Make Your Trip To Malaysia Safer And More Enjoyable

Endowed with breathtaking natural beauty, interesting mosaic of cultures and indigenous people, Malaysia is a real adventure lover's and nature lover's paradise. Fascinating Malaysia beckons any visitor with its fantastic pristine sandy beaches, turquoise waters teeming with exotic underwater life, fascinating historical sites and stunning lush rainforests. Add to these exotic cuisine delights, hundreds of colorful festivals, fun-filled activities, an endless range of tourist attractions and magnificent hill resorts that make Malaysia a truly enticing place to visit. Malaysia is home to a wide selection of accommodation at competitive rates, from beach chalets and timeshare apartments to six-star luxury hotels and everything in between.

Located in the heart of Southeast Asia, Malaysia covers a total area of nearly 330,000 square kilometers and is composed of two regions: Peninsular Malaysia divided into the "east coast" and "west coast" by the Main Range in the middle, lying between Thailand and Singapore, and East Malaysia situated on Borneo Island with a series of mountain ranges. Nearly 60% of its land is covered by tropical rainforests. The country enjoys warm pleasant climate year-round with temperatures hovering between 21C-32C in the lowlands. Generally, Malaysia features two seasons, the dry season (May to September) and the rainy season (November to March).

Malaysia has developed into a haven for tourists, offering plenty of opportunity to relax on the white sandy beaches or indulge in water sports. Set amidst a valley surrounded by jagged hills, Kuala Lumpur or "KL" as it is commonly known is the capital of Malaysia and its political and cultural center. Home to over one and a half million people from different ethnicities, Kuala Lumpur provides more than hundred types of festival throughout the year. The city boasts the best-known Petronas Towers- the tallest twin towers of the world with a height of 1,453 feet. Kuala Lumpur highlights include numerous parks and monuments, Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary, shopping and vibrant nightlife.

Let's look at at least five things you can do to make your trip to Malaysia safer and more enjoyable.

• Don't Drink the Water. As with many countries in Southeast Asia, hygiene standards are sometimes not as high as they are in the West. Most times it is just a matter of common sense in making a decision whether to eat or drink at a particular street stall or restaurant. The important thing to remember is that most food in Malaysia is prepared fresh but that the water may be slightly contaminated. For this reason it is better to drink only bottled water.
• Getting around. One of the most peculiar things that may happen when you visit Kuala Lumpur is to receive a phone call offering you a free tour of the city. This is more than likely a scam operated by a group of store sellers who will take you to their shops in a bid to have your buyers much from them as possible. Avoid these offers at all costs and only deal with reputable tour companies which are recommended by friends or the hotel where you are staying.
• Terrorist activity. Make sure you stay up-to-date with the latest government warnings about possible terrorist threats. Although the likelihood of this occurring is quite low, there have been incidents of concern in some areas of Eastern Sabah, particularly at diving resorts and some coastal areas of this particular region. If you want to play completely safe just eliminate this area of Malaysia from your itinerary. Street crime. As is the case in many capital cities around the world there is an increasing incidence of pick pocketing and bag snatching. To prevent the likelihood of an attack make sure you do not wear jewellery or any sign of wealth when you are walking in the streets. All cash should be carefully concealed in a money belt and kept underneath your clothing at all times. Leave all valuable documents especially passports and other identification in a safe deposit box or the safe at your hotel.
• Travel Insurance. It is always a wise move to take out proper holiday insurance before you start any overseas holiday. In fact, the Australian government website also particularly recommends that you take out comprehensive travel insurance before you start your trip. This is certainly one tip you should not ignore.

Whilst Malaysia is one of the friendliest and safest countries to visit in Southeast Asia, following these few free tips will go a long way to ensuring that your holiday is a safe and memorable one.