Malaysia Destination Guide
The place
Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur (or KL as it is most affectionately known) is most people’s first introduction to this stunning country. And whilst you will most certainly want to spend a couple of days checking out the sights and some of the best shopping in South East Asia, don’t dally too long, as there’s so much more to see. Malaysia is one of the few countries in the East, where we recommend hiring a car, as you can take off for the countryside exploring the luxuriant national park of Taman Negara and the cool Cameron Highlands with its tea plantations and colonial feel beforeheading for a well-earned rest at one of its fabulous beach resorts.
The culture
Culturally, Malaysia is heaven. It’s a potpourri of different races made up of Malays with their customs incorporating family values, Indians with their colourful saris and banana leaf curries and Chinese with their traditional festivals and their hard-working temperament. Add to this, the country’s colonial past, and you have a destination with a colourful and fascinating ambience.
Events
Motorcycle Grand Prix - Oct 09
F1 Grand Prix Apr 10
The shopping
Kuala Lumpur is a shopper’s paradise. The beach destinations also offer great shopping opportunities. Penang has the most choice with the capital Georgetown boasting shophouses and its main shopping complexes. The night market at Batu Ferringhi is also a popular venue. Langkawi has shopping on a much smaller scale, but attracts visitors from neighbouring Penang to make the most of its duty free prices. Shoes and leather are particularly good value.
The nightlife
Dining options reflect the diversity of the blend of nationalities. Spice and peanuts prevail in the choice of satays, whilst Indian curries and Chinese cuisine are equally a part of the Malaysian life. Wherever you go, you will find hawker stalls where freshly prepared, delicious and cheap meals are to be had. In KL the discos and nightclubs attract the young and trendy and many hotels have bars with live music.
The beaches
Malaysia boasts an impressive array of diverse resorts and miles of white, empty beaches touched by turquoise waters. Premier Holidays boasts a number of hotels in Penang, Langkawi, Pangkor, Redang, Tioman and Kuantan, which all offer superb beaches
The options
As well as KL and Peninsula Malaysia beaches or Borneo, you might also consider combining Malaysia with Bali or even a Thai beach. For the real double shopping thrill, a stopover in Dubai is also possible.
The facts
Geography: Malaysia is made up of mainland Peninsula Malaysia and East Malaysia, which comprises the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo.
Language: Bahasa Malaysia is the national language, but the different peoples still retain their own languages. English is widely spoken.
Passports: you will need a full British passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond your date of return.
Visas: Visas are not required for full British passport holders unless you plan to stay longer than three months. Non-British passport holders should check with Malaysia High Commission for documentation requirements.
Vaccinations: Vaccinations are strongly recommended. For further information, please consult your doctor.
Travelling time: Kuala Lumpur is approximately 13 hours by non-stop flight from the UK and Penang and Langkawi are less than another hour on. There are no direct flights to Sabah or Sarawak from the UK; most travel is via either KL or Hong Kong, which takes around 16 hours. Brunei can be reached by direct flight, although there is a touchdown in Dubai.
Local time: GMT + 8 hours
Currency: Malaysian Ringgit; Brunei – Brunei dollar
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Malaysia - Map
