Epic Affordable Family-Friendly – Malaysia ticks all the boxes

Oh Malaysia. You tropical, affordable, unexpectedly brilliant gem of a holiday destination. I’ll admit it wasn’t always on our family bucket list. When people think “family holiday,” it’s all “Bali!” or “Fiji!” or “Let’s blow the annual budget on Disneyland!”

But after seeing it heavily featured on The Amazing Race Australia a couple of years ago, the boys begged us to go. And after spending 18 nights, visiting 5 destinations, and taking 7 flights (yes, seven) with three kids in tow, I can say, hand on heart and sweaty, sweaty shoulders, it’s one of the most underrated family travel destinations out there.

One of the best things we did? We packed light. Like, really light. We knew it would be hot, humid, and sunny, so we leaned into it:

• 4 outfits per person and 1 extra that we were wearing
• The kids’ clothes fit into their own backpack which they carried themselves
• We booked accommodation with a washing machine or made sure a laundromat was nearby
• One super compact foldable easily carried travel pram
• One shared suitcase carried our clothes, toiletries, nappies, and random kid paraphernalia

It sounds small, but it made everything easier. No wrangling giant suitcases. No baggage fees. No excess crap. Just the essentials.

“1 suitcase, 1 pram, 4 backpacks, 3 children.”

This became our mantra. Our rallying cry. Our sanity saver.

Domestic flights in Malaysia are unbelievably affordable. In some cases we are talking $19, and when you’re only checking one suitcase, this becomes a fast, easy and affordable way to get around. 

So, without further ado, here’s what we did, what we loved, and why Malaysia should absolutely be on your radar – whether you’re travelling with kids or not…. but especially if you’re travelling with kids.

Stop 1: Johor Bahru – Legoland, Buffets, and Budget-Friendly Fun

After landing in Singapore with the wonderful Singapore Airlines (seriously, 10/10, amazing with the kids, great food, comfortable seats, even with a nearly 2 year old on our laps), we made the short drive over the border to Johor Bahru, Malaysia’s southern gateway.

Our reason for stopping? Legoland Malaysia, and let me tell you, it totally delivered. From the moment we set eyes on the Lego brick hotel exterior the Legoland Hotel was like crack for our kids. We booked a themed adventure room which had a queen bed in a separate room, then bunk beds and a trundle, easily accommodating the five of us. The kids ran in, found their bunk beds, and screamed like they’d won the lottery. The little cherry on top was the treasure hunt which led to a safe that contained two complimentary little Lego sets. Throw in a buffet breakfast that had more options than a cruise ship, giant Lego filled playpits in the lobby and a dance party every time you hopped in a lift and we were off to a good start.

Day one was Legoland Waterpark. It was clean, well-organised, and surprisingly chill. Great options for our nearly 2 year old, plus a few more exciting slides for the older boys, and this grown up boy too!

Day two was Legoland itself. No, it’s not Disneyland, but it’s still a whole lot of fun. Incredible Lego replicas of Malaysian landmarks, great family fun rides, short queues and a nice laid back atmosphere really add up to a great day out for everyone.

We didn’t see any of Johor Bahru itself, but this was a great launchpad to get the trip off to a fun start, and the kids are still begging us to go back to Legoland!

Stop 2: Kuala Lumpur – Rooftop Pools, Birds, and Bright Lights

KL is such a fun city, full of history, amazing architecture, nature and food.  We stayed in a sky-high apartment next to the Petronas Towers, complete with a rooftop infinity pool that made it feel like we were swimming in the clouds.

We packed our days with:

• KLCC Park: With playgrounds and a nightly fountain light show, this place is a hit for kids and grown-ups alike. A beautiful little spot of green amongst the hustle and bustle of the city.
• KL Bird Park: A huge, walk-through aviary that lets you get up close with exotic birds. A slightly daunting experience for this bird phobia possessing guy. It’s the world’s largest free flight aviary and despite my nervousness it’s a super fun family attraction and well worth a visit.
• Aquaria KLCC: An excellent aquarium that was just the right length for our kids.
• Merdeka 118: Because you can’t come to KL and not stare up at the second tallest building in the world. Our 5 year old was obsessed with tall buildings at this point and the number 1 thing for him in KL was to go see Merdeka 118. Sadly it hadn’t been finished, so after an hour and a half of sweaty pram pushing and walking through side streets, the best we could offer him was a look from outside. Still worth it!

One thing to note, pretty much every single bed was hard as a rock, but that’s just what you have to deal with in most South-East Asian countries. In KL particularly it was like sleeping on a marble bench, but hey, the city’s energy kept us buzzing!

Bonus: Food courts in malls here are a budget traveller’s dream. There’s so much choice, quick service, and even the kids found stuff they loved.

Stop 3: Langkawi – Monkeys, SkyBridges & Pizza in the Hills

We were expecting a tropical beach paradise and plenty of relaxation, and while Langkawi has let itself go a little, there was still plenty to charm and excite us.

Some parts of the island felt run-down, the beaches weren’t as pristine as Instagram suggested, and certain areas seemed to have been left to the monkeys (literally), but Langkawi still gave us some of the most memorable moments of our trip.

The SkyCab and SkyBridge were next-level impressive. Genuinely jaw-dropping views and an awesome (and slight nerve-wracking) cable car ride. There’s also some fun activities at the bottom of the hill, including the cheesy but surprisingly cool 3D art museum.

The Dream Forest was like stepping into a mythical jungle storybook, complete with light projections and immersive audio. It was a wonderful mix of history, culture and modern technology and unlike anything we had experienced before.

Pizza Hills. This was literally pizza, in the hills. A very rustic pizza place in someone’s backyard. A real adventure to get to with some narrow and precarious roads, but well worth the journey. There was no menu, the chef / owner asked you what you would like and then he made it for you. We told him to surprise us, and let me tell you we were surprised. Genuinely the best pizza I have ever eaten. (Even counting Italy.)

Another side note: We hired a car on Langkawi and it really made our time there so much easier. Taxis are still easy to get but to be completely on our own schedule was a great decision.

Fun fact: A monkey stole a bag of Twisties from my backpack at the SkyBridge. Not my proudest moment forgetting you weren’t allowed to take food, but we got it all on video and the kids to this day still love talking about it!

Stop 4: Penang – Street Art, Sweat and a Surprise Chinchilla

Penang turned up the humidity and the fun in equal measure.

We stayed in another high-rise apartment with an incredible pool. Side note: Malaysia loves their skyscrapers and nearly all of them have ridiculous pools. We spent our days:

Wandering the famous George Town street art trail (photo opportunities galore!)

• Riding the Penang Hill funicular and exploring The Habitat with monkeys swinging above us.
• Laughing our way through the Upside Down Museum. Seriously, another ridiculously cheesy attraction that turned out to be so much fun. The photos still give us a great laugh.
• Meeting a chinchilla in a cafe (not even kidding).

Food? Amazing. Penang is known for it, and it doesn’t disappoint. But did I mention the heat? We were permanently damp.

Speaking of the heat, here’s another side note: Yes, it’s hot, yes it’s humid, and yes, there’s lots of walking, but the cabs and ridesharing in Malaysia are clean, reliable and extremely affordable. We used Grab (their Uber) many many times throughout the whole trip, and it was a real sanity saver. 

Stop 5: Kuching, Borneo – Wild Things & Waterfront Bliss

By the time we landed in Kuching, we were craving a little bit of peace, serenity and nature, and wow, did it deliver. I’d been to Kuching many years ago and absolutely adored my time there. You won’t find the chaos of KL or the tourist buzz of Langkawi here. Kuching is a laid-back, surprisingly trendy little patch of jungle paradise.

We scored a 5-star hotel on the waterfront for a fraction of the price you’d pay anywhere else, and it was heaven. Did I mention yet another amazing pool? Only on the 4th floor this time… for shame…

Apart from the wonderful vibes, the main reason for visiting Kuching is a truly once in a lifetime, core memory, pinch yourself experience:

Semenggoh Orangutan Sanctuary
This was the absolute highlight of the trip for all of us. Seeing wild orangutans swing through the trees is something we’ll never forget. To see these magnificent creatures in the (semi)wild, living the life they are meant to is a truly special thing to witness. With the constant loss of their natural habitat, centres like Semenggoh are absolutely vital. There’s no guarantee that you will see them when you visit, but we were very very fortunate to witness a small group including the cutest little baby. We even got quite close as they moved from one area to another.  One did, however, wee on Flynn as it passed overhead. He’s fine. Mostly.

We had a dinner at a Ceylonese restaurant where we discovered naan bread filled with the stretchiest, gooiest cheese. The kids were obsessed. It’s now the gold standard for naan in our house. Absolutely glorious food, HUGE portions (a little too spicy for the kids, but they had the naan, stop complaining) and exceptional service. We had a good chat with the owner who just so happened to study in Brisbane when he was younger! He also offered to show the boys the tandoor where they cooked the naan with a VERY clear warning not to touch it. Yep, Flynn again….. Thankfully it was a short enough touch that he wasn’t too badly burned.

Yet another side note: Once again, we hired a car, and once again it was the right call. Driving in Kuching was easy, peaceful, and let us explore at our own pace. Definitely recommended.

We spent the rest of our time wandering the gorgeous waterfront, eating well, and soaking it all in. 

We treated the kids to a soft serve from McDonalds after another lovely dinner on our last night….. It was Grace’s first time having one. Little did we know it, this was the start of a long, stressful and worrying trip home.

The Not-So-Glamorous Finale

Back in Singapore for a final day of recovery, we visited the National Orchid Garden, booked a day-use hotel room (cannot recommend enough!) to chill before our flight, and kicked back at Changi Airport.

And about an hour before we were due to board? That’s when it all went wrong.

Cue: vomiting, fevers, diarrhoea. A long 8.5 hours with a very sick child on our laps followed by an emergency room visit just three hours after landing and a subsequent salmonella diagnosis . Poor little girl spent a couple of days in hospital recovering. That one cheap cone was her first, and last, McDonalds soft serve.

Final Thoughts

Despite the dramatic ending, this trip was unforgettable in the best way. Malaysia is diverse, exciting, welcoming, and most importantly for families: affordable. Nearly everyone speaks English, the flights are short and cheap, the accommodation is wonderful for the price, and there’s truly something for everyone.

This was our first big holiday as a family of 5 and it really set the bar for the future. It lulled us into a bit of a false sense of confidence (read about our Japan trip here…) but if I could go back I wouldn’t change a thing!

From wild orangutans to rooftop pools to monkeys with a taste for Twisties, Malaysia gave us memories we’ll laugh about and cherish for years.