How to Get Around Malaysia on a Budget

Malaysia is an amazing country and getting around to see it can be a challenge depending on where you are.

Kuala Lumpur is the major metropolis in the country.  Finding transportation here isn't hard.  Here are some ways you can find your way around without breaking the bank.

GRAB APP

The Grab App is a life saver and so much fun to use!  The company recently bought out Uber in Malaysia and Singapore.  It is cost efficient and available in most of Malaysia.  I personally used it when I thought it would be cheaper or faster than taking the trains.  The drivers I had were great.  Some of them talk to you and help you out with sightseeing and recommend places to check out.  Others will just drive you to your destination.  I only had a driver get lost once and we drove around in circles a few times before he was able to figure his way out and find the correct highway to be on.  The great part is that I didn't have to pay for the time he was lost because its a set amount and you also don't have to worry about tipping.  You may have to pay some toll fees depending how far you go, but it still works out cheaper than a taxi.

I was able to use Grab in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Penang and Langkawi.  The only place where Grab wasn't used was Cameron Highlands.  Thankfully I had booked my hostel in town and my tour had a mini van to take us around.  Transportation wasn't an issue for me as I only stayed the one night.

TEKSI

Taxi's are abundant everywhere you go.  Problem is that they have a bad reputation.  Most taxi drivers don't use a meter and just give you a set price which is usually on the high side.  Sometimes you can haggle your cost down a bit but for the most part, they still charge twice as much as a Grab would.  Use them with caution.

KL SENTRAL

KL Sentral is the transportation hub in KL.  From here you can take an MRT (Mass Rapid Train), LRT (Light Rail Train), depart on a plane, or take a bus to a different city.  I was frequently at KL Sentral because this is also where all the train lines meet.  I often got off here and changed to a different platform to get back to Petaling Jaya.  There are many train lines that run through KL and the surrounding areas.

I also caught my ETS (Electric Train Service) train to Penang from here.  It was a four hour journey and it was very safe and comfortable.  Its a very busy hub all day and all night so you will never be there alone.  You can also get to the airport (KLIA) from here.  There is an express line that gets there within 20 mins.  That costs around 55 RM ($17 CDN)

FREE HOP ON HOP OFF BUS aka GO-KL BUS

The GO- KL bus is also located just outside KL Sentral at the arrivals area.  Its a pink bus that carries locals, however, tourists can also take this to many sightseeing landmarks.  Its especially great if you are on a tight budget.  This is not to be confused with the actual Hop On Hop Off bus which you do have to pay for. I was able to take this bus and make my way around to all the major places to visit and take care of my souvenir shopping.  It comes around every 5 - 10 mins, depending on KL traffic at the time.  Peak times can be challenging as traffic comes to a stand still.  You can pick up a route map from the tourism bureau located inside KL Sentral.  There are four routes that cover 74 stops, however, you would need to change buses.

TERMINAL BERSEPADU SELATAN

I was able to visit a few different cities by taking economy bus lines.  They run frequently from this terminal going out to all areas of Malaysia.  These are economy bus lines which are quite comfortable and are affordable!  I took these buses to places like Melaka for 18 RM ($5.84 CDN), which is a two hour journey.  I also took it to the Cameron Highlands for 35 RM ($11.36 CDN).  All buses are equipped with air conditioning.  Do bring a sweater to stay comfortable as the air con can be fierce at times.  Do your research on your buses as some are miss and hit.  If your driver shows up and the bus leaves on time, its a good sign.

LUXURY COACH LINES

Economy buses are great for local areas but luxury coaches are great for longer journeys.  I booked the Aeroline Bus Lines to get me from Singapore to KL.  It was a 6 hour ride and it was very comfortable.  It costs me 120 RM ($38.95 CDN) for a one way trip.  I received a sealed water bottle, choice of coffee, tea or hot chocolate, a blanket, dinner and I could watch a movie or listen to music in my seat.  The seats were similar to cushy lazy boy leather recliners.  I was very comfortable on my trip and would recommend using Aeroline to anyone.

BUDGET AIRLINES

Budget airlines are definItely the way to go if you want to travel far and save some money doing it!  Some favourite airlines with amazing deals are Air Asia, Malindo Airlines, Firefly, Scoot and Tiger Airways! So many options to choose from but make sure you research your bag allowance on each flight.  Most airlines will let you on with free carry on but you will have to pay if its more than 15 kg.  I used Air Asia for my flight from Langkawi to KL and it was wonderful.  I also used Firefly to get to Singapore from Subang Airport in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.  Both flights were about an hour long and it was great.

FERRY

Ferries can be a great option to move around Malaysia too.  When I reached Penang, I was on the mainland of where I wanted to be.  I took a ferry to cross over to reach Georgetown, Penang Island.  It was a 15 min crossing and it cost me 1.20 RM ($0.39 CDN).

To get to Langkawi from Georgetown, I also took a ferry.  I bought a ticket for the Fast Ferry which took 2.5 hours to reach Langkawi.  It cost me 72 RM ($23.29 CDN). 

Transportation is easy to find in Malaysia and unless you plan on heading out of town to a rual village, you should be fine finding something to help you get around.  Go out there and explore Malaysia! You won't regret it!