Visiting Malaysia? Here's Everything You Should Know

Bryan
Oct 5, 2018
4 min read

Updated: Oct 11, 2018

Different Types of Accommodations in Malaysia.

Looking for an accommodation can be quite a hassle for everyone especially is you are not familiar with the destination you are planning to travel either for a vacation or a business trip. So for those who plan on visiting Malaysia soon, particularly Kuala Lumpur. Here's a few options for you.

1. Hotels

“if you're just looking for a comfortable stay with just about everything you need from a hotel, you can consider staying with us in Hotel 99 at an affordable rate.”

This would probably be the most obvious and common choice for most people, especially in Malaysia, even to Malaysians themselves. Why? It's everywhere! The hotels are all across the city and even at some of most remote parts of the city. When it comes to choosing a hotel, it really depends on what your budget is and what you expect to get out of it. A 5-Star Hotel will offer you generous room space, 24-hour room service, fancy dining areas and luxurious facilities. Sounds great, right? Well... just be prepared for the hefty bill you'll be paying.

Alternatively, if you're just looking for a comfortable stay with just about everything you need from a hotel, you can consider staying with us in Hotel 99 at an affordable rate. We offer you cozy rooms, security, high-speed internet, 24-hour receptionist and many more. You can find us at many of the major attraction/tourist/business districts. We don't serve food & beverages ourselves but you'll be sure to never get hungry staying with us. Did I just mention food? Oh yes. Food is always all around us.

Here's a short recap on us:

Cozy rooms? Check. Food? Check. Affordability? Definitely, Check. Click here for our current promotion: http://www.hotel99.com.my/reservation.html

2. Private Apartments and Condominiums

This is a relatively new concept for Malaysians. This accommodation option started to boom just a couple years back from 2018 when Airbnb came into the market. This option would suitable for travelers who prefer more freedom or intend to stay a longer period of time without compromising their lifestyle back home. Often, the listings are made by agents or homeowners who are referred to as 'host'. The more reputable 'hosts' will be known as 'Superhost'. You can read all about it here.

Photo Credit: rawpixel.com You want the keys? Good Luck.

The process is fairly simple. Travelers search for the location, their preferred accommodation (Entire Place/Private Room/Shared Room), then book the place. For some accommodation, the hosts have the option to be selective their guests. So you may not always get the place you want. Also, you are often expected to 'check-in' to the place yourself. You will have to search for the unit, seek for hidden keys and sort. Oh, you gotta keep the place clean yourself too. Overall it's a fun experience. I tried it once. The key wasn't there.The previous guest lost it apparently. Bummer. If you prefer to avoid the hassle, well... you know where to find us.

3. Hostels. Not Hotels.

“Expect to stay in a room with four or more people, shared bathrooms and basic facilities”

These are budget accommodations. I mean, we are budget, but hostels are really 'budget'. Hostels and dorms are everywhere in Malaysia, not as many as hotels especially in big cities but mostly at tourist destinations like Malacca and Penang. This would be suitable for backpackers and those traveling on a budget. Expect to stay in a room with four or more people, shared bathrooms and basic facilities. This means you should really research the place well before you commit to stay there because your belongings will be at risk especially when you are asleep. Some hostels provide lockers, but not always. (I had to hug my backpack to sleep when I was staying in a hostel once. Call me paranoid, but I rather not lose my stuff)

But if none of the cons concerns you and you just want a place for a short stay, this would be a suitable option for you.

4. Homestays

Also known as Bed & Breakfast (B&B), and Guesthouse. This is more popular at less urban places (rural areas) such as places near paddy fields, beaches, rivers and villages. This option is catered to travelers who are seeking to experience living the lifestyle of local or native Malaysians. The accommodation really depends on what type of homestay you are looking for. It could a proper concrete home or just a hut.

More often than not, be prepared to be in-tune with 'nature'. If you are not really a nature-loving person, you have been warned.

5. Honorable Mentions Here's a quick shoutout to the less common but still available accommodations available in Malaysia. a. Historical Lodging b. Park Lodgings and Camping They are often not available in big cities like Kuala Lumpur but they are available at more tourist-oriented places such as Malacca and Penang. You can read more about them here. Here are a few reads that may come in handy: