My wife and I have hardly taken a vacation since Covid. That's why we thought it would be a nice idea, now that traveling has become easier again, to go to Malaysia. Because I am a Virtual Reality fan and the Pico4 (a new headset) can be obtained for almost half the price that is asked in Thailand, I decided to get it there and therefore combine it with a few days of delay in Kuala Lumpur .
I booked the hotel through booking.com and the trip with Air Asia. For me, who was always used to buying cheap tickets from my own company (Lufthansa), it was a bit of figuring out how to do that at Air Asia. You have a base price (the price they advertise) and then come the extras that you have to pay on top of that price… fuel surcharge and what not everything (that nearly doubles the price). You also have to pay extra for suitcases that go in the luggage compartment. We took one suitcase and that was enough.
Because we live near Hua Hin, we decided to go to Bangkok by car after comparing. Via Agoda we booked a hotel near the airport and were allowed to park our car there for 100 baht per day. This made it much cheaper than parking at the airport. At the airport you normally pay 250 baht per day and 180 baht for long-term parking. But it is not immediately known when those rates will come into effect. Moreover, you also have to be taken to the airport with a shuttle (I assume). We liked the option to be taken from the hotel to the airport with a free shuttle. When we returned on Saturday we called the hotel and fifteen minutes later we were picked up. I have to say that I liked this experience and that is why I want to share it here.
(Editorial Credit: Matyas Rehak / Shutterstock.com)
About Kuala Lumpur, you can get there pretty well by public transport. The trains are nicely maintained and the prices in the city do not seem to be much different than in Bangkok.
We had a delicious meal there a few times (Malaysian food is about the same as Indonesian) and we rented a suite there that cost less than 1000 baht per night. A large, spacious, cozy room with fitted kitchen, and you could use the swimming pool and fitness room, suited us very well. No room service, but two shops on the ground floor for that.
The people in Malaysia were very friendly and the great thing for me was that I could speak English with everyone and pick up my faded knowledge of Indonesian.
I can only recommend it if you want to get away from Thailand for a few days…
About this blogger
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I was born in Kerkrade in 1957 and lived there with my parents until I was 21. I had been interested in traveling the world from a young age, and at the age of 22 I flew to Asia for the first time. It was supposed to be only two months, but I ended up staying there for six.
After that I followed a training at the Vakschool voor het Reisbureau Bedrijf in Leiderdorp. This was short, but very intensive. One of my teachers then said that she thought I was suitable to work as a steward and that I should try it. I did, and that's how I ended up at Lufthansa, where instead of gaining two years of experience, I ended up staying for another thirty years until I was 55.
That was twelve years ago now. After my birthday I didn't wait another day. I said goodbye to my then wife and left for Thailand with one suitcase (although I had suitcases with personal belongings sent to Thailand every month that whole year).
My current wife and I have known each other for almost thirteen years and have lived in a small house between the pineapple fields, just south of Hua Hin, since 2013. We are officially residents of Pran Buri.
I also have hobbies: photography (3D and panoramic photos), everything that has to do with Virtual Reality, and I like to watch good movies. Although I have no talent for languages, I speak Dutch, German and English well, and I can make myself understood in Brazilian Portuguese and even French. In addition, I have been learning Japanese for a long time and now Thai.
I am not a pub person and prefer to be at home in the evenings. After thirty years of travelling the world, Thailand has become my home base.
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We also want to go to Malaysia in January. Do you have the address of the suite you rented? Thank you in advance! Fri. Regards Pada
Good article Jack.
Kuala Lumpur is indeed a nice alternative.
I haven't been there for a long time.
In the past, luggage was checked on arrival for too spicy photos in magazines.
I have no idea how strict the country is on Muslim matters now.
Dear Jack S,
The written story seems very interesting to us. Please add the hotel in Bangkok, the cost of the flight and the hotel in Kuala Lumpur. I assume one also needs a visa? In fact, there are important points to know if you have that experience already help us a lot ahead. Can you inform us? Thanks in advance.
Nice and informative post.
What is the name of the property where you rented the suite?
Theo
Sjaak, an excellent suggestion to visit Kuala Lumpur, definitely worth it. Been there myself twice and then stayed – to my complete satisfaction – in the Maya Hotel, within walking distance of the famous – 452 m. high – Petronas Towers in the center: https://www.hotelmaya.com.my/
The airport is about 60 km outside the city, but there is a good train connection.
Nice message. But do you need a visa to travel to Kuala Lumpur?
Galina, you don't need to ask such a question. Just google it and you'll get the answer.
Just google it and I see that you do not need a visa for a stay of up to 3 months:
https://www.azie.nl/maleisie/reisgids/paspoort-en-visum-maleisie/
Visa can be obtained upon arrival in Malaysia
Incorrect: as a Dutch/Belgian you can enter the country without a visa for a period of up to 3 months.
That is also not a visa, comparable to visa-exemption in Thailand. You will not receive a visa, but a residence permit for 3 months.
No, no visa required. Maybe it's like in Thailand, that you only need a Visa from a certain time, but with our five days at least not.
The costs for the flight are quite variable. We paid 11400 Baht for the flight with the two of us, there and back. I did pay a surcharge because I bought those headsets and wanted to return them in my suitcase.
You can arrange everything with the Air Asia app. It takes a while to search. We eventually worked it out.
The hotel at the airport was The Great Residence.
In Kuala Lumpur, also within walking distance of the Petronas Twin Tower, it
Mercu Summer Suite KLCC. This is not a hotel, but suites that are rented out. Bukit Nanas Railway Station can be reached within five minutes on foot.
You can take up to 7 kg in a small suitcase in the cabin on your flight. That saves 1100 Baht per trip.
Oh yes, lastly: we were not checked anywhere. The suitcases were also supported on the way there, but we did not have to open the suitcase anywhere. Of course it can happen on other days.