Top Tips for Planning an Unforgettable Malaysia Adventure with Family

Points that I consider while planning a family vacation!

1. Flights

As we were planning to take this trip in November, a few days after Diwali, I just put this query on the internet - “best places to travel in Asia in November” And, it returned a long list of places such as Bali, Maldives, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Cambodia, and many more. So for these countries, I started looking for affordable air tickets from India. I scanned through multiple websites that collate information from various web pages and provide the cheapest option for flight bookings; Skyscanner, MakeMyTrip, or Via to name a few. I did not want to splurge on a single trip and save whenever and wherever possible, to sponsor many more such trips for myself and my family. So I picked a destination that showed the cheapest yet convenient flight options for my selected travel period. If there are kids in the family, their sleep routine should be considered to allow them to get enough sleep during travel. Also, long-duration direct flights can be replaced with shorter-duration connecting flights.

2. Visa and Important documents

I listed down the top three countries with cheap flight tickets. Then I went on to check for the required documents and visa procedures to enter these countries as an Indian tourist. I came across news about Malaysia allowing Indian tourists visa-free entry till the end of the year 2024. Then I checked their official website too and the same there as well. I just needed to fill out a form named Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC), three days before my travel date. If you are not a tourist from the countries that are allowed visa-free entry, the details regarding the Malaysian visa can be checked here.

3. Things To Do

As a family traveler, I wanted to include the attractions that everyone will enjoy and cherish the memories of their first trip to Malaysia. Again I started browsing through websites such as TripAdvisor, Klook, etc., which help us get the list of attractions along with the pics, tourist ratings, and reviews. They also provide options and discount coupons to book the activities/ travel attractions in advance and may be for a cheaper price most of the time. I wanted our trip to be neither too hectic nor too laid-back. So I picked three cities/towns; Malacca (Melaka), Kuala Lumpur, and Langkawi. Malacca was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its well-preserved blend of architectural styles from different cultures, including Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Peranakan influences, in the year 2008. The city looks quite colorful and we can cover most of the famous attractions on foot. Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and offers much more than anyone can expect. It has tall skyscrapers, observation towers, aquariums, huge parks, malls, amusement and theme parks, and historical sites that are well maintained. Langkawi is famous for its beaches, sky bridge, and water sports. The island hopping tour is a must-do thing. Here are the top attractions that I put together for my first trip (I wish I would do a few more trips to Malaysia:)).

Jonker Street, Malacca

A Famosa, Malacca

Stadthuys, Malacca

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, Malacca

Church of Saint Paul, Malacca

Masjid Selat, Malacca

Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum, Malacca

Dutch Square (Red Square), Malacca

Aquaria, Kuala Lumpur

KLCC Park and Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur

Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur

KL Bird Park, Kuala Lumpur

Islamic Arts Museum, Kuala Lumpur

Little India, Kuala Lumpur

KL Tower, Kuala Lumpur

Sky Bridge, Langkawi

Pantai Cenang Beach, Langkawi

Wildlife Park, Langkawi

Wat Koh Wanararm, Langkawi

MAHA Tower, Langkawi

Dataran Lang, Langkawi

4. Accommodation

Upon finalizing the activities, I started looking for decent, clean, safe, and family-friendly hotels in Melaka (Malacca), Kuala Lumpur, and Langkawi that are centrally located and provide breakfast as well. The main requirement was that the hotel should have a family room that accommodates the entire family in one room, as there are young kids in the family. I would not say there are plenty of options for a family room in each of the selected cities, but I managed to find a few very good options in every location. These hotels are located in the city center and near to either metro or bus station. When it comes to checking the reviews of the hotel, I find Booking.com to be the most reliable one. Many times I have found unbeatable price deals on Agoda and Trip.com. So I just make sure to check multiple hotel booking websites, before I finally book a hotel to confirm the price as well the reviews. Below is the list of accommodation options that I selected:

Puri Melaka, Malacca: It is a well-maintained heritage hotel, located right next to Jonker Street in Malacca. It has family rooms at affordable prices. They offer amenities such as a spa, art gallery, free wi-fi, buffet breakfast , and Air-conditioned rooms with modern comforts.

Verdant Hill Hotel, Kuala Lumpur: It is conveniently located in the Golden Triangle district, close to popular attractions like Bukit Bintang, Petronas Towers, and KL Sentral. They offer family rooms and amenities such as rooftop infinity pool with a bar, fitness center, on-site restaurant and café, laundry facilities and delicious buffet breakfast.

Wings by Croske Resort, Langkawi: The resort is situated next to Langkawi International Airport, making it a convenient choice for travelers. They provide free shuttles to Cenang beach (approximately 7 km) and Langkawi Airport. They have family rooms with bathtub and all other necessary amenities. The buffet breakfast is quite good and has lot many options. They also have huge swimming pool, kids club, fitness center.

5. Transportation

For Malacca, it is very much advisable that you explore the city on foot. You can take a stroll along the river and enjoy the delicious food in the cafes on the way. Most of the attractions are quite close to each other and a one-day walking tour is enough to cover them all. Also, one can use a Grab taxi to visit the attractions that are a little farther from the city center. In Kuala Lumpur, one can get many options such as Grab, city buses, monorails, and metro. For Langkawi, Grab and self-driving cars seem to be the best options.

6. Food and Local Cuisines

I could find many Indian, Pakistani restaurants in the above three cities. We can get chapatis, naans, paneer curries, pulao, biryani, dosa, idli etc. in such restaurants. Apart from Indian food, below are a few famous dishes that one must try while in Malaysia.

Nasi Lemak: Found everywhere in Malaysia, with multiple variants! It consists of rice cooked in coconut milk served with sambal, fried anchovies or fried chicken, fried peanuts, boiled egg, and cucumber.

Roti Canai: A flaky, crispy flatbread typically served with dhal or other curries.

Laksa: It is a spicy noodle soup that typically features a rich broth made from coconut milk or a tamarind-based sauce, served with various types of noodles and toppings such as chicken, prawns, or fish.

Mee Goreng: Fried noodles typically tossed with vegetables, tofu, and a choice of chicken or shrimp, flavored with soy sauce and chili.

Cendol: A popular dessert made from shaved ice topped with green rice flour jelly, coconut milk, and palm sugar syrup.

Rojak: A fruit and vegetable salad served with a sweet and spicy shrimp paste dressing. It often includes cucumber, pineapple, and jicama.

Murtabak: It is a stuffed pancake filled with minced meat and onions, pan-fried until crispy, and served with curry sauce.

Also, as Malaysia is a tropical country, you will get a variety of fresh fruits and fresh fruit juices everywhere. So just don’t forget to have them and keep yourself hydrated!

7. Money Matters

The next thing that comes is “Money”! Planning your expenses and the amount of cash you need is essential to avoid last-minute hassle. The Malaysian currency is the Ringgit. We planned to carry around 1.5k Ringgit in cash, 240 USD (just in case of emergency), and an international credit card that offers zero forex markup. So whenever we need to pay in cash we can use Ringgits, and grab and many other places that allow us to swipe a card, we can use the credit card. This division is beneficial, as we don’t need to carry so much cash, but we do have cash whenever required!

8. Travel Insurance

Buying a travel insurance plan is an essential thing. It protects travelers against unexpected risks and financial losses that may occur during their trips. There are various types of coverages that may include a variety of potential issues, ranging from minor inconveniences like lost luggage and trip cancellations to more serious situations such as medical emergencies and trip interruptions. I would suggest exploring multiple travel insurance options and reading the documentation thoroughly before buying one. Also, choose the plan that covers most of the unforeseen situations, though it may cost a little more. I prefer ICICI Lombard travel insurance.

9. Travel Itinerary

Then I carved out the day-by-day detailed travel itinerary and created Google Maps for each day. This is how I planned my trip. But I can tell you if everything goes well and my experiences in the next part after I am back from the trip. So stay tuned!"