Affordable 10-Night Malaysia Trip for College Students on a Budget – Part 3 4K Travel Series
Preface: The first two parts of our travel series, the Korea travel guide and the Kansai, Japan travel guide, have been completed and are now available for your perusal. Malaysia is divided into West Malaysia and East Malaysia. East Malaysia, known for its diving spots in Kota Kinabalu and Semporna, offers a different experience compared to the more diverse tourism resources in West Malaysia. This article will focus on West Malaysia, with plans to update on East Malaysia in the future.
[One R] Visa: Malaysia offers visa-free entry, but an entry card must be filled out. You can start filling it out three days before your arrival; see p2 for details. For those who enjoy collecting entry and exit stamps, remember to go through the manual channel both ways. If you enter through the self-service channel, you will only be able to exit through the same.
[Two R] Flights: A round trip to Kuala Lumpur typically ranges from 1000 to 1500 yuan. Flights from southern cities tend to be cheaper than those from the north. As shown in p3, p4, and p5, round trips from Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Jinan cost around 1000, 1200, and 1500 yuan, respectively.
[Three R] Currency Exchange: It’s not possible to exchange Malaysian Ringgit at domestic banks. We recommend bringing a bank card to withdraw cash from ATMs at Kuala Lumpur Airport or exchanging cash at currency exchange points in Kuala Lumpur city or Malacca. If you prefer to have some foreign currency on hand, you can use a popular blue app to find exchange points at your departure airport, though the exchange rates may not be as favorable.
[Four R] Local Apps: Use Grab for taxis and food delivery, which can be downloaded and used directly from China. For bus tickets, Easybook and Bus Online are your best options. Easybook is smoother but requires a Visa for payment, while Bus Online, although a bit slower, allows payment via a popular blue app. KTMB Mobile is the app to use for purchasing train tickets. See p6 for more details.
[Five R] City Order and Transportation:
1. Kuala Lumpur Airport – Malacca: The airport is conveniently located between Kuala Lumpur and Malacca. It’s advisable to head south to Malacca first, then proceed northward without backtracking. Tickets can be purchased online or at the self-service machines near the airport exit (without leaving the airport).
The first bus departs at 7 AM, and the last one at 10 PM. See p7.
2. Malacca – Kuala Lumpur City: Travel by bus is also convenient, with departures from 5:30 AM to 11:30 PM, offering many available schedules. See p8.
3. Kuala Lumpur to Penang: There are three main options: bus, train, and plane. Buses are affordable, convenient, and comfortable, with fares around 40-60 Ringgit.
The comfort level is notably higher than that of domestic buses, and they run almost 24 hours, though traffic jams can be a concern. Trains are slightly more expensive, ranging from 66-98 Ringgit. See p10. The train journey goes from KL Sentral to Butterworth, and upon arrival, you’ll need to take a ferry to Penang city.
The advantage of the train is avoiding traffic jams and ensuring a more punctual arrival.
Planes, despite being relatively affordable (under 100 Ringgit), are not the best option. The journey from the city to the airport, the check-in process, and the waiting time can be quite a hassle, not to mention the risk of delays.
4. Penang – Langkawi – Kuala Lumpur: Langkawi is a beautiful island destination. While there used to be ferry services from Perlis to Langkawi, currently, the only way to reach the island is by air. Both the flight from Penang to Langkawi and the one from Langkawi to Kuala Lumpur typically cost around 100 Ringgit each.
[Six R] Accommodation: Plan for 1 night in Malacca, 2-3 nights in Kuala Lumpur, 3 nights in Penang, and 3 nights in Langkawi. Due to space constraints, detailed information about specific accommodations and must-see attractions will be covered in the next article.
