Must-see hotels in Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei
Gunung Mulu National Park
All 20 beds are in a clean, spacious dormitory-style room with ceiling fans.
Chinatown, Merdeka Square & Bukit Nanas
Functional, no-frills rooms with good views from atop Pudu Sentral station.
Gunung Mulu National Park
This basic wooden 'forest hostel' or large hut is divided into four dorms with sleeping platforms and mats, a kitchen (with gas for cooking and boiled…
Singapore
This three-bedroom bungalow accommodates up to 10 people and comes with a basic kitchen and cooking utensils. Due to maintenance work, the holiday…
Pulau Ubin
One of the two free campsites on Pualu Ubin – the other is at Mamam Beach – Jelutong is closest to the main town on the south coast. It's not particularly…
Cherating
Crafted to look like a particularly beautiful Malaysian kampung with wooden buildings on stilts, this resort comes fully equipped with its own stretch of…
Cameron Highlands
The hotel has seen some hard knocks, judging by the prominent stains and wear and tear, but rooms (while plain) are a decent size. If you don’t need…
Sabah
A heck of a misnomer, this place has a few simple rooms varying in comfort, with fan only or air-con, some Banggi-style wooden huts and a semi-dilapidated…
Pulau Ubin
This campground on the north coast is the nicest place to camp on the island. Equipped with toilets and non-potable running water (BYO drinking water),…
Sarawak
To avoid falling prey to raiding monkeys, tents can be set up at park HQ’s fenced-in camping zone only after 6pm and must be taken down again early in the…
Rumah Persinggahan Kerajaan Daerah Temburong
Brunei Darussalam
Set around a grassy, L-shaped courtyard, this government-run guesthouse has friendly, helpful staff and six spacious but slightly fraying rooms with…
Malaysia
The price is right for the bland, business-style rooms at this aging hotel, five minutes' walk from Terminal 1 bus station. Nothing sparkles except the…
George Town
An old frame shop is the home of this backpackers – they've left a few empty frames and the old shop sign around just in case you didn't get the reference…
Pulau Langkawi
Green Village takes the form of several linked, low-rise villas surrounding a pool and gardenlike grounds. Rooms are small, the decor is dated and some…
George Town
For the epitome of a local experience, book one of the basic rooms in this pier-bound home in the midst of George Town’s biggest clan jetty. You'll be…
George Town
The Yeng Keng is a revamp of a 150-year-old hotel. Its latest incarnation includes rather small and overpriced rooms decked out in occasionally cheesy…
George Town
If you're OK with sacrificing atmosphere for savings and are not a light sleeper, then the starkly bare rooms at this no-frills budget hotel on a busy…
Gunung Mulu National Park
The four rooms here, housed in a wooden outbuilding near the family house, have attached bathrooms and mosquito screens. There's electricity from 6pm to…
George Town
The 24 rooms in this exceedingly plain but clean and comfortable old-fashioned hotel are all similarly equipped with TV, air-con and functional furniture…
Sarawak
This rambling place has seven guest rooms, a lovely verandah, a library-equipped lounge and endearingly tacky floor coverings. Situated 250m along a dirt…
Sarawak
These open-sided huts are as basic as they come, but the location – almost on the beach, looking out at the sea – makes a night here pretty special. The…
Pulau Pangkor
This beachfront resort has an old-school, seafront holiday vibe. There’s an inviting pool, though the simple bungalows could do with a little maintenance…
George Town
The dorms here are largely unremarkable, but the six private rooms, although cramped and not all boasting their own bathrooms, represent a bargain for…
Pulau Pangkor
Rooms are fairly ordinary (white walls, tiled floors, bathrooms in need of maintenance) but Pangkor Bayview is seconds from the beach, with activities…
Penang
This old, two-storey house across from the beach has a palpable homely atmosphere. Rooms are basic but neat, some have balconies and most have private…
Malaysia
This long-standing Chinese hotel in the town centre has basic rooms. They're in need of updating, but it's an acceptable budget option for an overnight…
Sarawak
Each room has four beds (bunks in the case of Hostel 3) and a wall fan. Hostels 1 and 2 have attached bathrooms. Hostel 3 was partially refurbished in…
Sarawak
The four basic rooms here have tile floors and rudimentary furnishings. Bathrooms are attached but lack hot water. Situated 150m inland from the…
Pahang & Tioman Island
Located in a quiet corner of town and surrounded by green trees, this hotel is well-worn but clean and friendly. Its 10 rooms are spread over two floors.
Sarawak
Open-air rain shelters in the jungle. There's no need to bring a tent, just bedding and a mosquito net.
Perak
This no-frills hotel offers simple but spotlessly clean rooms right in the centre of town.
Peninsular Malaysia's Northeast
This peaceful resort has spacious chalets with balconies overlooking the lake or rainforest. The restaurant serves Malay and international dishes, and the…
