Malaysia At A Glance

Malaysia has a lot to offer its visitors, the metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, serene beaches, quaint towns, rainforests and islands. The country consists of Peninsular Malaysia and the exotic Island of Borneo. I spent my time in Peninsular Malaysia, and look forward to exploring Borneo in the future.

Famed for it’s food culture, the sprawling street food markets will be a highlight of your visit. It was for me anyway!

Whether you are here to relax on the island of Langkawi, indulge in the tastes of the food capital of Georgetown, or explore the city of lights, Kuala Lumper; this Kuala Lumpur gives you the basics you need to get your trip sorted!

What To Expect

Language

The official language in Malaysia is Malay, with over 80% of the population speaking it.
The second language of Malaysia is English. It is widely spoken in cities, I personally found the locals to have excellent English.

Learning some basic Malay phrases will always be appreciated though!

Religion

Islam is Malaysia’s official religion, with 63% of the population practicing it. 19% are Buddhists, 9% Christians, 6% Hindu’s, and 9% are part of other religious groups.

Currency

Currency is Malaysian Ringgit (MYR).

Most places accept card, but carry cash on you for small transactions and street vendors.

Plugs

Malaysia uses plug types G.
The voltage is 240 volt at a frequency of 50 Hz.

Visa Requirements

Malaysia offers 90 day visa free entry to citizens from a large number of countries.

Check whether you need a visa to enter Malaysia.

Sim Cards

I find the best option is an e-sim, Airalo never let me down during my time in Malaysia, or across all of South East Asia.

You just download the app, choose the amount of data, and install the sim. It allows you to keep you home sim in your phone.

If you decide to use Airalo get $3 off with my code TARA1104.

Insurance

Do not take a chance, purchase travel insurance just in case you run into any medical issues. Thailand has good private hospitals with English speaking doctors, however their public ones are not up to scratch. I have seen too many GoFundMe horror stories to take that risk!

I use SafetyWing, I have had to claim a few times over the last three years, each time they were reliable with great communication.

Vaccines

It is advisable to get the following vaccines prior to arriving in Malaysia. Hep A, Hep B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Typhoid. Also consider the rabies, vaccine, unfortunately monkeys and stray dogs can carry this.

You can get these vaccines from you GP, Boots, or a travel clinic in your town.

Best Time To Visit Malaysia

Malaysia has a tropical, equatorial climate, warm all year round with some rain.

There are two monsoon seasons, Southwest monsoon affecting the the west coast between April to September, and heavier Northeast monsoon affecting the east coast from October to March.

The peak season in Malaysia are June to August, and December to February.

Apps To Download

Grab: use this for taxis and food delivery
Whatsapp: this is used for restaurant bookings, and even medical appointments. It seems to be the preferred method of communication
xe: convert currency on the go; it is so helpful when you are getting used to the currency
Klook and GetYourGuide: these are the best apps to book tickets for attractions

Destinations