10 Tips For Travel In Malaysia

Here are 10 tips for travel in Malaysia. Travelling to Malaysia is wonderful and quite the adventure, however, know exactly what to do during your stay, isn't easy. From knowing the best way to exchange currency to finding the best way to get around, travel tips and tricks are a must for getting around Malaysia. Here are a few of them.

1. Get to know the locals. Malay culture is rich and vast. The people there are kind and love to meet foreigners. So don't be afraid to submerge yourself in whatever town or city you are staying in.
2. Prepare for public holidays. Because of Malaysia's expansive ethnic groups, there are a lot of public holidays and festivals. Be sure the check up on holidays before planning your trip.
3. Keep water with you at all times. Malaysia is a particularly hot country. A lot of places don't have air conditioning as well, so its important to keep your body cool and hydrated for such occasions. Its usually ok to drink water from the tap in Malaysia, but its a good idea to keep bottled water with you. If
4. Be sure to wear appropriate clothing. The weather in Malaysia is usually very pleasant, which is ideal for traveling. Be sure to wear lighter clothing that is breathable and easy to move in. The sun is out most of the time as well, so make sure to stay covered up with a light, long sleeve shirt, or keep sunscreen on. .
5. Respect the culture. Malaysian culture, just like others, has its little ins and outs. Its important to remember to take your shoes off when entering someone's home and any type of religious structure. Also, keep in mind, to only eat with your right hand and to only receive and give money/gifts with your right hand. Doing anything with your left hand is a sign of disrespect. Also, try your best not to point your feet at anyone.
6. Look for the tourist police. Yes, Malaysia does have tourist police. Depending on where you are in the country, there are many of them. They are easy to spot because of their checkered hat band and dark blue outfits. They also have the letter "I" on their breast pockets.
7. Taxi Etiquette. Its always best to agree on a price before beginning any trip with a taxi driver. They typically have meters and you can simply state that you would like the meter to be ran. But if you are familiar with the typical cost of taxi rides, then you know when you are going to get a good bargain during bartering for a price.
8. Currency exchanges. Its usually easy to have currency exchanged. However, some places don't like to exchange coins. So when paying for something, try to use as many coins as possible or exact change.
9. Bug repellant is your friend. Malaysia's climate is great but it can also cause problems. Because its so hot and humid, its an ideal climate for bugs, particularly mosquitos. So keep bug repellant on you at all times and remember to reapply it whenever necessary.
10. Alcohol? Not in public. When visiting Malaysia, its better to keep the drinking strictly to private areas. Being a nation of Islam, drinking alcohol is frowned upon. So keep that under wraps.