Cheap & Budget Holidays in Malaysia: Homestays and Backpacking

From the word ‘go’ Malaysia as a holiday destination is not an expensive prospect for a western visitor. One American dollar can buy almost 3.23 Malaysian units for a start. It almost goes without saying that a Malaysian holiday can be maximized on a shoestring budget.

Cheap Flights & Transport

Many world-class budget airlines like Tiger Airways and Air Asia fly into Malaysia. The nation’s airline (Malaysian Airlines (MAS)) is relatively low cost itself. It is possible to get some good deals on flights into Malaysia, especially during the off-peak season using comparison services such as Skyscanner.

If you have the luxury of time at your disposal your trip to Malaysia can be designed around a shoestring budget.

Although the country has 5 international airports, it may be cheaper sometimes to take a flight into the nation’s capital Kuala Lumpur (KL) and take domestic flights through Mas Wings, Berjaya Air, Fire Fly etc or travel by road, rail or by sea. All these modes of transport cost no more than 200 RM (62 US Dollars / 41 GBP) – even travelling from one corner of Malaysia to another.

Low-cost Digs & Accommodation

Malaysia is a land for true adventure seekers. There are various kinds of accommodation available from five star luxury resorts to middle range lodges to backpacker’s stopping points. There are also some home stays offering double room accommodation for RM 65 and dorm room digs for as little as RM 25. Some home stays like Pujangga home stay are available in Bukit Bintang in KL, which is also close to shopping, and other popular activities. Other popular, budget homestays in the capital city, KL, include Alex's Guesthouse and Travellers Palm Guesthouse.

Basic but cosy accommodation at Pujangga Homestay, which also boasts an extremely convenient, central location

Beach resorts like Tioman, Redang and Langkawi also offer beach side chalets and hostel accommodations. These can save you a lot of money compared to a luxury resort if you are the kind of person who enjoys a unique experience. Malaysia’s adventure hot spots also have camping facilities, which can be combined with other tour packages. It is often a good idea to contact the Malaysia Tourist Board's expansive network of regional offices direct if you're serious about tracking down cheap, alternative accommodation in preference to pricey holiday resorts.

If you are planning to drive around several places within Malaysia and if you are part of a group of 3-4 - it may be a good idea to rent a car in either KL or your port of landing. Unless, however, you are planning a trip into Borneo in which case you will have to rent in either Sabah or Sarawak. Malaysia’s own Proton is a fairly comfortable car for Malaysian roads. Car rentals can be done from the airport itself although rentals from within the city are cheaper and exclude airport charges.

Food, Drink & Bargains

Food is largely inexpensive in Malaysia. Fancy restaurants and bars are abound in the capital city, however, and in most resort towns it is easy to run up a bill of 100 to 150 RM per person. On the other hand if you venture into the many hawker stalls in the country you can get more value for your money. The food is served hot and in clean surroundings by friendly smiling locals and is rich with local flavor.

Malaysia's hawkers are regulated and the food is cheap, clean and above all extremely tasty!

Malaysia is a laid back country and this extends to the attitude of the people. Service can be slow at times, especially in these local hangouts, but it is well worth the wait and will cost you only about 4 to 6 RM for a delicious meal with a drink.

Alcohol may be a comparatively expensive in Malaysia but is available from many licensed outlets. Duty free islands like Langkawi offer better deals on alcoholic beverages.

Some resort places or national parks like Kinabalu Park for instance can be a bit expensive if you stick with the buffet dinners and room service they offer. Then again a short walk outside of the park headquarters can lead to some local eating-houses.

Resort islands like Langkawi, Tioman and most holiday destinations along the coastline or on the highlands are not very well connected by public transport. Unless there is a shuttle bus or van service available from the hotel you are staying in, it may be advisable to rent a motorbike to move around the towns. Motorcycle rentals are available in most of the major towns and do not cost much.

Malaysia is a paradise for shoppers, but it is also a tourist oriented country. As a general rule most commercially marketed tours try to lure tourists into spending more in every area of their stay (food, accommodation, transport etc). The land abounds with textile crafts – Malaysia’s batik being world acclaimed for its vibrant floral designs. It is also a haven for electronic goods as the country is also a manufacturer and is therefore able to offer electronics at prices lesser than the world market. You can get some fantastic bargains on these if you shop carefully and look around duty-free locations such as Labuan and Langkawi. Tin is one of Malaysia’s biggest lures and you can get all kinds of handicrafts made out of tin in almost every corner of Malaysia. However it may be a good idea to pick up one from the higher end national brand “Royal Selangor” as an apt souvenir of your holiday in Malaysia.

With a range of homestay and backpacking opportunities, an exploration of Malaysia needn't be an expensive prospect. Search the widest range of tour and package options in Malaysia with MalaysiaExplorer.net's booking partner - also find verified guest reviews™ and image galleries.

Photo Credits: goosmurf