Malaysia

As compared to many other countries, Malaysia is safe to travel. But no matter how safe the country and its people are, you will want to be as much aware and have specific travel safety tips handy for you so that your travel is smooth. Petty crime and theft are not a threat, and fortunately, violent crime against foreigners is limited. But it may be essential to take some practical precautions because Malaysia is a popular tourist destination, and some frequent robberies target innocent foreigners, especially in tourist areas. Always keep your valuable belongings like passport, traveler’s cheques, cash, expensive jewelry, if any and mobile, etc. safely and avoid carrying them while walking or do not expose as much as possible. Carry your bags carefully as thieves on motorbikes mainly target people for their handbags.

Many major hotels provide a safe deposit box, so always use your hotel reception safe or your in-room safe to store your belongings. With much rise in card users, so is credit card and ATM fraud is common, so, it is essential to be alert while using cards. Try to use them only in the day time and at established businesses. When you are on the beach, don’t neglect your belongings here, as well. Malaysia may have good nightlife with a good crowd, but again taking any precautions is essential. Avoid over-friendly people and avoid accepting drinks from strangers.

Your food and drinks should be under your strict observation. It would also be better to avoid walking alone at night, especially in alleys without street lights. If there is any political instability when traveling to Malaysia, always prevent any protest, demonstration, and political gathering, including those envisioned to be non-violent as it may be likely to result in violence. It would be a sanity to avoid any conversations that include any political or religious issues. Malaysia is mostly a Muslim country, and since people here can be relatively conservative, it would be better to dress appropriately. Overall, Malaysia is a safe country to visit, but sometimes it’s just our common sense that it will be as handier and help us have a safe trip. 

Hardly any travelers return home from Malaysia being sick, but prevention is always better than cure. So to avoid any health risks and enjoy the trip smoothly, you could follow some basic instructions. You could start by visiting your GP before you travel- at least 4 to 6 weeks before your travel. Check with your doctor if you need any vaccinations, and if you have any health condition and are under medication, discuss for any further preventive measures. Before your trip, please make sure that you are on routine vaccines. Some recommended vaccinations before traveling to Malaysia include Adult diphtheria and tetanus, Hepatitis A, B & E, Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), Influenza, Malaria, and Typhoid. Because they are infectious disease and most travelers are likely to fall at risk and also don’t forget your yearly shot. With the availability of good hospitals and clinics with excellent medical facilities – especially in Kuala Lampur, that meet international standards, there is no need to worry in case travelers have a medical emergency when in Malaysia. It is also not a problem if you want to get any medicines as many reputed pharmacies supply all kinds of medicines.

When you are in Malaysia, practice safe eating and drinking else, it could lead to an upset stomach, or you could even suffer from travelers’ diarrhea, which is the most common amongst the travelers. Avoid tap water unless you know it’s safe, and the food is well-cooked, especially meat and fish. And always choose a right and reliable place to eat as standards of hygiene can differ. Try avoiding spicy food as much as possible and avoid areas where you see food lying around in an open-air. In Malaysia, the cleanliness maintained for food and water is at its best, and you are not likely to fall sick due to this. Since Malaysia is a hot place and it may take a few days before you get used to the humidity. Sunburn, rashes, and allergy may be common, and you may also notice some swelling of feet and ankles due to heat, which is also common. You should pack sun lotion and prickly heat powder with you. Most of all, it is essential to stay hydrated all the time and avoid any strenuous activities in the full midday hot sun.

If you plan to trek in the jungle, you can consult your family GP if you require any malaria tablets or any other vaccinations, mainly if you traveled to Africa in the last six months. Carry your mosquitoes and insects repellent as there are mosquitoes in Malaysia all through the year. Although Malaysia is famous for water activities, make sure you do it safely as lurking of Jellyfishes around the waters is common. If you are stung, seek medical treatment instantly. All travelers need to have sufficient travel health insurance because medical treatment expenses can be a bit expensive in Malaysia. We suggest you have travel insurance done with coverage of medical costs inclusive of evacuation in case of any.

One of the most convenient and most accessible ways to get to Malaysia is by air. Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia's international arrival airport, where the majority of international flights arrive. There are also direct flights from Asia and Australia into Penang, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, and few other cities, and Kuala Lampur is also mainly well-served from Singapore and Bangkok. You can also choose to fly into Bangkok in Thailand and travel down south into Malaysia by bus, train, boat, or with a group tour or fly into Singapore and travel up north into Malaysia by bus. In any of these, you should ask for a flight with a 'surface sector.' It is an overland sector that allows you to fly into one airport and out of another. Two airports serve the Kuala Lumpur area. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), the city’s central international hub situated about 46 miles outside the city. Several international carriers function it and also by the national airline, Malaysia Airlines, and Malindo Air - a joint venture between Malaysia and Indonesia. Nearby, KLIA2 is a new complex built to serve low-cost carriers, including AirAsia, which has many international flights. The second Airport is Skypark Subang Airport (Sultan Abdul Azia Shah Airport), situated about 12 miles from the city. Firefly, a subordinate of Malaysia Airlines, serves it. It has domestic flights and also flights to Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia.

There are long-distance coaches or buses that you can choose to travel to Malaysia from places like Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, and these places also server to travel by road. If you want to visit by road from these mentioned places, it is possible, but if you are driving yourself, you are required to have IDP an International Drivers Permit. The same areas, including the Philippines, are connected to various points by ferries to Malaysia, so you can choose to travel these places by bus or by boat, including luxury cruises from Singapore and sometimes Phuket, Thailand.

Since an excellent railway system connects Thailand and Malaysia, it could be another pleasant and convenient way to travel if you are going by Thailand. There are daily trains from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur and vice versa. There is a regular International Express train between Bangkok and Butterworth, which is a northern part of Malaysia. Traveling by train can give you a whole lot of new and exciting experience. So, with many options to travel to Malaysia, you could pick one according to your time, need, and budget.

Before traveling to Malaysia, all international travelers need to hold a passport with validity of at least six months. Next, is to process for a visa, which is another important step to follow before traveling to Malaysia. There are many ways to obtain your visa, and it is essential to find out before going since many countries do not need a visa to visit Malaysia and are exempt from a certain period when visiting the country. You can either apply for a visa online, which is also called evisa or process from the nearest Malaysian Embassy and Consulate in your country or directly apply for a visa on arrival. You have to know if your country is entitled to any of these processes mentioned above. If you require a visa, you must apply for a visa before you travel because Malaysia does not offer Visas on Arrival for those that need them. If your country is exempt requiring a visa, obtain a visa on arrival with a permit to stay for a defined period. The period may depend on your nationality. Different types of Visas requirements are applied differently to a different nationality.

Some countries like Cambodia, Belgium, Austria, Chile, Colombia, France, and Germany, etc. do not require Visa and are permitted to stay up to a certain period depending on your nationality. Some countries that are granted Visa on Arrival are Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vietnam, etc. And for citizens of the United States who will be staying for up to 90 days, you do not require a Malaysia visa. If your country does not require a visa, please make sure to check for how many days. Because different countries will have to stay for up to a different number of days for entry, as mentioned, your permit to visit will be issued depending on your passport and nationality. And regardless of whether you require a visa or no to travel to Malaysia, you need to have a valid passport, as mentioned. 

Undoubtedly one of the most routine matters that every traveler is concerned about is money, and it is better to have at least some information. Sorting out money matters is as important as planning your travel. So, since you are traveling to Malaysia, you have to know a few things. The unit of currency in Malaysia is Malaysian Ringgit indicated as MYR (in currency exchange), RM (to express prices), and Malaysian Ringgit is also referred to as Malaysian Dollars. The banknotes come in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1.

You are suggested to get your money exchanged in Malaysia for better best rates, and it is not at all difficult to exchange your money in larger cities in Malaysia. You can get it exchanged at airports, hotels, banks, or certified money exchanges. The combination of Travelers’ cheque, credit card, or debit card is the best travel money option to take to Malaysia. Credit Cards like Cirrus/Maestro, American Express, Diners Club, Visa, and Mastercard are accepted widely across the country. Most major hotels, big supermarkets, and restaurants accept them, but in rural areas, credit cards may be doubtful, so as a backup, you are suggested to carry your traveler’s cheque or some enough cash. As with many other countries, there are many ATMs widespread throughout, except in a few small cities. It is one of the most convenient and time-saving processes to obtain money. Make sure to inform your bank about using your card abroad because, at times, many banks tend to automatically reject the process of withdrawing money abroad for security reasons. Please remember that using cards usually attracts some 2-3% of charges, and this applicable charge may vary. Besides your cards and Malaysian Ringgit, US Dollars are mostly in use and accepted everywhere, giving you the chance to mix your money and use it. In Malaysia, they do accept Travelers’ checks in all banks, hotels, and large department stores, and if you want to avoid any additional exchange rate charges, make sure to bring them in Australian Dollars, Pounds Sterling, or in US Dollars. Travelers’ checks get a marginally better exchange rate than cash, which will help balance part of the tax, and also, in case of theft or lost, Travelers’ checks can be replaced, therefore providing you improved security. Banks throughout the country can get your currency exchanged, and in most states, the banks are open from Mon - Fri: 9.30 am to 4.30 pm and closed every Saturday & Sunday. When you are traveling to Malaysia, remember to take notes that are new or at least in good condition because notes that are ripped or even if marked will not be accepted. 

Currency Rules to know while traveling to Malaysia.

Currency Import regulations:

Currency must be declared upon arrival, and is allowed for both residents and non-residents if carrying:

- Local currency (Malaysian Ringgit-MYR): MYR 1,000 or higher amounts;

- Foreign currencies: USD 10,000 (or equivalent in other foreign currency) or higher amounts.

Currency Export regulations:

Currency must be declared on departure, and is allowed for both residents and non-residents if carrying:

- Local currency (Malaysian Ringgit-MYR): MYR 1,000 or higher amounts;

- Foreign currencies: USD 10,000 (or equivalent in other foreign currency) or higher amounts.

Additional information: regardless of age, Travel Declaration Form (TDF) is necessary for passengers entering or leaving Malaysia. Foreign currencies include funds in the form of travelers’ cheques. Clearance from the Central Bank of Malaysia is necessary for amounts exceeding those stated above.