Chinatown, Merdeka Square & Bukit Nanas
In the middle of the Chinatown action, this contemporary budget choice offers small, quietly stylish rooms – the best have balconies overlooking the…
Must-see hotels in Malaysia
Sandakan
Right near the waterfront, this hostel gets a lot of love from the backpacker contingent for its cleanliness and the helpfulness of its staff. The cosy…
Pulau Langkawi
In a grand wooden Malay-style building seemingly dropped in the middle of the jungle is this luxurious retreat with the usual multistar amenities and…
Kuching
Modern and spacious rooms feature at this hotel, opened in 2017. The decor blends clean, neutral tones with subtle nods to a traditional Asian design…
Kuala Terengganu
This contemporary hotel, while not exactly boutique, is certainly stylish, with polished concrete and exposed bricks. Rooms feature TVs and there are…
Kota Bharu
This very clean and brightly painted hotel features comfortable if smallish standard rooms, plus slightly larger superior rooms that also enjoy better…
EcoMarine Perhentian Island Resort
Pulau Perhentian
Located at the southwest end of Teluk Dalam, EcoMarine offers a variety of budget accommodation and package deals. There's also an air-conditioned dorm…
Pulau Tioman
There’s usually a lounge-able patch of sand at this cute-as-a-button family-run place at the quiet northern end of Salang beach. There are 10 clean…
Mt Kinabalu & Kinabalu National Park
This smart brick guesthouse with great views of Mt Kinabalu from its terraces sits in a quiet cul-de-sac in Kundasang village. Most of the spotless rooms…
Ipoh
Some of Ipoh's most chic accommodation is out of town, such as M Roof, a glamorously monochrome hotel in a high-rise 5km northeast of the old town. Rooms…
Butterworth
Your best bet for a midrange hotel in Butterworth is this branch of the industrial-chic chain. Rooms are spacious, have comfortable beds and good sheets,…
Johor
With a heritage look on the outside – but not so much on the inside – the Streetview is a sound choice for comfort, helpful staff at the front desk and a…
George Town
In this handsome, whitewashed heritage building, the smallest rooms are so compact as to be almost podlike – probably best for solo travellers – but are…
Ipoh
Perched between Ipoh's old and new towns, Vloft offers simple, spick-and-span accommodation in a high-ceilinged, century-old shophouse (a 12-bed and four…
The Gardens Hotel & Residences
Lake Gardens, Brickfields & Bangsar
This luxury hotel and serviced residences are very appealing. Wood panelling with lattice details and striking flower prints on the walls make the rooms'…
Pulau Pangkor
To steep yourself in local life, flee the beach resorts and bed down in less-touristed fishing village Sungai Pinang Kecil. There's a pleasant terrace…
Tawau
A short walk from the city centre's excellent dining, this intimate, welcoming option is all snug rooms with hardwood floors, excellent wi-fi connections…
Pahang & Tioman Island
This hotel overlooks the Pahang River and is a very good choice. It may not be at the heart of town as it's located on the far side of the bridge, but it…
Sarawak
Repainted in 2018, Limbang's best budget hotel is in close proximity to decent restaurants. Rooms are relatively spartan, but the strength of the air-con…
Lake Gardens, Brickfields & Bangsar
This friendly, basic backpackers offers some of the cheapest beds in town. Note partitions between the rooms are flimsy and mattresses are on the floor…
Pahang & Tioman Island
This clutch of jungle bungalows occupies a quiet part of the village above the river. The rooms and bungalows are well maintained and there's a restaurant…
Lahad Datu
While not quite a hostel, this wallet-friendly budget spot gets high marks for its clean private rooms (some windowless), the helpfulness of its staff and…
Pahang & Tioman Island
The setting below a verdant hill 500m south of town is tranquil and idyllic, in a small and green patch, secluded at the end of the track. There are just…
Cameron Highlands
Rooms, from six-bed dorms to spacious private rooms, are simple, but your hosts cultivate a welcoming ambience in this fuss-free hostel in a comfy…
Pahang & Tioman Island
Up and over the top of the hill (behind the school), this friendly and simple guesthouse consists of a single-storey house and a two-storey building that…
Penang
You can almost imagine Julie the cruise director leading you through the orderly array of green lawn chairs, sprawling cement walkways and mushroom-like…
Pulau Langkawi
At the distinctive Tubotel, tucked away at Nelayan Jetty north of the Pantai Cenang strip, rooms are individual concrete pipes whose snug interiors house…
Melaka City
Rooms are rather small, but period fittings and immaculate housekeeping make this restored 13-room Peranakan townhouse a very pleasant place to stay. It's…
Pulau Langkawi
Beds on packing-crate wood with furniture to match may not sound ideal, but Paretto makes it work. Rooms are vast, with separate sitting rooms and…
Miri
A friendly place in a good location, My Homestay has a spacious balcony with comfy chairs overlooking the bustling street below. Most rooms, though clean…
Pulau Perhentian
The budget accommodation at the rear of (and associated with) Perhentian Tropicana Inn, Tivoli Inn has six-bed dorms, common bathrooms and screened-in…
Chinatown, Merdeka Square & Bukit Nanas
One of Chinatown's more appealing hostels, the Explorers is comfortable and well run. The spacious lobby leads on to clean rooms (most with no windows)…
Kuching
In an atmospheric old shopfront, this lodge has a variety of rooms, some with windows and some without, so you should definitely look at a few. Thought…
Sabah
At the Maliau Basin headquarters, 30km from the reserve entrance, choose between upscale rooms (VIP House/deluxe/standard RM1400/540/410), regular…
Melaka
At this basic resort, located less than 1km north of the boat jetty and the sole resort on the island, it's possible to camp, stay in a simple fan-cooled…
Kota Kinabalu
Jolly hostel with a welcoming common area, plant-filled space with water feature and bold, crimson-and-lime-green rooms. Some have natural light, while…
Kota Kinabalu
Head up the steep stairs in the cosy little bar and you find yourself in a vast space with 33 bunks connected by metal walkways and scaffolding. Each…
Kuala Lumpur
MiL's design aesthetic tends towards the rough end of the scale – think unplastered concrete and brick walls and open plan bathrooms inside windowless…
Pahang & Tioman Island
This resort has comfortable enough but simple chalets and good value four- to eight-person air-con dorms on a large 1.6-hectare plot in Kuala Tahan. Wi-fi…
Gunung Mulu National Park
Most of the 30 beds here are in a giant, non-bunk dorm room equipped with clean showers and toilets at one end. Electricity flows from 5pm to midnight and…
