THE COUNTRY
Situated below Thailand, Malaysia is home to beautiful islands, rainforests, architecture and delicious food. An extremely diverse country in Asia with a Chinese, Indian and European cultural influence.
Malaysia has this "hybrid" feel to it due to its diversity. Compared to its nearby countries like Thailand and Indonesia, in general Malaysia is a bit more expensive if you're on a budget.
A good example is an island on the northwest called Langkawi, the island is surrounded by the Andaman Sea similar to several islands in Southern Thailand such as Koh Tao, Koh Lanta, and Phi Phi just to name a few. Compared to Thailand, Langkawi is far more expensive than the islands in Thailand even though it's on the same water. I understand that it's a different country, different experience etc. but if you're on a budget perhaps it's worth thinking about this for a second.
VISA/ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
You need to ensure your passport is valid for the next 6 months from the time you travel into Malaysia.
An entry stamp known as a social visa pass is granted on arrival authorizing a stay for up to 90 days. This is either for a business or for tourism purposes.
CURRENCY
Ringgit is the currency in Malaysia. ATM's are available almost everywhere. Debit and credit cards are accepted by the majority of the business establishments in the country except for small shop vendors.
Most of the popular tourist spots accept USD but use the Malaysian Ringgit instead as much as possible because your money goes farther when using the local currency due to better exchange rates.
TRANSPORTATION
Grab - The Grab App is the UBER of Malaysia. In most of the cities, Grab is the CHEAPEST way to get around within the city. My preferred transportation within the city. Just download the app (you need a Malaysian SIM card/number for this) order a type of vehicle and set your destination.
Bus service/Boat service - the most common way to get around from one city to the other is to go through a travel agency in the city/town you're in and buy a ticket. There's a lot of them around. The places you're staying at such as a hotel or hostel can also book these tickets for you.
THINGS TO DO
Street Art (Penang Island) - Take a stroll and take snaps of the beautiful street art work on the island.
Mount Kinabalu (Sabah) - A UNESCO Site that stands at 4,095 m high. One of the tallest mountains in SE Asia. This is a hike that you cannot do alone. The trek will take 2 days to complete.
The Petronas Tower (Kuala Lumpur) - This is the most iconic site in the country. If you Google Malaysia, this is going to be the most common image and site recommended.
Clan Jetties of Penang (Penang Island) - Walk through a UNESCO site of rustic homes in a traditional village. These homes are on stilts over the water.
Batu Caves (Kuala Lumpur) - Here you will find the tallest statue of Lord Murugan at 42.7m (120 ft.) just before you get up the stairs to the series of caves at the top.
Chin Swee Caves Temple (Genting Highlands) - A massive temple offering a scenic view of the Genting Highlands area.
Malacca - A very vibrant city with old historic architecture.
Langkawi Sky Bridge (Langkawi Island) - A 125 meter bridge suspended at 660 m high offering scenic views of the island.
Broga Hill (Selangor) - A short little hike worth going up to catch the sunrise.
Langkawi Island - Rent a scooter for a day and discover secluded beach spots on the island.
Mari Mari Cultural Village (Kota Kinabalu) - This village features 5 ethnic tribes showcasing the culture and the lifestyle of the Borneo natives.
Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park (Kota Kinabalu) - The perfect spot to go island hopping.
Redang Island - Crystal clear waters, white sand? This is the perfect spot to have lazy beach days.
Abandoned Windmill Pier (Perhentian Island, Kecil) - An abandoned area perfect to catch the sunrise. Be careful on the steps as many are broken or if you're unlucky like me, they will break while you're on it. Click on this link and see for yourself.
Bako National Park (Kuching) - Wildlife paradise worth visiting.
Kota Kinabalu City Mosque (Kota Kinabalu) - A picturesque mosque in the city. Try coming here for sunset if you can!
Gunung Mulu National Park (Sarawak) - For the outdoor lovers, this one is for you! The landscape and caves are superb!
Kecil and Besar Island (Perhentian Island) - Aside from Redang Island, these are also hot spots to sun bathe.
Underwater World Langkawi (Langkawi Island) - If you love the marine life, this is an awesome Aquarium to visit with over 200+ species.
Genting Highlands - Also known as the Las Vegas of Malaysia, take a day trip out here and see a different side of Malaysia.
There's a lot to see in Malaysia and even though it's more expensive than the other countries in Asia, it's still a country that you need to see. Travelling around Malaysia just needs a bit more planning in terms of what you actually want to see/visit so that you're efficient when you're moving around and actually prioritize what you're willing to sacrifice to not see for the things that would be more of an interest to you.
For me personally, after being in Thailand and the Philippines, my standards for beaches in Asia are fairly high. Also, considering the prices in these countries are fairly reasonable, it's a no brainer that I would rather spend more time in the beaches in these countries than the beaches in Malaysia. Just a thought.
I hope you found this guide useful and if you did I would love to hear from you! If you have any more questions or would like to add anything about the country do leave your comments down below! Safe travels and happy adventuring everyone!