Malaysia is a budget-friendly destination! A daily budget of 20 euros per person per day is enough for most of the country (not including Borneo).

You’ll find the price tag is quite reasonable even for private island stays such as Pangkor Laut Resort (review here).

For those on a very tight budget, you might want to explore some of the volunteering opportunities available on Worldpackers. Volunteering through this platform is one of the best ways to travel almost for free, as accommodation and food are usually provided!

Malaysia has two official languages: Malay as the first and English as the second. You’ll have no problems at all communicating with locals around here, but in case you want to learn, here are some useful words in Malay:

• Tolong: Please
• Terima Kasih: Thank you
• Sama-sama: You’re welcome
• Ya: Yes
• Tidak: No

Many nationalities, including those from most ASEAN countries, the US, the UK, and members of the European Union, are exempt from visas for short tourist stays, typically up to 90 days.

Since it varies from country to country, we recommend checking Passport Index website, where you can select your passport and see all the countries you can travel to, with or without a visa.

Yes! Malaysia is considered safe for travelers. The only thing we recommend here is to always negotiate prices beforehand and to watch your personal belongings in busy areas.

In any case, we always recommend getting travel insurance for your trip. Better safe than sorry! We use Heymondo and highly recommend it.

The best time to visit Malaysia largely depends on the region you plan to visit due to its tropical, humid climate and the differing monsoon seasons affecting different parts of the country:

West Coast: The West Coast, which includes popular destinations like Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, and Penang, is best visited between December and April. During these months, the weather is typically dry and sunny.

East Coast: The East Coast, known for its beautiful islands such as Tioman, Redang, and the Perhentian Islands, is best visited from March to September. The northeast monsoon from November to February brings heavy rains and rough seas, making many islands literally close during this period.

Borneo: Malaysian Borneo, which includes Sabah and Sarawak, can be visited year-round. However, the best time is generally during the dry season from May to September. This period is ideal for wildlife viewing and exploring national parks

Here are some of the must-try dishes you can’t miss when in Malaysia:

• Nasi Lemak: Often considered the national dish of Malaysia, Nasi Lemak consists of rice cooked in coconut milk, served with a spicy sambal (chili-based sauce), fried crispy anchovies, toasted peanuts, hard-boiled or fried egg, and cucumber slices. It’s often accompanied by chicken, beef Redang, or squid.
• Satay: These are skewers of marinated meat, usually chicken, beef, or lamb, grilled over a wood or charcoal fire and paired with peanut sauce.
• Laksa: This is a spicy noodle soup with a base of either creamy coconut milk or sour asam (tamarind or sour fruit).
• Char Kway Teow: A popular noodle dish, Char Kway Teow consists of flat rice noodles stir-fried in a wok with shrimp, eggs, bean sprouts, and chives in a mix of soy sauce.

• Be respectful of local customs and traditions. 
• Dress modestly when visiting temples: read this guide on Temple Etiquette.
• Use reputable transportation services like Grab or 12Go Asia: read this post for the best apps to download in Southeast Asia.
• Cards are mostly accepted everywhere but the islands. We recommend using a travel debit card such as Wise to withdrawal local money straight from ATMs with the lowest fees.
• ATMs are easy to find on the mainland. Plan ahead if you want to visit the islands.