Complete Pre-Travel Guide to Malaysia (Including Detailed Kuala Lumpur Transportation)
【Preparations Before Departure】
1. Visa
Online visa application for Malaysia is convenient and mature:
① Direct flight to Malaysia & direct return to China: **Entri**
Stay: 15 days
② Non-direct round trip: **eVISA**
Stay: 30 days
2. Flight Tickets
I booked international flights over 1 month in advance, and domestic flights 1 week early.
① International Flight (Fuzhou ↔ Kuala Lumpur)
Round-trip direct flight: **US$329.15/person**
Duration: ~4h25m
Return check-in: KLIA1
*Note: Keep passport and visa handy for inspection; collect luggage after immigration.*
② Domestic Flights (Malaysia)
- Kuala Lumpur → Langkawi: Malaysia Airlines
- Langkawi → Kuala Lumpur: AirAsia
Price: **US$13.9–27.8/ticket** (book 1 week early)
*Special tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable.*
③ Luggage
- Chinese airlines: Free baggage ~20kg
- AirAsia: Strict luggage check! Only **7kg free carry-on**
Excess fee: RM10 per 0.5kg
We paid RM235 for overweight luggage.
*Tip: Bring an extra backpack to avoid extra fees.*
3. Hotels
All booked online; highly recommended options below:
① GEO Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Family Room: **US$48.65/night**
Prime location:
- Opposite Central Market
- 15-min walk to National Mosque
- 10-min walk to Petaling Street, Merdeka Square, Sultan Abdul Samad Building
Basic facilities; no breakfast included. Highly recommended!
② Travelodge Chinatown Kuala Lumpur
Located in busy Chinatown, near Central Market and old railway station.
11-story hotel with 198 rooms, parking, meeting room, 24h front desk.
Great value for business or leisure trips.
③ 7 Days Premium Melaka
Family Room: **US$34.75/night** (with breakfast)
How to get: Take Bus 17 from Melaka Sentral, get off at Bayview Hotel, walk 200m.
5-min walk to Melaka River, 10-min walk to Jonker Street.
Good value despite minor room issues.
④ Aseania Resort Langkawi
Family Room: **US$62.55/night** (with breakfast)
Taxi from airport: RM25
10+ min walk to Pantai Cenang
Near seafood restaurants and fruit shops
Nice exterior & pool; slightly old room decor.
4. Currency Exchange
Malaysian Ringgit (RM) is hard to exchange in China.
① ATM Withdrawal
Exchange rate based on UnionPay’s daily rate.
② Money Changer
*Not recommended at the airport (poor rates).*
Best place: Money changer on 2/F, near bookstore at KL Sentral.
Compare rates at several counters for the best deal.
5. SIM Card & Power Adapter
① Hotlink SIM Card
7-day plan: 600MB 4G + unlimited 2G + 50min call to China / 25min local call
Good speed except in Langkawi.
*Note: Activate 1 day before arrival; must open package within 3 days of activation.*
② Power Adapter
3-pin adapter often included with SIM card plans.
Hong Kong iPhone chargers work directly.
Adapters available at hotel front desk (deposit required).
6. Credit Card
Recommended: **Dual-currency card (UnionPay + VISA)**
① VISA
Widely accepted worldwide; many hotels only accept VISA for online booking.
Other options: Mastercard, American Express.
② Exchange Rate Tip
Use UnionPay if available; use VISA only when necessary.
VISA involves RMB → USD → RM double conversion, less favorable than direct UnionPay.
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【Detailed Kuala Lumpur Transportation】
airport transfers
1. Airport Transfers
① City → Airport
- To KLIA: Take KL EKSPRES / KL TRANSIT from KL Sentral (EKSPRES non-stop)
- To KLIA2: Take bus from KL Sentral
- SKY BUS (red): RM9
- STAR SHUTTLE (yellow): RM8
② Airport → City
From KLIA2 to KL Sentral: Take SKY BUS or STAR SHUTTLE (left side of arrival hall)
Duration: ~1 hour, departs every 30 minutes
STAR SHUTTLE also goes to major hotels (RM15)
2. Taxis
① Airport Taxi (LIMO)
Fixed-price coupon system at airport counter to avoid overcharging.
Tell staff your hotel, ask for Budget Cab ticket.
② Regular Taxis
- Red sedan: Starting fare RM3, +RM2.50 per 2km
- Blue van: Starting fare RM6, +RM2 per km
*Many street taxis refuse meters; check Google Maps distance first to negotiate.*
3. Metro / Rail
Kuala Lumpur has 3 main lines:
- **KTM (blue)**: Commuter rail
- **LRT (pink)**: Light rail
- **Monorail (yellow)**
Fare starts at RM1; usually under RM2 downtown.
Ticket machines accept coins (min 10 sen) and 1 banknote at a time.
**KL Sentral**: Main transport hub – stay nearby for convenience.
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【Other Useful Info】
1. Language
Widely used: Malay, English, Mandarin.
~20–30% Chinese population; most speak Mandarin.
Local English has strong accent – use translation app if needed (e.g. Travel Translator).
2. Weather
Temperature: Above 30°C year-round – prepare short sleeves/shorts.
Rainy season includes March–April and late May; short showers (usually <2 hours).
Bring an umbrella.
3. Embassy of China in Malaysia
- Address: 1st Floor, Plaza OSK, 25 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Consular Office: (006) 03-2163 6815 (ext.102–106), 2163 6814
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00–11:45
- Office: (006) 03-2142 8495, 2141 1729