8 Must Know Malaysia Travel Tips

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

For those planning to visit Malaysia sometime in the future, I’ve got some seriously handy travel tips for you!

I was born in Malaysia, and even though I now live in Australia, my family go back most years so I would say we are pretty clued in about the workings of this country.

Tip 1: Be Prepared for the Toilets!

This may not be the most savory of topic matters, but I would say most people care where they go do their business. You may not necessarily be fully comfortable with the conditions when you travel, but being prepared is the next best thing, especially in Malaysia.

Sit Down Toilets

The good news is, there are the normal sit down toilets you are accustomed to, if you live in a Western country. You find them at the airport and most public places like the shopping mall. The bad news is, the seat is in no condition to be sitting on period!! Many of the locals stand on top of the seats and so it is simply too filthy to be sitting on.

You can choose to put plenty of toilet paper on the seats to cover the filth or learn to be able to hover over the toilet bowl if you are a female.

Squat Toilets

Many dread the squat toilets, which if you do not know, it is basically a hole in the ground. To do your business you have to squat. If you are a male, you can stand for both toilet types when urinating, so already you have an advantage over females!

To be honest, when I am using public toilets in Malaysia, I prefer to use the squat toilets because the sit down toilets are filthy. The squat gets the job done with a minimum of germ contamination.

Toilet Paper

When you are traveling around it is preferable to carry toilet paper with you in your bag. You are not guaranteed toilet paper everywhere you go. In most public places like shopping centers, the toilet paper reel is found by the wash basins. They do not normally put toilet paper in the cubicles.

Sometimes when you visit more obscure locations you have to pay for toilet paper if you don’t have your own.

 It’s Wet!

When you go into your toilet cubicle you will notice the floor and toilet is often very wet (hence no toilet paper is found there). That is because there is a tap and hose in the cubicle for people to wash their behinds when they are done doing their number two business. There is no other delicate way of saying it! I often wish Malaysia had those Japanese technological advanced toilets that washes and contains everything within the bowl.

Watch where you are stepping too!

It Smells

No matter where I go to use the toilets, whether it be at a hotel or by the beach, it really smells unpleasant. Be prepared to hold your breath if you can. With all the washing that goes on, no wonder it smells.

Payment

Mostly to use the public toilets in Malaysia is free. However, in certain locations you will have to pay a small fee to use their facilities. On average between 20-50 sen (cents).

Tip 2: Ensure the meter is turned on for taxis

When taxi drivers can smell you are a tourist, they will usually negotiate an upfront fare price, which is mostly higher than the taxi meter. Find yourself a taxi driver that uses a meter.

My family are not from the Kuala Lumpur area, so when we initially started traveling there, we got ripped off by taxis. One time we wanted to go to shopping center and did not realize it was only a 2 minute car ride. We paid RM20 upfront when normally it would be RM3-5. Dear me!

Note exception: there are some airport, bus and train stations that require you to buy a taxi voucher prior to traveling. They have a predetermined price for locations.

Tip 3: Exchange currency in Malaysia

I always wait until I am in Malaysia to exchange currency. The rates are very generous there, especially if your country’s currency is higher than Malaysia’s (e.g. Australian dollar, US dollar, Euro, Pound, Yen). I find the rates in shopping centers and small vendors around cities are normally the highest. The airport is still good, but not as high as other places.

Tip 4: Be pick pocket conscious

There are a lot of pick pockets in Malaysia, so I would recommend bags that cross over your body or money belts.

Avoid wearing flashy, expensive jewelry like necklaces and bracelets. This is especially if you are wandering around the city. Believe it or not, there are some pick pockets not afraid to pull it off your body.

Tip 5: Be prepared to repel those mosquitoes

Malaysia has many, many pesky mosquitoes so it is important to come prepared with some form of repellant including sprays or devices. I use a ultrasonic device that uses sound waves to repel mosquitoes, which is very effective.

Tip 6: Drink lots of water

Malaysia is a hot and humid place, so you need to keep yourself constantly hydrated. I would recommend stocking up with lots of bottle water throughout your trip at local convenience stores or supermarkets.

Tip7: Get a local to drive you

If you are someone accustomed to living in a country where people follow the road rules, then I would recommend getting a local to drive you around in Malaysia. This may be in a form of a taxi, bus, train, tour guide or someone you know that lives there. The reason why I say this, the drivers are insanely nuts in Malaysia. They do not follow the road rules. They will cut you off, cross over your lane unexpectedly, ignore stop signs, speed excessively etc. A local has adapted to this craziness and for a tourist that hasn’t, it can be a frightening experience.

Tip 8: Slowly adjust your stomach to rich foods

Many of the super tasty dishes in Malaysia are spicy and/or rich including curry noodles, roti canai and nasi lemak. It is tempting at the start of the trip, especially if you are a foodie, to go on a eating frenzy. So many times I have witnessed people  overdoing it and end up with stomach complaints. Try eating mild rice and noodle dishes, with fresh vegtables and fruit, as you sample the more richer dishes. See how your body adapts.

I hope these Malaysia travel tips help you to survive and thrive there.

Would love to hear your thoughts.

Poh