10 Malaysia Travel Tips You Must Know Before You Go
10 Malaysia Travel Tips You Must Know Before You Go
#1 Use Public
Transportation or Grab App
Kuala Lumpur city
centre’s public transport (LRT/MRT/Monorail) is a traveler’s dream! The city
has an impressive public transportation network that will take you anywhere you
wish to go in the city.
To save cash and time,
I’d recommend checking out the KL Travel Pass – a Metro Card in Kuala Lumpur. It gives you 2-day
unlimited rides on LRT, MRT and Monorail and inclusive of KLIA Express airport
transfer. Single trip pass is RM75 ($19 USD) or Return Trip pass is RM120 ($30
USD)
While the MRT is
great, sometimes it can also be more convenient to just hop in a car. However,
sometimes taxis are pricey in Malaysia, and Uber is no longer a thing.
So, download the
app – Grab,
before you go. It works just like Uber, and it’s a local must-have app!
#2 Eat Like the
Locals
I relished the cuisine
in Malaysia! You can get scrumptious meal from a Michelin star restaurant here
(although Malaysia is home to the cheapest Michelin-starred meal) or local’s favourite restaurants.
My top spots are
Village Park in Uptown Damansara and Chili Crab restaurants. Be sure to try Malaysian specialties like Ipoh
Hor Fun Soup, Chicken Rice, Assam Laksa, Nasi Lemak, Roti Canai, Banana Leaf
Rice and Satay.
Malaysians are
crazy for Char Kuey Teow, too. Head over to Village Park or Little Rimba to
dine Malaysian cuisine in a stellar place!
#3 English is
Widely Spoken in Malaysia
Compared to other
Asian countries, English is widely spoken in Malaysia. So reasonable English is
enough to get you around.
If you’re venturing
beyond the major cities, learn a few words of Bahasa, Chinese or Tamil for a
better chance of connecting locally.
You could also use
body language (and a smile) so they understand what you are trying to
say.
#4 Get to Batu
Caves Early
As one of the most
popular attractions in the city, Batu Caves gets quite busy. The local
worshippers and tourist bus usually come around 9 am, so I’d recommend getting
there as early as 6.30 am so you are among the first to be there and can get
your desired colourful Instagram shots!
Batu Caves are free to
visit and the opening hours are from 6 am to 9 pm. A trip to Batu Caves will
take you roughly 35 minutes to get there if you are staying in the Kuala Lumpur
city centre using Grab. The cost is around RM30 and this is a quicker way if
you are on a tight schedule.
Wanna go on guided
tours to Batu Caves? Choose one of the following:
- Kuala Lumpur Suburbs and Batu Caves
- Genting Highlands and Batu Caves Day Tour
- Kuala Lumpur City Full Day Tour
- Kuala Lumpur FRIM and Batu Caves Tour
- Petronas Twin Towers and Batu Caves Full Day Tour
#5 Get Your
Caffeine Fix at Coffee Shops
Kuala Lumpur’s cafe
culture is more happening than you think! Malaysia’s cafes have taken
inspiration from the vibrant cafe culture found in cities like Melbourne,
Australia. Depending on where you are staying, there are some great options all
over the city.
There’s Eight Ounce
Coffee and San Francisco Coffee in KLCC, PULP by Papa Palheta and Antipodean
Cafe in Bangsar, VCR Coffee and Feeka Coffee Roasters in Bukit Bintang, F.R.
Copper and Common Man Coffee Roasters in TTDI, and Kopenhagen Coffee in Mont
Kiara.
If you are a coffee
connoisseur, you are going to love OCAM Artisanal Cafe. OCAM Coffee roast their
coffee in-house and offer good selection of coffee there.
OCAM Coffee’s
famous Gula Melaka latte is amazing.
#6 It’s Always
Bubble Milk Tea Time
The bubble milk tea
scene in Malaysia is going strong and it’s called Boba Tea trend. It’s the
drink with chewy tapioca pearls in bubble milk teas and the local won’t mind
having everyday even if it means queuing up for an hour.
I love Bubble Milk Tea
for a couple reasons. First, it will help you stay cool in this heaty Malaysian
weather. Second, they’ve got good selection of bubble milk tea drooling menu!
KOI, Tealive, The
Alley, Gong Cha and Chatime are among the popular brands and you can choose
their signature drinks.
With one sip,
Bubble Milk Tea will surely leave you wanting more.
#7 Enjoy Luxury
Accommodation for Less
Malaysia offers many
fantastic accommodation options, from high rise luxury hotels in Kuala Lumpur
to beachfront resorts and spas along the coastal areas. It’s possible to find
some good deals on this type of accommodation, especially if you book well in
advance.
The best areas to stay
in Kuala Lumpur will be Bangsar, Bukit Bintang, KL Sentral and Chinatown.
Get the best view
in town by staying in hotel with the iconic Petronas Twin Towers view.
#8 You Don’t Have
Always Have to Tip
Tipping isn’t actually
a part of Malaysia’s culture. The staff doesn’t expect tips, so don’t feel
obligated. Though, if you are really happy with the service, tips are most
certainly appreciated.
#9 Visiting During
Ramadan isn’t a problem
Like most Muslim
majority countries, Muslim-owned restaurants close across Malaysia during the
day, but that doesn’t mean food can’t be found.
The good news is that
Chinese and other non-Muslim owned restaurants as well fast food restaurants
remain open pretty much everywhere.
#10 Pack
Accordingly
Malaysia is hot and
humid all year-round, with temperatures roughly between 28 – 37 degrees (C).
While it can be actually be refreshing on a hot day, you’ll want to come
prepared for the unexpected showers.
Carry lightweight
clothes and be sure to pack a rain jacket. The rain can come down heavily
without warning.