« On February 1st, we moved to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. We'll be here until February 6th.
In this note, just a few minor expenses from our two days here. Currency: Malaysian Ringgit, about 1 to 15. The expenses are listed in the local currency, and also in our currency for reference.
Tickets from Phuket: 25 USD.
Accommodation: 33 USD for 5 days for 4 people. This time we decided to rent an apartment with a kitchen to significantly save on food. We landed an awesome deal on Booking.com, quite a classy option. We are staying on the 25th floor right in the center, 10 minutes away from Petronas Towers.
Food: 40 Ringgit - shopped at Tesco. Generally, we didn't quite get it, but it seems there aren't many of those grocery stores like you see in Thailand or elsewhere.
Entertainment: for fans of nightlife it's a real paradise here. The price for nightlife is around 4 Ringgit for a simple beer, and 6 Ringgit on a special like a cocktail (that's about 1-1.5 USD for a drink). But the main thing is to find the right spot. There’s one just a bit away from Jalan Alor, named Royal Dream, which we tried.
We also tested out some lounges nearby our apartment. The café is sort of trendy, but the beer is chill, and the cost is about 8 Ringgit.
All in all, we've just explored a bit around the area, rented bikes, and rode around (the cost was like 1.5 USD for two hours). We checked out various attractions, like Chinatown and local markets with food and trinkets.
Prices overall are on the higher side here. A bottled water of 0.5L is about 0.5 USD here, while in Thailand it was about 0.2 USD.
Honestly, some Asian capitals aren't quite capitals in that sense. Here it feels very laid back, and during the evening it’s almost a ghost town... Or are the experiences of those capitals just not aligned?
What do you think? »
We flew to the capital of Malaysia on Air Asia with a ticket for four 😊, and it cost us around $200, not counting the extra baggage we purchased at the airport 🙈. We could have saved a bit there, as the airlines were full and we didn’t buy the extra baggage through the app. Ultimately, the cost of the ticket came to about $100 for each of us 😱. Upon arriving at Kuala Lumpur Airport, we took an Uber to our apartment for $30. Official taxi prices start from $50 🙌🏽.
We booked our stay through Airbnb and were very satisfied. The first apartments were located just 10 minutes from the Petronas Towers, and the second, two-bedroom apartment near the Aquaria, was $55 per night.
Eating out is also similarly priced to Thailand, with some places even cheaper. For example, a meal with rice and meat, soup and a drink costs just $10 😍. Our non-touristy entertainment options, including a trip to the Oceanarium and a visit to an exploration park with kids, amounted to $50 altogether.
The overall cost of living in such a megapolis is a refreshing change compared to our experiences back home in a different city ☺️. It will definitely be an unforgettable stay with lots of exploration and joy! »
In this note, just a few minor expenses from our two days here. Currency: Malaysian Ringgit, about 1 to 15. The expenses are listed in the local currency, and also in our currency for reference.
Tickets from Phuket: 25 USD.
Accommodation: 33 USD for 5 days for 4 people. This time we decided to rent an apartment with a kitchen to significantly save on food. We landed an awesome deal on Booking.com, quite a classy option. We are staying on the 25th floor right in the center, 10 minutes away from Petronas Towers.
Food: 40 Ringgit - shopped at Tesco. Generally, we didn't quite get it, but it seems there aren't many of those grocery stores like you see in Thailand or elsewhere.
Entertainment: for fans of nightlife it's a real paradise here. The price for nightlife is around 4 Ringgit for a simple beer, and 6 Ringgit on a special like a cocktail (that's about 1-1.5 USD for a drink). But the main thing is to find the right spot. There’s one just a bit away from Jalan Alor, named Royal Dream, which we tried.
We also tested out some lounges nearby our apartment. The café is sort of trendy, but the beer is chill, and the cost is about 8 Ringgit.
All in all, we've just explored a bit around the area, rented bikes, and rode around (the cost was like 1.5 USD for two hours). We checked out various attractions, like Chinatown and local markets with food and trinkets.
Prices overall are on the higher side here. A bottled water of 0.5L is about 0.5 USD here, while in Thailand it was about 0.2 USD.
Honestly, some Asian capitals aren't quite capitals in that sense. Here it feels very laid back, and during the evening it’s almost a ghost town... Or are the experiences of those capitals just not aligned?
What do you think? »
Fake brands everywhere! Souvenirs. Street food at shockingly un-street prices (considering we live in a very local area and know the current prices well). We had some delicious grilled chestnuts and papaya, and bought coconut treats coated in brown flour for the men in our family. And of course, lots of fruits. I realized on the way back I had no money left! I had to return a bunch of bananas to the vendor and ask for my money back. But that’s not all! It turns out the ride to Chinatown from the hotel costs 2.10 USD, but the return trip was double that because of traffic. After passing by 20 or 30 taxi drivers and getting turned down, I decided to take a free bus – though in such chaos with a child, a stroller, and shopping it would have been quite tricky to manage. Fortunately, an Indian man generously offered to take us back for the same 2.10 USD – and just like that, the traffic had cleared! »
The tour lasts about half an hour. After a brief safety briefing, we hopped into a super-speed elevator that zooms up 5-6 meters per second. Our first stop is the 41st floor, which is roughly 170 meters above ground. We get about 10 minutes to stroll on the SkyBridge, and it’s during this time that I’m truly grateful for the clear skies without haze or rain, especially since we opted for the evening tour. The view of KL from up there is stunning, with the city sparkling in a kaleidoscope of colors. »