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Southeast Asia is back on everyone’s radar now that the region is not only fully open, but also eager to welcome tourists after three years of self-imposed isolation.
Over the course of 2023, we have seen numerous exciting developments from Southeast Asian (SEA) countries, including a new three-month tourist visa for Vietnam and an increase in frequency on some Transpacific routes.
Yet one country in particular continues to publish big numbers, even challenge mighty Thailand for the number one spot in the subcontinent as it is considered more developed and generally tourist friendly. This year it is expected that there will be as many as that 18 million tourists.
Here are 7 reasons why you should be trendy and incredibly safe Malaysia this winter:
It has a beautiful paradisiacal nature
When visiting Southeast Asia, the majority of travelers have one thing in mind: brave the wild nature, take boat trips through archipelago areas, jump into the turquoise seas and escape their chaotic big city lives.
Luckily for them, Malaysia has its own – shall we say, impressive – collection of natural monuments that can keep them entertained for weeks.
Divided between a ‘peninsular area’ and the northern part of the island of Borneo, which it shares with Indonesia and the small country of Brunei, it has there is no shortage of beautiful nature reservessandy beaches bordered by warm water and tropical jungles.
Malaysian nature deserves its own story, as there are far too many points of interest to summarize in one section in a wider article, but some of the ‘unmissable’ gems include:
- Gunung Mulu, a national park in Borneo known for its jagged rock formations
- Taman Negara, an undisturbed rainforest dotted with Malay villages
- The Danum Valley, crossed by jungle paths and hiking trails
- Ipoh, both a small, traditional town and a protected reserve surrounded by dense foliage
Lively city trips
Malaysia is one of the largest sovereign states in Southeast Asia and apart from its geographical features and natural resources, one of the main reasons why it is such an incredible destination is its many world-class cities.
The capital, Kuala Lumpuris currently one of the top hotspots for digital nomads, attracting millions of young, fun-loving remote workers and entrepreneurs due to its eclectic, multicultural scene, great infrastructure, incredible nightlife and futuristic cityscape.
George townin the state of Penang, also not to be missed, with well-preserved British colonial structures and an emerging resort belt.
Elsewhere, Johor Bahru iA famous port city connected by bridge to the small city-state of Singapore, highly sought after for its coastal atmosphere and sandy beaches.
A unique, fascinating culture
Malaysian culture is yet another attraction for Westerners – especially Americans – visiting the country.
In a sense, Malaysians can be more collectivist than people born and raised in the US. They tend to be more likely to identify as part of a broader group, be it their family members or ethnicity, and their life decisions strongly consider community-wide impact.
Needless to sayMalaysians are more family orientedand while this isn’t exactly evident in big cities like Kuala Lumpur, it only takes a day’s visit to a small hinterland village yet to be engulfed by globalization before you come into contact with their friendliness.
Of course, food is also part of the culture, and Malaysian cuisine is a unique blend of indigenous cooking practices, Chinese influences, European influences due to colonization and even the Middle East – in case you didn’t know, more than 60% of the population adheres to Islam.
Better infrastructure than most Southeast Asian countries
A little known fact among most Westerners is that not all Southeast Asian countries are developing, or underdeveloped. Singapore, a neighboring country of Malaysia, is an example one of the richest states in the world, measured by GDP per capita.
Malaysia is not as prosperous, and certainly has the classic problems of the Global South, but it is surprisingly developed by Southeast Asian standards and has a much better international reputation than Thailand, Indonesia or Vietnam.
It is a newly industrialized economy that is rapidly approaching high-income status.
This means for tourists the infrastructure is betterincluding the condition of the roads and public transport, the market is open and prosperous, especially if you are a nomad looking to settle in Malaysia, and the quality of life of the locals is higher.
From public services to food standards and ultimately food poisoning rates much lower in Malaysia than other SEA countries with laxer regulations, it’s essentially Southeast Asia for beginners – which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Malaysia is affordable
Malaysia may be the second most developed country in Southeast Asia after Singapore, but this does not mean it shares its partner country’s high cost of living.
It is one of the cheapest tropical destinations in the worldwith travelers expected to spend an average of €61 per day on a holiday in Kuala Lumpur. However, this is only an estimate and the actual costs may be even lower if you are on a limited budget.
There are many youth hostels nearby Booking.com with nightly rates of $15 and cheaper, and food is quite affordable too. On average, a hearty meal in a mid-range restaurant for two people will only cost you $16. Numbeo.
High security levels
Another misconception surrounding Southeast Asian countries is that they are unsafe. Granted, food poisoning is an urgent problem, and… some of them have unstable politics, with the occasional military coup, but Malaysia is not one of them.
As mentioned above, it is quite developed and well equipped, and the safety levels are abnormally high. You’re unlikely to be robbed while walking the streets of Kuala Lumpur, encounter regular scams whether in the capital or in the countryside, or fall victim to violence.
That doesn’t mean it won’t happen – as everywhere, there are exceptions to the rule – but crime is certainly not widespread in Malaysia, and you don’t need to maintain a high level of situational awareness during your visit.
Malaysia is listed by the US itself as a Level 1 destination, meaning it has achieved the best possible level of safety a country can aspire to, and it tops the list with Iceland, Finland, Croatia and other popular ones considered safe European countries .
Easy one-stop flight connections
The seventh and final reason why Malaysia is so trendy right now is the fact that it is not exactly difficult to get to, despite the lack of a direct flight route with the United States and most European countries.
When traveling to Malaysia, most travelers from the Northern Hemisphere will have to make a stopover in a third country, either on connecting flights or switching to another airline entirely, but the good news is:
Most major airlines sell ‘full tickets’ to Kuala Lumpur, meaning you pay for the entire journey, including the stopover and the final leg, and they use major international airports such as neighboring Singapore, Doha or Dubai-International as transit hubs .
This means you can enjoy yourself all great facilities at the world’s most luxurious airports during a layover, and depending on the airline you choose to fly, you may even qualify for free hotel stays if you spend a day or two on the layover, or free tours if you opt for the shortest Handover.
We don’t know about you, but we love layovers.
It’s a great opportunity to explore two destinations for the price of one ticket, and who wouldn’t love to combine a trip to Malaysia with the equally fascinating Singapore?
Start planning your trip to Malaysia – and wider Southeast Asia – by reading on.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
