels or a smaller hotel. Major towns are more likely to have an offering of budget accommodations wherein hostels with shared bathrooms outnumber other options 2 to 1. One of the more prominent “no frills” hotel chains is operated under the brand TuneHotel, which claims to offer a 5-star sleeping experience at a 1-star price. If you’re looking to stay in full luxury, however, your best (and in some cases only) bet is going to be found in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur at such places as The Ritz Carlton and Mandarin Oriental, or in the districts of Penang and Johor.
Malaysia owes a lot if its unique identity to the contrast between such things as beautiful beaches and soaring skyscrapers. What you can do and see on your Malaysia vacation is numerous and diverse, to say the least. Any number of sightseeing tours are available, giving you a chance to stroll through the cities, visit suburban areas, find amazing architecture, historical monuments, and other sites of tourist interest. In Kuala Lumpur, you can catch a breathtaking view of the skyline from the Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest twin building in the world. More rural locations like Sarawak will open you up to an intricate network of caves, which are currently believed to be the largest natural chamber in the world. Those looking for the best natural offerings of Malaysia will definitely want to visit Langkawi. The 99 exotic islands surrounding the free port at Kuah are what some consider the closest we have to paradise on Earth.
Thanks largely to the budget carrier AirAsia, Malaysia is covered by a web of affordable flights, with constantly updated “promotional” pricing for flights booked well in advance. Flying is the most practical option for traveling from peninsular Malaysia and Borneo, including some of the more remote outposts of Borneo. Renting a car is a much better option in Malaysia that in most other Asian countries, as it’s supported by an excellent highway network. Gas is slightly cheaper than market prices, however, expect to be met by tolls on the expressways. Malaysia drivers should also be wary of reckless motorcyclists, specifically at night when they might be harder to see. At traffic lights they will accumulate in front of you; allow them the right of way to avoid accidents.